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 21, 2020

I.       Executive Summary:  With this item, the staff seeks:

II.      Discussion:  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 81, subchapter E, authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) 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.

Texas 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) “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 TPWD Executive Director to determine bag limits, means and methods, and conditions for the taking of wildlife resources on wildlife management areas and public hunting lands, which includes units of the State Park System designated as public hunting lands.

III.     Recommendation:  The staff recommends the Commission adopt the following motions:

Motion 1 — "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes an open season on public hunting lands to run from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021."

Motion 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."

Attachment – 1

  1. Exhibit A – Proposed Public Hunting Activities for State Parks, 2020-2021 Season

Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A

PROPOSED STATE PARK HUNTS FOR 2020-2021
  State 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. 8-10 Yes
  Abilene Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 6   Dec. 8-10 Yes
  Abilene Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 8   Dec. 5-6 Yes
  Abilene Waterfowl   APH     Jan. 23-31 Partial
  Abilene Feral hogs (novice)   MHP 10   Jan. 29-31 Partial
2 Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area Deer, exotic, feral hogs GDE Special 10   Nov. 6-8, Dec. 4-6 No
  Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area Youth deer and feral hogs YDM Special 5   Oct. 24-25 No
  Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area Youth deer and feral hogs YDE TYHP 14   Dec. 11-13, Jan. 8-10 No
3 Atlanta Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 10   Dec. 1-3 Yes
  Atlanta Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 10   Jan. 16-18 Yes
4 Bastrop Youth deer and feral hog YDE Special 15   Jan. 1-3 Partial
  Bastrop Deer and feral hog GDA Special 15   Jan. 6-8 Partial
5 Big Bend Ranch Archery mule deer and exotics AMD Special 12   Oct. 12-15 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Mule deer and exotics MDG Special 12   Dec. 7-10 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Javelina and exotics GJE Special 12   Oct. 19-22 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Youth mule deer and exotics YDE Special 12   Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Partial
  Big Bend Ranch Quail   APH/e-Postcard 24   Jan. 4-6 Partial
6 Brazos Bend Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 60   Nov. 17-19, Dec. 1-3 Yes
7 Caprock Canyons Mule deer, white-tailed deer and feral hogs MDG Special 8   Dec. 8-11 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special   5 Dec. 15-18 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Youth mule deer, white-tailed deer, feral hogs YDE Special 8   Dec. 28-31 Yes
  Caprock Canyons Mule deer, white-tailed deer and feral hogs EDR APH/e-Postcard 4   Nov. 21-Dec. 6  
  Caprock Canyons Multiple small game EMS APH/e-Postcard 20   Oct. 1-31  
8 Choke Canyon - Calliham Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 3   Dec. 31-Jan. 3  
9 Choke Canyon - North Shore Archery deer, feral hogs ADE Special   4 Dec. 31-Jan. 3 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Deer, feral hogs GDE Special   4 Jan. 5-8 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 12   Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth deer, feral hogs YDE Special 4   Dec. 20-22 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth deer, feral hogs YDA Special 8   Nov. 7-8, 14-15 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Youth deer, feral hogs YDM Special 4   Nov. 21-22  
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Javelina GJE Special   2 Feb. 2-4 No
