JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

General information
Deer, elk and moose carcass
transportation regulations: It is
illegal for persons to bring into the state carcasses
of any species of the family Cervidae
(deer, elk and moose) from 14 states and
two Canadian provinces where CWD has
been detected. These areas are: Colorado,
Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New
York, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, Utah,
Wyoming and Saskatchewan and Alberta,
Canada. For state-to-state CWD reports, visit
www.cwd-info.org for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Web site. Hunters still can bring
back de-boned meat from any CWD-affected
region, as well as fi nished taxidermy mounts,
hides, skulls, antlers and teeth as long as
all soft tissue has been removed. Whole,
bone-in carcasses and parts are permitted
to be brought back into Florida if they were
harvested from non-affected CWD states.
Wild hogs: With landowners’ permission,
wild hogs may be taken year-round with no
bag limits, size limits or licenses required.
Wild hogs can be taken on WMAs only during
specifi ed seasons, where bag and size
limits may apply. For more information on
hunting wild hogs on WMAs, consult the
specifi c WMA brochure for the area you want
to hunt.
Trespassing: The possession of a hunting
license does not authorize a person to trespass
onto private land. Obtain landowner’s
permission before entering private land.
Trespassing while possessing fi rearms is a
felony punishable by imprisonment up to fi ve
years and/or a fi ne of up to $5,000. For more
information, contact an FWC regional offi ce
(see page 4). The Florida Legislature created
the Voluntary Authorized Hunter Identifi cation
Program. Landowners participating in
this program notify the local sheriff’s offi ce
and FWC to provide hunters with written
authorization to use their property. Anyone
found on properties enrolled in the program
without landowners’ written authorization can
be charged with trespassing.
Use of fi rearms by felons: It is illegal
in Florida for convicted felons to possess
fi rearms, including muzzleloading guns,
unless the convicted felon has had his/her
civil rights restored by the state’s Clemency
Board or the fi rearm qualifi es as an antique
fi rearm under Florida statute 790.001(1).
Properly licensed convicted felons may hunt
with bows, crossbows or antique fi rearms per
Florida statute 790 during hunting seasons
when such devices are legal for taking game.
The 2005 Florida Statutes Title XLVI,
Section, 790.001(1) states “Antique fi rearm
means any fi rearm manufactured in or before
1918 (including any matchlock, fl intlock, percussion
cap or similar early type of ignition
system) or replica thereof, whether actually
manufactured before or after the year 1918,
and also any fi rearm using fi xed ammunition
manufactured in or before 1918, for which
ammunition is no longer manufactured in the
United States and is not readily available in
the ordinary channels of commercial trade.”
and also any fi rearm using fi xed ammunition
manufacturing in or before available in the
ordinary channels of commercial trade. The
fact that the fi rearm is an antique fi rearm is
an affi rmative defense that the defendant has
the burden of alleging and proving. Williams
v. State 482 So.2d 1051 (Fla 1986).
Shooting hours for resident game
birds and game mammals: One-half
hour before sunrise to one-half hour after
sunset except when hunting turkeys during
spring turkey season. Shooting hours during
spring turkey season are one-half hour
before sunrise to sunset and on WMAs,
shooting hours are one-half hour before
sunrise to 1 p.m.
Shooting hours for migratory game
birds: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset,
except during fi rst phase of dove season
in which shooting hours are noon to sunset.
For migratory game bird hunting regulations
obtain the following brochures at your county
tax collectors’ offi ce or at MyFWC.com/hunting:
2008-2009 Migratory Bird Regulations
for Dove, Snipe, Woodcock, Rail, Moorhen,
Crow and Early Waterfowl Seasons (available
in mid-September) and 2008-2009 Migratory
Game Bird Regulations for Waterfowl and
Coot Seasons (available in mid-October).
Hunter orange requirement: It is unlawful
to hunt deer or to accompany another
person hunting deer on public lands unless
each person is wearing a minimum of 500
square inches of daylight fl uorescent orange
material as an outer garment. Such clothing
must be worn above the waistline and can
include a head covering. This rule does not
apply during archery season.
Hunting dogs: Dogs may be used as
an aid in taking game mammals and game
birds, unless otherwise prohibited. Persons
owning or using dogs shall not knowingly
or negligently permit such dogs to trail,
pursue or otherwise molest game during
closed seasons. While hunting during
archery, crossbow or muzzleloading gun
seasons, taking deer or wild hogs with dogs
is prohibited. Dogs on leashes may be used
to trail wounded game mammals during all
seasons. Taking turkeys with dogs at any
time is prohibited. Hunters who use dogs for
hunting, including bird dogs or retrievers, are
required to have their dogs wear collars that
identify their owners. This regulation also
requires dog hunters to possess landowners’
written permission before using their dogs to
pursue game on private property. For more
information, contact an FWC regional offi ce
(see page 4).
Deer dogs: Deer dogs can be trained during
closed seasons when dogs are constantly
attached to leashes or ropes in the hands
of their trainers for training purposes. Deer
dogs are permitted to run free for training
purposes only during deer-dog training seasons
(see page 17). Taking deer or any other
wildlife with a gun is prohibited while training
deer dogs.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Statewide deer-dog registration: Deer
hunters using dogs on private properties in
Florida must obtain a no-cost registration
from the FWC. Registration requirements
apply to the deer-dog training season and
during any open deer hunting season when it
is legal to take deer with dogs. Registration
may be issued to landowners, hunting clubs
or anyone having rights to hunt the property.
Once a registration number has been issued,
the unique number must be affi xed
or attached to collars of dogs used to hunt
deer on registered properties. Hunters also
must possess copies of the registration while
hunting. To comply with the rule, deer-dog
hunters on private lands must have registration
numbers on their dogs’ collars; possess
copies of the registration; and keep their dogs
on registered properties. Applications are
available at an FWC regional offi ce (see page
4), county tax collectors’ offi ces and MyFWC.
com/hunting. Applications must be submitted
no later than 30 days prior to the fi nal day
of general gun season in the hunting zone
that the property is situated.
Bird dogs: On private lands during closed
seasons, bird dogs may be trained with
pistols fi ring blanks or balls or by taking
pen-raised quail (with shotguns only), when
birds have been banded with owners’ names
prior to releasing them. Training bird dogs is
permitted during specifi ed periods on Fred
C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb, J.W. Corbett,
Blackwater, Apalachicola, Point Washington,
Twin Rivers Blue Springs Unit, Cary and
Citrus WMAs.
Fox dogs: Foxes cannot be killed, but may
be chased year-round with dogs (see Furbearer
hunting regulations on page 19).
Feeding game: Taking game on lands or
waters upon which corn, wheat, grain, food
or other substances have been deposited
by means other than normal agricultural
harvesting or planting is prohibited, except
as noted below.
■ Resident game and wild hogs, other than
turkeys, may be hunted in proximity of
year-round game-feeding stations on
private lands, provided the feeding station
has been maintained with feed for at least 6
months at least six months prior to taking
resident game.
■ Wild turkey may not be taken if the hunter
is less than 100 yards from a game feeding
station when feed is present.
■ The intentional placement of feed in a
manner that is likely to create or creates a
public nuisance by attracting black bears,
foxes or raccoons is prohibited.
In addition to normal agricultural
harvesting or planting methods, mourning
and white-winged doves may be hunted over
agricultural crops that have been harvested
or manipulated and over natural vegetation
that has been manipulated.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2008-2009 15