Plentiful Pheasant Population Will Greet Hunters in South Dakota
October 14, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. — For pheasant hunters who were in the fields last year, 2008 may offer a sense of dĂ©jĂ vu as South Dakota once again boasts a near-record population of ringnecks.
Pheasant brood count surveys last year estimated a pheasant population that recalled the Soil Bank days of the 1950s and ’60s and this year’s brood counts estimated that the statewide population had grown by 9 percent.
“Once again good weather conditions and plentiful habitat have combined to help increase South Dakota’s pheasant population,” said Jeff Vonk, secretary of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “It looks like this will be another great opportunity for hunters.”
Even while the pheasant population in South Dakota is increasing, the habitat that’s so important to the birds and other wildlife is steadily decreasing. “We’re losing CRP acres at an alarming rate,” Vonk said. “Hunters who notice a change in the landscape because their favorite fields have been turned to cropland should take the time to visit with their lawmakers about making sure that conservation continues to be a key federal policy and financially attractive for landowners.”
In South Dakota, 123,000 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program were set to have their contracts expire on Oct. 1 and another 236,000 acres will expire next year. “Some of those contracts may be renewed,” Vonk said, “but we can’t expect to sustain this pheasant population without plenty of good habitat.”
A variety of public lands are open to hunting in South Dakota and landowners continue to play an important role in the success of the state’s pheasant season, as well as other hunting seasons. “The department works hard to secure lands for public hunting,” Vonk said, “but private landowners who open their land to hunting are always welcome and appreciated.” Permission from the landowner is needed before hunting on private land.
Just as weather and habitat are the keys to a good pheasant population, safety is a determining factor for a good hunt. GFP offers these safety reminders for hunters:
- While it’s not required by South Dakota law, it just makes good sense for all upland bird hunters to wear at least one article of fluorescent orange clothing.
- Keep track of hunting companions in the field. Many hunting accidents occur when a hunter doesn’t know who is in the line of fire.
- Road hunters must keep in mind the 660-foot safety zone around schools, churches, occupied dwellings and livestock.
“Don’t let the excitement of the hunt get in the way of following the proper safety precautions or obeying the state’s hunting regulations,” Vonk said.
Some of those regulations include:
Season dates: In most of South Dakota the season runs from Oct. 18 through Jan. 4, 2009. At the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Brown County the season runs Dec. 8 through Dec. 31. At Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in Bennett County the season runs Oct. 18 through Jan. 4, 2009. Hunters are required to check in at the refuge headquarter to get a free permit. At Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge in Brown and Marshall counties, at Gerken Game Bird Refuge in Faulk County and at White Lake Game Bird Refuge in Marshall County the season is open from Dec. 8 through Jan. 4, 2009. At Sand Lake State Game Bird Refuge in Campbell County, the season is open Nov. 15 through Jan. 4, 2009.
Shooting hours: From Oct. 18 through Oct. 24 the shooting hours are noon Central Daylight Time to sunset. For the rest of the season, shooting hours are 10 a.m. Central Time to sunset. Central time is used statewide for opening shooting hours. Hunters should note that Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov. 2.
Daily/possession limits: The daily limit is three cock pheasants. The possession limit is 15 pheasants taken according to the daily limit. An individual hunter can possess no more than three pheasants on the Saturday of opening weekend and up to six on Sunday. To possess another hunter’s birds, a free transportation permit must be obtained from a GFP conservation officer. Arranging for this permit should be handled well in advance of opening day. Transportation permits are not issued as a means of allowing the daily/possession limits to be exceeded.
License/I.D. Hunters must possess, while hunting, a valid S.D. hunting license and the proper form of identification. That I.D. may be a valid state-issued driver’s license or a state-issued and expiration-dated identification card. Hunters under the age of 16 can carry their HuntSAFE card. An adult who is serving as a mentor for a young hunter in the state’s new Mentored Hunting Program must be properly licensed, unarmed and possess a HuntSAFE card.
Transporting birds: Pheasants and grouse must have either the head, fully feathered wing or foot attached while being transported. All other game birds must have either the head or a fully feathered wing attached.
