TPWD Unveils Proposed Hunting, Fishing Rule Changes
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is recommending changes to next year’s hunting and fishing regulations, expanding upon the success of several resource management initiatives.

Proposals being considered include: an expansion of special whitetail buck harvest regulations into 40 more counties, broadening of the popular Managed Lands Permit Program to include provisions for upland game birds and elimination of the trophy tarpon tagging requirements.

The department will be seeking comment on these and other proposed changes to the state’s hunting and fishing regulations during an upcoming series of public hearings.

Each year, TPWD considers changes in hunting and fishing regulations to achieve resource management objectives and maximize outdoor recreation opportunities consistent with good stewardship. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will make a final decision on the proposals during its April 5 public hearing.

Expand special buck harvest regulations in 40 counties: Among the most ambitious proposals considered is an expansion of special antler restrictions on whitetail deer. Antler restriction regulations currently in effect in 21 counties in the Oak Prairie ecoregion have been effective in improving the age structure of the buck herd, increasing hunter opportunity, and encouraging landowners and hunters to become more actively involved in better habitat management.

Under the regulation, a lawful buck is defined as any buck having at least one unbranched antler OR an inside antler spread of at least 13 inches. The bag limit in the affected counties would be two lawful bucks, no more than one of which may have an inside spread of greater than 13 inches.

Additional counties being considered under this regulation include: Bell, Bosque, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Comal (east of IH 35), Comanche, Coryell, Delta, Eastland, Erath, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Hamilton, Harrison, Hays (east of IH 35), Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Lampasas, Leon, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Somervell, Titus, Travis (east of IH 35), Upshur, Williamson, Wilson, and Wood counties.

Hunting pressure on buck deer in these counties has been excessive for many years. In 1971, the bag limit in most counties in the eastern third of the state was reduced from two bucks to one in an effort to mitigate excessive hunting pressure.

Despite the reduction, the data continues to indicate excessive harvest of bucks, which results in very poor age structure. Research results indicate that poor age structure within a buck herd creates a longer breeding season, which in turn leads to a longer fawning season and a reduction in fawn production. Poor age structure also contributes to adverse hunter satisfaction.

The criteria used for candidate counties were: the county currently must be a one-buck county, 60 percent of the buck harvest in the county must consist of bucks less than 3.5 years of age, and the county must have a contiguous border with another county in which antler restriction regulations have been implemented. On this basis, the department identified the 40 counties affected by the proposed amendment.

Expand managed lands permits to upland game birds: Another proposal would allow for the establishment of special seasons and bag limits for upland game birds (Rio Grande turkey, quail, pheasant, lesser prairie-chicken, and chachalaca), by species, on properties managed by the landowner under a department-approved wildlife management plan.

The plan would be required to incorporate habitat-based management regimes beneficial to these upland game bird species. In return, landowners would be given additional flexibility in managing harvest based on annual quotas determined by a combination of data including existing habitat conditions and quality of improvements, populations surveys to determine bird production and considerations to assure carrying through a surplus sufficient to maintain or increase future population levels, and keeping decisions based on management goals.

The department believes that the use of incentives such as enhanced bag limits and extended season lengths are useful tools to encourage landowners to engage in practices that are scientifically proven to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Create harvest rules for alligator hunting: TPWD is also proposing to establish the open seasons, rules for tag issuance and use, reporting requirements, and provisions for the sale of alligators taken under a Texas hunting license in counties outside the historic range of the American alligator in Texas; basically counties outside East Texas and along the coast.

Increase deer bag limit in Upton County: TPWD is also proposing to implement a four-deer bag limit for the entirety of Upton County. Under current rules, the bag limit in the portions of Upton County that are either north of U.S. Highway 67 or both south of U.S. Highway 67 and west of State Highway 349 is three deer.

If implemented, the entire county would have a January muzzleloader season for antlerless and spike-buck deer. Department data indicate that deer populations in the northern and western parts of the county are increasing and able to withstand additional hunting pressure.

Additionally, the counties adjoining Upton County on the east and northeast (Glasscock and Reagan counties) contain deer densities similar to those found in Upton County but are under a more liberal regulation (5 deer; no more than 2 bucks) than that being proposed for Upton County. The regulations have been in effect in Glasscock and Reagan counties for five years, and the deer herds in these counties have experienced no adverse impacts. The department therefore does not anticipate that the proposed amendment will result in either waste or depletion of the resource. The proposal also would expand the late muzzleloader season countywide.