Presenter: Vickie Fite

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Action
Establishment of an Open Season on Public Lands 2003-2004
Hunting Activities on State Parks
April 2003

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.

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 2003 meeting was briefed on preliminary proposals for 2003-2004 state park hunts and plans to streamline the process of developing public hunt proposals. The preliminary proposals for state park hunts were presented for public comment at 17 public meetings and were available on the department’s web site. A summary of public comment will be available at the time of the April meeting. Exhibit A, 2003-2004 State Park Hunts, identifies public hunting activities on units of the state park system for the 2003-2004 season.

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

  1. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the hunting activities designated in Exhibit A to be conducted on the listed units of the state park system."
  2. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open hunting season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004."

Exhibit A - Proposed 2003-2004 State Park Hunts


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Proposed 2003-2004 State Park Hunts

  PARK SPECIES/HUNT TYPE SPECIAL HUNT CATEGORY TYPE PERMIT # PERMITS PROPOSED HUNT DATES Visitation Restriction
               
1 Atlanta Deer GDA Special 39 Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 Y
               
2 Big Bend Ranch Deer GDE Special 8 Nov. 29- Dec. 3 partial
  Big Bend Ranch Javelina GJE Special 30 Nov. 13-15 Dec. 11-13, Jan. 8-10 partial
  Big Bend Ranch Quail   APH/OSR N/A Nov. 20-22, Dec. 18-20, Jan. 20-22 partial
               
3 Brazos Bend Deer GDE Special 120 Dec. 2-4, 16-18 Jan. 6-8 Y
               
4 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 Teal season. N
  Bryan Beach Waterfowl: duck   APH N/A each day of the South Zone season. N
  Bryan Beach Waterfowl: goose   APH N/A concurrent with duck hunts then every day of the Eastern Zone season + any special conservation seasons. N
  Bryan Beach Waterfowl: Youth (New)   APH N/A dates established by U. S. Fish and Wildlife for Special Youth Waterfowl Season N
               
5 Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/Feral hogs   APH N/A Sept. 27- Oct. 24 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/Feral hogs GDA Special 40 Jan. 19-21, 23-25 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/Feral hogs   APH N/A Nov. 1- Jan. 4 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Deer/Feral hogs Youth   APH N/A Oct. 26-27, Jan. 18-19 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Feral hog   APH N/A concurrent with deer and Jan. 26-Mar. 20 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Squirrel   APH N/A Oct. 1-Feb.1 and May 1-31 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Squirrel Youth   APH N/A Sept. 27-28 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Quail   APH N/A Oct. 25-Feb. 29 N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Spring turkey   APH N/A Apr. 12-25  
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Mourning Dove   APH N/A each day of the Central Zone season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- Teal   APH N/A each day of the Early Teal season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- ducks   APH N/A each day of the North Zone season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- geese   APH N/A each day of the Eastern Zone + any special conservation season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Waterfowl- ducks Youth   APH N/A North Zone Youth season dates N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Rails & Gallinules   APH N/A each day of the season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Snipe   APH N/A each day of the season N
  Caddo Lake SP/ WMA Woodcock   APH N/A each day of the season 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
               
6 Caprock Canyons Deer GDE Special 6 Dec. 3-5 Y
  Caprock Canyons Exotics EXO Special 20 Jan. 7-9, 14-16 Y
               
7 Choke Canyon - Calliham Unit Deer & Javelina GDA Special 24 Jan. 5-9, 12-16, 19-23 partial
               
8 Choke Canyon - N. Shore Unit Deer GDE Special 48 Nov. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30 N
               
9 Colorado Bend Deer GDE Special 60 Dec. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 Y
  Colorado Bend Deer GDA Special 60 Jan. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 Y
  Colorado Bend Deer Youth YDE Special 10 Dec. 22-24 Y
               
