Presenter: Robin Riechers
Ken Kurzawski
Mike Berger

Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Action
2006-2007 Statewide Hunting and Fishing and Alligator Proclamation
April 2006

I. Executive Summary: This item proposes adoption of the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation for the 2006-2007 seasons.

Wildlife

White-tailed Deer
Upland Game Birds
Alligator

Inland Fisheries

Marine Creek Reservoir (Tarrant County)
Statewide baitfish exceptions
Bowfishing

Coastal Fisheries

Prohibit the take of largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti)
Remove the requirement for the Tarpon tag
Black Drum
Reduce the possession limit for flounder to the daily bag limit
Naming tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) a game fish

II. Discussion: Responsibility for establishing seasons, bag limits, and means and methods for taking wildlife resources is delegated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61. Similar responsibility with respect to alligator is delegated under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 65. The proposed changes are based upon statutory requirements and Commission policy, including scientific investigation and required findings of fact where applicable. The potential changes are intended to increase recreational opportunity, decrease regulatory complexity where possible, promote enforcement, and provide for the sound biological management of the wildlife resources of the state.

III. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts amendments to §§65.3, 65.11, 65.24-65.26, 65.34, 65.42, 65.54, 65.56, 65.60, 65.62, 65.64, 65.66, 65.72, and 65.82, and §65.49, concerning the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation, and the repeal of §§65.354, 65.355, 65.356, and 65.364 and amendments to §§65.351, 65.353, 65.357, 65.358, 65.360, and 64.363, concerning the Statewide Alligator Proclamation, with changes as necessary to the proposed text as published in the February 24, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 1192)."

Attachments - 2

  1. Exhibit A - Proposed 2006-2007 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
  2. Exhibit B - Proposed Alligator Proclamation