Tuesday's Internet Edition, July 08, 2008.
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TPWD staff briefed the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission about a series of issues that could result in changes to hunting and fishing regulations next season. Each year, TPWD considers changes in hunting and fishing regulations to achieve resource management objectives and maximize outdoor recreation opportunities consistent with good stewardship.
Among the most prominent proposals being considered is a continuance of special buck deer harvest regulations in six-Post Oak Savannah counties. Based on findings from a three-year experiment in those counties, biologists believe the restrictions are helping create a healthy deer population.
Under the proposed regulations hunters in the affected counties could harvest a buck only if it meets the following prerequisites:
A deer having an inside spread measurement between the main beams of 13 inches or greater.
For the 2005-2006 hunting season, TPWD is proposing to add a second buck to the bag limit in counties with the special antler restrictions with one buck tag reserved for harvesting a deer with at least one unbranched antler. This alteration addresses biological concerns about inadvertently protecting spike bucks, according to Mitch Lockwood, TPWD White-tailed Deer Program leader.
Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Lee and Washington counties would remain under the buck antler restrictions and the proposal would also expand the coverage to 15 additional surrounding counties with similar deer population issues. The new counties being considered for the 2005-2006 season are Bastrop, Brazoria, Caldwell, DeWitt, Fort Bend, Goliad, Gonzalez, Guadalupe, Karnes, Jackson, Wilson, Matagorda, Victoria, Waller and Wharton.
There are many proposed changes to this year’s hunting and fishing regulations. To view those changes, go to the TPWD’s website. Public comment about these issues and others of interest may be made to TPWD, Regulatory Proposals Public Comment, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX. 78744, by phoning 800-792-1112 or by visiting (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/).