Agenda Items:

Committees

Jan. 20, 2000 Commission Meeting Transcripts

Regulations Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., Jan. 19, 2000

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744

Item No.	Subject	Public Hearing Agenda Item No.
	Approval of the Committee Minutes from the previous meeting.
	Summary of Minutes
1.	Chairman's Charges (Oral Presentation)	Committee Only
2.	2000-2001 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation Staff: Gary Graham, Hal Osburn, Phil Durocher	Committee Only
3.	Proposed Finfish License Limitation Program Staff: Paul Hammerschmidt	Committee Only
4.	Public Lands Proclamation Staff: Herb Kothmann	Committee Only
5.	Other Business

Summary of Minutes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regulations Committee
Nobember 17, 1999

BE IT REMEMBERED that heretofore on the 17th day of April 1999, there came to be heard matters under the regulatory authority of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of Texas, in the commission hearing room of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Headquarters complex, Austin, Travis County, Texas, beginning at 2:35 P.m., to wit:
I. APPEARANCES:

THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION:

REGULATIONS COMMITTEE:

CHAIR: Lee M. Bass
Dick Heath (absent)
Ernest Angelo, Jr.
John Avila, Jr.
Carol E. Dinkins
Alvin Henry (absent)
Katherine Armstrong Idsal
Nolan Ryan
Mark E. Watson, Jr.

THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT:

Andrew H. Sansom, Executive Director

II. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION:

1. CHAIRMAN’S CHARGES

Chairman Bass noted that the chairman’s charges had been distributed to the Commission and were available for public inspection. The chairman then entertained a motion from Commissioner Watson to approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Regulations Committee. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Armstrong Idsal and passed unanimously.

2. BRIEFING - STATUS OF LOCAL PARKS GRANTS SCOPING

Presenter: Tim Hogsett

Chairman Bass recognized Tim Hogsett of the Parks Division, who began by updating the Committee on recent legislative action affecting the Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA) program. Mr. Hogsett stated that the legislature had appropriated unexpended interest earned by the TRPA in the amount $5 million per year. Mr. Hogsett then provided a historical overview of TRPA grant programs and the current status of each. He continued with a detailed explanation of the Community Outdoor Recreation Outreach (CORO) program. Mr. Hogsett then presented the public input received at public scoping meetings. Commissioner Avila inquired as to the maximum match allowed by the department. Mr. Hogsett responded that it was currently capped at $500,000. Chairman Bass asked about public comment on outdoor parks funding. Mr. Sansom responded that there was some concern expressed about the ability of smaller communities to successfully compete in the process, and that although the subject did need to be kept in mind, more than half of the previous year’s funding went to smaller communities. He also stated that the Department was presently engaged in determining exactly how to approach the issue of regional parks. Commissioner Avila requested clarifying information on communities seeking to enlarge existing parks. Mr. Hogsett responded that the concept potentially encompassed a variety of activities, such as corridors and greenbelt linkages. He also noted that staff was working on making the application process available on the Internet, and in speeding up the reimbursement process. He then provided a timeline for implementation of new regulations for the program. Chairman Bass stated that he would like to see certain terms related to underserved populations defined in rule so that there would be definite criteria for administering the CORO program. Commissioner Idsal asked if CORO funds could be used for facilities. Mr. Hogsett replied that they probably could not.

3. BRIEFING - POTENTIAL CHANGES TO PARKS, HUNTING AND FISHING REGULATIONS FOR 2000-2001.

Presenter: Ken Kurzawski; Phil Durocher; Hal Osburn; Walt Dabney; Gary Graham
Chairman Bass recognized Ken Kurzawski of the Inland Fisheries Division. Mr. Kurzawski began by apprising the Committee of the department’s Fall scoping meeting process and the issues that seemed to be most on the minds of the Department’s constituents. Commissioners Dinkins and Avila discussed with Mr. Kurzawski and Mr. Sansom the situation concerning certain exemptions allowed for fishing licenses. The Chairman then recognized Larry McKinney, Senior Director of Aquatic Resources, who briefed the Committee on items that would be presented to the full Commission the following day. The Chairman then recognized Phil Durocher, Director of the Inland Fisheries Division, who addressed issues raised at the scoping meetings, primarily surrounding tournament exemptions from fishing regulations. Commissioner Avila wanted to know why some people were opposed to research to determine the biological impacts of tournament exemptions. Mr. Sansom replied that the department sought to conduct the research so that the issue could be settled definitively. Mr. Durocher then went through the staff recommendations for changes to the state’s fishing regulations, including changes to spotted and Guadalupe bass regulations, changes to bass regulations at three state parks, and changes to bass regulations on three reservoirs in central Texas. The Chairman then recognized Hal Osburn, Director of the Coastal Fisheries Division, who began by briefing the Committee on the department’s shrimp management initiative. Mr. Osburn then provided an overview of federal initiatives that might impact regulations in Texas. Chairman Bass and Mr. Osburn then discussed the nuances of the federal process and its potential impact on Texas, particularly with respect to the headboat industry. Mr. Osburn then briefed the Committee on limited entry issues in the finfish fishery. The Chairman recognized Mr. Walt Dabney, Director of the Parks Division, who addressed issues related to state parks raised during the scoping process. Mr. Dabney provided a historical overview of Hueco Tanks State Park, its archeological and cultural significance, and the Department’s stewardship obligations with respect to the impacts of rock-climbing activities on the park. Commissioner Dinkins commented that the department had a strong responsibility to protect the area. Chairman Bass suggested that the Department could perhaps assist in finding a private landowner willing to allow rock-climbing opportunity. Commissioner Angelo stated that the Department should strive to impress upon the climbing community the legitimacy of the Department’s concerns. Commissioner Dinkins expressed a desire for the Department to educate the public about such issues. Mr. Dabney then addressed the issue of flooding at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The Chairman then recognized Gary Graham, Director of the Wildlife Division, who provided the Committee with details of the scoping process as related to Wildlife Division responsibilities. Mr. Graham then introduced Jerry Cooke, Director of the Upland Wildlife Ecology Program. Mr. Cooke began by explaining the staff rationale for the way in which opening and closing dates for white-tailed deer are developed. Chairman Bass asked about the impacts associated with the harvest of yearling bucks. Commissioner Angelo inquired about survey protocols. Mr. Cooke answered the questions and proceeded to an explanation of breeding chronologies in the state’s ecological areas and the relationship between hunting pressure and population. Mr. Cooke continued by providing the staff proposals for changes to hunting regulations, including additional open seasons for Eastern turkey, modifications of antlerless harvest in a number of East Texas counties, an extension of the muzzleloader season into additional counties, the possibility of a South-Texas style bag limit in portions of the Edwards Plateau, and regulations concerning Henderson County and state-owned riverbeds in three counties in South Texas. Chairman Bass asked about the issue of crossbows and whether staff was considering proposing their use during the archery-only season. Mr. Cooke responded that no such change was being contemplated. Chairman Bass asked about the change to regulations concerning state-owned riverbeds. Mr. Cooke explained that the seasons had been closed in those areas since the early 60s, but that the closure was no longer biologically justifiable. An extended discussion of the issue ensued. Mr. Cooke then informed the Committee of a request from State Representative Turner to investigate the possibility of opening the white-tailed deer season approximately two weeks later than it currently opens. Chairman Bass stated that he felt individual landowners or wildlife co-ops could delay hunting activities as long as they wanted to. Commissioner Ryan asked if staff agreed with the request. Mr. Cooke responded that staff did not agree with the proposal. Commissioner Watson stated that he also felt that individual landowners or wildlife co-ops could delay hunting activities as long as they wanted to. The Chairman stated that unless there was any further comment from the Commissioners, his sentiment was to leave things as they are. Commissioner Dinkins stated that she didn’t believe there was sufficient public support for the change.

4. ACTION - SCIENTIFIC BREEDER REGULATIONS

Presenter: Jerry Cooke

by Commissioner Ryan and passed unanimously.
Gary Graham, Director of the Wildlife Division, began by introducing Mr. Jerry Cooke, Director of the Upland Wildlife Ecology Program. Mr. Cooke began by providing the Committee with an overview of the department’s efforts to gain consensus among the scientific breeder permit holders, the number and distribution of facilities across the state, and the staff’s proposed changes to the regulations. Commissioner Angelo asked what additional expenses would be incurred by the Department in administering the regulations as amended. Mr. Cooke replied that the fees charged to the permit holders would cover the cost of administering the program. Commissioner Angelo asked about the violation rate. Mr. David Sinclair, Director of Wildlife Enforcement, responded that 13 cases had been filed by the Law Enforcement Division in the previous year. Commissioner Angelo then inquired why the Department had so many reporting requirements. Mr. Cooke replied that with all the movement of deer, the reporting requirements were necessary for the Department to ensure that wild deer were not commingled with private deer. Commissioner Angelo made a motion to place the item before the full Commission for adoption. The motion was seconded.

5. BRIEFING - COMMERCIAL NONGAME PERMITS

Presenter: John Herron

Chairman Bass recognized John Herron, Director of the Wildlife Diversity Program. Mr. Herron reported that the previous year the Commission had initiated the Commercial Nongame permit program and had requested periodic status reports on its implementation and operation. He then quickly reacquainted the Committee with structure and intent of the program, the number of permits that the Department had issued to date, reporting compliance, and some of the more interesting data that had been received. Commissioner Angelo inquired about prairie dogs and horned lizards. Commissioner Armstrong Idsal asked about red-eared sliders. Commissioner Angelo asked if the initial trepidation voiced by collectors and dealers had abated. Mr. Herron replied that it had.