Nontoxic shot: Most public lands in South Dakota require the use of nontoxic shot while hunting for pheasants except on U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands, areas administered by the Office of School and Public Lands or on GFP-leased property designated as Walk-In Areas.
Dogs: A hunter who brings a dog into the state must have the animal’s health certificate from their local veterinarian indicating that all shots are up to date and that the dog is disease-free. Hunters should also remember to bring along enough water for their dogs.
Restrictions on public lands and refuges: Hunters should review pages 48 and 49 of the GFP Hunting and Trapping Handbook to ensure that they are familiar with public lands restrictions and pages 55 through 57 to familiarize themselves with the rules involving state refuges.
These details and more can be found on the GFP Web site at www.sdgfp.info
and in the 2008 S.D. Hunting and Trapping Handbook which is available at GFP regional offices, from many retailers who sell hunting licenses and at the department Web site in PDF format.
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Connecticut DEP Announces Opening Days of Upcoming Fall Firearms Hunting Seasons
October 6, 2008
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has announced the Opening Days of upcoming fall firearms hunting seasons. Peak hunting occurs during early morning and late afternoon, primarily during the period from mid-October through mid-December.
The fall firearms turkey season opens statewide on Saturday, October 4 and will continue through October 31. The regular waterfowl season opens statewide on Wednesday, October 15 in both the north and south hunting zones. Small game hunting season opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 for pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, chukar partridge, crow and cottontail rabbit. Statewide firearms deer hunting season begins Wednesday, November 19. The 2008 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2008-2009 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which contain additional information on laws, regulations, and season dates, can be obtained at any town clerk or Wildlife Division office, or they can be found on the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep. Maps denoting many state-owned hunting areas and most permit-required hunting areas may be obtained, free-of-charge, from the DEP Wildlife Division’s office at the DEP Headquarters, located at 79 Elm Street in Hartford. Maps can also be found on the DEP website.
Small Game Season and Permit-required Information
With the exception of opening day (October 18,) small game hunting is allowed for most species from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Waterfowl hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
In addition to most state forests and wildlife management areas, small game hunting will be available on a number of areas established under the permit-required hunting program. Permit-required areas are open to public hunting via a daily permit system and are made available through the cooperation of private landowners and local sportsmen’s clubs. Hunting access to some state-owned properties also is controlled on a daily basis through the permit-required program. A designated number of daily permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for each day of the season. Permits may be requested up to two days in advance of the day that you wish to hunt. A special “seasonal” access permit for Junior Hunters, aged 12-15, will continue to be available for selected areas. The permit allows access during any day of the season for a Junior Hunter and accompanying adult licensed hunter without the need to obtain daily hunting permits. Further details and permit forms are available from the DEP website or designated permit agents.
Sportsmen wishing to hunt any designated permit-required hunting area should consult the 2008 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide for locations of vendors issuing daily permits. Changes in permit vendor locations include the following:
Hebron Area - DEP Eastern District HQ, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough
East Windsor/Enfield - Riverview Sales, 4 Prospect Hill Road, East Windsor
NU-Kings Island - Riverview Sales, 4 Prospect Hill Road, East Windsor
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Permit Restrictions Removed for Some Permit-required Areas
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In an effort to increase opportunities for more sportsmen on quality hunting areas, daily permit restrictions have been removed on five areas under DEP ownership. Continuing this fall, daily permits are not required for small game hunting on Babcock Pond WMA (Colchester), Bear Hill WMA (Bozrah), Goshen WMA (Goshen), Higganum Meadows WMA (Haddam), and Nathan Hale State Forest (Coventry). This change is reflected in the 2008 Hunting Guide.Pheasant Prospects Remain Good; Tags Now Available for Sale
The DEP will purchase 14,742 adult ring-necked pheasants for the upcoming fall season; a decrease of 1,115 birds from the previous year’s purchase. Most stocking areas will receive adjustments in allocations as a result of the decrease in the number of birds purchased. In addition to adult pheasants, 844 eight-week-old pheasants were purchased and delivered to Norwich Fish and Game and Sprague Rod and Gun Clubs for eventual release on permit-required hunting areas.
