Texas Hunting Leases

You probably have read the emails for months now.   Something along the lines of  “Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has signed on to the UN Gun Ban Treaty and the Obama Administration is preparing to take your weapons”.  Fortunately, Mrs. Clinton has not signed such an agreement.  Yet.  According to the NRA-ILA website, “She could not have done so, in fact, because no such treaty has yet been negotiated”.   But, the drafting of the UN treaty is taking place and should be complete by 2012.  Furthermore, despite what is sure to be the Obama Administration’s best efforts, the United States Senate must ratify it before it could take effect.  Thank goodness it did not get drafted prior to this year’s Massachuesets Senate Race and hopefully by 2012 we will have a more favorable 2nd Amendment climate in Washington DC. 

Hunters should remain vigilant though.  With recent comments from such “effective” gun-controlling foreign leaders like that of Mexico,  outdoors men and women need to keep a close eye on their political representatives.  And, by all means, support the efforts of the NRA with not only your pocket book, but your word of mouth as well.

AUSTIN — Expansion of mule deer hunting opportunities tops a short list of regulatory changes adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission as part of the 2010-2011 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation.

The commission approved an open general hunting season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties, and added a day to the mule deer season across the Trans Pecos region. The change addresses a priority goal in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Land and Water Resource Conservation and Recreation Plan to increase access to and participation in the outdoors.

The commission finalized a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only firearm season in Wheeler County and a 35-day archery-only season to offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution.

The extra day of hunting for mule deer in the Trans Pecos region is being tacked onto the front end where the season will now begin the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving and continue for 17 days.

According to TPWD wildlife biologists, mule deer populations in these counties are limited, but are present in some areas having suitable habitat and implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion.

The Commission also adopted changes strengthening commercial fishing reporting requirements and administrative reorganization to split the commercial and recreational hunting and fishing regulations apart, as well as a clarification of rules regarding catching and possessing fish within protected length limits or in excess of bag limits.

The Texas Outdoor Annual, a complete digest of all Texas hunting and fishing regulations, including seasons and bag limits, will be available Aug. 15, 2010 wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the TPWD Web site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.

 AUSTIN – Expansion of mule deer hunting opportunities tops a short list of proposed changes to the state’s hunting and fishing regulations the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering for 2010-2011.

TPWD is recommending an open general season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties, and adding a day to the season across the Trans Pecos region. Department staff presented the proposals to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regulations Committee. The proposals address a priority goal in TPWD’s Land and Water Resource Conservation and Recreation Plan to increase access to and participation in the outdoors.

Currently there is no open season for mule deer in Dawson or Wheeler counties. Implementing a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only season in Wheeler County would offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution.

According to TPWD wildlife biologists, mule deer populations in these counties are limited, but are present in some areas having suitable habitat and implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion.

Traditionally, big game hunting seasons in Texas open on Saturday to give hunters a full weekend of opportunity. Because the mule deer season in the Trans Pecos starts on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the TPW Commission asked the Wildlife Division to explore an option to open a day earlier to take advantage of the long holiday weekend. This proposal would add a day to the current 16-day season and create an opening day on the Friday following Thanksgiving each year.

Wildlife biologists suggest adding a day to the season in the Trans Pecos will not negatively impact the mule deer resource.

In addition to hunting regulation proposals, TPWD staff presented an abbreviated slate of potential changes to fishing regulations and, based on input during recent public scoping meetings, removed from consideration a proposal to lower the length limit on snook from 24 to 22 inches.

The department had considered the drop in length limit on snook to allow additional harvest of fat snook. Opinions expressed during scoping meetings reflected concern about potential impacts to common snook resources under reduced length limits and TPWD coastal fisheries officials opted to table the recommendation.

Fisheries staff will be seeking public comment on proposals strengthening commercial reporting requirements and separating commercial and recreational regulations, as well as a clarification of rules regarding catching and possessing fish within protected length limits or in excess of bag limits.

Official proposals will be available for review and comment during a series of public meetings in February, as well as online. The TPW Commission will make final determination on proposed changes at its April 1 public hearing.

SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
2010-11 STATEWIDE HUNTING AND FISHING PROCLAMATION
ALL MEETINGS START AT 7 PM

Feb. 15
San Antonio, National Shooting Sports Complex Clubhouse, 5931 Roft Rd.
Houston, Lone Star College, Library Room LB 103, 2700 W.W. Thorne Dr.

Feb. 16
Dickinson, TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 Pine St. (FM 517).
Lamesa, Women’s Building, South Houston St.

Feb. 17
Amarillo, Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd West.

Feb. 18
Port Isabel, Port Isabel Community Center, 213 Yturria.

Feb. 22
Garland, Bass Pro Shop, 5001 Bass Pro Dr.

Feb. 23
Tyler, Smith County Courthouse, 100 N. Broadway.
Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Natural Resources Center, 6300 Ocean Drive, Room 1003.

Feb. 24
Wheeler, Wheeler County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 401 Main St.

Mar. 2
Fort Stockton, Pecos County Civic Center, North Hwy 285 next to Airport.

Mar. 3
Alpine, Turner Range Animal Science Bldg, Room 130, East Hwy 90.

Mar. 4
Van Horn, Van Horn Convention Center & Visitors Bureau, 1801 W. Broadway.