Increased dove hunting opportunities across South Texas and expanded landowner-managed pronghorn permitting in the Panhandle highlight this year’s slate of proposed regulation changes for the 2017-18 Texas hunting seasons.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2017-18 Statewide Hunting Proclamation, with input to be considered prior to any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 23 public hearing:
- Increasing dove hunting opportunity by expanding the early September 4-day Special White-winged Dove Area hunting season to the entire South Zone boundary.
- Modify the age for the youth-waterfowl participants from 15 to 16 years of age.
- Extend the landowner-managed pronghorn buck experimental permit system for four more years and expand the option into three new pronghorn management areas in the northern Panhandle.
- Frameworks for the 2017-18 migratory game bird hunting seasons.
Additional details on these proposals will be published in the Texas Register and available for review here.
There will be public meetings held around the state to learn more and make comments about specific proposals. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.
March 1
Dalhart–Dallam County Courthouse, 101 E. 5th St.
Del Rio–Del Rio Civic Center, Cottonwood Room, 1915 Veterans Blvd.
March 2
Pampa–Gray County Courthouse, 205 N. Russell (enter in north doors, court room on 2nd floor).
Abilene–Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St.
The Del Rio and Abilene meetings will focus on proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations. Hearings in Dalhart and Pampa will focus on proposed changes to hunting regulations, especially proposed changes to the pronghorn buck experimental permit system.
In addition to these public meetings, TPWD will hold a live webinar, “Hunting and Fishing Regulations Proposals Online Public Meeting,” Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. Webinar registration is now open here.
After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Participants will be able to provide public comment on the proposals via live chat and ask questions during the webinar.
Public comment on proposed changes will also be taken during the March 24 meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at TPWD headquarters in Austin prior to rulemaking.
Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted by phone or email to Robert Macdonald at 512-389-4775, robert.macdonald@tpwd.texas.gov, or in writing to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, attn. Wildlife Public Comment, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744.
Comments may also be submitted through the department’s website once the proposals have been published in the Texas Register.
It is time to lower the days for white tail dove.
Years ago the skies were dark with the migration of the carrier pigeon in the east. You could look of miles and see nothing buy the bird migration. Now because there was no control or limits the carrier pigeon is extent.
I see the same thing going on with the doves. We no longer see them very often in our neighborhoods. When you walk out on a morning in Waller. TX in dove season you hear constant shots ringing off. I know the hunters are going to fight it, but it is what it is. Somebody needs to stand up and take control before the white tail dove is extinct.
I stopped hunting doves several years ago for this very reason. I saw hunters taking large numbers of doves with little regard for there continued presence. I only shot what I could eat in a fairly short time and did not try to stock my freezer with enough birds to last till the next year. If they want to just shut then go to the range and shoot skeet or trap and the stock will never run out. Just to shoot an animal or bird for the sport and not utilize what you shoot to the fullest is a waste. We are no longer sustenance hunters, so we need to bring the slaughter under control for the sake of our children and their children.
What is the thinking behind making youth waterfowlers have to be older? Were there lots of accidents in the 15 year old group?