Revenue collected from pheasant hunters in the previous year determines the annual budget for purchasing pheasants. The 2008 stocking program was directly affected by a decrease of approximately $4,000 in the net revenue collected from pheasant hunters in 2007, combined with a substantial annual increase in average pheasant costs. Rising fuel and grain costs continue to impact commercial growers.
Despite the reduction in the number of pheasants stocked, sportsmen should recognize that the ratio of pheasants stocked per hunter has actually increased over the years and the prospects for pheasant hunting are as good as they have been in several years.
Stocking Areas Maintained - Limited Stocking During Deer Season Opener
A total of 44 major public hunting areas will be stocked with pheasants during the 2008 fall season. A number of lower quality/lower public use areas were removed from the stocking list in 2007 in an effort to maintain sufficient allocations on the higher quality sites. The Natchaug State Forest in Eastford, Nye Holman State Forest in Ellington, Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, and the Tanney Hill Block of Nehantic State Forest in Lyme will not be stocked in 2008.
A limited number of pheasants and areas will be stocked during the week of November 17, which includes opening day (November 19) of the statewide firearms deer hunting season. Stocking will occur two to three times per week during the other six weekly distribution periods. Pheasants will be nearly evenly distributed with one-half of the allocations released in October and one-half during November. All stocking will conclude by Thanksgiving Day.
To provide opportunities for weekend/family and youth hunters, volunteers for the DEP will release pheasants on Friday evenings and variable Saturdays on selected sites.
Cooperative sportsmen’s clubs that provide public hunting access to permit-required hunting areas will continue to stock state-purchased birds on several areas.
For additional details, such as area allocations and an updated listing of all major stocking areas, visit the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep. Sportsmen are reminded that, in addition to their firearms hunting license, a Pheasant Harvest Tag Series ($14 for 10 tags) is required to hunt pheasants on public lands. Tags have been available since September and can be purchased at town halls and some license agents. Tags may also be ordered through the DEP’s on-line licensing system www.ct.gov/dep/sportsmenlicensing, but hunters should allow at least one week for the tags to be mailed to them.
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Flooding Prompts Changes in 2008-09 Waterfowl Season Operations for Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois
September 25, 2008
GRAFTON, ILL. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced changes in this year’s waterfowl hunting program at the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area caused by significant flooding at the site.Â
Flooding at the site has occurred several times during the spring and summer, most recently last week following heavy mid-September rainfall. The changes in the IDNR waterfowl hunting program will be in effect for all blinds in Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26 under the management of the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area.
The new operating rules for the 2008 waterfowl season are outlined below:
If all sites are at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting season water levels by Monday, October 6, blind inspections will occur between October 6 and October 11. The inspection will be for structural safety and dimensions. Brushing and dog hide requirements will not be reason to reject approval of a blind. Those blind holders whose blinds fail inspection will be notified by letter and have until Sunday, October 19 to make repairs with the final inspection on October 20.
There will be no “red tag drawing” at the Mississippi River SFWA this year.
If all sites are not at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting water levels by Monday, October 6, there will be no blind inspections this year. Hunting will be allowed from either the blinds or the staked site.
If all sites are not at or within 12 inches of normal managed hunting season water levels by Monday, October 13, there will be no check station operations at Mississippi River SFWA this season.
For more information on waterfowl hunting at Mississippi River SFWA, phone 618/786-3492.
For more information on Illinois waterfowl hunting season dates and regulations, check the Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2008-09 through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/waterfowl/Digest_08-09.pdf.
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FWC Announces 2008-09 Migratory Game Bird and Early Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
September 15, 2008
Crow
- Season: Aug. 9 – Oct. 26, 2008 (Saturdays and Sundays only) and Nov. 11, 2008 – Feb. 18, 2009
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
- Bag limit: No bag or possession limits
Rail and common moorhen
- Season: Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2008
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
- Bag limits (daily/possession):
 Clapper & king rails – 15/30 (singly or in aggregate)
 Sora & Virginia rails – 25/25 (singly or in aggregate)
 Common moorhen – 15/30
 Purple gallinule – No open season
September Canada goose
- September Season: Sept. 6-24, 2008
- Note: This season is now open statewide (previously open on Lake Seminole only)
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Bag limit (daily/possession): 5/10.
