Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Presenter:  Linda Campbell

Action
Public Lands Proclamation
Establishment of an Open Season on Public Hunting Lands
Approval of Public Hunting Activities on State Parks
May 24, 2012

I.       Executive Summary:  This item seeks:

  • adoption of an open season on public hunting lands for the 2012-13 season; and
  • authorization of specific public hunting activities on public hunting lands, including units of the State Park System, for the 2012-2013 season.

II.      Discussion: Under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is authorized to promulgate rules governing access to and use of public hunting lands and specific hunting, fishing, recreational, or other use of wildlife management areas (WMA) and requires the Commission to prescribe by rule any terms, conditions, and fees for the issuance and use of permits.

Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 12, Subchapter A, provides that a tract of land purchased primarily for a purpose authorized by the code may be used for any authorized function of the Parks and Wildlife Department “if the Commission determines that multiple use is the best utilization of the land’s resources.” Additionally, Chapter 81, Subchapter E, provides the Commission with the authority to establish open seasons, and authorizes the Executive Director to determine bag limits, means and methods, and conditions for the taking of wildlife resources on wildlife management and public hunting lands, which includes units of the State Park System designated as public hunting lands.

III.     Recommendation:  Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the following motions:

  1. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013."
  2. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the public hunting activities contained in Exhibit A to take place on units of the State Park System."

