Presenter: Herb Kothmann

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Action
Amendment to the Public Lands Proclamation
Establishment of an Open Season on Public Lands 2000-2001
Proposed Hunting Activities on State Parks
April 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 Regulations Committee at its January 1999 meeting authorized staff to publish the proposed amendments to the 2000-2001 Public Lands Proclamation in the Texas Register for public comment. The proposed amendment appeared in the March 3, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 1848). A summary of public comment on the proposed proclamation will be available to the Commission at the time of the hearing.

The proposed amendment to the Public Lands Proclamation is located at Exhibit A. Exhibit B, Candidate State Parks for 2000-2001 Public Hunts, names the units of the state park system on which public hunting activities will be conducted during the 2000-2001 season. Exhibit C establishes an open season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001.

II. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motions:

  1. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts an amendment to 31 TAC §§65.191, 65.193, and 65.199, concerning the Public Lands Proclamation, with changes to the proposed text as published in the March 3, 2000, issue of the Texas Register (25 TexReg 1848)."
  2. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the hunting activities designated in Exhibit B to be conducted on the listed units of the state park system."
  3. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open hunting season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001."

Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A - Proposed Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation
  2. Exhibit B - Hunting Activities on Units of the State Parks System
  3. Exhibit C - Fiscal Note (Available upon request)

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
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 regular permit fees for hunting and fishing activities on public lands for holders of an Annual Public Hunting permit; and waives regular permit fees for holders of certain annual permits 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) 389-4770 or 1-800-792-1112.

5. Statutory Authority.

The amendments are proposed under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E, which provides the Parks and Wildlife Commission with authority to establish an open season on wildlife management areas and public hunting lands and authorizes the executive director to regulate numbers, means, methods, and conditions for taking wildlife resources on wildlife management areas and public hunting lands; Chapter 12, Subchapter A, which provides that a tract of land purchased primarily for a purpose authorized by the code may be used for any authorized function of the department if the commission determines that multiple use is the best utilization of the land's resources; Chapter 62, Subchapter D, which provides authority, as sound biological management practices warrant, to prescribe seasons, number, size, kind, and sex and the means and method of taking any wildlife; and §42.0177, which authorizes the commission to modify or eliminate the tagging requirements of Chapter 42.

The amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E; Chapter 12, Subchapter A; Chapter 62, Subchapter D; and Chapter 42.

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.

(13) 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.

(14) 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.

(15) 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.

(16) 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").

(17) 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.

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

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

(20) 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.

(21) 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].

(22) 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.

(23) 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.

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

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

(26) 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.

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

(28) Predatory animals—Coyotes and bobcats.

(29) 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.

(30) 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.

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

(32) 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.

(33) Regular Permit—A permit issued on a first-come-first-served basis, on-site, at the time of the hunt that allows entry to and, in applicable instances, may allow the taking of designated species of wildlife on the issuing area.

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

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

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

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

(38) 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.

(39) 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.

(40) 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.

(41) 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.

(42) 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.

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

§65.193. Access Permit Required and Fees.

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

(c) Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit and Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit.

(1) Except as provided in 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]

(C) persons who enter Caddo Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area and do not hunt or enter upon the land;

(D) persons who enter and hunt waterfowl within the Bayside Marsh Unit of Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area;

(E) persons who enter the Bryan Beach Unit of Peach Point Wildlife Management Area and do not hunt; or

(F) persons who enter Zone C of the Guadalupe River Unit of the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area and do not hunt or fish..

(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


Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B

Proposed 2000-2001 State Park Hunts

# PARK SPECIES/
HUNT TYPE
SPECIAL HUNT CATEGORY TYPE PERMIT # PERMITS RECOM-MENDED HUNT DATES RESTRICT-ED ACCESS
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 N/A 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 concurrent with duck hunts then every day of the goose season including any special seasons. N
7 Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/feral hogs   APH N/A Sept. 30- Oct. 29 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/feral hogs GDA special 40 Jan. 22-24, 24-26 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/ feral hogs   APH N/A Nov. 4- Jan. 7 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/ feral hogs Youth   APH N/A Oct. 28-29 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Feral hog   APH N/A concurrent with deer and Jan. 15-Mar. 15 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Squirrel   APH N/A Oct. 1- Feb. 4 and May 1-31 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Squirrel (new) Youth/Adult   APH N/A Sept. 23-24 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Quail   APH N/A Nov. 4-Feb. 25 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Spring Turkey   APH N/A Apr. 16-29  
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Mourning Dove   APH N/A pending Central Zone N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- Teal   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- ducks   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- geese late season also   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- ducks Youth   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Rails & gallinules   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Snipe   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Woodcock   APH N/A pending N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Furbearers   APH N/A Nov. 1- Mar. 31 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Frogs, Rabbits, hares & predators   APH N/A no closed season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA 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 GDE special 20 Dec. 4-6, 6-8 Y
  Enchanted Rock Deer GDA special 20 Dec. 18-20, 20-22 Y
  Enchanted Rock Deer Youth YDE special 5 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 Feral Hog GFH special 25 Feb. 2-4 N
  Matagorda Island Dove   Reg/APH N/A Sept. 22, 23, 24 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 Quail Youth/Adult   APH N/A Oct. 28-29 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
  Sea Rim Rail,Gallinule and snipe   APH N/A concurrent with teal and waterfowl dates 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 Youth squirrel   APH NA Sept. 23-24 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
  Tony Houseman Youth waterfowl   APH N/A Open each day of the season N
  Tony Houseman Dove   APH N/A each day of the Central Zone season. N

Types of permits: 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 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