Special early duck
- Season: Sept. 20-24, 2008
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
- Legal to take: Teal, wood duckÂ
- Bag limit (daily/possession): 4/8. The 4-duck daily bag limit may include no more than 2 wood ducks; the 8-duck possession limit may include no more than 4 wood ducks.
Mourning and white-winged dove
- Season:
 First phase – Oct. 4-27, 2008
 Second phase – Nov. 15-30, 2008
 Third phase – Dec. 13, 2008 – Jan. 11, 2009 - Shooting hours:
 First phase – noon to sunset
 Second and third phases – One-half hour before sunrise to sunset - Bag limit (daily/possession): 15/30 (singly or in aggregate) - increased from previous year.
Snipe
- Season: Nov. 1, 2008 – Feb. 15, 2009
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
- Bag limit (daily/possession): 8/16
- Season: Dec. 20, 2008 – Jan. 18, 2009
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
- Bag limit (daily/possession): 3/6
For general hunting season dates, follow this link.
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2008 New Hampshire Hunting Seasons at a Glance
September 9, 2008
WHITE-TAILED DEER:
Archery: Sept. 15-Dec. 15 (closes Dec. 8 in WMU A*)Â Â Â Â Â
Youth Deer Weekend: Oct. 25-26 (note new residency restrictions, below**)
Firearms:Â Nov. 12 - Dec. 7 (closes Nov. 30 in WMU A*)
Muzzleloader: Nov. 1 - Nov. 11 (opens Nov. 3 in WMU A*)
BLACK BEAR:Â Starts Sept. 1 (end varies by WMU)
GRAY SQUIRREL: Sept. 1-Dec. 31
SNOWSHOE HARE: Oct. 1-March 31 (bag limit varies by WMU)
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 1-Dec. 31
WOODCOCK: Oct. 6-Nov. 4
MOOSE: Oct. 18-26 (by permit only, allocated by lottery)
FALL TURKEY:
Shotgun: Oct. 13-17 (certain WMUs only)
Archery: Sept. 15-Dec. 15 (Closed in WMU A)
*For 2008, WMU A in northern New Hampshire continues to have an antler point restriction and shortened season dates for deer. Please consult the Hunting Digest for more details.
**Starting this year, non-resident youth hunters may participate in the New Hampshire Youth Deer Hunt Weekend only if New Hampshire youth may hunt in their state if it holds a special youth deer hunt. Currently, Vermont youths may not participate in this fall’s New Hampshire youth deer hunt because of residency restrictions on youth hunting in Vermont.
For specific hunting dates and seasons, see the 2008-2009 N.H. Hunting Digest.Â
Pick up some new hunting tips in the company of fellow hunters at a series of free evening hunting talks being offered by the N.H. Fish and Game Department in September. Talks begin at 7 p.m. For more details and directions, visit www.HuntNH.com/Newsroom/News_2008/News_2008_Q3/Game_Gab_Overview_082508.html or call 603-271-6355. Upcoming hunting talks include:
- Fall Turkey Hunting Tactics, with registered hunting guide John Asseng (Tuesday, September 9, 2008, Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord);
- Scouting and Patterning this Year’s Buck, with N.H. state record buck holder, John Klucky (Wednesday, September 17, 2008, Fish and Game Headquarters, Concord);
- Fall Turkey Hunting Tactics, with registered hunting guide John Asseng (Tuesday, September 23, 2008, Fish and Game Region 4 Office, Keene, N.H.)
- Sea Duck Hunting, with Ray Jackson of Buck-Gardner Game Calls (Tuesday, September 30, 2008, Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, N.H.)
Fish and Game also is offering a free waterfowl hunting seminar, taught by veteran waterfowler Pete Lester, on Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 9 a.m. - noon at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness. Pre-registration is required. To sign up, call (603) 536-3954.