There being no further business, Chairman Bass adjourned the November 17, 1999 meeting of the Regulations Committee of the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Andrew Sansom

Regulations Committee
Briefing
Chairman's Charges
January 2000

(This item will be an oral presentation.)

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Gary Graham, Hal Osburn, Phil Durocher

Regulations Committee
Action
Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
January 2000

I. 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. The potential changes are based upon statutory requirements, including scientific investigation and required findings of fact where applicable. The proposed changes would increase recreational opportunity, promote enforcement, and provide for the sound biological management of the wildlife resources of the state.

II. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Regulations Committee adopt the following motion:

"The Regulations Committee authorizes staff to publish the proposed 2000-2001 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation, contained at Exhibit A, in the Texas Register for public comment."

Attachment - 1

1. Exhibit A - Proposed Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation for 2000-2001

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A

2001-2002 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
Proposal Preamble

1. Introduction.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proposes amendments to §§65.9, 65.11, 65.26, 65.42, 65.64, and 65.72, concerning the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. The amendment to 65.9, concerning General Rules, eliminates a provision that is no longer justified. The amendment to §65.11, concerning Lawful Means, allows the use of lawful archery equipment and crossbows during open spring Eastern turkey seasons. The amendment to §65.26, concerning Managed Lands Deer Permits, clarifies that tagging requirements apply only to deer affected by the landowner’s wildlife management plan. The amendment to §65.42, concerning Deer: implements four ‘doe days’ in Cass, Marion, and Harrison counties; implements ‘doe days’ through the Sunday following Thanksgiving and increases the buck limit in San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker counties; rewords regulatory language governing antlerless harvest in counties currently having 23-day ‘doe days’ to permit either-sex harvest through the Sunday following Thanksgiving; eliminates a special provision in Henderson County; and opens a muzzleloader-only open season in 11 Pineywoods counties. The amendment to §65.64, concerning Turkey, opens a spring Eastern turkey season in eight additional counties in East Texas. The amendment to §65.72: eliminates the statewide minimum length restrictions for Guadalupe and spotted bass; increases the minimum length requirement for largemouth bass on Lakes Jacksonville, Cleburne State Park, and Meridian State Park from 14 inches to 18 inches; replaces the minimum length restrictions for largemouth bass on Lake Austin, Buescher State Park Lake, and Town Lake with a 14-21 inch slot limit and allows only one largemouth bass of greater than 21 inches to be retained; increases the minimum length restrictions for blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish; decreases the bag limit and imposes a minimum length limit for sharks; and establishes a commercial season for sharks concurrent with federal seasons.

2. Fiscal Note.

Robert Macdonald, Wildlife Division regulations coordinator, has determined that for each of the first five years that the proposed amendments are in effect, there will be no additional fiscal implications to state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the proposed amendments.

3. Public Benefit - Cost Note.

Mr. Macdonald also has determined that for each of the first five years the proposed amendments are in effect:

(A) The public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rules as proposed will be the dispensation of the agency’s statutory duty to protect and conserve the wildlife resources of this state, the duty to equitably distribute opportunity for the enjoyment of those resources among the citizens, and the execution of the commission’s policy to maximize recreational opportunity within the precepts of sound biological management practices.

(B) There will be negligible effect on small businesses. There are no additional economic costs to persons required to comply with the rules as proposed.

(C) The department has not filed a local impact statement with the Texas Workforce Commission as required by Government Code, §2001.022, as this agency has determined that the rules as proposed will not significantly impact local economies.

(D) The department has determined that there will not be a taking of private property, as defined by Government Code, Chapter 2007, as a result of the proposed rules.

4. Request for Public Comments.

Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted to Robert Macdonald (Wildlife (512) 389-4775), Ken Kurzawski (Inland Fisheries 389-4591), Paul Hammerschmidt (Coastal Fisheries 389-4650), David Sinclair (Wildlife Enforcement 389-4854), or Dennis Johnston (Fisheries Enforcement 389-4628), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744; (512) 389-4775 or 1-800-792-1112.

5. Statutory Authority.

The amendments are proposed under the authority of Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61, Uniform Wildlife Regulatory Act (Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983), which provide the Commission with authority to establish wildlife resource regulations for this state.

The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61.

General Provisions

§65.9. Open Seasons: General Rules.

(a) [There is no open season on game animals or game birds on public roads and highways, the right-of-way of public roads and highways; or in any state-owned riverbed in Dimmit, Uvalde, and Zavala counties.]

[~~(b)~~] No antlerless deer permit is required to take an antlerless deer during the archery-only open season, except on lands for which Managed Lands Deer permits have been issued.

(b) [~~(c)~~] The hunting of roosting turkey is unlawful.

§65.11. Lawful Means. It is unlawful to hunt any of the wildlife resources of this state except by the means authorized by this section and as provided in §65.19 of this title (relating to Hunting Deer with Dogs).

(1) (No change.)

(2) Archery.

(A) A person may hunt by means of lawful archery equipment during any open season except a special muzzleloader-only antlerless deer season [~~or spring Eastern turkey season~~].

(B)-(E) (No change.)

(3) Crossbow. Crossbows are lawful during any general open season [~~except Eastern turkey seasons~~]. A person having an upper-limb disability may use a crossbow to hunt deer and turkey during an archery-only season, provided the person has in their immediate possession a physician's statement certifying the extent of the disability. When hunting turkey and all game animals other than squirrels by means of crossbow:

(A)-(D) (No change.)

(4)-(5) (No change.)

§65.26. Managed Lands Deer (MLD) Permits.

(a)-(c) (No change.)

(d) Except for deer taken under an Antlerless and Spike-Buck Control Permit, all deer harvested by MLD permit [~~on a property where MLD permits have been issued~~] must immediately be tagged with the appropriate MLD permit as specified in the WMP and either an appropriate tag from the hunting license of the person who killed the deer or a valid bonus tag.

(e)-(g) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's authority.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on

The amendments are proposed under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61, Uniform Wildlife Regulatory Act (Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983), which provides the Commission with authority to establish wildlife resource regulations for this state.

The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61.

Seasons and Bag Limits-Hunting Provisions

§65.42. Deer.

(a) (No change.)

(b) White-tailed deer. The open seasons and annual bag limits for white-tailed deer shall be as follows.

(1)-(3) (No change.)

(4) No person may take or attempt to take more than one buck deer per license year from the counties, in the aggregate, listed within this paragraph, except as provided in subsection (a) of this section or authorized under the provisions of §65.26 of this title (relating to Managed Land Deer Permits).

(A)-(D) (No change.)

(E) In Anderson, Bowie, Brazos, Burleson, Camp, [~~Cass,~~] Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Grimes, [~~Harrison,~~] Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Leon, Limestone, Madison, [~~Marion,~~] Morris, Navarro, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, [~~San Jacinto,~~] Smith, Titus, [~~Trinity,~~] Upshur, Van Zandt, [~~Walker,~~] and Wood counties, there is a general open season.

(i) Open season: first Saturday in November through the first Sunday in January.

(ii) Bag limit: three deer, no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless.

(iii) Antlerless deer may be taken only by MLD antlerless permits or LAMPS permits.

[(iv) Special Requirement: In that portion of Henderson County bounded on the north by the county line, on the east by U.S. Highway 175 and Tin Can Alley Road, on the south by State Highway 31, and on the west by State Highway 274, hunting of deer is restricted to shotguns with buckshot, longbow, compound bow, recurved bow, or crossbow. Other game animals or game birds may be taken only with shotgun, longbow, compound bow, recurved bow, or crossbow.]

(F) (No change.)

(G) In Cass, Harrison, Marion, Nacogdoches, Panola, Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby Counties, there is a general open season.

(i) Open season: first Saturday in November through the first Sunday in January.

(ii) Bag limit: three deer, no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless.

(iii) From Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving Day, antlerless deer may be taken without antlerless deer permits unless MLD or LAMPS permits have been issued for the tract of land. If MLD or LAMPS permits have been issued, they must be attached to all antlerless deer harvested on the tract of land. From the first Saturday in November through the day before Thanksgiving Day, and from the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving Day through the first Sunday in January, antlerless deer may be taken only by MLD antlerless deer permits or LAMPS permits. On National Forest, Corps of Engineers, Sabine River Authority and Trinity River Authority lands, antlerless deer may be taken only by MLD antlerless permits.

(H) (No change.)

(5) In Angelina, Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler counties, there is a general open season.

(A) Open season: first Saturday in November through the first Sunday in January.

(B) Bag limit: four deer, no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless.

(C) From opening day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving [~~During the first 23 days of the general season~~], antlerless deer may be taken without antlerless deer permits, unless MLD or LAMPS permits have been issued for the tract of land. If MLD or LAMPS permits have been issued, they must be attached to all antlerless deer harvested on the tract of land. After the first 23 days, antlerless deer may be taken only by MLD antlerless permits or LAMPS permits. On Corps of Engineers, Sabine River Authority and Trinity River Authority lands, antlerless deer may be taken only by MLD antlerless permits. On the Sam Houston, Bannister, Alabama Creek, and Moore Plantation Wildlife Management Areas, antlerless deer may [~~only~~] be taken by Wildlife Management Area antlerless permit only [~~written authorization of the U.S. Forest Service~~].

