Texas Hunting Leases

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proposing moving the South Zone second split of dove season deeper into January, but otherwise is recommending minimal changes to the 2008-09 Early Migratory Game Bird Proclamation.

TPWD staff announced the proposed dove and teal season calendar during the Regulations Committee meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, Wednesday, May 21.

The proposed dove season in the North Zone would run Sept. 1-Oct. 30, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves; the Central Zone would be Sept. 1-Oct. 30 and reopen Dec. 26-Jan. 4, with a 12-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves; and the South Zone would run Sept. 20-Nov. 2, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 20 with a 12 bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.

The Special South Texas Whitewing Zone, which now encompasses land west of I-35 and south of U. S. Highway 90, would open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two Saturdays and Sundays in September and reopen Sept. 20-Nov. 2 and again from Dec. 26-Jan. 16. The daily bag limit is 12 birds, not more than four (4) mourning doves during the first two weekend splits and two (2) white-tipped doves.

In South Texas, a few hunters have requested more hunting opportunity in January. To accommodate this request, the department is proposing to move one week from the end of the first season segment (Nov. 3-9) and put it in January (Jan. 14-20). Quail and deer hunting would still be concurrent during either of these periods. The public is urged to provide public comment online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment before June 26.

The early teal season is proposed tentatively for Sept. 13-28 if a 16-day season is granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Sept. 20-28 under a 9-day season framework. The daily bag limit for teal is four.

Suggested dates for ducks and geese were also presented to the Commission and simply reflected calendar adjustments from last year. Upon completion of breeding population surveys and development of harvest packages, dates will be refined and provided for public comment probably in late July or early August.

One change that was proposed is shifting the crane season one week later. By suggesting this change, the crane season will run one week later in Zones A and B, take advantage of the entire season length and close one week later. With this suggested change, the Light Goose Conservation Order will open a few days later than in past years in the west Goose Zone. Season dates for sandhill cranes are as follow:

• Zone A-Nov. 8 — Feb. 8. Bag Limit: 3
• Zone B: Nov. 28 — Feb. 8, Bag Limit: 3
• Zone C: Dec. 20 — Jan. 25, Bag Limit: 2

Proposed seasons for other game bird species include: Rail/gallinule Sept. 13-28 and Nov. 1-Dec. 24; snipe Nov. 1-Feb. 15; and woodcock Dec. 18-Jan. 31.

Adoption of the early migratory game bird seasons will take place later this summer as population and other data becomes available.

“That’s not good”, I thought to myself as the young female pointer ran after a herd of javelina into the South Texas brush.   We had just got out of the jeep to start working our way into an opening that looked promising for quail.  My original plan was to work one of the three German Shorthaired pointers we had one at a time.   This would allow me to use the single electronic collar that we had to keep the dog in close and to mind me when we got into the birds.  But, the first dog was sharing a larger crate on the jeep with another and while we were letting one out, the second managed to lunge forward and make its way out front.  Oh well, two is better than one, right?  Wrong! 

It was a few seconds after the ensuing chase that I heard the quick growl and bark of a dog fighting followed by a piercing and painful yelp.  I had ran about five yards towards the sounds when the young bitch came running towards me on three legs.  Her right hind leg being held gingerly in the air by her side.  For only three legs she was making full strides with a look of pain and fear right for me.  “Here Zoe, here” I called.  Now she had no problem listening to me unlike before when she bolted after the herd of collared peccary.   Zoe ran behind me, laid down on left her side and looked behind my leg to make sure the sharp-tusked monsters were not giving chase.  I pet her and examined her hind quarter where I quickly noticed two trails of blood oozing from her skin.  With some bottled water, we washed her leg off and thankfully saw that the javelina only got one bite on her.  She was lucky, just two good puncture wounds and no visible sign of tearing or muscle damage.  Well, that ought to cover javelina chasing.  I wondered if they offered that along with the desnaking clinics around the area.