New Hampshire hunting licenses and permits can be purchased online at www.HuntNH.com or from license agents statewide.
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Javelina Hunting Clinics Offered by Arizona Game and Fish
September 5, 2008
PHOENIX — Getting started in something new is always hard, be it a new hobby, skilled trade or other interest. The same holds true for hunting, prompting the Arizona Game and Fish Department to host several hunting workshops to teach the basics of hunting javelina.
These informative workshops are taught by knowledgeable wildlife biologists and fellow javelina hunters. Their goal is to teach new and youth hunters how to get started and increase their odds for success. Those interested are encouraged to attend one of the following free workshops:
Tucson, Sept. 10 from 6:30-8 p.m., International Wildlife Museum, 4800 Gates Pass Road, (520) 628-5376.
Mesa, Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m., Mesa Regional Game and Fish office, 7200 E. University Drive, (480) 981-9400.
Phoenix, Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, (602) 942-3000.
Each workshop will include a PowerPoint presentation and discussions about the biology and management of the animals, to the nuts and bolts about how to hunt them. Other key areas to be covered include identifying the signs of where they eat and sleep, and how to use binoculars to locate animals.
To hunt javelina, youth must be at least 10 years old and have passed a certified hunter education course. Youth over 14 are encouraged to take a hunter safety course, but it is not mandatory. Regardless of age, a general hunting license is required, as well as a javelina hunt permit-tag.
Currently, there are plenty of juniors-only fall javelina hunt permit-tags available on a first-come, first-serve basis by submitting an application via U.S. Mail. The majority of the hunts are in beautiful southern Arizona. The season dates are either Oct. 10-16 or Nov. 21-27, depending on choice of hunting area. For details on applying for a tag and a list of hunting area choices, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.
Javelina resource links:
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Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set in New Hampshire
August 18, 2008
CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has finalized the 2008 hunting season dates and bag limits for early season migratory game birds, with no significant changes from last year. The 2008 seasons for these game birds are as follows:
Resident Canada geese: The bag limit is five birds per day during the September season, which extends from September 2 (the day after Labor Day) through September 25, 2008. As was true last year, New Hampshire’s resident Canada goose population continues to grow and has a statewide distribution.Â
Youth Waterfowl Weekend: The last weekend in September, this year the youth weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including bag limits, shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend.
Woodcock:Â October 6 - November 4, 2008. Bag limit is 3 birds per day.
Snipe:Â September 15 to November 4, 2008. Bag limit is 8 birds per day.
Sea ducks: October 1, 2008 - January 15, 2009. Bag limit is 7 birds per day, with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks
Crows:Â The fall crow-hunting season runs from August 15 to November 30, 2008; next spring’s two-week crow season will be March 16-31, 2009.
Hunters of all migratory game birds must have a 2008 New Hampshire hunting license and are required by federal law to register for the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). In New Hampshire, this includes all who hunt ducks, geese, snipe, woodcock and coots. Separate HIP permits are needed in each state. Licensed hunters should call 1-800-207-6183, or go to the “Buy Your License Online” section of the Fish and Game website www.HuntNH.com, to receive a permit number (there is no charge). This number should be written on the hunting license. Harvest information from HIP helps Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service make more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested. Each year, a random selection of hunters is asked to complete a voluntary harvest survey.
Waterfowl hunters must also obtain a federal duck stamp and a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl hunting license.
If you’re new to waterfowl hunting or thinking about getting started, get an introduction at a free waterfowl hunting seminar being offered by N.H. Fish and Game on Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 9 a.m. - noon at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center on Perch Pond Road in Holderness. The session will be taught by veteran waterfowler Pete Lester. Pre-registration is required. To sign up for the workshop, call (603) 536-3954. For more information, click here.
Late-season waterfowl dates for the upcoming season in New Hampshire will be finalized after a public hearing on August 26, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H. For more information, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2008/News_2008_Q3/Waterfowl_Hearing_080508.html.
