2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 Hunting & Fishing Regulations Regulations Regulations Fishing Fishing & & Hunting Hunting Hunting & Fishing Regulations FISHING FOR A RECORD RECORD A FOR FISHING FISHING FOR A RECORD BY AUBRY BUZEK BUZEK AUBRY BY BY AUBRY BUZEK ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES SWEEPSTAKES OUR ENTER ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES PAGE 102 102 PAGE PAGE 102 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE WILDLIFE WILDLIFE & & PARKS PARKS TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE OUTDOOROUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOROUTDOOR 6/15/17 4:14 PM 4:14 6/15/17 Download the Mobile App OutdoorAnnual.com/app OutdoorAnnual.com/app App Mobile the 1 Download OA-2017_AC.indd Download the Mobile App OutdoorAnnual.com/app 6/15/17 4:12 PM 4:12 6/15/17 1 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 6/15/17 4:12 PM 6/15/17 4:12 PM 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 ANNUALANNANNUAL AL U ANN ANN ANN ANN ANN ANNUAL ANN ANN ANN ANNUALANNANNUAL AL U ANN ANN ANN ANN ANN ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUALANN ANNUALANN ANN ANN ANN 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 6/15/17 4:12 PM PM 4:12 6/15/17 ANNUAL 1 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 6/15/17 4:12 PM Download the Mobile App Mobile the Download Download the Mobile App OutdoorAnnual.com/app Download the Mobile App OutdoorAnnual.com/app OutdoorAnnual.com/app OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE WILDLIFE WILDLIFE & & PARKS PARKS TEXAS TEXAS 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 102 102 102 PAGE PAGE PAGE ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES SWEEPSTAKES OUR ENTER AUBRY BUZEK AUBRY BUZEK BUZEK AUBRY BY BY BY FISHING FOR A RECORD FISHING FOR A RECORD RECORD A FOR FISHING Hunting & Fishing Regulations Fishing & Hunting Hunting & Fishing Regulations Hunting & Fishing Regulations Hunting & Fishing Regulations Fishing & Hunting Hunting & Fishing Regulations Hunting & Fishing Regulations 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 Hunting & Fishing Regulations Regulations Regulations Fishing Fishing & & Hunting Hunting Hunting & Fishing Regulations FISHING FOR A RECORD RECORD A FOR FISHING FISHING FOR A RECORD BY AUBRY BUZEK BUZEK AUBRY BY BY AUBRY BUZEK ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES SWEEPSTAKES OUR ENTER ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES PAGE 102 102 PAGE PAGE 102 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 2017-2018 TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE WILDLIFE WILDLIFE & & PARKS PARKS TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE OUTDOOROUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOR OUTDOOROUTDOOR Download the Mobile App ANNUALANNANNUAL OutdoorAnnual.com/app OutdoorAnnual.com/app AL U ANN ANN ANN ANN ANN ANNUAL ANN ANN ANN App Mobile the Download Download the Mobile App ANNUALANNANNUAL OutdoorAnnual.com/app 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 6/15/17 4:12 PM PM 4:12 6/15/17 1 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 2017_OA_cover_FINAL.indd 1 6/15/17 4:12 PM Untitled-6 1 6/21/17 3:17 PM 17-0064-RAM_TPWL_PG.indd 1 6/21/17 2:45 PM Table of Contents STAFF P. 6 • SALTWATER PUBLISHER DAVID BARR DUNHAM TAKE A PASS EDITOR BY DAVID JOSEPH RON HENRY STRAIT SIKES SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER P. 100 • HUNTING PAGE PARKER PRINT DIRECTOR TRACKED BY THE ROY LEAMON PRODUCTION DIRECTOR FUTURE AARON CHAMBERLAIN BY STEVE KNIGHT PRODUCTION P. 103 • FRESHWATER COORDINATOR DARICE CHAVIRA FISHING FOR A WRITERS AUBRY BUZEK, JOHN RECORD JEFFERSON, STEVE BY AUBRY BUZEK KNIGHT, DAVID JOSEPH SIKES 2 2017–2018 Hunting HUNTING & FISHING Seasons REGULATIONS COMPILED BY INLAND FISHERIES 4 REGULATIONS A Message from COORDINATOR Carter Smith KEN KURZAWSKI COASTAL FISHERIES SPECIAL PROJECTS 13 DIRECTOR Fishing & Hunting JULIE HAGEN Regulations CONTENT COORDINATOR ROBERT MACDONALD 24 CHIEF OF WILDLIFE Fishing Regulations ENFORCEMENT ELLIS POWELL 32 CHIEF OF FISHERIES Freshwater Harvest ENFORCEMENT Regulations BRANDI REEDER and Expectations PUBLIC HUNTING PROGRAM 40 JUSTIN DREIBELBIS Saltwater Limits Copyright ©2017 Texas Monthly Custom Publishing, a division of 50 Texas Monthly. All rights reserved. Hunting Regulations Printed in the USA. Cover art by Orville O. Rice. For advertising information, 72 contact David Dunham at County Listings [email protected]. