The TF&G Report - Texas Fish & Game - October 2012
 The TF&G Report - October 2012 By Texas Fish and Game Staff
TPWD Sets 2012-13 Waterfowl Seasons
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finalized this year’s waterfowl seasons at its Aug. 30 public hearing as hunters make ready to welcome record numbers of ducks.
According to this year’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Trends in Duck Breeding Populations," estimated waterfowl production in North America’s "duck factory" are at a record high, eclipsing a record set last year. The total duck population is estimated at 48.6 million birds. This represents a 7 percent increase over last year and is 43 percent higher than the long-term average since 1955.
Add water and hunt. Much needed rainfall this year has helped rejuvenate drought stricken wetland plant communities across much of the Texas coast, setting the stage for better than usual hunting this fall.
Following is a summary of the Texas late season migratory framework for 2012-13. An early season for teal statewide, and for Canada geese in the eastern goose zone, runs Sept. 15-30 with a daily bag limit of four teal and three geese.
Ducks
High Plains Mallard Management Unit
All species other than "dusky ducks:" Oct. 27-28, 2012 and Nov.2, 2012 - Jan. 27, 2013; "Dusky ducks": Nov. 5, 2012 - Jan. 27, 2013; Youth-only Season: Oct. 20 --- 21, 2012
North and South Zones
All species other than "dusky ducks:" Nov. 3 - 25, 2012 and Dec. 8, 2012 --- Jan. 27, 2013; "Dusky ducks": Nov. 8 - 25, 2012 and Dec. 8, 2012 - Jan. 27, 2013; Youth-only Season: Oct. 27-28, 2012
The daily bag limit for ducks is six, to include no more than five mallards of which only 2 may be hens; three wood ducks; two redheads; two pintails; one canvasback; and one "dusky" duck. Dusky ducks include: mottled ducks, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids. For all other species not listed, the bag limit is six. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, which may include no more than two hooded mergansers.
Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Geese
Western Zone
Light geese: Nov. 3, 2012 - Feb. 3, 2013, daily bag limit is 20 and no possession limit.
Dark geese: Nov. 3, 2012 - Feb. 3, 2013, daily bag limit is five in the aggregate to include no more than one white-fronted goose.
Eastern Zone
Light geese: Nov. 3, 2012 - Jan. 27, 2013, the daily bag limit for light geese is 20 and no possession limit.
White-fronted geese: Nov. 3, 2012 - Jan. 13, 2013, daily bag limit is two;
Canada geese: Sept. 15-30, 2012 and Nov. 3, 2012 - Jan. 27, 2013, daily bag limit is three.
Light Goose Conservation Order
Eastern Zone
Jan. 28 --- Mar. 24, 2013, no bag or possession limits.
Western Zone
Feb. 4 --- Mar. 24, 2013, no bag or possession limits.
Sandhill Crane
Zone A
Nov. 3, 2012 --- Feb. 3, 2013, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.
Zone B
Nov. 23, 2012 --- Feb. 3, 2013, daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.
Zone C
Dec. 22, 2012 --- Jan. 27, 2013, daily bag limit is two and possession limit is four.
Extended Falconry Season
Dove:
Nov. 15 --- Dec. 21, 2012
Rail, gallinule, & woodcock:
Jan. 28 --- Feb. 11, 2013
Ducks, coots, and mergansers:
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: no extended season.
North and South Duck Zones
Jan. 28 --- Feb. 11, 2013
For all zones the daily bag limit is three and possession limit is six.
Dove Deaths in West Texas
State and federal wildlife officials are investigating a series of active dove mortality events in and around the West Texas communities of Midland, Odessa and Big Spring. The cause has yet to be determined, but poisoning has not been ruled out.
Dove samples have been submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI, where initial necropsy findings revealed no conclusive cause of death, according to Dr. LeAnn White, a wildlife disease specialist.
Although there are no known human or animal risks associated with the mortality events at this time, Dr. White recommends precautions should be taken. One Midland resident reported his dog died shortly after consuming several dead doves, but no autopsy was performed and cause of death was not determined. Conversely, several residents have reported dogs and cats consuming dead doves with no ill effects.
Reports of dead doves and sparrows first surfaced in late July and have been sporadic but ongoing, although the total number of birds impacted so far is believed to be less than 250, mostly Eurasian collared dove and white-winged dove.
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