Presenter: Linda Campbell

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Action
Amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation
Establishment of an Open Season on Public Hunting Lands
Approval of Public Hunting Activities on State Parks
May 2008

I. Executive Summary: This item presents proposed amendments to the Public Lands Proclamation and authorizes hunting activities on public hunting lands, including units of the State Park System. The proposed amendments would:

II. 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, provides the Commission with the authority to establish open seasons, and authorizes the Executive Director to determine bag limits, means and methods, and conditions for the taking of wildlife resources on wildlife management and public hunting lands, which includes units of the State Park System designated as public hunting lands.

Staff was authorized at the March 2008 meeting of the Regulations Committee to publish proposed rules in the Texas Register concerning creation of a Mentored Hunt Permit and waiving access fee requirements for spectators at hunting dog field trial events. The proposed rules appeared in the April 20, 2007 issue of the Texas Register (32 TexReg 2251, 2256). Staff will provide a summary of public comment received.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motions:

  1. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts amendments to §59.10, concerning the Public Hunting and Fishing Permits and Fees (located at Exhibit A), and §65.194, concerning the Public Lands Proclamation (located at Exhibit B), with changes as necessary to the proposed text as published in the April 18, 2008, issue of the Texas Register (33 TexReg 3167)"
  2. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009."
  3. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the public hunting activities contained in Exhibit C to take place on units of the State Park System."

Attachments - 3

  1. Exhibit A - Proposed Amendments to Fee Schedule
  2. Exhibit B - Proposed Amendments to Public Lands Proclamation
  3. Exhibit C - Hunting Activities Authorized for State Parks 2008-2009