(6)-(7) (No change.)

(8) Muzzleloader-only open seasons, and bag and possession limits shall be as follows.

(A) In Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Brown, Burnet, Coke, Coleman, Comal (west of Interstate 35), Concho, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Hays (west of Interstate 35), Howard, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney (north of U.S. Highway 90), Llano, Mason, Medina (north of U.S. Highway 90), Menard, McCulloch, Mills, Mitchell, Nolan, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Travis (west of Interstate 35), Upton (that portion located both south of U.S. Highway 67 and east of state highway 349), Uvalde (north of U.S. Highway 90), and Val Verde (north of U.S. Highway 90; and that portion located both south of U.S. Highway 90 and west of Spur 239) counties, there is an open season during which only antlerless and spike-buck deer may be taken only with a muzzleloader.

(i) [~~(B)~~] Open Season: from the first Saturday following the closing of the general open season for nine consecutive days.

(ii) [~~(C)~~] Bag limit: four antlerless or spike-buck deer in the aggregate, no more than [~~two of which may be~~] two spike bucks.

(B) In Angelina, Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, and Tyler counties, there is an open season during which only antlerless and spike-buck deer may be taken only with a muzzleloader.

(i) Open Season: from the first Saturday following the closing of the general open season for nine consecutive days.

(ii) Bag limit: four antlerless or spike-buck deer in the aggregate, no more than two spike bucks and no more than two antlerless.

(9)-(10) (No change.)

§65.64. Turkey.

(a)-(b) (No change.)

(c) Eastern turkey. The open seasons and bag limits for Eastern turkey shall be as follows. In Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Montgomery (north of State Hwy. 105), Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Titus, Trinity, Tyler (north of U.S. Hwy. 190), and Walker counties, there is a spring season during which both Rio Grande and Eastern turkey may be lawfully hunted.

(1) Open season: the Monday nearest April 14 for 14 consecutive days.

(2) Bag limit (both species combined): one turkey, gobbler only.

(3) In the counties listed in this subsection:

(A) it is unlawful to hunt turkey by any means other than a shotgun, lawful archery equipment, or crossbows;

(B) it is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take turkeys by the aid of baiting, or on or over a baited area; and

(C) all turkeys harvested during the open season must be registered at designated check stations within 24 hours of the time of kill. Harvested turkeys may be field dressed but must otherwise remain intact.

(d) In all counties not listed in subsections (b) or (c) of this section, the season is closed for hunting turkey.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency’s authority to adopt.

Issued in Austin, Texas on

The amendment is proposed under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61, Uniform Wildlife Regulatory Act (Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983), which provides the Commission with authority to establish wildlife resource regulations for this state.

The proposed amendment affects Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61.

Seasons and Bag Limits-Fishing Provisions

§65.72. Fish.

(a) General rules.

(1)-(4) (No change.)

(5) Commercial fishing seasons.

(A) The commercial seasons for finfish species listed in this paragraph and caught in Texas waters shall run concurrently with commercial seasons established for the same species caught in federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

(B) The commercial fishing season in the EEZ will be set by the National Marine Fisheries Service for:

(i)-(ii) (No change.)

(iii) sharks (all species, their hybrids and subspecies) under guidelines established by the Fishery Management Plan for Highly Migratory Species.

(b) Bag, possession, and length limits. The bag and possession limits for red snapper become effective May 20, 1999.

(1) (No change.)

(2) There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or non-game fish, except as provided in these rules.

(A) (No change.)

(B) Statewide daily bag and length limits shall be as follows:

Species	Daily Bag	Minimum Length (Inches)	Maximum Length (Inches)
Amberjack, greater.	1	32	No limit
Bass: Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and Guadalupe bass.	5 (in any combination)
Largemouth and Smallmouth bass.		14	No limit
[~~Spotted and Guadalupe bass.~~]		[12]	[~~No limit~~]
Bass, striped, its hybrids, and subspecies.	5 (in any combination)	18	No limit
Bass, white	25	10	No limit
Catfish: channel and blue catfish, their hybrids, and subspecies.	25 (in any combination)	12	No limit
Catfish, flathead.	5	18	No limit
Catfish, gafftopsail.	No limit	14	No limit
Cobia.	2	37	No limit
Crappie: white and black crappie, their hybrids, and subspecies.	25 (in any combination)	10	No limit
Drum, black.	5	14	30
Drum, red.	3*	20	28*
*Special Regulation: During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly executed Red Drum Tag, a properly executed Exempt Red Drum Tag or with a properly executed Duplicate Exempt Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly executed Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fish retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag, an Exempt Red Drum Tag, a Duplicate Exempt Red Drum Tag, or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.
Flounder: all species, their hybrids, and subspecies.	10*	14	No limit
*Special Regulation: The daily bag and possession limit for the holder of a valid Commercial Finfish Fisherman's license is 60 flounder, except on board a licensed commercial shrimp boat.
Jewfish.	0
Mackerel, king.	2	27	No limit
Mackerel, Spanish.	7	14	No limit
Marlin, blue.	No limit	131 [~~114~~]	No limit
Marlin, white.	No limit	86 [81]	No limit
Mullet: all species, their hybrids, and subspecies.	No limit	No limit	*
*Special regulation: During the period October through January, no mullet more than 12 inches in length may be taken from public waters or possessed on board a vessel.
Sailfish	No limit	84 [76]	No limit
Saugeye	3	18	No limit
Seatrout, spotted.	10	15	No limit
Shark: all species, their hybrids, and subspecies.	1 [~~5 (in any combination)~~]	24 [~~No limit~~]	No limit
Sheepshead.	5	12	No limit
Snapper, lane.	No limit	8	No limit
Snapper, red.	4	15	No limit
Snapper, vermilion.	No limit	10	No limit
Snook.	1	24	28
Tarpon.	0		Catch and release only*.
*Special Regulation: One tarpon 80 inches in length or larger may be retained during a license year when affixed with a properly executed Tarpon Tag.
Trout: rainbow and brown trout, their hybrids, and subspecies.	5 (in any combination)	No limit	No limit
Walleye.	5*	No limit	No limit
*Special regulation: Two walleye of less than 16 inches may be retained per day.

(i) The following is a figure:

