Outdoors With Mat Taylor
TPWD proposes some changes in regulations

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar- .net.

Every year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department considers changes in hunting and fishing regulations to achieve resource management objectives. The department says they do this to maximize outdoor recreation opportunities consistent with good stewardship.

TPWD also seeks comment on the proposed changes during a series of public hearings. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to attend these hearings because of the travel involved to get to the sites. The closest hearings to Lampasas will be March 6 in Austin at TPWD Headquarters, 4200 Smith School Rd.; and March 14 in Waco at the McLennan County Courthouse, 501 Washington Ave.

Lowering the minimum age for hunter education certification, eliminating bow hunting minimum draw weight, and deer proof of sex requirement are among the proposed changes to the state's hunting and fishing regulations.

Texas Parks and Wildlife's Regulations Committee, at its Jan. 23 meeting, authorized agency staff to make these proposed changes and others available for public comment, with a final determination to come at its March 25-26 meetings.

Very few details were released concerning these changes, but TPWD is proposing to remove the 40- pound minimum peak draw weight on bow hunting. Why the change? I do not know, as I am not an archer. I think, however, there should be some requirement to make a clean, humane kill.

I'd be interested to know what archers think about this.

Another proposal would lower the minimum age a student may receive hunter education certification from 12 years to 9 years. That is OK with me. I know I am in the minority, but I would like to see a minimum age for hunting deer -- maybe 10 or 12, when children are more mature. I think the privilege of hunting deer should be earned. I grew up hunting rabbits, squirrels and dove, and was grown before I had the opportunity to hunt deer. That made me more appreciative of the sport.

TPWD also is proposing to allow special deer permit tags, including Managed Land Deer Permits, Landowner Assisted Management Permitting System, antlerless mule deer, special public hunting and antlerless and spike control, to satisfy proof of sex tagging requirements. I have no problem with this proposal.

Other changes would affect upland bird hunting. TPWD proposes to expand the Panhandle pheasant season up to 37 days and change the close of quail season to the last day of February.

Currently, the ring-neck pheasant season in the Texas Panhandle is 31 days or the month of December. Quail season extends over three months and ends on the last Sunday of February. Depending upon the calendars, up to six days would be added to the season.

I am not a wildlife biologist, but with the overall decline of bobwhite quail, maybe the season should be shortened instead of lengthened.

Several fishing regulations face changes, including the limits and length limit in several lakes that have no bearing on any local reservoir.

Another proposal is that anglers on some community lakes would be limited to two fishing poles on lakes with special catfish regulations.

This would address the hoarding of limited bank fishing access. The change would affect impoundments of 75 acres or less totally within a city limits or a public park.

If you can't attend a public hearing -- and most of us cannot -- you still may submit comments on proposed regulations, or about hunting and fishing regulations in general at the agency Web site, www.tpwd.state.tx.us. Comments also may be mailed to TPWD Regulations Public Comment, attention Robert MacDonald, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin TX 78744.