Javelina normally avoid conflict when stumbled upon.  Especially with man.  But, they are notoriously just ticked off at dogs.  It probably stems from the fact that coyotes are a natural predator of their young and, like all animals, they do not take kindly to things wanting to hurt their offspring.  They are also very well adapted to protecting themselves while in numbers.  If something attacks one of them, the others will come in from behind and counter-attack.  It is an effective defense mechanism that many animals use.  Just ask Zoe!

About an hour later, we had ole Zoe at the vet for a look over.  We had cleaned her wounds as best we could but thought that a little TLC from the doc was in order.  The doctor agreed that she was a lucky girl and she got out of the examination room with a shot of antibiotics and some peroxide on her rump.  But, for safety sake, the rest of her day was spent in the kennel to think about her misconduct and convalesce in the South Texas sun.  That afternoon, when we returned from the field, Zoe was standing up on her hind legs, front paws on the chain-link fence, barking for her turn.  “Not this trip”, I told her.  “You’re still in time-out”.  But, I gave her a little pat to let her know that she would be alright.

Below is the report from the TP&W for January 30, 2008.

Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit/Panhandle: Duck season drew to a close at sunset Jan. 27; and, according to outfitters, the season finished strong. Mallards, pintails, teal, wigeons and gadwalls were the prominent birds found in bags. Many days in January saw duck hunters breaking ice to open water for the ducks. Though temperatures were in the teens, most of the snow missed the region. Goose hunting for darks continue consistent over wheat and corn. Most outfitters are getting their limit of Canadas every hunt. The regular goose season runs through Feb. 5, while the Light Goose Conservation Order begins Feb. 6 in the West Zone. Outfitters say prospects for the special light goose season are in limbo. Snow geese have been fickle lately; and, with few juvenile birds, decoying action might remain tough, even with electronic callers. Prospects are fair to good.

North Zone: Duck season ended at sunset Jan. 27, and the last two weeks of the season improved in the region. Most of the season sloughs, rivers and bayous were dry from a two- month absence of significant rainfall; however, recent rains filled backwaters and floated acorns. Acorns and other mast lying on the ground became floating food and mallards, gadwalls and wood ducks found it quickly. That, coupled with freezing temperatures in the northern states, sent wads of birds across the Red River where they found refuge in the region. Good hunts were posted near Centerville and along the Red River. Lots of teal on lakes and reservoirs helped fill bags throughout the season. The usual assortment of diving ducks staged on lakes like Caddo, Lake O’ the Pines, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Fork, Palestine and Cooper. Along the IH-10 corridor, the rains the past 10 days only scattered ducks in plowed fields. Teal, shovelers and a few pintails were taken the final weekend. Hunters in the North Zone said action throughout the season was below average.

South Zone: Duck season ended at sunset Jan. 27 and hunters said the overall season was well below average on the coastal prairie. El Campo, Eagle Lake, Wharton, East Bernard and Garwood never held the ducks like in seasons past. Declining rice production may be a contributing factor. If not for green-winged teal, many hunters in the area would have stared at barren skies. The lack of gadwalls puzzled many outfitters. Once a mainstay like teal, few gadwalls were found on prairie ponds. Pintail numbers on the prairie continue to decline as well; again, lack of rice probably is a factor. An influx of rain the last 10 days of the season did push more pintails to the high ground of the prairie. Port O’Connor, Seadrift and Rockport were the hot spots on the coast for teal, wigeons, redheads and gadwalls. Marsh hunting near High Island remained steady throughout with fresh wads of green-winged teal and gadwalls keeping the shooting steady. Goose season in the East Zone ended Jan. 27 and overall results for the season was fair to poor. Hunters reported few juvenile snows in the flock, as little as two percent by some estimations, which proved difficult for decoying. The geese arrived a month late in some areas of the coast, and outfitters said numbers were significantly down. Many geese are using fallow grass fields and lush wheat fields. Water is everywhere with the recent rains. The Light Goose Conservation Order began Jan. 28 and prospects are fair.