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:
- "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)."
- "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."
- "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
- Exhibit A - Proposed Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation
- Exhibit B - Hunting Activities on Units of the State Parks System
- 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