Location (County)	Daily Bag	Minimum Length (Inches)	Special Regulation
Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and Guadalupe bass, their hybrids, and subspecies.
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson)	5 (in any combination)	14
In all waters in the Lost Maples State Natural Area (Bandera)	0	No Limit	Catch and release only.
Bass: largemouth and smallmouth
Lake Toledo Bend (Newton, Sabine and Shelby).	8 (in any combination)	14	Possession Limit is 10.
Bass: largemouth.
Conroe (Montgomery and Walker), Fort Phantom Hill (Jones), Granbury (Hood), Lost Creek (Jack), and Ratcliff (Houston).	5	16
Lakes Fairfield (Freestone), Jacksonville (Cherokee), Cleburne State Park (Johnson), Meridian State Park (Bosque), San Augustine City (San Augustine), Calaveras (Bexar), O.H. Ivie (Coleman, Concho, and Runnels), Bright (Williamson), Cooper (Delta and Hopkins), Alan Henry (Garza), Aquilla (Hill), Bellwood (Smith), Casa Blanca (Webb), Old Mount Pleasant City (Titus), Rusk State Park (Cherokee), Welsh (Titus), Braunig (Bexar), Bryan (Brazos), and Gilmer (Upshur).	5	18
Nelson Park Lake (Taylor) and Buck Lake (Kimble).	0	No Limit	Catch and release and only.
Purtis Creek State Park Lake (Henderson and Van Zandt), Gibbons Creek Reservoir (Grimes), and Raven (Walker).	0	No Limit	Catch and release only except that any bass 21 inches or greater in length may be retained in a live well or other aerated holding device and immediately transported to the Purtis Creek or Huntsville State Park, or Gibbons Creek weigh stations. After weighing, the bass must be released immediately back into the lake or donated to the ShareLunker Program.
Lakes Pinkston (Shelby), Waxahachie (Ellis), Bridgeport (Jack and Wise), Georgetown (Williamson), Caddo (Marion and Harrison), Burke-Crenshaw (Harris), Grapevine (Denton and Tarrant), Davy Crockett (Fannin) , and Madisonville (Madison).	5	14-18 Inch Slot Limit	It is unlawful to retain largemouth bass between 14 and 18 inches in length.
Lakes Bastrop (Bastrop), Buescher State Park (Bastrop), Town (Travis) Austin (Travis) Houston County (Houston), Nacogdoches (Nacogdoches), Mill Creek (Van Zandt), Joe Pool (Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant), Walter E. Long (Travis), Timpson (Shelby), and Athens (Henderson), and Murvaul (Panola).	5	14-21 Inch Slot Limit	It is unlawful to retain largemouth bass between 14 and 21 inches in length. No more than 1 bass 21 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Lakes Fayette County (Fayette), Monticello (Titus), and Ray Roberts (Cooke, Denton, and Grayson).	5	14-24 Inch Slot Limit	It is unlawful to retain largemouth bass between 14 and 24 inches in length. No more than 1 bass 24 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Lake Fork (Wood, Rains and Hopkins)	5	16-24 Inch Slot Limit	It is unlawful to retain largemouth bass between 16 and 23 inches in length. No more than 1 bass 23 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Bass: smallmouth.
Lakes O. H. Ivie (Coleman, Concho, and Runnels), Belton (Bell and Coryell), Cisco (Eastland), Greenbelt (Donley), Oak Creek (Coke), Stillhouse Hollow (Bell), White River (Crosby), Whitney (Bosque, Hill and Johnson), Alan Henry (Garza), and Devil’s River (Val Verde) from State Highway 163 bridge crossing near Juno downstream to Dolan Falls.	3	18
Lake Meredith (Hutchinson, Moore, and Potter).	3	12-15 Inch Slot Limit	It is unlawful to retain smallmouth bass between 12 and 15 inches in length.
Bass: spotted
Lake Alan Henry (Garza)	3	18
Lake Toledo Bend (Newton, Sabine and Shelby).	8	12	Possession Limit is 10.
Bass: striped, its hybrids, and subspecies.
Lake Toledo Bend (Newton, Sabine and Shelby).	5	No Limit	No more than 2 striped bass 30 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson).	10 (in any combination)	No Limit	No more than 2 striped or hybrid striped bass 20 inches or greater in length may be retained each day. Striped or hybrid striped bass caught and placed on a stringer, in a live well or any other holding device become part of the daily bag limit and may not be released. Possession limit is 10.
Red River (Grayson) from Denison Dam downstream to and including Shawnee Creek (Grayson).	5 (in any combination)	No Limit	Striped bass caught and placed on a stringer, in a live well or any other holding device become part of the daily bag limit and may not be released.
Trinity River (Polk and San Jacinto) from the Lake Livingston dam downstream to the F.M. Road 3278 bridge.	2 (in any combination)	18
Bass: striped and white bass, their hybrids, and subspecies.
Lake Pat Mayse (Lamar) and Lake O’the Pines (Camp, Marion, Morris, and Upshur)	25 (in any combination)	10	No more than 5 striped, white, or hybrid striped bass 18 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Bass: white
Lakes Conroe, Livingston, Limestone, Palestine, Somerville, Buchanan, Canyon, Georgetown, Inks, Lyndon B. Johnson, Marble Falls, and Travis.	25	12
Lakes Texoma (Cooke and Grayson) and Toledo Bend (Newton, Sabine, and Shelby).	25	No Limit
Catfish: channel and blue catfish, their hybrids, and subspecies.
Lake Livingston (Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker).	50 (in any combination)	12	Possession limit is 50. The holder of a commercial fishing license may not retain channel or blue catfish less than 14 inches in length.
Trinity River (Polk and San Jacinto) from the Lake Livingston dam downstream to the F.M. Road 3278 bridge.	10 (in any combination)	12	No more than 2 channel or blue catfish 24 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson).	15 (in any combination)	12
Community fishing lakes, Bellwood (Smith), Dixieland (Cameron), and Tankersley (Titus).	5 (in any combination)	12
Catfish: flathead
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson) and the Red River (Grayson) from Denison Dam to and including Shawnee Creek (Grayson).	5	20
Crappie: black and white crappie, their hybrids and subspecies.
Lake Toledo Bend (Newton, Sabine, and Shelby).	50 (in any combination)	10	Possession limit is 50. From December 1, through the last day in February, there is no minimum length limit. All crappie caught during this period must be retained.
Lake Fork (Wood, Rains, and Hopkins) and Lake O’The Pines (Camp, Harrison, Marion, Morris, and Upshur).	25 (in any combination)	10	From December 1, through the last day in February, there is no minimum length limit. All crappie caught during this period must be retained.
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson).	37 (in any combination)	10	Possession limit is 50.
Drum, red.
Lakes Braunig and Calaveras (Bexar), Colorado City (Mitchell), Fairfield (Freestone), Nasworthy (Tom Green), and Tradinghouse Creek (McLennan).	3	20	No maximum length limit.
Shad: gizzard and threadfin shad.
The Trinity River below Lake Livingston between Polk and San Jacinto Counties.	500 (in any combination)	No Limit	Possession Limit 1,000 in any combination.
Sunfish: Bluegill, redear, green, warmouth, and longear sunfish, their hybrids and subspecies.
Purtis Creek State Park Lake (Henderson and Van Zandt).	25 (in any combination)	7
Trout: Rainbow and brown trout, their hybrids, and subspecies.
Guadalupe River (Comal) from the second bridge crossing on the River Road upstream to the easternmost bridge crossing on F.M. Road 306.	1	18
Walleye.
Lake Texoma (Cooke and Grayson).	5	18

(ii) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency’s authority to adopt.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Paul Hammerschmidt

Regulations Committee
Action
Proposed Finfish License Limitation Program
January 2000

I. DISCUSSION: Responsibility for establishing provisions enabling a commercial finfish fishery license limitation program is delegated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 47, Commercial Fishing Licenses authorized by passage of Senate Bill 1303 in the 76th Legislature. Further provisions establishing changes in seasons, bag limits, means and methods for taking wildlife resources is delegated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 61, Uniform Wildlife Regulatory Act (Wildlife Conservation Act of 1983).

Proposed rule changes include the creation of a Finfish Fishery Proclamation (§ 58.301 - §58.310), which creates the elements of a finfish license management program including rules to establish: a commercial finfish fishing license; eligibility requirements to receive the license in the 1999-2000 license year and subsequent years; provisions for transfer of licenses; the number of licenses an individual may possess; and rules regarding license requirements when commercial finfish fishing. Additionally, suspension and revocation guidelines are established associated with flagrant violations defined in this Chapter. A Review Board made up of 9 members distributed proportionally to historical finfish fishing license holders is created to review and advise the Department regarding appeal and hardship cases for eligibility into the license management program. The provisions for a license buyback program are established which allows the Department to purchase and retire commercial finfish fishing licenses in the future.

Proposed rule changes in the Finance Proclamation, §53.6, establish license fees, transfer fees, and duplicate license fees for resident and non-resident commercial finfish fisherman’s license. In the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation, §65.72 Fish, rules proposed define marking requirements for, and establish maximum numbers of commercial and recreational trotlines. In the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation, §65.78 Crabs and Ghost Shrimp, rules proposed define marking requirements for, and establish maximum numbers of crab traps used by commercial finfish fishermen. These rules regarding marking and placement of trotlines and crab traps, are designed to reduce conflict and are enforcement of existing regulations.

The rule changes combine to create a finfish fishery license management program and should provide increasing social and economic benefits for the finfish fishery in Texas. The program should stabilize effort in the fishery, thus creating a more stable and economically viable industry. The program should also provide the mechanisms needed to ensure reduction of effort through time, allowing for the long-term recovery and protection of the finfish fishery.

II. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Regulations Committee adopt the following motion:

"The Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes staff to publish the proposed regulation changes in the Texas Register for the required 30-day public comment period and hold public hearings."

Attachments - 3

1. Exhibit A - Finfish fishery Proclamation

2. Exihbit B - Finance Proclamation

3. Exhibit C - Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation, '65.72 fish and '65.78 crabs and Ghost Shrimp.

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit A

Finfish Fishery Proclamation

TITLE 31: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
PART 2: TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 58: ~~OYSTERS AND SHRIMP~~ SALTWATER COMMERCIAL FISHERIES

Subchapter D: STATEWIDE FINFISH FISHERY PROCLAMATION

§58.301: Finfish License Management Program

Delegation of Authority. The Commission delegates power and authority to the executive director to administer the Finfish License Management

§58.302: Display of License

(a) A boat operated for the purposes of commercial finfish fishing is required to have a commercial finfish fisherman's license plate issued under this subchapter prominently displayed as to be clearly visible from both sides of the boat.

(b) No more than one set of commercial finfish fisherman's license plates may be on board a commercial finfish fishing boat at any one time.

§58.303: License Transfer.

A commercial finfish fisherman's license may be transferred at any time.

§58.304: License Buyback Program

(a) Delegation of Authority. The commission delegates power and authority to the executive director to administer the Finfish License Buyback Program.

(b) Twenty percent of commercial finfish fisherman's license and commercial finfish fisherman's license transfer fees shall be set aside to be used only for the purpose of buying back commercial finfish fisherman's licenses from a willing license holder.

(c) License buyback application period.

(1) The department will open license buyback bid application periods (hereafter referred to as application) if available funds permit.

(2) The department shall establish during each application period a deadline for receipt of all applications.

(d) License buyback application requirements.

(1) The department shall consider all applications to the Finfish License Buyback Program provided the applicants meet the following requirements:

(A) A completed License Buyback Application form furnished by the department has been submitted to the Department by the application deadline;

(B) The applicant is the owner of the license submitted for buyback; and

(C) The applicant has submitted to the Department copies of all supplemental information as required in this subsection.

(2) A completed License Buyback Application shall contain:

(A) full name of the applicant;

(B) current address of applicant's residence;

(C) social security number of applicant;

(D) a copy of legal documentation that:

(i) documents applicant holds the sole rights and privileges to the license; or

(ii) documents that all members of a partnership or association, or each officer of a corporation, and the owner of a majority of a corporation's corporate stock, are in agreement to apply to the license buyback program.

(E) a copy of current commercial finfish fisherman's license; and

(F) if required, the applicant's bid offer, in U.S. dollars.

(3) Department records will be used to verify all information supplied by or pertaining to the applicant's history in the finfish fishery and in cases where the applicant has not provided adequate information for proper consideration of the application.

(e) Finfish license buyback criteria.

(1) The department may establish criteria each license year which will be used to determine qualifications for license buyback.