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit C

Hunting Activities authorized for State Parks 2008-2009

Park Species/Hunt Type Special Hunt Category Type Permit No. Permits Proposed Hunt Dates Restricted Visitation
Abilene Dove APH/OSR Sept.1- Oct.30 N
Abilene Early Teal APH/OSR Sept. 15-30 N
Abilene Waterfowl APH/OSR North Zone N
Atlanta Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 20 Nov. 18-20, Dec. 2-4 partial
Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and unlimited exotics AMD Special 15 Oct. 17-21 partial
Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and unlimited exotics MDG Special 10 Dec. 11-15 partial
Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and unlimited exotics YDE Special 10 Dec. 6-7 partial
Big Bend Ranch Javelina GJE Special 15 Nov. 14-16, Jan. 9-11, 23-25 partial
Big Bend Ranch Quail APH/OSR Jan. 1-30 partial
Brazos Bend Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 60 Nov. 4-6, Dec. 2-4 Y
Caprock Canyons Mule deer, wt deer and feral hogs MDG Special 6 Dec. 2-5 Y
Caprock Canyons Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 20 Jan. 7-9, 21-23 Y
Caprock Canyons Youth only Quail APH postcard Dec. 13-14 Y
Choke Canyon — Calliham Unit Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 8 Jan. 12-14 Y
Choke Canyon — N. Shore Unit Youth Deer, feral hogs YDM Special 20 Dec. 6-7, Jan. 3-4, 10-11, Jan. 17-18, 24-25 Y
Colorado Bend Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 60 Nov. 19-21, Dec. 3-5, 10-12 Y
Colorado Bend Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 60 Jan. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 Y
Colorado Bend Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDE Special 10 Dec. 22-24 Y
Cooper Lake- South Sulphur Unit Deer and feral hogs APH/OSR Dec. 6-21 partial
Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 1 Dec. 5-7 Y
Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 1 Dec. 5-7 Y
Copper Breaks Quail APH postcard Jan. 3-4 Y
Copper Breaks Waterfowl APH postcard Jan. 5-6 Y
Davis Mountains Javelina GJE Special 16 Jan. 12-14, 14-16, 19-21, 21-23, partial
Devil's River Exotics AEX Special 20 Jan. 5-9 Y
Devil's River Exotics EXO Special 80 Dec. 8-10,10-12, Jan. 19-21, 21-23 Y
Devil's Sinkhole Deer ADE Special 20 Oct. 20-24
Devil's Sinkhole Deer GDE Special 12 Nov. 5-7
Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 15 Jan. 5-7 Y
Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 45 Jan. 7-9, 12-14, 14-16 Y
Fairfield Lake Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 80 Dec. 1-3, 3-5, 29-31, 31- Jan. 2 Y
Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs ADE Special 40 Oct. 13-15, 15-17 Y
Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs GDE Special 40 Dec. 8-10, 10-12 Y
Fort Boggy Feral hogs GFH Special 20 Jan. 5-7 Y
Garner Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 60 Dec. 8-10, 10-12, 15-17, 17-19 Y
Garner Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDA Special 10 Dec. 13-14 Y
Garner Exotics and feral hogs YEX Special 10 Jan. 17-18 Y
Garner Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 30 Jan. 19-21, 21-23 Y
Guadalupe River Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 20 Dec. 15-19 Y
Guadalupe River Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 60 Dec. 8-12 Jan. 5-9, 12-16 Y
Guadalupe River North Deer, exotics and feral hogs ADE Special 10 Oct. 13-17, 20-24 Partial
Guadalupe River North Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 5 Nov. 10-14 Partial
Guadalupe River North Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 5 Nov. 3-7 Partial
Guadalupe River North Spring Turkey Youth YTS Special 5 Mar. 28-29 Partial
Hill Country Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 35 Dec. 1-4 Y
Hill Country Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 90 Dec. 8-11,Jan. 12-15, 19-22 Y
Honey Creek Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 15 Dec. 15-19 Y
Honey Creek Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 45 Dec. 8-12, Jan.5-9, 12-16 Y
Honey Creek Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDA Special 10 Dec. 13-14 Y
Huntsville Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 45 Jan. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 Y
Huntsville Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 15 Dec. 29-31 Y
Huntsville Squirrel Reg/APH-OSR Dec. 17, 18 Y
Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10 Dec. 3-5 partial
Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 40 Dec. 10-12, Jan. 7-9, 14-16,21-23 partial
Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 10 Dec. 29-31 partial
Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 20 Dec. 10-12 Y
Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 25 Dec. 15-17 Y
Kickapoo Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 15 Dec. 6-7 Y
Lake Brownwood Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 5 Jan. 6-8 Y
Lake Brownwood Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 5 Jan. 13-15 Y
Lake Brownwood Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 10 Jan. 20-22, 27-29 Y
Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs GDM Special 20 Dec. 16-18, 29-31 partial
Lake Bob Sandlin Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 6 Dec. 2-4 Y
Lake Somerville- Birch Creek Deer, feral hogs ADE Special 12 Oct. 7-9 total
Lake Somerville- Birch Creek Deer, feral hogs GDA Special 12 Dec. 16-18 total
Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Deer, feral hogs ADE Special 6 Oct. 14-16 total
Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Youth Deer, feral hogs YDE Special 15 Dec. 27-28 partial
Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Waterfowl APH Early Teal, N. Zone duck and E. Zone goose partial
Lake Whitney Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA special 20 Jan. 5-7, 7-9, Y
Lost Maples Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 24 Dec. 29-31, Jan. 5-7, 7-9 Y
Possum Kingdom Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDA Special 12 Dec. 22-23, 29-30 Y
Purtis Creek Youth only Waterfowl APH Postcard Dec. 13, 27, Jan 10, 24 partial
Resaca de la Palma Mourning dove APH-OSR/ Reg Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9 Y
Resaca de la Palma Quail APH-OSR/ Reg Nov. 1, 2, 8, 9 Y
San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 60 Dec. 2-4 partial
San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 120 Nov. 18-20, Jan. 6-8 partial
San Angelo Youth Deer and feral hogs YDA Special 60 Nov. 15-16 Y
San Angelo Turkey GTS Special 40 Apr. 17-19, 24-26 N
San Angelo Archery Deer/Turkey APH/OSR Oct. 11- Nov.9, 22-30 N
San Angelo Dove, rabbit, squirrel, & waterfowl APH/OSR Sept 1-Oct. 10, on season dates open for each species on these dates. N
San Angelo Dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, & waterfowl APH/OSR Dec. 6- Feb. 28, on season dates open for each species on these dates. N
Sea Rim Youth Alligator YAL Special 10 Sept. 13-14 Sat. — Sun. N
Sea Rim Waterfow- Teal APH Early Teal season N
Sea Rim Waterfowl APH Open on Sun, Wed, and Fri of the general South Zone season N
Sea Rim Youth only Waterfowl APH special youth season N
Sea Rim Feral Hog Archery APH close of regular waterfowl — Apr. 1 only in marsh N. of Hwy 87 N
Seminole Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDE special 40 Dec. 1-3, 3-5, 8-10, 10-12 Y
South Llano Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 16 Jan. 5-7, 7-9, 12-14, 14-16 Y
Tony Houseman Feral hog APH Oct. 1- Mar. 31 N
Tony Houseman Squirrel APH Oct. 1-Feb. 1, May 1-31 N
Tony Houseman Youth squirrel APH Sept. 27-28 N
Tony Houseman Dove APH each day of Central Zone season N
Tony Houseman Waterfowl- Teal APH each day of Early Teal season N
Tony Houseman Waterfowl: duck & goose APH each day of North Zone season N
Tony Houseman Rabbits and hares APH no closed season N
Tony Houseman Fish, frogs, crayfish APH no closed season N
Tony Houseman Youth waterfowl APH South Zone Youth season dates N
Tony Houseman furbearers and predators APH Oct. 1- Mar. 31 N