Florida Administrative Code

(1) J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. (a) Open season: 1. General gun - Nineteen days prior to Thanksgiving day through January 1 except those years when January 1 falls on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, in which case the season would close on the following Sunday. 2. Smal…

(1) Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area. (a) Open season: 1. General gun - Opening the first day of Zone C antlered deer season established by Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C., and closing 1 day thereafter and reopening 1 day later and closing 55 days thereafter. 2. Small ga…

(1) The following United States statutes are hereby adopted as rules of the Commission and are incorporated herein by reference. (a) The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. Sections 703-711 and 16 U.S.C. Section 712. (b) The Migratory Bird Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. Section 715…

(1) No person shall take, feed, disturb, possess, sell, purchase or barter any bald eagle or parts thereof, or their nests or eggs, or attempt to engage in any such conduct, except when such conduct is authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2) For purposes of this sec…

For birds identified by the United States Departments of Interior or Commerce in 50 C.F.R. §10.13, List of Migratory Birds (effective 09/2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07922), and not listed in Chapter 68A-2…

(1) For the purpose of this rule, a bird trap is any device, material, substance or enclosure designed or used to catch and retain avian species, typically by allowing entry but not exit or by catching hold of a part of the body. Poultry coops and lofts for domestic pigeons are n…

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

(1) Southwest Region. (a) Little Gator Creek - Pasco County. 1. The designated wood stork rookery area is closed to public access. 2. Public access is prohibited February 1 through August 31. 3. Possession of any animal is prohibited, except dogs as provided by paragraph 68A-17.0…

No person shall take or possess any wildlife on any area established as a wildlife refuge; or take or possess any freshwater fish on any area closed to the taking of freshwater fish. In any wildlife refuge, no person shall be in possession of a dog or trap for taking wildlife. In…

(1) The Commission may establish bird sanctuaries for the protection of all birds and other wildlife and restricted hunting areas within any developed area upon the written request of the local governmental body having jurisdiction over such areas. In requesting establishment of …

No person shall take any wildlife in any bird sanctuary using a gun unless such taking is authorized by specific rule relating to such sanctuary. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 120.53 FS. History-New 8-1-79, Formerl…

(1) The general regulations for critical wildlife areas shall be as follows: (a) Areas in which regulations are to be enforced shall be posted as a "Critical Wildlife Area" to provide due notice as to the identity and status of the area. (b) The take of fish and wildlife is prohi…

No person shall take any wildlife in any restricted hunting area using a gun unless such taking is authorized by a permit issued by the executive director or his or her designee. Such permits may be issued on an annual basis upon application by a landowner or lessee under the fol…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 372.021 FS. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 287.042, 287.0947 FS. History-New 12-12-88, Amended 8-23-92, Formerly 39-2.014, Transferred to 68-1.002.

Rulemaking Authority 370.023 FS., Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented 370.023 FS., Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 4-4-04, Amended 3-15-05, Transferred to 68-1.003.

No person shall take fish in any fish management area except as provided by rules of the Commission. (1) Any person fishing on a fish management area shall be licensed to take fish as provided by Section 379.354, F.S., unless exempt by law. (2) All Fish Management Area lakes are …

(1) Northwest Region: (a) Juniper Bay Lake, Walton County. (b) Lake Victor, Holmes County: 1. The use of boats propelled by gasoline motors is prohibited. 2. Motor vehicles are prohibited on dams, spillways and fishing fingers. 3. Daily bag limit of fifteen (15) black bass, none …

Specific 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 39-21.02, 39-21.002, Repealed 7-1-08.

Specific 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, Formerly 39-21.04, 39-21.004, Repealed 7-1-08.

The Commission shall establish miscellaneous areas as set forth in 68A-14.001 and 68A-14.0011. Specific 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 39-22.01, 39-22.001.

As used in this rule chapter: Immediate family means parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, and spouse. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 10-16-14.

(1) No person may take any freshwater fish except as herein provided. (2) Freshwater game fish may be taken only by hook and line or rod and reel unless otherwise provided. (3) Nongame fish may be taken by hook and line, rod and reel or by trotlines, set lines or bush hooks (as s…

(1) Persons licensed under Section 379.363, F.S., may use certain commercial fishing devices only in the manner and in the areas specified in this rule, except as specified in subsection 68A-23.002(10), F.A.C. All fishing devices authorized by this section shall be clearly and le…

(1) Trotlines, bush hooks or set lines are permitted statewide except in that portion of the Ochlockonee River between State Road 20 and the Lake Talquin Power Dam; that portion of the Apalachicola River between US Highway 90 and the Jim Woodruff Dam; Bear Gully Lake in Seminole …

(1) The open season for fishing shall be from July 1 until June 30 of the following year, except as otherwise provided by these rules. (2) This rule does not apply to game fish lawfully acquired for aquarium use in accordance with Rule 68A-23.009, F.A.C. (3) No person shall have …

(1) Freshwater game fish legally caught may be kept on the premises of wholesale or retail businesses or in public cold storage, refrigerators, ice houses or ice boxes when properly tagged showing the name, license number and address of the owner clearly written thereon. (2) The …

(1) No person shall use any species of black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof as bait. Whole pickerel or bream or portions thereof may be used for bait purposes by persons catching the fish but in no case shall they be used as bait for trotlines, bush hooks or in any manner…

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, 7-1-84, Formerly 39-23.08, Amended 4-13-88, 7-1-89, 10-30-89, 7-1-92, 7-1-94, 4-12-98, Formerly 39-23.008, Amended 10-10-00, 7-1-01, 7-1-02,…

(1) No person shall sell, purchase, attempt to purchase or sell, or transport any freshwater game fish unless otherwise authorized by specific rule of the Commission. Any person transporting game fish in excess of legal possession limits shall possess documentation that said fish…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. FS. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly 39-23.10, 39-23.010, Repealed 3-17-16.

