by John Jefferson
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission met last week to consider changes in the Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. Eighteen proposed changes to hunting regulations were considered. That’s close to the most changes ever considered at one time. All proposals were adopted.
Migratory Waterfowl Changes included eliminating the Conservation Order on light geese (more on this below), reducing the light goose bag limit from ten to five, extending the Eastern Zone light goose season by nineteen days, standardizing the light goose possession limit, adjusting the whitewing dove days to fit the calendar, adding later dove hunting during the second season, changing Western Zone greater white-fronted goose bag limit to five, including “Mexican ducks” in bag limit in all zones, and adjusting the calendar for all bird seasons.
Upland Game Bird changes included requiring statewide harvest reporting for ALL wild turkey seasons, closing spring turkey seasons in parts of four northeast Texas counties, closing all turkey seasons east of I-35 in Bell and Williamson counties and all of Milam County, replacing all turkey subspecies’ names with “wild turkey”, reducing all wild turkey seasons and bag limits west of the Pecos River and parts of counties east of I-35 north of I-10 to spring-only season of April 1-30 with one gobbler annual bag limit.
Big Game Changes include moving the bighorn sheep season to Nov. 15 – Sept. 30, replacing the term “antelope” with “pronghorn”, allowing youths hunters on MLD properties to take bucks with firearms during early youth-only seasons, expand Doe Days in forty-three Post Oak Savannah and Pineywoods Regions, expand fall youth-only seasons to include Fridays for hunting whitetails, squirrels, and wild turkeys.
The Conservation Order referred to in the second paragraph above was the result of severe over-population of snow geese and habitat destruction on northern breeding grounds. Wildlife biologists called for help. Most states adopted the Conservation Order (C.O.) It allowed hunters NO bag limit, use of electronic calls, and hunting with unplugged shotguns.
I hunted it one time. It wasn’t for me. A huge benefit of hunting to me is being sequestered somewhere in Nature. The incessant electronic callers were beyond annoying. But when I saw TPWD was proposing to eliminate the C.O. hunting opportunity popular with hunters and guides, I became concerned.
After hearing the justification, though, I agreed. Diminished rice farming has sent waterfowl elsewhere. With fewer birds, the C.O.’s purpose was thwarted.
TPWD proposed extending the REGULAR season by nineteen days. Hopefully, that will replace lost hunting opportunity. After careful consideration, the Commission terminated the C.O.
Speckled trout regs were finalized at the January TPW Commission meeting, reducing the statewide bag limit to three trout 15-20 inches long, with a one-fish exception for trophy trout 30-inches and over. Trout that length are rare. The regulation became effective on March 26.
When the new license year begins September 1, the three-fish limit will still be in effect. But anglers may keep one 28-inch trout with a license tag. A bonus tag will be available for $3.00.
JJ
