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TPWD staff propose multiple fishing and hunting proclamation changes including amberjack size and migratory‑bird season adjustments
Summary
Staff presented proposed regulatory amendments for coastal fisheries (including greater amberjack minimum size), statewide recreational and commercial fishing proclamations, and multiple hunting and migratory game bird proclamation changes for public comment and possible adoption.
TPWD staff presented a package of proposed regulatory changes across coastal fisheries and statewide hunting proclamations and asked the commission to place the items on the Thursday agenda for public comment and action.
Brian Bartram, Coastal Fisheries, proposed aligning state and federal size limits for greater amberjack in Texas state waters by increasing the commercial minimum total length from 34 inches to 40 inches total length (roughly equivalent to the federal 36‑inch fork length). Bartram said the change is designed to promote enforcement consistency and reduce confusion between state and federal waters.
Bartram also described administrative transfers in the Texas Administrative Code to move a recently adopted interim rule for the oversized spotted seatrout tag into the appropriate chapter and to align digital tagging language with the broader digital license rule package (work session item 5).
On hunting and migratory game bird issues, Sean Oldenberger (Small Game Program) reviewed proposed changes consistent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service federal frameworks: staff proposed a 3‑bird daily pintail bag limit where federal harvest strategy allows it, a reduction of the early teal season from 16 to 9 days based on the recent breeding population survey, adjustments to High Plains mallard management exposure days, changes to rail and gallinule seasons, modifications to falconry seasons, and a proposed reduction of the special white‑wing dove season from six days to five in the South Zone (staff cited calendar progression and hunter distribution as rationales). Oldenberger said the Migratory Gamebird Advisory Committee supported the proposals and summarized public comment counts and viewpoints for each change.
Oldenberger also presented several hunting proclamation items: adding Lubbock County to wild turkey seasons (staff said turkey occupancy models support a season there), clarifying turkey zone boundaries in Hill County, and proposed amendments to clarify digital tagging requirements for deer and turkey consistent with the digital license package. On quail season timing, staff described competing advisory committee recommendations: the Upland Gamebird Technical Committee favored retaining the current structure (Saturday closest to Oct. 28 opening), while the Upland Gamebird Advisory Committee unanimously supported a November 1–last day of February structure; staff reported strong public support for moving to a February end date and asked for commission direction.
Sean Gray (Mule Deer program) presented proposed mule deer changes including extending special archery seasons in the Panhandle and Trans‑Pecos (staff proposed increases from 35 days to 56 and 62 respectively, ending the day before the general season) and consolidating Managed Land Deer Program (MLDP) seasons so any lawful means would be allowed from the Saturday closest to Sept. 30 through the last Sunday in January. Staff said advisory committees and surveys favored the changes and that they expect no negative biological impacts based on available data. Commissioners asked detailed timing and fairness questions about MLDP seasons and season length.
Staff requested that the commission place these items on Thursday’s agenda for public comment and potential adoption; no final votes occurred at the work session.
