Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68A-12.007 - Hunting Dogs; Molesting Game in Closed Season; Training; Field Trials; Prohibited for Certain Hunting

(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 wildlife unless such dog is wearing a collar or tag displaying the information required above. Removing, tampering, or otherwise interfering with any collar or tag (including remote tracking and behavior correction devices) of a dog used for hunting without the owner's permission is prohibited.

All dogs not under physical restraint that are used for pursuing deer, wild hog, fox, or coyote must be equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction, except dogs used to pursue wild hog, fox or coyote during sanctioned mounted field trial events. The device(s) must be attached by a collar or similar means and must be used to deter dog egress from authorized areas or ingress into unauthorized areas. The remote tracking device(s) must include Global Positioning System (GPS) or telemetry tracking and the behavior correction device(s) must be designed to remotely correct dog behavior through auditory or physical stimulation.

(2) The purpose and intent of this subsection is to empower the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, upon the complaint of a landowner or lessee, to enforce against the unauthorized use of dogs for hunting. No person owning, having the care of, or using any dog shall permit such dog to trail, pursue or molest wildlife on the lands of another person without written permission from the landowner or lessee of said lands. Written permission shall be in the possession of each person using such dog on the lands of another person, and shall be presented for inspection upon request of any Commission wildlife officer or other law enforcement officer as referred to in subsection 68A-3.002(3), F.A.C.

(3)

(a) The purpose and intent of this subsection is to implement registration requirements for use of dogs to take deer on private lands.

(b) Registration -

1. No person shall use dogs to take, attempt to take, trail, pursue or molest deer on any privately-owned property unless such property has been registered with the Commission as set forth under this subsection. Privately-owned property shall be registered by the landowner(s), lessee, or other person designated by the landowner(s) via written permission as required under subsection (2), of this section. Individuals may register an aggregate of private lands including different ownerships under one registration. No more than one registration shall be in effect for each parcel of land at any given time. Registration shall not be required for use of dogs on leashes for trailing wounded game.

2. Applications for registering private lands for taking deer with dogs shall be on such form as prescribed by the Commission and shall include: a written description of the property boundaries and map showing property boundaries; total acreage of the property; name, street or physical address, and telephone numbers for the applicant and the landowner; a copy of a lease for hunting rights or written permission as required under subsection (2), of this section, where the landowner is not the applicant, and other information pertaining to the proposed activity necessary for registration issuance and enforcement of this rule.

(c) Requirements -

1. Each registration issued pursuant to this subsection shall include a registration number. In addition to requirements under subsection (1), of this section, no person shall use any dog for taking, attempted taking, trailing, pursuing or molesting deer unless such dog is wearing a collar or attachment to the collar legibly displaying the entire registration number specific to the registered property where said use of the dog is occurring.

2. No person using any dog for taking or attempting to take, trailing, pursuing, or molesting deer shall allow a dog off the registered property, whether intentionally or negligently.

3. No person shall participate in taking, attempted taking, trailing, pursuing or molesting deer on any privately-owned property unless such person is in possession of a copy of the registration for said privately-owned property.

(4) No person owning or having the care of any dog shall knowingly or negligently permit such dog to trail, pursue or otherwise molest game during the closed season except as herein provided.

(5) Bird dogs may be trained during the closed season for taking quail with the aid of a pistol firing a blank or a solid ball or as provided by Rule 68A-12.008, F.A.C.

(6) Deer dogs may be trained during the closed season for taking deer when such dogs are constantly attached to a leash or rope in the hands of the trainer. Deer dogs may be allowed to run free for training purposes only during the period beginning 35 days prior to the first day of the antlered deer season and closing 19 days thereafter, except in Zone D when the period shall begin the last Saturday of October and continue for 19 days thereafter. Taking wildlife with any gun while training deer dogs is prohibited.

(7) No field trials for dogs shall be conducted on any wildlife management area without Commission permit, except that a permit from the applicable landowner or primary area manager shall constitute sufficient authorization on wildlife management areas not owned by the Commission and having a designated field trial area. A hunting license and management area permit are not required to participate in organized field trials.

(8) During archery or muzzleloading gun season dogs on leash may be used for trailing wounded game mammals.

(9) While archery or muzzleloading gun hunting during special seasons the taking of deer or wild hog by the use or aid of dogs is prohibited.

(10) Taking turkey by aid of a dog is prohibited at any time.

(11) Taking bear by aid of a dog is prohibited except that dogs on leash may be used for trailing shot bear.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68A-12.007

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

New 8-1-79, Amended 6-22-80, 6-21-82, 7-27-83, 7-5-84, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-12.07, Amended 4-11-90, 3-1-94, 7-1-94, 9-7-97, Formerly 39-12.007, Amended 12-9-99, 8-22-04, 7-17-05, 7-1-08, 7-1-10, Amended by Florida Register Volume 41, Number 135, July 14, 2015 effective 7/29/2015, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 088, May 5, 2020 effective 7/1/2020, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 050, March 14, 2023 effective 7/1/2023, Amended by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 065, April 2, 2024 effective 7/1/2024.