Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Justin Dreibelbis

Action
Public Hunting Program
Establishment of an Open Season on Public Hunting Lands and Approval of Public
Hunting Activities on State Parks
May 25, 2017

I.      Executive Summary:  This item seeks:

II.     Discussion: Under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E, the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission is authorized to promulgate rules governing access to and use of public hunting lands and specific hunting, fishing, recreational, or other use of wildlife management areas (WMA) and requires the Commission to prescribe by rule any terms, conditions, and fees for the issuance and use of permits for such use.

Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 12, Subchapter A, provides that a tract of land purchased primarily for a purpose authorized by the Parks and Wildlife Code may be used for any authorized function of the Parks and Wildlife Department “if the TPW Commission determines that multiple use is the best utilization of the land’s resources.” Additionally, Chapter 81, Subchapter E, provides the TPW 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.

III.   Recommendation:  Staff recommends that the TPW Commission adopt the following motions:

  1. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018."

2. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes    the public hunting activities contained in Exhibit A to        take place on units of the State Park System."

Attachments – 1

  1. Exhibit A – Proposed Public Hunting Activities for State Parks,
    2017-2018 Season

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A

PROPOSED STATE PARK HUNTS FOR 2017-2018
  PARK SPECIES/HUNT TYPE DRAWN HUNT CATEGORY TYPE PERMIT HUNT POSITIONS HUNT GROUPS PROPOSED HUNT DATES Visitation Restriction
1 Abilene Archery Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 8   Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Abilene Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 8   Dec. 9-10 Yes
  Abilene Feral Hogs (archery/shotgun)   MHP 6   Feb. 3-4 Partial
  Abilene Waterfowl   MHP 10   Dec. 2-3 Partial
2 Albert & Bessie Kronkosky Deer, exotic, feral hogs YDE Special 5   Oct. 28-29 No
  Albert & Bessie Kronkosky Deer, exotic, feral hogs GDE Special 14   Nov. 3-5, Dec. 1-3 No
3 Atlanta Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 6   Nov. 28-30 Yes
  Atlanta Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 6   Jan. 13-15 Yes
4 Bastrop Youth Deer and feral hog YDE Special 15   Dec. 29-30 Partial
  Bastrop Deer and feral hog GDA Special 15   Jan. 3-5 Partial
5 Big Bend Ranch Archery Mule deer and exotics AMD Special 10   Oct. 2-5 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and exotics MDG Special 10   Dec. 4-7 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Javelina and exotics GJE Special 6   Oct. 9-12 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Youth Mule deer and exotics YDE Special 10   Dec. 8-10 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Quail   APH/e-Postcard 24   Oct. 30-Nov. 2, Nov. 13-16 Partial
6 Brazos Bend Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 50   Nov. 14-16, Dec. 19-21 Yes
  Brazos Bend Youth Deer and feral hogs YDM Special 15   Oct. 21-22 Partial
7 Caprock Canyons Mule deer, wt deer and feral hogs MDG Special 8   Dec. 6-8 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special   12 Jan. 10-12, 24-26 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Feral Hogs GFH Special   6 Jan. 17-19 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Youth Mule deer, wt deer, feral hogs YDE Special 8   Dec. 27-29 Yes
8 Choke Canyon - Calliham Deer, feral hogs GDA Special 5   Jan. 2-4 Yes
9 Choke Canyon - North Shore Archery Deer, feral hogs ADE Special 4   Jan. 2-5 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Deer, feral hogs GDE Special   4 Jan. 9-12 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 12   Nov. 28-30,Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Feral hogs GFH Special   4 Mar. 6-8 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth Deer, feral hogs YDE Special 4   Dec. 28-30 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth Deer, feral hogs YDM Special 4   Nov. 18-19 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth Feral hogs YFH Special   4 Mar. 3-4 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth Javelina YJE Special   2 Feb. 3-4 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth Deer, feral hogs YDA Special 8   Nov. 4-5, 11-12 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Javelina GJE Special   2 Feb. 6-8 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Feral hogs EFH APH/e-Postcard   4 Feb. 10-25 No