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 includes regulations for recreational freshwaterUntitled-5 and saltwater 1 fishing and 6/16/17 11:09 AM hunting in Texas. While the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) strives to provide accurate information in the Outdoor Annual, hunting and fishing regulations may change due to legislative or Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission actions. The Outdoor Annual mobile app may automatically update to reflect published changes upon establishment of a data connection, but users should independently check the associated statutes and regulations to verify their accuracy. For commercial fishing regulations, see the Commercial Fishing Guide. For more detailed information on HONDO, TX PEARSALL, TX RIO MEDINA, TX game and fish regulations, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Law 120 Hwy 173N 1845 Business I-35N 10195 FM 2676 Enforcement offices at 512-389-4828, or the Texas Parks and Wildlife 830.426.3313 830.334.3323 830.931.2215 Department at 800-792-1112 or 512-389-4800 (Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 1.800.221.6398 p.m.). Follow Mumme’s Inc. on Facebook for info on the latest items and special sales! Photos courtesy of David Joseph Sikes (top and center) and Ron Henry Strait (bottom). OA-2017_AC.indd 1 6/19/17 11:43 AM Untitled-1 1 6/14/17 11:26 AM In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill 2017–2018 Crane Permit is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorse- | ment ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant, or chachalacas. Hunting Seasons TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE 2017-2018 Hunting Season Dates | OUTDOOR ANNUAL Today GAME ANIMALS Spring Season I WILL LEAVE North Zone: Mar. 31 - May 13 Alligator South Zone: Mar. 17 - Apr. 29 One-Turkey Counties: Apr. 1-30 22 counties & special properties: Sept. 10–30 Spring Youth-Only All other counties: Apr. 1 – June 30 North Zone: Mar. 24-25 & May 19-20 South Zone: Mar. 10-11 & May 5-6 my island, Mule Deer General Season Eastern Turkey BUT I SHALL RETURN. Panhandle: Nov. 18 – Dec. 3 Spring-Only Season East Texas: Apr. 15 - May 14 SW Panhandle: Nov. 18-26 Trans-Pecos: Nov. 24 – Dec. 10 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS Archery Season Sept. 30 - Nov. 3 JFISH! Dove (Report leg bands to www.reportband.gov) White-tailed Deer North Zone: Sept. 1 - Nov. 12 & Dec. 15-31 | General Season Central Zone: Sept. 1 - Nov. 5 & Dec. 15 - Jan. 7 North Zone: Nov. 4 – Jan. 7 South Zone South Zone: Nov. 4 – Jan. 21 Regular season: Sep. 22 – Nov. 8, 2017 & Special Late Season Dec. 15, 2017 – Jan. 21, 2018 North Zone: Jan. 8-21 Additional days for Special White-winged Dove South Zone: Jan. 22 - Feb. 4 season: Sep. 2, 3, 9, 10 (special regulations apply) Youth-Only Seasons Early Season: Oct. 28-29 Duck Late Season: Jan. 8-21 Archery Season Sept. 30 - Nov. 3 North Zone Regular Season: Nov. 11-26 & Dec. 2 - Jan. 28 Muzzleloader-Only Jan. 8-21 Dusky Duck: Nov. 16-26 & Dec. 2-Jan. 28 Javelina Youth-Only: Nov. 4-5 South Zone North Zone: Oct. 1 – Feb. 25 Regular Season: Nov. 4-26 & Dec. 9 - Jan. 28 South Zone: Sept. 1 – Aug. 31 Dusky Duck: Nov. 9-26 & Dec. 9-Jan. 28 Youth-Only: Oct. 28-29 Sept. 30 - Oct. 8 Pronghorn Antelope High Plains Mallard Management Unit Regular Season: Oct. 28-29 & Nov. 3 - Jan. 28 Squirrel Dusky Duck: Nov. 6 - Jan. 28 East Texas: Oct. 1 – Feb. 25 & May 1–31 Youth-Only: Oct. 21-22 Other Open Counties: Sept. 1 – Aug. 31 Special Youth Season Gallinule, Rail, Moorhen Sept. 23-24 Sept. 9-24 & Nov. 4 - Dec. 27 Nothing beats fishing on your own Goose island. Tranquil views and a variety UPLAND GAME BIRDS East Zone Early Canada Goose: Sept. 9-24 of fish make South Padre Island Chachalaca Light Goose: Nov. 4 - Jan. 28 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties: Light Goose Conservation Order: Jan. 29 - Mar. 18 perfect for all types of angling. Nov. 4 - Feb. 25 White-Fronted Goose: Nov. 4 - Jan. 28 Start your adventure at sopadre.com. West Zone Pheasant Panhandle: Dec. 2-31 Light & Dark Goose: Nov. 4 - Feb. 4 Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 5 - Mar. 18 Quail Statewide: Oct. 28 – Feb. 25 Sandhill Crane Rio Grande Turkey Zone A: Oct. 28 - Jan. 28 Fall Season Zone B: Nov. 24 - Jan.28 North Zone: Nov. 4 - Jan. 7 Zone C: Dec. 16 - Jan. 21 South Zone: Nov. 4 - Jan. 21 Oct. 28 - Feb. 11 Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy Counties: Snipe Nov. 4 - Feb. 25 Teal Sept. 9-24 Archery-Only: Sept. 30 - Nov. 3 Fall Youth-Only Woodcock Dec. 18 - Jan. 31 Early season: Oct. 28-29 Late season: Jan. 8-21 OTHER ANIMALS Rabbits and Hares No closed season Make it yours. 2 |In TEXAS addition PARKS to a hunting & WILDLIFE license, a OUTDOORmigratory game ANNUAL bird stamp 2017 endorsement (–2018 $7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant, or chachalacas. 17-SPI-0716 Texas Monthly Outdoor Annual Print Ad V1.indd 1 6/14/17 12:46 PM OA-2017_AC.indd 2 6/19/17 11:43 AM Untitled-4 1 6/15/17 3:44 PM | Today I WILL LEAVE my island, BUT I SHALL RETURN.