(2) The department may consider:

(A) duration of participation in fishery prior to enactment of Parks and Wildlife Code, ''47.001-47.086;

(B) amount of funds accumulated in the Finfish License Buyback Account;

(C) number of commercial finfish fisherman's licenses in the fishery issued in the license year of the specific bid offer application period;

(D) bid offers from previous application periods;

(E) established open market prices for licenses; and

(F) other relevant factors.

(f) Application Ranking Procedures.

(1) Ranking values will be assigned to all applications based on the above criteria.

(2) The Department will purchase licenses beginning with the highest ranking to the lowest.

(3) If bid offers are equally ranked, the Department will rank according to the ascending alphabetical order of the applicant's last name.

(g) Notification of acceptance or rejection of application.

(1) The department will notify each applicant in writing within 45 days of receipt of application regarding acceptance or rejection of application bid offer.

(2) Applicants whose bids are accepted must then notify the department of their intent to accept or reject the offer from the department within 15 days of the postmark of the notification letter sent by the department.

(3) The unsuccessful applicant may withdraw, resubmit, or amend an application for consideration during any future application periods.

(4) The department will continue to purchase in rank order as the buyback fund permits.

(h) Delegation of purchasing authority. The department may designate other qualified agents to purchase licenses on behalf of the department provided all purchased licenses are surrendered to the department and retired.

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit B

Finance Proclamation

TITLE 31: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 53: FINANCE

Subchapter A: LICENSE FEES AND BOAT AND MOTOR FEES

§53.6: Commercial Fishing Licenses and Tags

(a) Shrimping licenses. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1996, and thereafter:

(1) Licenses:

(A) resident commercial gulf shrimp boat (type 330)—$275;

(B) resident commercial bay shrimp boat (type 336)—$195;

(D) resident commercial shrimp boat captain's (type 333)—$25;

(E) nonresident commercial gulf shrimp boat (type 430)—$1,025;

(F) nonresident commercial bay shrimp boat (type 436)—$525;

(G) nonresident commercial bait-shrimp boat (type 437)—$525; and

(H) nonresident commercial shrimp boat captain's (type 433)—$100.

(2) License transfers:

(A) resident commercial gulf shrimp boat license transfer (type 383)—$5.00;

(B) resident commercial bay shrimp boat license transfer (type 366)—$195;

(D) nonresident commercial gulf shrimp boat license transfer (type 483)—$5.00;

(E) nonresident commercial bay shrimp boat license transfer (type 466)—$195; and

(F) nonresident commercial bait-shrimp boat license transfer (type 467)—$195.

(3) Duplicate License plates:

(A) resident commercial gulf shrimp boat (type 390)—$5.00;

(B) resident commercial bay shrimp boat (type 396)—$5.00;

(D) nonresident commercial gulf shrimp boat (type 490)—$5.00;

(E) nonresident commercial bay shrimp boat (type 496)—$5.00; and

(F) nonresident commercial bait-shrimp boat (type 497)—$5.00.

(b) Oystering licenses. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1996, and thereafter.

(1) Licenses:

(A) resident commercial oyster boat (type 306)—$350;

(B) resident sport oyster boat (type 328)—$10;

(D) resident commercial oyster fisherman's (type 370)—$100;

(E) nonresident commercial oyster boat (type 406)—$1,400;

(F) nonresident sport oyster boat (type 428)—$10;

(G) nonresident commercial oyster boat captain's (type 409)—$100; and

(H) nonresident commercial oyster fisherman's (type 470)—$250.

(2) License transfers:

(A) resident commercial oyster boat transfer (type 386)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial oyster boat transfer (type 486)—$5.00.

(3) Duplicate License plates:

(A) resident commercial oyster boat (type 395)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial oyster boat (type 495)—$5.00.

(1) Licenses. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1996:

(A) resident commercial fishing boat (type 304)—$15;

(B) commercial fishing boat (menhaden only) (type 325)—$3,500;

~~(D) resident commercial finfish fisherman's (type 371)—$75;~~

~~(E)~~ (D) resident commercial mussel and clam fisherman's (type 320)—$30;

~~(F)~~ (E) resident shell buyer's (type 324)—$100;

~~(G)~~ (F) nonresident commercial fishing boat (type 404)—$60;

~~(H)~~ (G) nonresident general commercial fisherman's (type 340)—$150;

~~(I) nonresident commercial finfish fisherman's (type 361)—$150;~~

~~(J)~~ (H) nonresident commercial mussel and clam fisherman's (type 420)—$800; and

~~(K)~~ (I) nonresident shell buyer's (type 424)—$1,500.

(2) Licenses and permits. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1997, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial fishing boat (type 304)—$15;

(B) class A menhaden boat (type 325)—$3,500;

(D) resident general commercial fisherman's (type 372)—$20;

~~(E) resident commercial finfish fisherman's (type 371)—$75;~~

~~(F)~~ (E) resident commercial mussel and clam fisherman's (type 320);

~~(G)~~ (F) resident shell buyer's (type 324)—$100;

~~(H)~~ (G) nonresident commercial fishing boat (type 404)—$60;

~~(I)~~ (H) nonresident general commercial fisherman's (type 340)—$150;

~~(J) nonresident commercial finfish fisherman's (type 361)—$150;~~

~~(K)~~ (I) nonresident commercial mussel and clam fisherman's (type 420)—$800;

~~(L)~~ (K) nonresident shell buyer's (type 424)—$1,500;

~~(M)~~ (L) menhaden fish plant permit (type 326)—$150; and

(N) (M) mussel dredge fee (type 323)—$30.

(3) License transfers. The following license transfer fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1996, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial fishing boat license transfer (type 384)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial fishing boat license transfer (type 484)—$5.00.

(4) Duplicate license plates. The following duplicate license plate fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1996, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial fishing boat (type 394)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial fishing boat (type 494)—$5.00.

(d) Crabbing licenses.

(1) Licenses and permits. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1998, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial crab fisherman's (type 338)—$500; and

(B) nonresident commercial crab fisherman's (type 438)—$2,000.

(2) License transfers. The following license transfer fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1998, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial crab fisherman's (type 368)—$500; and

(B) nonresident commercial crab fisherman's (type 468)—$2,000.

(3) Duplicate license plates. The following duplicate license plate fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1998, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial crab fisherman's (type 338)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial crab fisherman's (type 438)—$5.00.

(e) Finfishing licenses.

(1) Licenses and permits. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 2000, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$300; and

(B) nonresident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$1,200.

(2) License transfers. The following license transfer fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 2000, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$300; and

(B) nonresident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$1,200.

(3) Duplicate license plates. The following duplicate license plate fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 2000, and thereafter:

(A) resident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$5.00; and

(B) nonresident commercial finfish fisherman's (type xxx)—$5.00.

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit C

Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
§65.72 Fish and §65.78 Crabs and Ghost Shrimp

TITLE 31: NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 65: STATEWIDE HUNTING AND FISHING PROCLAMATION

§65.72. Fish

(a) - (b) NO CHANGE

(1) - (4) NO CHANGE

(5) Device Restrictions

(A) - (P) NO CHANGE

(Q) Trotline

(i) - (iii) NO CHANGE

(iv) In salt water:

(I) It is unlawful to use a trotline:

(-a-) NO TEXT CHANGE

(-b-) NO TEXT CHANGE

(-c-) not marked with yellow flagging attached to stakes or with a yellow floating buoy not less than six inches in height and six inches in width attached to end fixtures. All trotline floats must be yellow.

~~(-d-)~~ (-c-) NO TEXT CHANGE

~~(-e-)~~ (-d-) NO TEXT CHANGE

~~(-f-)~~ (-e-) NO TEXT CHANGE

~~(-g-)~~ (-f-) NO TEXT CHANGE

(II) NO CHANGE

(III) It is unlawful to fish for commercial purposes:

(-a-) with more than 20 trotlines at one time;

(-b-) any trotline that is not marked with yellow flagging attached to stakes or with a floating yellow buoy not less that six inches in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width attached to end fixtures;

(-c-) any trotline that is not marked with yellow flagging attached to stakes or with a yellow buoy bearing the commercial finfish fisherman=s license plate number in letters of a contrasting color at least two inches high attached to end fixtures;

(-d-) any trotline that is marked with yellow flagging or with a buoy bearing a commercial finfish fisherman=s license plate number other than the commercial finfish fisherman's license plate number displayed on the finfish fishing boat;

(IV) It is unlawful to fish for non-commercial purposes:

(-a-) with more than 1 trotline at any time;

(-b-) any trotline that is not marked with a floating yellow buoy not less that six inches in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width, bearing a two-inch wide stripe of contrasting color, attached to end fixtures;

(R) NO CHANGE

'65.78. Crabs and Ghost Shrimp

(a) - (c) NO CHANGE

(d) Devices, means and methods.