10 Choke Canyon - South Shore Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 2   Dec. 5-7 Yes
11 Colorado Bend Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 60   Dec. 20-22, Jan. 3-5, Jan. 10-12 Yes
  Colorado Bend Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 20   Jan. 17-19 Yes
  Colorado Bend Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDE Special 40   Dec. 2-3, Dec. 27-29 Yes
12 Cooper Lake- South Sulphur Unit Deer and feral hogs   APH/OSR     Dec. 2-17 Partial
13 Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 1   Dec. 1-3 Yes
  Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 1   Dec. 1-3 Yes
14 Davis Mountains Javelina and feral hogs GJE Special 16   Jan. 15-17, 17-19, 22-24, 24-26 Partial
15 Devils River-Dan Allen Hughes Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 12   Dec. 8-11 Yes
  Devils River-Dan Allen Hughes Unit Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 12   Dec. 16-19 Yes
16 Devils River-Del Norte Unit Exotics EXO Special 28   Jan. 5-8, 26-29 Yes
  Devils River-Del Norte Unit Youth Exotics YEX Special 12   Jan. 13-16 Yes
17 Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 17   Nov. 13-17 Yes
  Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 17   Jan. 22-26 Yes
  Enchanted Rock Archery Deer, exotics and feral hogs ADE Special 17   Oct. 23-27 Yes
18 Fairfield Lake Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 50   Jan. 1-3, Jan. 3-5 Yes
  Fairfield Lake Youth Deer and feral hogs YDA Special 50   Dec. 18-20, Dec. 20-22 Yes
19 Fort Boggy Archery Deer, feral hogs ADE Special 0   no hunt for 2017-2018 Yes
  Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs GDA Special 50   Oct. 16-18, 18-20 Yes
  Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs GDE Special 50   Nov. 13-15, 15-17 Yes
20 Garner Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 40   Jan. 1-3, 3-5 Yes
  Garner Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 40   Jan. 8-10, 10-12 Yes
  Garner Youth Deer, exotics & feral hogs YDE Special 30   Dec. 29-31, Jan. 6-7 Yes
  Garner Archery Exotics and feral hogs AEX Special 10   Dec. 4-8, Jan. 22-26 Yes
21 Government Canyon Archery Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 5   Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Government Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 2   Dec. 12-14 Yes
  Government Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10   Jan. 9-11, Jan. 16-18 Yes
  Government Canyon Deer and feral hogs GMD Special 5   Dec. 12-14 Yes
22 Guadalupe River-Bauer Unit Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 12   Nov. 3-5, 10-12, Dec. 1-3 Partial
  Guadalupe River-Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDM Special 4   Nov. 17-19 Partial
  Guadalupe River-Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 8   Nov. 13-16, Nov. 17-19 Partial
24 Hill Country Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 64   Nov. 13-15, Dec. 4-6, 18-20, Jan. 15-17 Yes
  Hill Country Youth Deer and feral hogs YDA Special 16   Jan. 1-3 Yes
25 Honey Creek Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 20   Dec. 8-10, 11-14 Yes
26 Huntsville Squirrel   Reg/APH-OSR     Dec. 6, 7 Yes
27/28 Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10   Dec. 2-4 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 20   Jan. 9-11, 16-18 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 10   Dec. 19-21 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs (Disabled)   MHP 14   Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7 Partial
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs (novice)   MHP 10   Dec. 12-14 Partial
29 Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 15   Dec. 1-5 Yes
  Kickapoo Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 15   Dec. 11-13 Yes
  Kickapoo Caverns Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 12   Jan. 13-15 Yes