Hunters are asked to report all banded birds by calling toll-free to 1-800-327-BAND. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will send a certificate with information about the bird.
For more information on New Hampshire hunting season dates and regulations, click here.
To buy licenses and permits online, visit www.HuntNH.com.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
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Goose Hunting Seasons Finalized in South Dakota
August 15, 2008
FORT SISSETON HISTORIC STATE PARK, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized the state goose hunting seasons at its August meeting amid reports that goose populations remain robust.
“There will be a strong population of migrant birds,” Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel told commissioners. “Snow geese numbers should still be quite good as well.”
With geese arriving on the Missouri River later each year, the start of the 2008 season will begin on Nov. 1 in Unit 2. That unit is largely those counties along the Missouri River and portions of Custer and Fall River Counties. In order to take advantage of later-arriving geese, hunters in Perkins County have asked that their county also be included in Unit 2.
The goose hunting season dates include:
Light geese and white-fronted geese, statewide, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21.
Canada geese, Unit 1, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21.
Canada geese, Unit 2, Nov. 1 through Feb. 13, 2009.
Canada geese, Unit 3, Jan. 10-18, 2009.
The daily limit is three Canada geese, 20 light geese and one white-fronted goose. Possession limits are unlimited for light geese which include snows, blues and Ross’ geese and twice the daily limit for all other geese.
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FWC Announces 2008-09 Hunting Seasons
August 7, 2008
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
2008-09 hunting season dates
(Seasons and dates are not applicable to wildlife management areas)
| Season | Northwest Zone | Central Zone | South Zone |
| Archery | Oct. 18 - Nov. 16, 2008 | Sept. 20 - Oct. 19, 2008 | Sept. 6 - Oct. 5, 2008 |
| Deer-dog training | Oct. 25 - Nov. 13, 2008 | Oct. 4-23, 2008 | Oct. 4-23, 2008 |
| Crossbow | Dec. 1-7, 2008 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 |
| Muzzleloading gun | Nov. 21-23, 2008 and Feb. 19 - March 1, 2009 |
Oct. 25 - Nov. 2, 2008 | Oct. 11-19, 2008 |
| General gun | Nov. 27-30, 2008 and Dec. 13, 2008 - Feb. 18, 2009 |
Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 18, 2009 | Oct. 25, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009 |
| Antlerless deer | Dec. 20-26, 2008 | Nov. 15-21, 2008 | Nov. 1-7, 2008 |
| Fall turkey* | Nov. 27-30, 2008 and Dec. 13, 2008 - Jan. 18, 2009 |
Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009 | Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009 |
| Quail and gray squirrel | Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009 | Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009 | Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009 |
| Bobcat and otter | Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009 | Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009 | Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009 |
| Spring turkey | March 21 - April 26, 2009** | March 21 - April 26, 2009 | March 7 - April 12, 2009 |
Wild hogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes may be taken year-round.
* No fall harvest of turkeys allowed in Holmes County.
** Spring turkey season is limited to March 21 - April 5, 2009 in Holmes County.
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TPWD Finalizes Dove, Teal Seasons
July 31, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department finalized the early season migratory game bird regulations, which includes dove and teal seasons for 2008-09. Texas hunters will see a 16-day September teal season and no changes to the South Dove Zone segments.
The North Zone runs Sept. 1-Oct. 30, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove; the Central Zone is Sept. 1-Oct. 30 and reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 4, with a 12-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.
This year, the South Zone dove season is Sept. 20-Nov. 9, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 13 with a 12 bird bag and not more than two white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.
The Special White-winged Dove Area, which now encompasses land west of I-35 and south of U. S. Highway 90, opens to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting Sept. 6-7 and 13-14 and reopens Sept. 20-Nov. 9 and again from Dec. 26-Jan. 9. The daily bag limit during the first two weekend splits is 12 birds, not more than four (4) mourning dove and two (2) white-tipped dove. The daily bag limit during the remainder of the Special White-winged Dove Area is 12 birds, not more than two (2) white-tipped dove. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.
Teal season is Sept. 13-28 with a daily bag limit of 4 birds. Possession limit is twice the daily bag.