10 Cooper Lake- South Sulphur Unit Deer   APH/OSR N/A Dec. 6-21 partial
               
11 Davis Mountains Javelina GJE Special 20 Jan. 12-14, 14-16, 19-21, 21-23 partial
               
12 Devil's River Exotics EXO Special 40 Jan. 12-14, 14-16 Y
               
13 Devil's Sinkhole Deer ADE Special 20 Oct. 20-24 N/A
  Devil's Sinkhole Deer GDE Special 24 Nov. 3-5, 10-12 N/A
               
14 Martin Dies Jr. Squirrel Youth   Reg/APH-OSR N/A Dec. 6, 7, 13 partial
               
15 Enchanted Rock Deer GDE Special 30 Jan. 5-7, 12-14 Y
  Enchanted Rock Deer GDA Special 30 Jan. 7-9, 14-16 Y
               
16 Fairfield Lake Deer GDA Special 80 Dec. 1-3, 3-5, Jan. 5-7, 7-9 Y
               
17 Fort Boggy Deer ADE Special 30 Oct. 13-15, 15-17 Y
  Fort Boggy Deer GDE Special 30 Dec. 15-17, 17-19 Y
               
18 Garner Deer GDE Special 15 Dec. 2-4 Y
  Garner Deer GDA Special 30 Dec. 8-10, 10-12 Y
               
19 Guadalupe River Deer GDE Special 40 Jan. 5-7, 12-14 Y
  Guadalupe River Deer GDA Special 40 Jan. 7-9, 14-16 Y
               
20 Hill Country Deer ADE Special 50 Jan. 5-8, 12-15 Y
  Hill Country Deer GDE Special 40 Jan. 19-21, 26-28 Y
  Hill Country Deer GDA Special 60 Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 Y
               
21 Honey Creek Deer GDE Special 20 Jan. 5-7, 12-14 N/A
  Honey Creek Deer GDA Special 20 Jan. 7-9, 14-16 N/A
  Honey Creek Deer Youth YDE Special 20 Jan. 3-4, 10-11 N/A
               
22 Huntsville Deer GDA Special 45 Jan. 5-7, 7-9, 14-16 Y
  Huntsville Deer Youth YDE Special 15 Dec. 29-31 Y
               
23/24 Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer GDE Special 10 Dec. 10-12 partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer GDA Special 40 Dec. 17-19, Jan. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer Youth YDE Special 10 Dec. 29-31 partial
               
25 Kickapoo Caverns Deer GDE Special 20 Dec. 1-3 N/A
  Kickapoo Caverns Deer GDA Special 25 Dec. 8-10 N/A
               
26 Lake Brownwood Deer ADE Special 5 Jan. 6-8 Y
  Lake Brownwood Deer GDE Special 5 Jan. 13-15 Y
  Lake Brownwood Deer GDA Special 10 Jan. 20-22, 27-29 Y
               
27 Lake Houston Deer GDE Special 15 Jan. 12-14 partial
  Lake Houston Deer GDA Special 15 Jan. 19-21 partial
  Lake Houston Deer Youth YDE Special 15 Jan. 3-4 partial
  Lake Houston Squirrel & rabbit   Reg/APH-OSR N/A Dec. 8-12 (a.m. only hunts) Y
               
28 Lake Mineral Wells Deer GDA Special 20 Dec. 16-18 and 29-31 partial
               
29 Lake Bob Sandlin Deer GDA Special 6 Dec. 8-10 Y
               
30 Lake Somerville Deer GDE Special 40 Nov. 12-14 partial
  Lake Somerville Deer YDE Special 30 Dec. 21-22 Sat.-Sun partial
  Lake Somerville Waterfowl   APH N/A Early Teal and regular North Zone duck seasons partial
               
31 Lake Whitney Deer GDA Special 20 Jan. 5-7, 7-9 Y
               
32 Lost Maples Deer GDE Special 24 Jan. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 Y
               
33 Matagorda Island Deer GDE Special 25 Nov. 14-16 partial
  Matagorda Island Deer GDA Special 75 Nov. 28-30, Dec.12-14, 26-28 partial
  Matagorda Island Feral hog GFH Special 50 Jan. 23-25, Feb. 6-8 partial
  Matagorda Island Dove   Reg/APH N/A Sept. 26-28, Oct. 3-5 partial
  Matagorda Island Waterfowl   Reg/APH N/A only on Sat. and Sun., a.m. only, during South Zone season for duck partial
               