  Kickapoo Caverns Archery Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 10   Oct. 2-6 Yes
30 Lake Arrowhead Waterfowl   MHP 15   Nov. 11; Dec. 12-13, Jan. 16-17 Partial
31 Lake Brownwood Archery Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 5   Dec. 4-6 Yes
  Lake Brownwood Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 10   Dec. 11-13, 13-15 Yes
  Lake Brownwood Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 5   Dec. 2-3 Yes
32 Lake Colorado City Dove   APH     Sept. 1-Oct. 31 Partial
  Lake Colorado City Dove   MHP     Sept. 9 Partial
33 Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10   Dec. 19-21 Partial
  Lake Mineral Wells Youth Deer and feral hogs YDE Special 10   Dec. 16-17 Partial
34 Lake Somerville- Birch Creek Deer, feral hogs GDA Special 12   Dec. 13-15, Jan. 10-12 Yes
35 Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Youth Deer, feral hogs YDE Special 12   Dec. 16-17, Jan. 13-14 Partial
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Feral Hog GFH Special 6   Jan. 9-11 Partial
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Waterfowl   APH     Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Youth WF Partial
36 Lake Whitney Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 40   Dec. 11-13, 13-15, Jan. 8-10, 10-12 Yes
37 Martin Dies Jr. Youth Deer and feral hogs   APH/e-Postcard 5   Oct. 13-14 Yes
38 Palo Duro Canyon Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 48   Jan. 8-10, 15-17, 18-20 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDM Special 9   Jan. 6-7, 11-12, 13-14 No
  Palo Duro Canyon Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 1   Jan. 4-5 Partial
39 Palo Pinto Mountains Youth Deer and feral hogs YDA Special 6   Dec. 27-28, 29-30 No
40 Pedernales Falls Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 24   Nov. 14-16, Dec. 12-14 Yes
  Pedernales Falls Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 12   Jan. 2-4 Yes
41 Pedernales Falls Annex Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 6   Dec. 11-14, Jan. 2-4 No
42 Purtis Creek Waterfowl   MHP 40   Oct. 14; Jan. 6, 20 Partial
43 Resaca de la Palma White-winged dove   APH-OSR/ Reg     Sept. 2, 3, 9, 10 Partial
  Resaca de la Palma Mourning dove   APH-OSR/ Reg     Sept. 23, 24, 30, Oct. 1, 7, 8 Partial
44 San Angelo Deer and feral hogs (Disabled)   MHP 6   Oct. 21-22 Yes
  San Angelo Youth Deer and feral hogs YDA Special 20   Nov. 11-12 Partial
  San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 20   Nov. 14-16 Partial
  San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 15   Dec. 5-7 Partial
  San Angelo Turkey GTS Special 20   Apr. 6-8 No
  San Angelo Archery Deer/Turkey   APH/OSR     Oct. 7-Nov. 4, Nov. 18-26 No
  San Angelo Dove   APH/OSR     Sept. 1- Oct. 1, Dec. 16- Jan. 7 No
  San Angelo Early Teal   APH/OSR     Early Teal season No
  San Angelo Quail   APH/OSR     Dec. 16-Feb. 25 No
  San Angelo Squirrel/ Rabbits   APH/OSR     Sept 1-Oct. 1, Dec. 16-Feb. 25 No
  San Angelo Waterfowl   APH/OSR     High Plains Mallard and Western Zone Goose - Dec. 16 through end of season No
45 Sea Rim Waterfowl- Teal   Reg/APH/OSR     Early Teal season No
  Sea Rim Waterfowl   Reg/APH/OSR     Sun, Wed., & Fri. of the South Zone Duck season No
  Sea Rim Geese   Reg/APH/OSR     concurrent with wf hunts No
  Sea Rim Youth only Waterfowl   Reg/APH/OSR     South Zone Duck - Youth No
  Sea Rim Rails, gallinules, snipe   Reg/APH/OSR     each day of the WF season No
  Sea Rim Youth Alligator YAL Special 1   Sept. 16-17 No
  Sea Rim Feral Hog GFH Special 8   Jan. 17-19, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 14-16, Feb. 28-Mar. 2 Partial
46 Seminole Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDM Special 10   Dec. 4-8 Yes
47 South Llano Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 40   Nov. 14-16, 28-30, Dec. 5-7, Jan. 9-11 Yes
  South Llano Youth Deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 16   Dec. 19-21, 27-29 Yes
  South Llano Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 20   Oct. 31-Nov. 2, Jan. 23-26 Yes
  TOTAL       1,560 38    
  Special Drawn Special Permit            
  MHP Mentored Hunting Permit            
  APH Annual Public Hunting Permit            
  OSR On-site Registration            
  Reg Regular (daily) Permit            
  e-Postcard Hunt by Postcard Selection