Attachments-1

  1. Exhibit A-Proposed Public Hunting Activities for State Parks, 2012-2013

Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Exhibit A

PROPOSED STATE PARK HUNTS FOR 2012-2013
  PARK SPECIES/HUNT TYPE TYPE PERMIT # SPECIAL PERMITS PROPOSED HUNT DATES VISITATION RESTRICTION
1 Abilene Dove APH   Central Zone Dove season No
  Abilene Early Teal APH   Early Teal season No
  Abilene Waterfowl APH   North Zone Waterfowl No
  Abilene Feral hogs APH   Feb. 1-10 No
2 Atlanta Deer and feral hogs Special 12 Nov. 27-29 Yes
  Atlanta Deer and feral hogs Special 12 Dec. 18- 20 Yes
3 Stephen F. Austin Deer and feral hogs Special 12 Dec. 4-6 Yes
  Stephen F. Austin Deer and feral hogs Special 12 Jan. 8-10 Yes
4 Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and exotics Special 15 Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and exotics Special 6 Dec. 20-23 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Javelina and exotics Special 15 Dec. 14-16 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and exotics Special 12 Dec. 1-2 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Quail APH   Jan. 4-7, 11-14 Partial
5 Brazos Bend Deer and feral hogs Special 70 Nov. 13-15, Dec. 11-13 Yes
6 Brownwood Deer and feral hogs Special 5 Dec. 3-5 Yes
  Brownwood Deer and feral hogs Special 5 Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Brownwood Deer and feral hogs Special 10 Jan. 14-16, 16-18 Yes
7 Caprock Canyons Mule deer, WT deer and feral hogs Special 8 Dec. 12-14 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Exotics and feral hogs Special 20 Jan. 9-11, 23-25 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Youth Mule deer, WT deer, feral hogs Special 6 Dec. 26-28 Yes
8 Choke Canyon - N. Shore Deer, feral hogs Special 8 Dec. 15-17 Yes
  Choke Canyon - N. Shore Deer, feral hogs Special 8 Dec. 11-13 Yes
  Choke Canyon - N. Shore Deer, feral hogs Special 8 Dec. 4-6 Yes
  Choke Canyon - N. Shore Feral hogs Special 8 Mar. 5-7 Yes
  Choke Canyon - N. Shore Youth Deer, feral hogs Special 8 Dec. 8-9 Yes
  Choke Canyon - N. Shore Youth Feral hogs Special 8 Mar. 2-3 Yes
9 Colorado Bend Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 60 Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 Yes
  Colorado Bend Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 26-28 Yes
10 Cooper Lake- South Sulphur Unit Deer and feral hogs APH   Dec. 1-16 Partial
11 Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs Special 1 Dec. 7-9 Yes
  Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs Special 1 Dec. 7-9 Yes
  Copper Breaks Feral hogs Special 2 Feb. 1-3 Yes
  Copper Breaks Quail APH   Jan. 12-13 Yes
  Copper Breaks Waterfowl APH   Jan. 14-15 Yes
12 Davis Mountains Javelina and feral hogs Special 16 Jan. 7-9, 9-11, 14-16, 16-18 Partial
13 Devils River Exotics Special 25 Nov. 9-12 Yes
  Devils River Exotics Special 100 Dec. 28-31, Jan. 18-21, Feb.15-18, Mar. 15-18 Yes
14 Devils River- South Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 14-18 No
  Devils River- South Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 10 Nov. 23-27 No
15 Dinosaur Valley Deer and feral hogs Special 20 Jan. 7-9, 9-11 Yes
16 Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 17 Jan. 9-11 Yes
  Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 34 Dec. 4-6, Jan. 7-9 Yes
17 Fairfield Lake Deer and feral hogs Special 60 Nov. 26-28, 28-30, Dec. 19-21 Yes
  Fairfield Lake Youth Deer and feral hogs Special 20 Dec. 17-19 Yes
18 Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs Special 12 Oct. 15-17, 17-19 Yes
  Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs Special 12 Dec. 10-12, 12-14 Yes
19 Garner Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 36 Dec. 3-5. 5-7 Yes
  Garner Exotics and feral hogs Special 36 Dec. 10-12, 12-14 Yes
  Garner Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 1-2 Yes
  Garner Youth Exotics, feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 8-9 Yes
20 Guadalupe River Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 45 Dec. 3-7, 10-14, Jan 7-11 Yes
21 Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 5 Oct. 15-19 Partial
  Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 5 Nov. 26-30 Partial
  Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Feral hogs and exotics Special 5 Feb. 4-8 Partial
  Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 10 Nov. 10-11, 17-18 Partial
  Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Youth Exotic and feral hog Special 2 Oct. 6-7, 13-14 Partial
  Guadalupe River Bauer Unit Youth Spring Turkey Special 1 Mar. 23-24 Partial
22 Hill Country Deer and feral hogs Special 60 Dec. 3-6, 10-13 Yes
  Hill Country Feral hogs Special 60 Jan. 14-17, 21-24 Yes
23 Honey Creek Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 15 Dec. 10-14 Yes
  Honey Creek Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 30 Dec. 3-7 Jan. 7-11 Yes
24 Huntsville Deer and feral hogs Special 30 Jan. 9-11, 16-18 Yes
  Huntsville Youth Deer and feral hogs Special 15 Dec. 19-21 Yes
  Huntsville Squirrel APH or Regular   Dec. 5-6 Yes
25/26 Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs Special 10 Nov. 27-29 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs Special 40 Dec. 4-6 Jan. 2-4, 8-10, 15-17 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 26-28 Partial
27 Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs Special 20 Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs Special 25 Dec. 12-14 Yes
  Kickapoo Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs Special 15 Nov. 10-11 Yes
28 Lake Arrowhead Waterfowl Mentored   Dec. 5-6, 12-13, Jan 9-10, 16-17 Yes
29 Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 18-20 Partial
  Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 26-28 Partial
30 Lake Somerville- Birch Creek Deer, feral hogs Special 36 Dec. 11-13, Jan. 15-17, 29-31 Yes
31 Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Deer, feral hogs Special 6 Dec. 18-20 Partial
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Feral Hogs Special 35 Jan. 15-17 Yes
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Youth Deer, feral hogs Special 30 Dec. 29-30, Jan. 4-6 Partial
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Waterfowl APH   Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Eastern Zone Goose, Youth Season Partial
32 Lake Whitney Deer, exotics and feral hogs special 20 Jan. 7-9, 9-11 Yes
  Lake Whitney Deer, exotics and feral hogs special 10 Jan. 2-4 Yes
33 Palo Duro Canyon Exotics and feral hogs Special 30 Jan 23-25, 30- Feb. 1, 6-8 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 9 Jan. 19-20, 26-27, Feb. 2-3 Partial
34 Pedernales Falls Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 45 Dec. 4-6, 11-13, Jan. 8-10 Yes
35 Pedernales Falls Annex Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 6 Oct. 4-7, 18-21 No
  Pedernales Falls Annex Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 6 Nov. 8-11, 22-25 No
36 Possum Kingdom Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs Special 12 Dec. 20-21, 27-28 Yes
37 Purtis Creek Youth/Adult Waterfowl APH   Dec. 15, Jan. 12 Partial
38 Resaca de la Palma White-winged dove APH or Regular   Sept. 1, 2, 8, 9 Partial
  Resaca de la Palma Mourning dove APH or Regular   Sept. 22-23, 29-30, Oct. 6-7 Partial
  Resaca de la Palma Mentored Youth/ Adult Dove Mentored   Sept. 23 Partial
39 San Angelo Deer and feral hogs Special 30 Nov. 27-29 Partial
  San Angelo Deer and feral hogs Special 30 Nov. 13-15 Partial
  San Angelo Youth Deer and feral hogs Special 40 Nov. 10-11 Partial
  San Angelo Javelina Special 10 Jan. 11-13 Partial
  San Angelo Turkey Special 40 Apr. 12-14, 19-21 No
  San Angelo Archery Deer/Turkey APH   Oct. 13- Nov. 4, 17-25 No
  San Angelo Dove APH   Sept. 1- Oct. 12, Dec. 26- Jan 6 No
  San Angelo Early Teal APH   Early Teal season No
  San Angelo Quail APH   Dec. 1- Feb 24  
  San Angelo Squirrel/ Rabbits APH   Sept 1-Oct. 12, Dec. 1- Feb. 24 No
  San Angelo Waterfowl APH   High Plains Malllard and Western Zone Goose opens Dec. 1 through end of season No
  San Angelo Deer, javelina, and feral hogs Mentored   Oct. 19-21 Partial
40 Sea Rim Waterfow- Teal APH or Regular   Early Teal season No
  Sea Rim Waterfowl APH or Regular   Sun, Wed., & Fri. of the reg wfowl season. No hunts prior to Oct 26 or from Nov.26-Dec.7 No
  Sea Rim Geese APH or Regular   concurrent with waterfowl hunts No
  Sea Rim Youth only Waterfowl APH or Regular   South Zone Youth Season No
  Sea Rim Youth/ Adult Waterfowl APH or Regular   1st Sat. after Oct.26, Sat. after Thanksgiving, 1st Sat. of 2nd split No
  Sea Rim Rails, gallinules, snipe APH or Regular   each day of the waterfowl season No
  Sea Rim Feral hog APH   Monday after close of waterfowl season- Mar. 31  
41 Seminole Canyon Deer and feral hogs Special 40 Nov. 26-28, 28-30, Dec.10-12, 12-14 Yes
42 South Llano Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 10 Jan. 23-25 Yes
  South Llano Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 30 Nov. 14-16, Dec. 26-28, Jan. 9-11 Yes
  South Llano Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs Special 10 Dec. 1-2 Yes
43 Village Creek Feral Hog Special 10 Feb. 1-3 Partial
43 State Park units hunted 1,688 Total Special Permit Positions
  APH Annual Public Hunting Permit        
  Regular Regular (Daily) Hunting Permit        
  Special Special (Drawn) Hunting Permit