(1) NO CHANGE

(2) Only the following means and methods may be used for taking crabs:

(A) NO CHANGE

(B) Crab trap. It is unlawful to:

(i) fish for commercial purposes under authority of a commercial crab fisherman's license with more than 200 crab traps at one time;

(ii) fish for commercial purposes under authority of a commercial finfish fisherman's license with more than 20 crab traps at one time;

~~(ii)~~ (iii) fish for non-commercial purposes with more than six crab traps at one time;

~~(iii)~~ (iv) fish a crab trap in the fresh waters of this state;

~~(iv)~~ (v) fish a crab trap that:

(I) - (III) NO CHANGE

~~(v)~~ (vi) fish a crab trap for commercial purposes under authority of a commercial crab fisherman's license: ~~that is not marked with a floating white buoy not less that six inches in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width attached to the crab trap;~~

(vi) fish a crab trap for commercial purposes that is not marked with a white buoy bearing the commercial crab fisherman=s license plate number in letters of a contrasting color at least two inches high attached to the crab trap;

(vii) fish a crab trap that is marked with a buoy bearing a commercial crab fisherman's license plate number other than the commercial crab fisherman's license plate number displayed on the crab fishing boat;

(I) that is not marked with a floating white buoy not less that six inches in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width attached to the crab trap;

(II) that is not marked with a white buoy bearing the commercial crab fisherman's license plate number in letters of a contrasting color at least two inches high attached to the crab trap;

(III) that is marked with a buoy bearing a commercial crab fisherman's license plate number other than the commercial crab fisherman=s license plate number displayed on the crab fishing boat;

(vii) fish a crab trap for commercial purposes under authority of a commercial finfish fisherman's license:

(I) that is not marked with a floating yellow buoy not less that six inches in height, six inches in length, and six inches in width attached to the crab trap;

(II) that is not marked with a yellow buoy bearing the letter ‘F’ and the commercial finfish fisherman=s license plate number in letters of a contrasting color at least two inches high attached to the crab trap;

(III) that is marked with a buoy bearing a commercial finfish fisherman's license plate number other than the commercial finfish fisherman=s license plate number displayed on the finfish fishing boat;

(viii) - (xiv) NO CHANGE

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Herb Kothmann

Regulations Committee
Action
Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation
Proposed Hunting Activities on State Parks
January 2000

I. DISCUSSION: 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 of the code 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 areas. Chapter 62, Subchapter D, provides authority to the Commission to prescribe seasons, number, size, kind, sex and the means and methods for the taking of any wildlife on state parks. Chapter 42, §42.0177, authorizes the Commission to modify or eliminate the tagging requirements of Chapter 42.

The Executive Director may establish by executive order the Department policy with respect to hunting, fishing, and non-consumptive use on public hunting lands. The proposed amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation are contained in Exhibit A. Exhibit B, Candidate State Parks for 1999-2000 Public Hunts, names the units of the state park system to be considered for public hunts during 1999-2000 season.

II. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Regulations Committee adopt the following motions:

"The Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes staff to publish the proposed amendment to 31 TAC §65.192, concerning the Public Lands Proclamation, in the Texas Register for public comment."
"The Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes staff to solicit public comment concerning the hunting activities proposed for units of the state park system contained in Exhibit B."

Attachments - 2

1. Exhibit A - Proposed Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation

2. Exhibit B - Candidate State Parks for 1999-2000 Public Hunts

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Public Lands Proclamation
Proposal Preamble

1. Introduction.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission proposes amendments to §§65.191, 65.193, and 65.199, concerning the Public Lands Proclamation. The amendment to §65.191, concerning Definitions, lowers the minimum age requirement for persons supervising youths engaged in hunting activities, and is necessary to provide greater opportunity for young hunters. The amendment to §65.193, concerning Access Permit Required and Fees: creates a uniform requirement for possession of an Annual Public Hunting permit to enter department lands for the purpose of hunting; authorizes certain permit holders to access public waters from public hunting lands and fish from riverbanks on public lands; waives applicable fees for hunting and fishing activities on public lands for holders of an Annual Public Hunting permit; and waives applicable fees for certain permit-holders who do not engage in hunting or fishing. The amendment to §65.193 is necessary to, respectively: to simplify and streamline regulations; maximize public access to public resources; and to prevent persons from having to pay fees for activities in which they are not engaged. The amendment to §65.199, concerning General Rules of Conduct, requires a department-issued Antlerless Deer permit for the harvest of antlerless deer on Wildlife Management Areas jointly administered by the department and the U.S. Forest Service, and prohibits the disturbance or removal of wood, sand, soil, gravel, or shell from public hunting lands without the consent of the department. The amendment to §65.199 is necessary to properly manage the harvest of deer on certain department-administered properties and to protect public property.

2. Fiscal Note.

Robert Macdonald, regulations coordinator, has determined that for each of the first five years that the amendments as proposed are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications to state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the amendments.

3. Public Benefit - Cost Note.

Mr. Macdonald also has determined that for each of the first five years the amendments are in effect:

(A) The public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amendments as proposed will be the discharge of the department’s statutory duty to effectively and efficiently manage public hunting lands, access to them, and enjoyment of them.

(B) There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no additional economic cost to persons required to comply with the amendments as proposed.

(C) The department has not filed a local impact statement with the Texas Employment Commission as required by Government Code, §2001.022, as this agency has determined that the amendments as proposed will not impact local economies.

(D) The department has determined that there will not be a taking of private property, as defined by Government Code, Chapter 2007, as a result of the proposed amendments.

4. Request for Public Comments.

Comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to Herb Kothmann, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744; (512) 389-4774 or 1-800-792-4410.

5. Statutory Authority.

The amendments are proposed under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter ,.

The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter.

PUBLIC LANDS PROCLAMATION

§65.191. Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All other words and terms shall have the meanings assigned in §65.3 of this title (relating to Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation).

(1) Adult—A person 17 years of age or older.

(2) All terrain vehicle (ATV)— A motor vehicle which does not meet traffic code requirements for operation on a public roadway with respect to licensing, inspection and insurance requirements.

(3) Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit—A $40 permit, valid from issuance date through the following August 31, which allows entry to designated public hunting lands at designated times and the taking of wildlife resources as designated.

(4) Application fee—A non-refundable fee which may be required to accompany and validate an individual's application for a special permit.

(5) Authorized supervising adult—A parent, legal guardian, or individual at least 18 [21] years of age who assumes liability responsibility for a minor.

(6) Blind—Any structure assembled of man-made or natural materials for the purpose or having the effect of promoting concealment or increasing the field of vision of a person.

(7) Buckshot—Lead pellets ranging in size from .24-inch to .36-inch in diameter normally loaded in a shotgun (includes, but is not limited to 0 and 00 buckshot).

(8) Competitive hunting dog event (field trial)—A department-sanctioned contest in which the skills of hunting dogs are tested.

(9) Concurrent hunt—A hunt that maintains the same permit requirements, hunt dates, means and methods, or shooting hours or combinations thereof for more than one species of animal, as designated and subject to any special provisions.

(10) Consumptive user—A person who takes or attempts to take wildlife resources.

(11) Designated campsite—A designated area where camping and camping activities are authorized.

(12) Designated days—Specific days within an established season or period of time as designated by the executive director.

(12) Designated road—A constructed roadway indicated as being open to the public by either signs posted to that effect or by current maps and leaflets distributed at the area. Roads closed to the public may additionally be identified by on-site signing, barricades at entrances, or informational literature made available to the public. Designated roads do not include county or state roads or highways.

(13) Designated target practice area—An area designated by on-site signing or by order of the executive director within which the discharge of firearms for target practice is authorized.

(14) Designated units of the state park system—Specific units of the state park system approved by the commission for application of provisions of this subchapter.

(15) Disabled person—A paraplegic or a person who has a physician's statement in their immediate possession certifying that they qualify for handicapped parking privileges (criteria for permanent ambulatory disability as defined in Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6675a-5e.1, referenced in "Application for Disabled Persons - Special Registration Insignia").

(16) General Season—A specified time period, or designated days within a specified time period, during which more than one means or methods (as designated) may be used to take designated species.

(17) Headwear—A garment or item of apparel worn on or about the head.

(18) Immediate supervision—Control of a minor by an authorized supervising adult issuing verbal instructions in a normal voice level.

(19) Lands within a desert bighorn sheep cooperative—An aggregation of lands for which the concerned landowners and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have agreed to coordinate efforts to restore, manage, and harvest desert bighorn sheep.

(20) Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit—A $10 permit, valid from issuance date through the following August 31, which allows access to designated public hunting lands at the same times that access is provided by an APH permit. A LPU permit does not authorize the taking of wildlife resources, except on U.S. Forest Service lands where restrictions are placed on the type of device for taking wildlife which may be possessed.

(21) Limited use zone—An area designated by order of the executive director and/or by boundary signs on the area, within which public use is prohibited or restricted to specified activities.

(22) Loaded firearm—A firearm containing a live round of ammunition within the chamber and/or the magazine, or if muzzleloading, one which has a cap on the nipple or a priming charge in the pan.

(23) Minor—An individual less than 17 years of age.

(24) Non-consumptive activities—Activities which do not involve the take or attempted take of wildlife resources.

(25) On-site registration—The requirement for public users to register at designated places upon entry to and exit from specified public hunting lands, but does not constitute a permit.

(26) Permit—Documentation authorizing specified access and public use privileges on public hunting lands.

(27) Predatory animals—Coyotes and bobcats.

(28) Preference point system—A method of special permit distribution in which the probability of selection is progressively enhanced by prior unsuccessful applications within a given hunt category by individuals or groups.

(29) Public hunting area—A portion of public hunting lands designated as being open to the activity of hunting, and may include all or only a portion of a certain unit of public hunting land.

(30) Public hunting compartment—A defined portion of a public hunting area to which hunters are assigned and authorized to perform public hunting activity.

(31) Public hunting lands—Lands identified in §65.190 of this title (relating to Application) or by order of the executive director on which provisions of this subchapter apply.

