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AUSTIN, Texas -- The message state officials are sending to Texas waterfowl hunters is loud and clear -- take ^em! Duck and goose hunting seasons and bag limits adopted Aug. 31 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission reflect very little change from last year^s liberal regulations.
The commission action gives waterfowl hunters the maximum allowable hunting season under this year^s federal frameworks. The agency added a day to the youth hunt this year thus creating and entire youth-only weekend. Action was also taken to establish the special snow goose conservation order at this time rather than delay this process until later in the year.
According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveys, breeding duck populations remained near an all-time high of 42 million birds, 27 percent more than the long-term average, setting the stage for liberal seasons in Texas.
Duck hunting seasons for 2000-2001 in the North Zone are Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 11-Jan. 21, with a youth-only weekend on Oct. 21-22. In the South Zone, the dates are Oct. 28-Nov. 26 and Dec. 9-Jan. 21, with a youth-only weekend set for Oct. 21-22. The merganser and coot seasons run concurrently with the duck seasons with a bag limit of five mergansers (only one may be a hooded merganser) and 15 coots. Duck hunting seasons in the High Plains Mallard Management Unit are Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 28-Jan. 21 (89 days), with a youth-only weekend season on Oct. 14-15.
The duck bag limit statewide remains unchanged from last year at six ducks in the aggregate, which may include no more than five mallards (only two may be hens), three scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads, one mottled duck, one pintail and one canvasback.
This year, goose hunting season opens statewide Oct. 28. The light and dark geese seasons will also run concurrently statewide this year, closing on Jan. 21 in the Eastern Zone and Feb. 11 in the Western Zone. Bag limits remain the same as last year at 20 light geese per day and no possession limit. For dark geese, the bag limit in the Western Zone remains five daily with no more than one specklebelly, and in the Eastern Zone a daily limit of one Canada and two specklebellies.
The commission also established a special conservation season for light geese to be tacked on at the close of the regular goose hunting seasons. In the Eastern Zone, the special season starts on Jan. 22, with a Feb. 12 opener in the Western Zone. The season closes statewide April 1. During the special season, hunters may use electronic game calls, unplugged shotguns and extended hunting hours. There will be no daily bag limit or possession limit on light geese during this special season.
Because all other migratory game bird hunting seasons must be closed before the special snow goose conservation action can occur, sandhill crane seasons were also altered by the commission action. Zones B and C will close on Jan. 21 and Zone A will close Feb. 12.
Uploaded: 9/9/2000
Uploaded: 9/9/2000