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AUSTIN, Texas -- Managing the state^s wildlife and fisheries resources is somewhat similar to upkeep on an automobile -- it requires regular maintenance for optimum performance and reliability. Keeping the analogy in mind, it^s time for the annual tune-up of the state^s hunting and fishing regulations.
Next year^s regulations will be a tune-up, not an overhaul. State biologists presented a laundry list of hunting and fishing issues to the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Biologists noted that there is always room for improvement but recommended no drastic changes.
Each year, TPW considers changes in hunting and fishing regulations to achieve resource management objectives and maximize outdoor recreation opportunities. The regulatory review process begins each fall and is based on resource assessments by biologists and independent recommendations received from various user groups. During this scoping portion of the process, TPW gathers public input and weighs the biological implications of each issue before presenting the commission a set of proposed regulation changes in January. Additional discourse is sought during special public meetings in the spring, and the commission at its April meeting determines the final regulation changes.
This year, TPW will ask the public for comment on a variety of fish and wildlife issues based on the common themes of increased opportunity, rule simplification and resource enhancement. Among the issues are:
Expanding youth-only hunting opportunities to potentially include any of the weekends in October and/or the three weekends following the second Sunday in January.
Setting a uniform statewide opening day for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey hunting seasons on the first Saturday in November.
Changing the harvest regulations for mourning dove in the South Zone to a 12-bird daily bag limit and 70-day season.
Opening spring hunting for Eastern turkey in Houston, Rusk, Smith, Upshur and Wood counties.
Increasing the deer bag limit from four deer (no more than two bucks) to five deer (no more than two bucks) in Brown, Coke Coleman, Concho, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Mills, Mitchell, Nolan, Reagan, Runnels, Sterling and Tom Green counties, and provide a 14-day antlerless and spike buck season following the general season.
Increasing the deer bag limit from four deer (no more than two bucks) to five deer (no more than three bucks) in Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr and Willacy counties, and provide a 14-day antlerless and spike buck season following the general season.
Allowing the use of Antlerless and Spike-buck Deer Control Permits statewide from the Saturday nearest Sept. 30 through the last day of any open season in a given county.
Expanding the Landowner Assisted Management Permit System (LAMPS) program to include Fannin, Hunt and Rains counties.
Allowing the harvest of antlerless deer without antlerless permits during the muzzleloader-only season on U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Trinity River Authority and Sabine River Authority lands in Angelina, Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk and Tyler counties.
Opening a javelina season in Archer County.
Investigate the possibility of allowing hunters to harvest a buck deer in more than one one-buck county.
Change the smallmouth bass harvest regulations on lakes Belton, Cisco, Greenbelt, Oak Creek, Stillhouse Hollow, White River and Whitney to a 14-inch minimum length limit and a five fish daily bag limit.
Change the largemouth bass harvest regulations on Lake Sweetwater to a 14- to 18-inch slot limit with a five fish daily bag limit.
Change the largemouth bass harvest regulations on O.H. Ivie Reservoir to a no minimum length limit and a five fish daily bag limit, no more than two bass may be retained under 18 inches.
Change the largemouth bass harvest regulations on Pinkston Reservoir to a 14- to 21-inch slot limit and a five fish daily bag limit with no more than one bass over 21 inches retained.
Prohibit the use of trotlines, juglines and throwlines on lakes Coffee Mill and Davy Crockett.
Increase the Texas Spanish mackerel bag limit from seven fish to 15 fish per person daily to be consistent with those in federal waters.
Public comment on these issues and others of interest may be made to TPW, Regulations Coordinator, 4200 Smith School Road, 78744, or by phoning (800) 792-1112 and following the automated menu and on the Internet (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/).
Uploaded: 11/16/2000
Uploaded: 11/16/2000