(32) Regular Permit—A permit issued on a first-come-first-served basis, on-site, at the time of the hunt that allows the taking of designated species of wildlife on the issuing area.

(33) Restricted area—All or portions of public hunting lands identified by boundary signs as being closed to public entry or use.

(34) Sanctuary—All or a portion of public hunting lands identified by boundary signs as being closed to the hunting of specified wildlife resources.

(35) Slug—A metallic object designed for being fired as a single projectile by discharge of a shotgun.

(36) Special Permit—A permit, issued pursuant to a selection procedure, which allows the taking of designated species of wildlife.

(37) Special package hunt—A public hunt conducted for promotional or fund raising purposes and offering the selected applicant(s) a high quality experience with enhanced provisions for food, lodging, transportation, and guide services.

(38) Tagging fee—A fee which may be assessed in addition to the special permit fee for the harvest of alligators for commercial sale or prior to the attempted harvest of desert bighorn sheep or designated exotic mammals.

(39) Texas Conservation Passport (gold or silver edition)—A permit which provides group access at designated times to designated portions of public hunting lands for non-consumptive use as authorized under the Texas Conservation Passport Program.

(40) Wildlife management area (WMA)—A unit of public hunting lands which is intensively managed for the conservation, enhancement, and public use of wildlife resources and supporting habitats.

(41) Wildlife resources—Game animals, game birds, furbearing animals, alligators, marine mammals, frogs, fish, crayfish, other aquatic life, exotic animals, predatory animals, rabbits and hares, and other wild fauna.

(42) Wounded exotic mammal—An exotic mammal leaving a blood trail.

§65.193. Access Permit Required and Fees.

(a) - (b) (No change.)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) [paragraphs ~~(2) - (4)~~] of this subsection, it is an offense for a person 17 years of age or older to enter public hunting lands or take or attempt to take wildlife resources on public hunting lands at times when an APH permit is required without possessing an APH permit or to fail to display the APH permit, upon request, to a department employee or other official authorized to enforce regulations on public hunting lands. The fee for the APH permit is $40.

(2) A person possessing a LPU permit may enter public hunting lands at times that access is allowed under the APH permit, but is not authorized to hunt or fish[~~, except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection. The fee for the LPU permit is $10~~].

(3) Persons possessing an APH permit, a LPU permit, or Texas Conservation Passport (Gold or Silver) may use public hunting lands to access adjacent public waters, and may fish in adjacent public waters from riverbanks on public hunting lands [The APH permit is required of each person 17 years of age or older who enters the Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation, or Sam Houston National Forest WMAs and possesses a centerfire or muzzleloading rifle or handgun, a shotgun with shot larger than #4 lead, or lawful archery equipment or crossbow with broadhead hunting point; however, a person 17 years of age or older may enter these units with other legal devices for hunting as defined in this subchapter and take specified legal wildlife resources provided the person possesses a LPU permit.]

(4) The permits required under paragraphs (1) and (2) [~~(1) - (3)~~] of this subsection are not required for:

(A) persons who enter on United States Forest Service lands designated as a public hunting area (Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation, and Sam Houston National Forest WMAs) or any portion of Units 902 and 903 for any purpose other than hunting;

(B) persons who enter on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands (Aquilla, Cooper, Dam B, Granger, Pat Mayse, Ray Roberts, Somerville, and White Oak Creek WMAs) designated as public hunting lands for purposes other than hunting or equestrian use; or

(5) The permit required by paragraphs (1) and (2) [~~(1) - (3)~~] of this subsection is not valid unless the signature of the holder appears on the permit.

(6) A person, by signature of the permit and by payment of a permit fee required by paragraphs (1) and (2) [~~(1) - (3)~~] of this subsection waives all liability towards the landowner (licensor) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (licensee).

(d) - (l) (No change.)

(m) Any applicable regular permit fees for hunting or fishing activities will be waived for persons possessing an APH permit.

(n) Any applicable regular permit fees for authorized activities other than hunting or fishing will be waived for persons possessing an APH permit, a LPU permit, or Texas Conservation Passport (Gold or Silver).

(o) Except for the Texas Conservation Passport, all access permits apply only to the individual to whom the permit is issued, and neither the permit nor the rights granted thereunder are transferrable to another person.

(p) [~~(o)~~] It is an offense if a person fails to obey the conditions of a permit issued under this subchapter.

§65.199. General Rules of Conduct. This section applies to all public hunting lands unless an exception for a specific area and time period is designated by the executive director or by written permission of the department. It is unlawful for any person to:

(1)-(5) (No change.)

(6) disturb or remove of plants, wood, rocks, gravel, sand, soil, shell, artifacts, or other objects from public hunting lands, except as authorized by the department;

(7)-(12) (No change.)

(13) take an antlerless deer during the general open season on wildlife management areas jointly managed by TPW and the U.S. Forest Service (Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation, or Sam Houston National Forest) unless that person possesses on their person a TPW-issued WMA Antlerless Permit.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's authority to adopt.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B

