Florida Administrative Code

The following shall apply to all licenses, permits or other authorizations in addition to requirements specific to individual licenses. (1) The Commission shall deny applications for any license, permit or other authorization based upon any one or more of the following grounds: (…

(1) Pursuant to Section 379.353(2)(q), F.S., the Executive Director or his or her designee shall issue military/disabled veteran license exemption permits (MDVE permits) exempting the following persons from the recreational licenses and permits authorized by Section 379.354, F.S.…

For the purpose of providing proof of residency to obtain a resident recreational license, permit, or authorization, customers must submit one form of documentation as indicated below. (1) When using the Commission's online licensing system or when ordering by telephone: (a) A va…

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish definitions, provide requirements for import permits, provide Conditional and Prohibited species lists, establish requirements for possession of Conditional and Prohibited species, establish criteria for amnesty for persons relinqui…

(1) Closed tank system - enclosed recirculating systems having no water discharge, or systems having water discharge through a closed drain system, or other system designed to prevent discharge of water containing adults, juveniles, eggs, or disease vectors from the permittee's p…

(1) No person shall transport into the state, introduce, or possess, for any purpose that might reasonably be expected to result in liberation into the state, any freshwater fish, aquatic invertebrate, marine plant, marine animal, or wild animal life not native to the state, with…

Live specimens of the following species, including their taxonomic successors, subspecies, or hybrids or eggs thereof may be possessed only pursuant to permit issued by the Executive Director except as provided in Rule 68-5.005, F.A.C. (1) Non-native freshwater fish and aquatic i…

No person shall import into the state, sell, possess, or transport any live specimens of the species, or hybrids or eggs thereof, listed in Rule 68-5.004, F.A.C., except by Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative species permit and as provided in subsections (1) through (6) below: (1) P…

Live specimens of the following species, including their taxonomic successors, subspecies, or hybrids or eggs thereof may be possessed only pursuant to permit issued by the Executive Director except as provided in Rule 68-5.007, F.A.C. (1) Non-native freshwater aquatic species: (…

No person shall import into the state, sell, possess, or transport any live specimens of the species, or hybrids or eggs thereof, listed in Rule 68-5.006, F.A.C., except by Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species permit and as provided below: (1) Exhibition of Prohibited Species…

It is the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to encourage persons possessing unwanted non-native fish or wildlife as pets to relinquish such pets to qualified adopters through the Commission's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program as an alternative to releasing them int…

(1) As used in this rule, "lionfish" means any finfish of the genus Pterois. (2) The importation of live lionfish or hybrids or eggs thereof is prohibited. (3) Live lionfish imported from outside the State of Florida after August 1, 2014, may not be sold, offered for sale, barter…

These rules and regulations shall be designated as the Wildlife Code of the State of Florida and shall be in full force and effect. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.1025 FS. Law Implemented 120.53 FS, Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-1-79, Formerly…

All freshwater aquatic life in the waters within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, whether such waters or the lands upon which such waters occur are privately owned or otherwise, is subject to the regulation of the Commission. All wild animal life within the jurisdiction …

The provisions of these regulations are hereby declared to be severable, and if any provision or the application thereof be held invalid, the remainder thereof shall not be affected thereby and the Commission declares it would have established the remaining provisions notwithstan…

The following definitions are for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the rules of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relating to wild animal life and freshwater aquatic life. As used herein, the singular includes the plural. The following shall be construed …

Agents of fur and hide dealers shall make delivery of furs or hides only to the dealer he represents. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented 379.364 FS. History-New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly 39-10.03, 39-10.003.

(1)(a) No person shall operate any boat propelled by an internal-combustion engine on Lake Iamonia or Carr Lake in Leon County at any time during the regular open season for taking ducks and coots established in subsection 68A-13.003(1), F.A.C., except as authorized by permit fro…

In the Everglades, Rotenberger, and Holey Land Wildlife Management Areas, no person shall operate any tracked vehicle that does not meet the following specifications: (1) The maximum structure capable of bearing the weight of a person shall be no more than eight feet wide includi…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 375.313 FS. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 375.313 FS. History-New 7-1-84, Formerly 39-11.051, 39-11.0051, Repealed 7-1-07.

(1) No person shall operate any unauthorized vehicle on that portion of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area known as Eleven-mile Road and posted as closed. (2) Only the following vehicles are authorized: (a) Petroleum-industry vehicles. (b) Vehicles of persons hired to carry…

All "off-road vehicles" as defined in Section 375.312, F.S., are hereby prohibited from access to those public lands known as Everglades Holiday Park more fully described as follows: Tracts 50, 62 and 63 of Everglades Land Company subdivision of the south one-half of Section 28, …

When used in this rule chapter, the terms and phrases listed below have the meaning provided: (1) Taxidermist - any person who prepares and preserves whole specimens, hides, or parts of wildlife or fish as part of a commercial enterprise. (2) Processor - any person who butchers o…

(1) No person may take any game or crows except as herein provided. (2) Game and crows may be taken only during the daytime between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset in the open season established by the Commission, provided that the hours in which the t…

(1) Wild Turkey: (a) It is unlawful for any person to take or possess any beardless wild turkey hen during any season that allows gobblers or bearded hens to be taken within the state unless authorized by Division 68A, F.A.C. For any harvested wild turkey during any season when t…

(1) The possession for sale or the purchase or sale of birds, game mammals or the carcass or any part thereof whether produced in this state or transported from any other state or country is unlawful except as authorized herein. (2) Wildlife legally taken may be stored in public …

(1) A person may transport the possession limit of lawfully taken game. (2) A person may at any time possess mounted specimens of game, including heads, antlers, hides or feet, and the skins of game birds lawfully taken. (3) Lawfully taken game may be shipped by the person who to…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly 39-12.06, 39-12.006, Repealed 6-2-25.

