Posted 10:02 pm Thursday, April 02, 2009
Antler Restrictions, Doe Days Coming To More East Texas Counties
Deer season is going to look a lot different for Smith and surrounding counties next fall after Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners last week adopted new hunting and fishing regulations for 2009-10.
First of all, hunters are going to have to be more selective about what bucks they take as the antler restriction regulation moves to 52 more counties including Smith, Anderson, Henderson, Hunt and Van Zandt.
That means no longer will just any buck be a buck, and no longer will hunters be able to say they had to take the shot because if they didn't their neighbors would.
Under the new regulation, which will be in effect in 113 counties, a legal buck will be one with forked antlers and an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Spike bucks continue to be legal game, although the reasoning for that probably becomes even fuzzier as time goes on.
The purpose of the antler restriction regulation is to protect younger bucks in the population. Much like the length limits of bass or crappie, the regulation provides minimum protection to help the bucks make it to 2 1/2 years old. In the 61 counties where it has been in effect, Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game director, said the regulation has worked as predicted, with the exception that an expected drop in hunting to let the bucks catch up to legal size has been shorter than anticipated.
The purpose of the antler restriction regulation is to protect younger bucks in the population. Much like the length limits of bass or crappie, the regulation provides minimum protection to help the bucks make it to 2 1/2 years old. In the 61 counties where it has been in effect, Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game director, said the regulation has worked as predicted, with the exception that an expected drop in hunting to let the bucks catch up to legal size has been shorter than anticipated.
ADDED OPPORTUNITY: Hunters in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith and Van Zandt counties will be able to take doe during four doe days.
Opponents of the spike component continue to ask why the department, which steadfastly and correctly maintains the antler restriction regulation is not about trophy management, would allow the harvest of spikes since they are predominately yearling deer.
In truth, it is a tradeoff to get hunters to accept the 13-inch minimum spread portion of the regulation.
There was some public comment in East Texas from hunters who claimed their deer weren't capable of producing a 13-inch inside spread. Department biologists, however, noted if allowed to age that the deer will grow into a legal size.
In a year heavy on deer regulations, commissioners also approved the first doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties. During a four-day period any hunter will be able to take a doe. Previously hunters were required to have a doe permit through LAMPS or be hunting under the Managed Land Deer Permit program to legally take a doe in the counties.
In other doe day changes, Rusk joined Bowie County in going from four to 16 days and Cherokee and Houston counties were expanded from four to 30 days.
Commissioners also approved an expansion of the late muzzleloader season into more East Texas counties. The length of the season was also expanded five days to run concurrently with the special antlerless and spike buck season in other counties and the bag limit changed to include any buck instead of just spikes. Also hunters will be able to take does without a permit in counties having doe days during the regular season. Area counties that will be included in the late muzzleloader season are Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk and Upshur.
One of the most controversial items this year was the approval of a statewide bag limit on alligator gar for both commercial and recreational fishermen. More than 400 people commented on the regulation during the statewide hearing process.
The regulation comes at a time when biologists are concerned about the future of the fish that can live as long as 75 years and weigh up to 250 pounds.
The new regulation takes affect Sept. 1.
Contact Outdoor Editor Steve Knight at 903-596-6277 or by e-mail at outdoor@tylerpaper.com.
Contact Outdoor Editor Steve Knight at 903-596-6277 or by e-mail at outdoor@tylerpaper.com.