  Choke Canyon - North Shore Feral hogs EFH APH/e-Postcard   4 Feb. 8-23 No
10 Choke Canyon - South Shore Deer, feral hogs GDM Special 4   Dec. 1-3, 8-10 Yes
11 Colorado Bend Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDA Special 50   Dec. 1-4, Jan. 5-8 Yes
  Colorado Bend Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDE Special 25   Dec. 8-11 Yes
  Colorado Bend Youth deer, exotics and feral hogs YDE Special 50   Nov. 23-25, Dec. 21-23 Yes
12 Cooper Lake Youth deer, feral hogs YDA Special 12   Jan. 9-10 Yes
13 Cooper Lake- South Sulphur Unit Deer and feral hogs   APH/OSR     Dec. 5-20 Partial
14 Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 1   Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Copper Breaks Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 1   Dec. 5-7 Yes
  Copper Breaks Feral hog   APH/e-Postcard   6 Jan. 9-10, Jan. 16-17, Feb. 6-7 Yes
  Copper Breaks Waterfowl   APH/e-Postcard   6 Nov. 28-29, Dec. 19-20, Jan. 30-31 Partial
  Copper Breaks Youth/adult waterfowl   APH/e-Postcard   4 Sept. 19-20, 25-27 Partial
  Copper Breaks Dove   APH-OSR     Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 Partial
  Copper Breaks Dove (falconry)   APH-OSR     Nov. 23-27, Nov. 30-Dec. 4  
  Copper Breaks Feral hog   MHP   6 Dec. 11-13, Jan. 22-24 Yes
15 Davis Mountains Javelina and feral hogs GJE Special 16   Oct. 3-6, 7-10, 11-14, 15-18 Partial
16 Devils River-Del Norte Unit Exotics EXO Special 28   Jan. 15-18, 22-25 Yes
  Devils River-Del Norte Unit Youth exotics YEX Special 12   Jan. 1-4 Yes
17 Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDA Special 30   Nov. 10-13, Jan. 12-15 Yes
  Enchanted Rock Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDE Special 15   Dec. 8-11 Yes
  Enchanted Rock Archery deer, exotics, and feral hogs ADE Special 15   Oct. 20-23 Yes
18 Fairfield Lake Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 20   Jan. 5-8 Yes
  Fairfield Lake Youth deer and feral hogs YDA Special 40   Dec. 28-30, Dec. 31-Jan. 1 Yes
19 Fort Boggy Archery deer, feral hogs ADE Special   10 Oct. 5-9, 19-23 Yes
  Fort Boggy Deer, feral hogs GDE Special   10 Nov. 30-Dec. 4, Dec. 14-18 Yes
  Fort Boggy Feral hog GFH Special   5 Jan. 11-15 Yes
20 Garner Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 40   Jan. 4-6, 6-8 Yes
  Garner Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDE Special 40   Jan. 1-3, 8-10 Yes
  Garner Archery exotics and feral hogs AEX Special 8   Nov. 30-Dec. 4, Feb. 1-5 Partial
21 Government Canyon Archery deer and feral hogs ADE Special 5   Dec. 1-3 Yes
  Government Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 15   Dec. 8-10, Jan. 5-7, Jan. 12-14 Yes
22 Guadalupe River Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDE Special 6   Dec. 18-20 Yes
23 Guadalupe River-Bauer Unit Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDE Special 8   Nov. 21-23, 27-29 Partial
  Guadalupe River-Bauer Unit Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDE Special 4   Dec. 10-13 Partial
24 Hill Country Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 64   Nov. 9-11, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 14-16, Jan. 18-20 Yes
  Hill Country Youth deer and feral hogs YDA Special 16   Dec. 28-30 Yes
25 Honey Creek Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDE Special 6   Dec. 18-20 Yes
26 Huntsville Squirrel   Reg/APH-OSR     Dec. 2, 3 Yes
27/28 Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 7   Jan. 12-14 Yes
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 14   Jan. 19-21, 26-28 Yes
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 7   Jan. 5-7 Yes
  Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns Deer and feral hogs (first-time hunter)   MHP 21   Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 Partial
29 Lake Brownwood Archery deer and feral hogs ADE Special 5   Dec. 7-9 Yes
  Lake Brownwood Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 10   Jan. 11-13, 13-15 Yes
  Lake Brownwood Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 5   Dec. 5-6 Yes