(1) All dogs used for taking or attempting to take, trailing, pursuing, or molesting wildlife shall wear a collar or tag which shall legibly display the name and address of the owner of the dog. No person shall use any dog to take or attempt to take, trail, pursue or molest wildl…

(1) Pen-raised quail may be released and taken by centerfire or muzzleloading shotgun on private lands for the purpose of dog training provided that such quail are banded before release or a proof of purchase, including the name and address of the vendor and date of purchase with…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-1-79, Amended 6-4-81, 6-21-82, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-12.09, Amended 4-14-92, 4-12-98, 6-23-98, 9-21-98, Formerly 39-12.009, Amended 7-6-06, Repealed 5-1-08.

(1) No entity shall establish or maintain a commercial or private hunting preserve to allow the introduction or possession of captive-reared native and nonnative game animals, as specified herein, unless permitted pursuant to Section 379.3712, F.S., and in accordance with this ch…

(1) No entity shall establish or maintain a game farm within this state to allow the possession of captive-reared game birds, defined per subsection 68A-1.004(37), F.A.C., and game mammals of the families Cervidae, Suidae, and Bovidae for the purpose of breeding, sale, or consump…

No individual shall harvest bears from the wild within the state of Florida except as provided herein. The Commission finds that Florida's bear population can sustain bear harvest. Accordingly, as set forth herein, the Commission creates a limited-entry hunting opportunity for ap…

When used in this rule chapter, the terms and phrases listed below have the meaning provided: (1) Deer management unit (DMU) - The following geographical portions of the state, less any lands established by the Commission pursuant to Rule 68A-14.001, F.A.C.: (a) DMU A1 - That por…

(1) The open seasons for taking game shall be those specific periods designated by rule of the Commission. The Commission shall establish annual seasons during which game mammals and game birds may lawfully be taken and the daily bag and possession limits of such game mammals and…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-1-79, Formerly 39-13.02, Amended 7-1-94, 8-11-98, Formerly 39-13.002, Transferred to 68A-16.001.

The Commission has approved the following regulations and bag limits for taking ducks, geese, and coots: (1) Duck, light goose, and coot season: (a) Open season: 1. First phase - Opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving and closing the Sunday following Thanksgiving. 2. Second pha…

The Commission has approved the following hunting regulations for taking non-migratory game. (1) Bag and possession limits: (a) Deer: Statewide annual bag (all seasons combined including antlered, antlerless, archery, crossbow, and muzzleloading gun seasons and the youth deer hun…

Hunting shall be permitted in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary of the Interior. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-20-79, Amended 6-22-80, 6-4-81, 7-29-82, 7-27-83, 10-27-83, 8-13-84…

(1) Public small-game hunting areas shall be established and regulated as follows: (a) All areas for public small-game hunting shall be posted as a wildlife management area. (b) Specific small-game hunting areas shall be established by order of the executive director, and regulat…

The Commission has approved the following regulations and bag limits for taking crows and migratory game birds other than ducks and coots: (1) Mourning doves and white-winged doves: (a) Open seasons: 1. First phase - Opening the fourth Saturday of September and closing sunset 22 …

Whenever the Commission establishes an area to be a wildlife management area; a wildlife and environmental area; a wildlife refuge; a bird sanctuary; a restricted hunting area; a critical wildlife area; a fish management area; or a miscellaneous area, it shall do so by an establi…

The Commission may establish wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, critical wildlife areas, fish management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and miscellaneous areas and regulate and manage the lands or water therein in the best interest of the state; and in furthera…

(1) General prohibitions: Hunting, fishing or trapping is prohibited on any portion of any wildlife management area posted as closed to hunting, fishing or trapping. Hunting, fishing, trapping, camping or other usage related to such activity on any wildlife management area shall …

(1) At times specified in paragraph (1)(a), a quota permit or special-opportunity permit, in addition to other required licenses and permits shall be required for any person while hunting on land owned, leased or managed by the Commission. (a) The maximum number of quota and spec…

(1) The Commission may establish specific regulations for miscellaneous areas to regulate and manage the lands or waters therein in the best interest of the state. (2) Kissimmee River Public Use Area. (a) Open season: 1. Non-migratory game - Zonal seasons established under Rule 6…

(1) Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area. (a) Open season: 1. General gun - Opening the first day of Zone B antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 57 days thereafter. 2. Archery - Opening 36 days prior to the first day of Zone B antlered deer sea…

(1) Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area. (a) Open season: 1. General gun still - Opening the Monday before Thanksgiving and continuing for 57 days thereafter (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas), only in the following areas: a. Still hunt area one, which is within the area d…

(1) Apalachee Wildlife Management Area. (a) Open season: 1. General gun - Open the first 69 days of Zone D antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C. (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays closed to hunting in Zones A and B, except hunting is allowed the Friday after T…