34 Mother Neff (prairie area ) Dove   APH N/A Sept. 2-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26 partial
               
35 Pedernales Falls Deer GDE Special 15 Jan. 6-8 Y
  Pedernales Falls Deer GDA Special 15 Jan. 13-15 Y
               
36 Pedernales Falls Annex Deer ADE Special 6 Oct. 2-6, 16-20 N
  Pedernales Falls Annex Deer GDE Special 6 Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 13-17 N
               
37 Possum Kingdom Deer Youth YDE Special 12 Dec. 22-23, 29-30 partial
               
38 Resaca de la Palma Feral hog GFH Special 18 Feb. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 N
  Resaca de la Palma White-winged dove   Reg/APH-OSR N/A Sept. Pending N
  Resaca de la Palma Mourning dove   APH N/A each day of the South Zone season. N
  Resaca de la Palma Quail   APH N/A Oct. 25- Feb. 29 except closed on GFH hunt days N
  Resaca de la Palma Rabbits and hares   APH N/A concurrent with dove and quail N
               
39 San Angelo Deer GDE Special 50 Dec. 2-4 N
  San Angelo Deer GDA Special 60 Nov. 18-20 N
  San Angelo Deer Youth YDA Special 60 Nov. 8-9 N
  San Angelo Turkey GTS Special 40 Apr. 9-11, 16-18 N
  San Angelo Archery Deer/Turkey   APH/OSR   Sept. 27-Oct. 26 N
  San Angelo Dove, rabbit, squirrel, & waterfowl APH/OSR N/A Sept 1-26, on season dates open for each species on these dates. N
  San Angelo Dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, & waterfowl APH/OSR N/A Dec. 13- Feb. 29, on season dates open for each species on these dates. N
               
40 Sea Rim Alligator Youth YAL Special 6 Sept. 20-21 Sat. - Sun. n
  Sea Rim Waterfow- Teal   APH N/A 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 South Zone season N
  Sea Rim Rail,Gallinule and snipe   APH N/A concurrent with Teal and waterfowl dates N
  Sea Rim Waterfowl Youth   APH N/A each day of the special youth season, ends at noon N
               
41 South Llano Deer GDA Special 16 Jan. 5-7, 7-9, 12-14, 14-16 Y
               
42 Tony Houseman Feral hog   APH N/A Sept 27- Mar. 15 N
  Tony Houseman Furbearers/Predators   APH N/A concurrent with feral hog and squirrel hunts including the youth season dates. N
  Tony Houseman Squirrel   APH N/A Oct. 1-Feb. 1, May 1-31 N
  Tony Houseman Youth squirrel   APH N/A Sept. 27-28 N
  Tony Houseman Waterfow- Teal   APH N/A each day of the Early Teal season N
  Tony Houseman Waterfowl: duck & goose   APH N/A Open each day of the North Zone season. N
  Tony Houseman Rabbits and hares   APH N/A no closed season N
  Tony Houseman Fish, frogs, crayfish   APH N/A no closed season N
  Tony Houseman Youth waterfowl   APH N/A South Zone Youth season dates N
  Tony Houseman Dove   APH N/A each day of the Central Zone season. N
               
      LEGEND        
               
  Special Hunt Category Codes   Permit Types:    
  ADE: Archery Deer; Either Sex   APH: Annual Public Hunting Permit  
  EXO: Exotic Only     APH/OSR: Annual Public Hunting Permit and On-Site Registration required
  GDA: Gun Deer; Antlerless or Spike   Reg/APH: Regular Permit (issued daily) or Annual Public Hunting Permit
  GDE: Gun Deer; Either Sex   Reg/APH-OSR: Regular Permit or Annual Public Hunting Permit with On-Site Registration required
  GFH: Gun Feral Hog     Special: Drawn Hunting permit  
  GJE: Gun Javelina     None: no permit required for this activity  
  GTS: Gun Spring Turkey            
  YAL: Youth Only Alligator          
  YDA: Youth Only Gun Deer; Antlerless or Spike          
  YDE: Youth Only Gun Deer; Either Sex          
               
  Visitation Restrictions:            
  Y- access is restricted to only drawn hunters          
  N- general access is not restricted during the hunt dates          
  Partial- access may be restricted for only part of a day or to only part of the park      
  N/A- the area to be hunted is normally not open to general visitation