Comment now on proposed hunting reg changes

Allowing hunting of white-tailed deer with rifles in Grayson, Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties is certain to be a hot topic from the list of hunting regulation changes proposed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Public comment is now being accepted on the following proposed changes for the 2022-2023 season:

• Allow the take of white-tailed deer by firearm in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, and Rockwall counties and modify other deer hunting seasons within those counties. 
• Modify the definitions of “buck deer” and “antlerless deer.”
• Modify the proof of sex requirements for harvested buck deer.
• Create definitions for two types of commercial cold storage facilities. 
• Modify tagging and proof of sex requirements, cold storage log procedures, and destination regulations for those commercial cold storage facilities.
• Expand mule deer antler restrictions to an additional 21 counties in the Panhandle.
• Extend the 9-day general season in 15 southwest Panhandle counties to 16 days and adding the special archery season.
• Establish a mule deer antler restriction to Terrell County in the Trans-Pecos. 
• Establish a veterans and active-duty special waterfowl hunting opportunity to occur concurrently during youth-only season in all duck zones. 
• Modify the West Zone for goose hunting to open a week earlier than current goose hunting regulations. 
• Remove the daily bag limit restriction (2) on hooded mergansers.
• Combine the separate merganser and duck daily bag limits into a single aggregate daily bag limit of 6 per day. 
• Reauthorize the requirement to possess a Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit while hunting that species due to an administrative error. 
• Close the turkey season east of I35 in Ellis County to support ongoing restocking efforts along the Trinity River

Comments may be made on TPWD’s public comment page until March 23. A Zoom webinar will take place at 7 p.m. March 3, and a Public Hearing on the proposed white-tailed deer changes will take place March 9 at the Grayson County Center for Workplace Learning in Denison.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will consider the proposals at its March 24 meeting.