(1) Freshwater game fish (except black bass, striped bass, or black crappie) may be possessed for commercial purposes by persons licensed in accordance with Sections 379.363 and 379.3635, F.S., within the area of Lake Okeechobee bounded on the east by Highway 441 from Okeechobee …

(1) Any person having in his possession a valid and appropriate sport fishing license issued by the State of Georgia or the State of Florida, or persons exempt from such licensure, may take fish by hook and line or rod and reel in the following described waters: (a) In the waters…

(1) No person shall take or possess alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) without having obtained a permit from the Commission. Permits to take alligator gar shall be issued subject to criteria in Rule 68A-9.002, F.A.C. (2) Persons licensed in accordance with Section 379.363(1), F…

(1) No person shall take, possess, sell or otherwise transfer, buy or otherwise receive, transport or stock any grass carp without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Commission. Any grass carp inadvertently taken must be immediately returned unharmed to the water. (2) Per…

(1) Certain furbearers may be taken by guns, live traps and snares during specified open seasons. Live traps and snares shall be visited at intervals not exceeding 24 hours. (2) Fur-bearing animals may be taken in accordance with the following: (a) Raccoon, coyote, opossum, skunk…

(1) Persons taking or possessing any fur-bearing animal or part thereof for commercial purposes shall be licensed as provided by Sections 379.354 and 379.364, F.S., and may sell such animals in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any person licensed to hunt as provide…

(1) No fur or hide dealer or buyer shall buy or possess any untanned skin of any fur-bearing animal acquired from any person not licensed in accordance with Section 379.354, F.S., or any untagged, untanned hide of an alligator taken by a person not licensed as an alligator hunter…

No person shall transport within, into, or from the state any wild-trapped, live raccoon, except as authorized by Rules 68A-9.006, 68A-9.010 and 68A-9.012, F.A.C. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. FS. History-New 8-1-79…

No person shall intentionally feed, or entice with feed, any crocodilian unless held in captivity under a permit issued by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or otherwise provided by this Title. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV,…

(1) In order to assure the optimal utilization of the estimated available alligator resource, the commission may by rule limit the number of participants engaged in the taking of alligators or their eggs from the wild. No person shall buy, sell, take, possess, transport, or impor…

(1) Only persons under contract with the Commission as nuisance alligator trappers, or their agents and assistants, who have been approved by the executive director, or his designee, shall take, possess and kill or sell live nuisance alligators as authorized by permit. (2) Person…

Alligator farms may be established and operated and alligators, eggs, and hides may be possessed by alligator farmers and farming agents subject to the following: (1) Definitions: (a) Breeding stock is defined as all alligators six (6) feet or greater in length that are maintaine…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented 379.26, 379.372, 379.373, 379.374, 379.305 FS. History-New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly 39-25.06, Amended 5-10-87, 4-1-96, 9-15-96, Formerly 39-25.006, Amended 11-17-99, Repealed 6-7-07.

(1) Conditions governing alligator hatchling collections: (a) Establishment of hatchling collection areas, quotas, and a coordinator: 1. Alligator hatchling collection areas shall be established by the executive director, or his designee, that are suitable for surveying, establis…

Alligator management programs designed for the taking of alligator eggs and hatchlings and the trapping of non-hatchling alligators may only be established on private lands and on public lands, other than sovereign submerged lands, for which a governmental entity can demonstrate …

No person shall take non-hatchling alligators from the wild except as provided herein and under other applicable rules of the Commission. (1) Establishment of alligator management units and harvest quotas: (a) Management units comprised of specified wetlands, lakes, rivers or oth…

No person shall take non-hatchling alligators from the wild except as provided herein and under other applicable rules of the Commission. (1) Establishment of special-use alligator harvest areas and permit quotas: (a) Alligator management units established pursuant to paragraph 6…

(1) Definitions: (a) Alligator meat - raw boned white meat or dark meat; skinned, whole alligator carcasses; and skinned alligator carcass parts (bone-in legs, "wings," ribs, and tails), not to include alligator hide. (b) Process - skinning or butchering an alligator, or packagin…

For amphibians not listed in Chapter 68A-27, F.A.C., the following restrictions control the take or possession: (1) None of the following species shall be taken, transported, stored, served, bought, sold or possessed in any manner at any time except as authorized by permit from t…

(1) The purpose and intent of this rule chapter, in concert with an objective that lawful nature-based recreational activities may be managed to be compatible with such species protection measures, is to conserve or improve the status of endangered and threatened species in Flori…