Draft Proposal of State Park Hunts for 2000-2001

#	PARK	SPECIES/HUNT TYPE	SPECIAL HUNT CATEGORY	TYPE PERMIT	# PERMITS	PROPOSED HUNT DATES	Visitation Restriction
1	Arroyo Colorado	Deer Youth	YDE	special	8	Dec. 27-29, Jan. 13-14	N
	Arroyo Colorado NEW	Deer Youth	YDA	special	4	Nov. 24-26	N
	Arroyo Colorado	Feral Hog	GFH	special	8	Feb. 2-4, 16-18	N
2	Atlanta	Deer	GDA	special	60	Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21	Y
3	Big Bend Ranch	Deer	GDE	special	8	Nov. 25-29	partial
	Big Bend Ranch	Javelina	GJE	special	30	Nov. 11-13, Dec. 9-11, Jan. 9-11	partial
	Big Bend Ranch	Quail		APH/OSR	NA	Nov.7-9, Dec. 12-14, Jan. 23-25	partial
4	Brazos Bend	Deer	GDE	special	120	Nov. 14-16, Dec. 5-7, 19-21	Y
5	Brownwood	Deer	GDE	special	10	Jan. 2-4, 16-18	Y
	Brownwood	Deer	GDA	special	10	Jan. 9-11, 23-25	Y
6	Bryan Beach	Mourning Dove		APH	N/A	each day of South Zone season	N
	Bryan Beach	Waterfowl: early teal		APH	N/A	each day of the early seasons.	N
	Bryan Beach	Waterfowl: duck		APH	N/A	each day of the waterfowl seasons.	N
	Bryan Beach	Waterfowl: goose		APH	N/A	each day of waterfowl & goose seasons.	N
7	Caddo Lake	Deer/feral hogs		APH	N/A	Sept. 30- Oct. 29	N
	Caddo Lake	Deer/feral hogs	GDA	special	40	Jan. 22-24, 24-26	N
	Caddo Lake	Deer/ feral hogs		APH	N/A	Nov. 4- Jan. 7	N
	Caddo Lake	Deer/ feral hogs Youth		APH	N/A	Oct. 28-29	N
	Caddo Lake	Feral hog		APH	N/A	concurrent with deer and Jan. 15-Mar. 15	N
	Caddo Lake	Squirrel		APH	N/A	Oct. 1- Feb. 4 and May 1-31	N
	Caddo Lake	Squirrel (new) Youth/Adult		APH	N/A	Sept. 23-24	N
	Caddo Lake	Quail		APH	N/A	Nov. 4-Feb. 25	N
	Caddo Lake	Spring Turkey		APH	N/A	Apr. 16-29
	Caddo Lake	Mourning Dove		APH	N/A	pending Central Zone	N
	Caddo Lake	Waterfowl- Teal		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Waterfowl- ducks		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Waterfowl-geese late season also		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Waterfowl- ducks Youth		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Rails & gallinules		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Snipe		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Woodcock		APH	N/A	pending	N
	Caddo Lake	Furbearers		APH	N/A	Nov. 1- Mar. 31	N
	Caddo Lake	Frogs, Rabbits, hares & predators		APH	N/A	no closed season	N
	Caddo Lake	fishing		none	N/A	no closed season	N
8	Caprock Canyons	Deer (Mule )	GDE	special	6	Nov. 29- Dec. 1	Y
	Caprock Canyons	Exotics	EXO	special	30	Dec. 6-8, Jan. 3-5, Jan. 10-12	Y
9	Choke Canyon - Calliham Unit	Deer & Javelina	GDA	special	24	Jan. 1-3, 3-5, 8-10, 10-12, 15-17,17-19	partial
10	Choke Canyon - N. Shore Unit	Deer	GDE	special	48	Nov. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26	N
11	Colorado Bend	Deer	GDE	special	60	Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 6-8, 13-15	Y
	Colorado Bend	Deer	GDA	special	80	Jan. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26	Y
	Colorado Bend	Deer Youth	YDE	special	10	Dec. 27-29	Y
	Colorado Bend	Turkey	GTS	special	16	Apr. 25-27, May 2-4	partial
12	Davis Mountains	Javelina	GJE	special	16	Jan. 8-10, 10-12, 15-17, 17-19	partial
13	Devil's River	Deer	ADE	special	25	Nov. 13-17	Y
	Devil's River	Deer	GDE	special	20	Dec. 4-6	Y
	Devil's River	Deer	GDA	special	20	Dec. 11-13	Y
14	Devil's Sinkhole	Deer	ADE	special	30	Dec. 4-8	n/a
	Devil's Sinkhole	Deer	GDE	special	24	Jan. 8-10, 10-12	n/a
15	Enchanted Rock	Deer	GDA	special	40	Dec. 4-6, 6-8, 18-20, 20-22	Y
	Enchanted Rock	Deer Youth	YDE	special	10	Dec. 26-29	Y
16	Fairfield Lake	Deer	GDA	special	30	Dec. 4-6, 6-8	Y
17	Fort Boggy	Deer	ADE	special	30	Oct. 20-22, 27-29	N
	Fort Boggy	Deer	GDE	special	30	Dec. 12-14, 19-21	N
	Fort Boggy	Feral Hog	GFH	special	15	Jan. 26-28	N
18	Garner	Deer	GDE	special	15	Dec. 5-7	Y
	Garner	Deer	GDA	special	30	Dec. 11-13, 13-15	Y
19	Guadalupe River	Deer	GDE	special	40	Jan. 3-5, 10-12	Y
	Guadalupe River	Deer	GDA	special	40	Jan. 8-10, 17-19	Y
20	Hill Country	Deer	ADE	special	60	Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 6-8, 13-15	Y
	Hill Country	Deer	GDE	special	15	Jan. 8-10	Y
	Hill Country	Deer	GDE	special	15	Jan. 15-17	Y
	Hill Country	Deer	GDA	special	60	Nov.27-29, Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 18-20	Y
21	Honey Creek	Deer	GDE	special	20	Jan. 3-5, 10-12	Y
	Honey Creek	Deer	GDA	special	20	Jan. 8-10, 17-19	Y
	Honey Creek	Deer Youth	YDE	special	20	Jan. 6-7, 13-14 Sat-Sun	partial
	Honey Creek	Mourning Dove		APH/OSR	N/A	Sept. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24	partial
22	Huntsville	Deer	GDA	special	45	Jan. 3-5, 8-10, 10-12	Y
	Huntsville	Deer Youth	YDA	special	15	Dec. 27-29	Y
23/ 24	Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns	Deer	GDE	special	10	Dec. 6-8	partial
	Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns	Deer	GDA	special	40	Dec. 13-15, Jan. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19	partial
	Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns	Deer Youth	YDE	special	10	Dec. 27-29	partial
25	Kickapoo Caverns	Deer	ADE	special	90	Oct. 16-20, 23-27, 30-Nov. 3	Y
	Kickapoo Caverns	Deer	GDE	special	30	Nov. 6-8	Y
	Kickapoo Caverns	Deer	GDA	special	35	Nov. 13-15	Y
	Kickapoo Caverns	Deer Youth	YDE	special	35	Nov. 18-19	Y
26	Lake Houston	Deer	GDE	special	30	Jan. 8-10, 10-12	partial
	Lake Houston	Deer Youth	YDE	special	15	Jan. 6-7	partial
	Lake Houston	Squirrel & rabbit		regular	N/A	Dec. 11-15 (a.m. only hunts)	Y
27	Lake Mineral Wells	Deer	GDA	special	20	Dec. 26-28, Jan. 2-4	partial
28	Lake Somerville	Deer	GDE	special	40	Dec. 12-14	partial
	Lake Somerville	Deer	YDE	special	30	Dec. 20-21 Wed-Thu.	partial
29	Lake Whitney	Deer	GDE	special	10	Jan. 10-12	Y
	Lake Whitney	Deer	GDA	special	10	Jan. 8-10	Y
30	Lost Maples	Deer	GDE	special	24	Jan. 10-12, 17-19, 24-26	Y
31	Martin Dies Jr.	Squirrel Youth		regular		Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10 Sat- Sun	partial
32	Matagorda Island	Deer	GDE	special	25	Dec. 1-3	N
	Matagorda Island	Deer	GDA	special	75	Dec. 8-10, 15-17, Jan. 26-28	N
	Matagorda Island	Dove		Reg/APH		Sept. 22, 23, 24
	Matagorda Island	Feral Hog	GFH	special	25	Feb. 2-4	N
	Matagorda Island	Waterfowl		Reg/APH		only on Sat. and Sun., a.m. only, during South Zone season for duck	N
33	Mother Neff (prairie area )	Dove		APH	NA	Sept. 1, 5-8,11-15, 18-22, 25-29	partial
34	Pedernales Falls	Deer	GDE	special	30	Dec. 5-7, 12-14	Y
	Pedernales Falls	Deer	GDA	special	60	Jan. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25	Y
	Pedernales Falls	Deer Youth	YDE	special	30	Dec. 19-21, 26-28	Y
35	Pedernales Falls Annex	Deer	ADE	special	12	Oct. 5-9, 19-23, Nov. 2-6, 16-20	N
36	Possum Kingdom	Deer Youth	YDE	special	30	Dec. 26-27, 28-29, 30-31	partial
37	Resaca de la Palma	Feral hog	GFH	special	12	Feb. 2-4, 16-18	N
	Resaca de la Palma	White-winged dove		APH-OSR/ Reg	N/A	Sept. 2, 3, 9, 10 pending.	N
	Resaca de la Palma	Mourning dove		APH	N/A	each day of the mourning dove season South Zone.	N
	Resaca de la Palma	Quail		APH	N/A	Nov. 4- Feb. 25 except closed on GFH hunt days	N
	Resaca de la Palma	Rabbits and Hares		APH	N/A	concurrent with dove and quail	N
38	San Angelo	Deer	GDE	special	50	Dec. 5-7	N
	San Angelo	Deer	GDA	special	120	Nov. 10-12, 17-19	N
	San Angelo	Turkey	GTS	special	40	Apr. 6-8, 13-15	N
	San Angelo	Archery Deer/Archery Turkey		APH/OSR		Sept. 30-Oct. 29	N
	San Angelo	Dove, Rabbit, Squirrel, & Waterfowl		APH/OSR	NA	Sept 1-29, on season dates open for each species on these dates.	N
	San Angelo	Dove, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, & Waterfowl		APH/OSR	NA	Dec. 16- Feb. 28, on season dates open for each species on these dates.	N
39	Sea Rim	Teal Duck		APH	NA	each day of the early teal season, ends at noon	N
	Sea Rim	Waterfowl		APH	N/A	Open on Sun, Wed, and Fri of the general duck season, except on Dec. 25 & Jan. 1.	N
40	Seminole Canyon	Deer	GDE	special	14	Dec. 6-8, 13-15	Y
	Seminole Canyon	Deer	GDA	special	14	Dec. 4-6, 11-13	Y
41	South Llano	Exotic	EXO	special	10	Jan. 8-10, 10-12
42	Tony Houseman	Feral hog		APH	NA	Oct. 7 - Mar. 15	N
	Tony Houseman	Furbearers/Predators		APH	NA	Open each day of the season	N
	Tony Houseman	Squirrel		APH	NA	Open each day of the season	N
	Tony Houseman	Waterfowl: teal, duck & goose		APH	NA	Open each day of the seasons	N
	Tony Houseman	Rabbits and hares		APH	NA	Open each day of the season	N
	Tony Houseman	Fish, frogs, crayfish		APH	NA	Open each day of the seasons	N

**Permit types: Special permit - a $50 - $100 permit, valid for a 1-4 day period, issued to a limited number of people selected by drawing in advance of the hunt. Regular permit - a $10 daily permit issued at the hunt area on the day of the hunt on a first come-first served basis with option to limit the number of participants. Annual Public Hunting (APH) permit - a $40 annual permit which allows the holder to participate in all scheduled hunts conducted under the APH permit; on-site registration (OSR) may be required.

Top of Page

Agenda Items:

Committees

Regulations Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., Jan. 19, 2000

Summary of Minutes Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regulations Committee Nobember 17, 1999

Committee Agenda Item No. 1 Presenter: Andrew Sansom

Regulations Committee Briefing Chairman's Charges January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 2 Presenter: Gary Graham, Hal Osburn, Phil Durocher

Regulations Committee Action Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 2 Exhibit A

2001-2002 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation Proposal Preamble

Committee Agenda Item No. 3 Presenter: Paul Hammerschmidt

Regulations Committee Action Proposed Finfish License Limitation Program January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 3 Exhibit A

Finfish Fishery Proclamation

Committee Agenda Item No. 3 Exhibit B

Finance Proclamation

Committee Agenda Item No. 3 Exhibit C

Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation §65.72 Fish and §65.78 Crabs and Ghost Shrimp

Committee Agenda Item No. 4 Presenter: Herb Kothmann

Regulations Committee Action Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation Proposed Hunting Activities on State Parks January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 4 Exhibit A

Public Lands Proclamation Proposal Preamble

Committee Agenda Item No. 4 Exhibit B

Draft Proposal of State Park Hunts for 2000-2001

Summary of Minutes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regulations Committee
Nobember 17, 1999

Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Andrew Sansom

Regulations Committee
Briefing
Chairman's Charges
January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Gary Graham, Hal Osburn, Phil Durocher

Regulations Committee
Action
Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A

2001-2002 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
Proposal Preamble

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Paul Hammerschmidt

Regulations Committee
Action
Proposed Finfish License Limitation Program
January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit A

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit B

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit C

Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation
§65.72 Fish and §65.78 Crabs and Ghost Shrimp

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Herb Kothmann

Regulations Committee
Action
Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation
Proposed Hunting Activities on State Parks
January 2000

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Public Lands Proclamation
Proposal Preamble

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B