30 Lake Colorado City Dove   APH     Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Dec. 18-Jan. 14 Partial
31 Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10   Dec. 15-17 Partial
  Lake Mineral Wells Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 10   Dec. 5-6 Partial
  Lake Mineral Wells Deer and feral hogs ADE Special 4   Dec.7-9 Yes
32 Lake Somerville- Birch Creek Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 14   Dec. 16-18, Jan. 13-15 Yes
33 Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Youth deer, feral hogs YDE Special 12   Dec. 18-19, Jan. 16-17 Yes
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Feral hog GFH Special 5   Jan. 12-14 Yes
  Lake Somerville-Nails Creek Waterfowl   APH     Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Youth WF Partial
34 Lake Whitney Deer, exotics and feral hogs GDA Special 40   Dec. 7-9, 9-11, Jan. 4-6, 6-8 Yes
35 Martin Dies Jr. Youth deer and feral hogs   APH/e-Postcard 5   Dec. 5-6 Yes
36 Palmetto Youth deer   APH/e-Postcard 4   Dec. 19-20 Yes
37 Palo Duro Canyon Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 24   Dec. 26-28, 29-31, Jan. 1-3 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDM Special 9   Dec. 18-19, 20-21, 22-23 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDA Special 1   Dec. 20-21 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Youth deer (mobility) MHP Special 2   Dec. 18-19 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Deer, turkey, feral hogs (mobility) MHP Special 2   Dec. 20-21 Partial
  Palo Duro Canyon Turkey   APH/e-Postcard 4   Dec. 22, 23 Partial
38 Palo Pinto Mountains Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 4   Dec. 28-29, 30-31 No
39 Pedernales Falls Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDA Special 24   Dec. 17-19, Jan. 12-14 Yes
  Pedernales Falls Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDE Special 12   Dec. 21-23 Yes
40 Pedernales Falls Annex Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDE Special 6   Dec. 16-19, Jan. 11-14 Yes
41 Purtis Creek Waterfowl   MHP 32   Oct. 17; Jan. 9, 23 Partial
42 Resaca de la Palma White-winged dove   APH-OSR/ Reg     Sept. 5, 6, 12, 13 Partial
  Resaca de la Palma Mourning dove   APH-OSR/ Reg     Sept. 26, 27 Partial
43 San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 20   Nov. 10-12 Partial
  San Angelo Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 20   Dec. 1-3 Partial
  San Angelo Turkey GTS Special 20   Apr. 2-4 No
  San Angelo Youth deer and feral hogs YDA Special 20   Jan. 2-3 Partial
  San Angelo Youth deer and feral hogs YDE Special 20   Oct. 24-25 Partial
  San Angelo Deer and feral hogs (first-time hunter)   MHP 8   Jan. 22-24 Yes
  San Angelo Archery deer/turkey   APH/OSR     Oct. 3-31, Nov. 16-22 No
  San Angelo Dove   APH/OSR     Sept. 1-27, each day of second split No
  San Angelo Early teal   APH/OSR     Sept. 12-27 No
  San Angelo Quail   APH/OSR     Dec. 12-Feb. 28 No
  San Angelo Squirrel/rabbits   APH/OSR     Sept. 1-27, Dec. 12-Feb. 28 No
  San Angelo Waterfowl   APH/OSR     Dec. 12 thru end of Western goose No
44 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 waterfowl hunts No
  Sea Rim Youth-only waterfowl   Reg/APH/OSR     South Zone Duck - Youth No
  Sea Rim Rails, gallinules, and snipe   Reg/APH/OSR     Concurrent with waterfowl hunts No
  Sea Rim Youth alligator YAL Special 1   Sept. 19-20 No
  Sea Rim Feral hog GFH Special 8   Jan. 20-22, Feb. 3-5, 17-19, Mar. 3-5 No
45 Seminole Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDE Special 10   Dec. 7-11 Yes
  Seminole Canyon Deer and feral hogs GDA Special 10   Nov. 16-20 Yes
46 South Llano Exotics and feral hogs EXO Special 16   Oct. 6-8, 20-22 Yes
  South Llano Deer, exotics, and feral hogs GDA Special 30   Nov. 10-12, Dec. 8-10, Jan. 5-7 Yes
  South Llano Youth deer, exotics, and feral hogs YDE Special 16   Nov. 23-25, Dec. 17-19 Yes
46         1,337 66    
  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 on-line postcard selection            
  TYHP Texas Youth Hunting Program