2011–2012 Hunting Seasons 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 Crane Permit also is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant, lesser prairie chicken, or chachalacas. See County Listings for specific county regulations. ALLIGATOR 22 counties & special properties (by permit only) Sept. 10–30 Remainder of the state (see pg. 66) Apr. 1 – June 30 PRONGHORN ANTELOPE By permit only Oct. 1–9 DOVE (PLease Report Leg bandS to 1-800-327-BAND) North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1 – Oct. 23, dec. 23 – Jan. 8 South Zone Sept. 23 – Oct. 30, dec. 23 – Jan. 23 Special White-winged dove Area Sept. 3, 4, 10 & 11, Sept. 23 – Oct. 30, dec. 23 – Jan.19 EARLY TEAL-ONLY Statewide (all counties) Sept. 10 – 25 CANADA GOOSE-ONLY East Zone Only Sept. 10 – 25 WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery-Only Season Oct. 1 – nov. 4 General Season: *Special Youth Season Oct. 29–30, Jan. 2–15 North Texas (209 counties) nov. 5 – Jan. 1 South Texas (30 counties) nov. 5 – Jan. 15 Late Antlerless and Spike: North Texas (106 counties) Jan. 2–15 South Texas (30 counties) Jan. 16–29 Muzzleloader (57 counties) Jan. 2–15 MULE DEER Archery-Only Season Oct. 1 – nov. 4 General Season: Panhandle (38 counties) nov. 19 – dec. 4 SW Panhandle (10 counties) nov. 19–27 Trans-Pecos (19 counties) nov. 25 – dec. 11 JAVELINA (43 counties) Oct. 1 – Feb. 26 (50 counties) Sept. 1 – Aug. 31 SQUIRREL **Special Youth Season Sept. 24-25 East Texas (51 counties) Oct. 1 – Feb. 5, May 1–31 Other Open counties (see County Listings) Sept. 1 – Aug. 31 LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN no open season for lesser prairie chicken PHEASANT Chambers, Jefferson and Liberty counties Oct. 29 – Feb. 26 Panhandle (37 counties) dec. 3 – Jan. 1 QUAIL Statewide (all counties) Oct. 29 – Feb. 26 RIO GrANDE TUrkEY Archery-Only Season Oct. 1 – nov. 4 Fall Season: *Special Youth Season Oct. 29–30, Jan. 21–22 North Zone (122 counties) nov. 5 – Jan. 1 South Zone (26 counties) nov. 5 – Jan. 15 Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy counties Nov. 5 – Feb. 26 Spring Season: North Zone (101 counties) March 31 – May 13 *Special Youth Season Mar. 24–25, May 19–20 South Zone (54 counties) Mar. 17 – Apr. 29 *Special Youth Season Mar. 10–11, May 5–6 1-Turkey Bag Limit (11 counties) Apr. 1–30 +EASTERN TURKEY Spring-Only Season: east Texas (28 counties) Apr. 15 – May 14 CHAchALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties Oct. 29 – Feb. 26 RABBITS AND HARES no closed season. * In all counties that have an open season for those species. ** In all counties that have an Oct. 1-Feb. 5 and May 1-31 Open Squirrel Season. + Rio grande and eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties. REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2011-2012 1 T 2011–2012 SUMMARY OF FISHING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS ABLE OF CONTENTS Valid September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012 IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information in this guide is a SUMMARY of regulations and statutes governing hunting and fishing. For more detailed information on game and regulations, please contact a TPWd Law enforcement office (see pg. 18) or call (800) 792-1112 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Please note that information contained in this summary is subject to change by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the Texas Legislature, and/or the federal government. The official regulations, current to the day, can be accessed at www.sos.state.tx.us under Title 31 of the Texas Administrative Code. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Code can be accessed at: www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us CONTENTS Where to get Information and Licenses............................................................................................................................... ........ 18 GENERAL HUNTING AND FISHING REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS Criminal Penalties and Civil Value Recovery | general Law............................................................................................ 19 General Information About Licenses, Stamp endorsements and Tags....................................................................... 20 Hunting and Fishing Combination License Packages ........................................................................................................ 21 Lifetime Licenses | Fishing Licenses and Packages ........................................................................................................... 22 Fishing Stamp endorsements and Tags | License Requirements for Border Waters............................................. 24 Hunting Licenses and Permits............................................................................................................................... .................... 25 Hunting Stamp endorsements .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Hunter education ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Transfer of Wildlife Resources | Importation of Wildlife Resources ............................................................................. 27 SUMMARY OF 2011–2012 REcrEATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS General Fishing Rules for Fresh and Salt Waters................................................................................................................ 28 Reservoir Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Freshwater/Saltwater Boundary .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 Legal Freshwater and Saltwater devices and Restrictions for Fish ............................................................................. 33 Freshwater Fishing Harvest Regulations ............................................................................................................................... 36 Statewide Bag and Length Limits | exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations......................... 37 How to Attach Red drum Fish Tag | How to Measure Fish and Crabs | Tips for Releasing Fish.......................... 41 Identification of Yellow, White, Striped, and Hybrid Striped Bass................................................................................. 42 Identification of Smallmouth, guadalupe & Spotted, and Largemouth Bass............................................................. 43 Saltwater Fishing – general Information | Bag and Length Limits for Saltwater Fish............................................ 44 Saltwater Freeze events | Shrimp Regulations ................................................................................................................... 46 Crab and ghost Shrimp Regulations ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Oyster Regulations............................................................................................................................... ......................................... 51 Other Aquatic Life (Fresh and Salt Waters).......................................................................................................................... 51 Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories............................................................................................................................... ......... 52 Boater education ................................................................................................................................................................................ 52 Boating Regulations and Safe Boating Tips | Invasive Species | Operation game Thief............................................. 53 SUMMARY OF 2011–2012 HUNTING REGULATIONS Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 54 Means and Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Tagging deer or Turkey ............................................................................................................................... ............................... 59 Proof of Sex .................................................................................................................................................................................... 61 After Killing a deer | Processing deer, Turkey, or Antelope in Camp | Cold Storage or Processing Facilities............................................................................................................................... ................................ 62 Taxidermist ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 63 Game Animals: