2007-2008 Proposed Seasons and Bag Limits for Migratory Game Birds

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Proposed dove seasons.

North Zone.

Dates: September 1–October 30, 2007

Daily bag limit: 15 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped (white-fronted) doves in the aggregate, including no more than two white-tipped doves per day;

Possession limit: 30 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, including no more than four white-tipped doves in possession.

Central Zone.

Dates: September 1–October 30, 2007 and December 26, 2007–January 4, 2008.

Daily bag limit: 12 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped (white-fronted) doves in the aggregate, including no more than two white-tipped doves per day;

Possession limit: 24 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, including no more than four white-tipped doves in possession.

South Zone.

Dates: September 21–November 11, 2007 and December 26, 2007–January 12, 2008.

Daily bag limit: 12 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped (white-fronted) doves in the aggregate, including no more than two white-tipped doves per day;

Possession limit: 24 mourning doves, white-winged doves, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, including no more than four white-tipped doves in possession.

Special white-winged dove area.

Dates: September 1, 2, 8, and 9, 2007.

Note: The Special White-winged Dove Area (SWDA) is in the South Zone, and South Zone regulations apply in the SWDA after the special season is over, except that the season ends on January 9, 2008.

Proposed September teal-only season.

Dates: September 15–30, 2007.

Daily bag limit: four.

Possession limit: eight (all species combined).

Note: The proposed 16-day teal season must be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If a 16-day season is not approved, the department proposes a nine-day season to run September 15–23.

Proposed seasons for ducks, coots, and mergansers.

Dates.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: October 27–28, 2007, and November 2, 2007–January 27, 2008.

North Zone: November 3–25, 2007 and December 8, 2007–January 27, 2008.

South Zone: November 3–25, 2007 and December 8, 2007–January 27, 2008.

Note: The current bag limits and season structure for ducks, coots, and mergansers reflect continuing concerns on the part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over breeding populations of canvasback and pintail ducks. Starting last year, the Service implemented the ‘Hunter’s Choice’ structure. The Hunter’s Choice structure will continue for the 2007-2008 waterfowl seasons. The daily aggregate bag limit is five ducks. The bag composition shall be no more than two scaup, two redheads, two wood ducks, and no more than one (in the aggregate) of the following: mallard hen, pintail, dusky duck, or canvasback . The purpose of the Hunter’s Choice structure is to allow for season-long harvest of canvasbacks and pintails, which eliminates compliance and enforcement confusion and allows more hunting time for waterfowl hunters who seek those species. The Hunter’s Choice affords additional protection to mottled ducks by reducing the potential for overharvest due to misidentification.

Proposed goose seasons.

Western Zone.

Light geese.

Dates: November 3, 2007–February 5, 2008.

Daily bag limit: 20

Possession limit: There is no possession limit.

Dark geese.

Dates: November 3, 2007–February 5, 2008.

Daily bag limit: four, which may not include more than three Canada geese or more than one white-fronted goose.

Possession limit: eight, which may not include more than six Canada geese or more than two white-fronted goose.

Eastern Zone.

Light geese.

Dates: November 3, 2007–January 27, 2008.

Daily bag limit: 20

Possession limit: There is no possession limit.

Dark geese:

White-fronted geese.

Dates: November 3, 2007–January 13, 2008.

Daily bag limit: two.

Possession limit: four.

Canada geese.

Dates: November 3, 2007–January 27, 2008.

Daily bag limit: three.

Possession limit: six

For Public Comment:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/200706_migratory.phtml