Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Website
Patrol Report
Water Safety Victor Gonzales, Lee County Game Warden
Texas Parks & Wildlife Field Notes
Techniques For Managing Yaupon
Maintaining Your Wildlife Valuation
By Lee County Game Warden Victor Gonzales
Patrol Report
By Victor
Gonzales,
Two weeks remain in the general gun season and I
wonder how it will end? I’m not sure what the final harvest numbers will
reveal, but it has to be lower than years past. As mentioned in an
earlier article, this will still go down as my worst hunting season in
13 years in terms of people checked and animals taken. In talking to
surrounding wardens, they inform me their counties locker plants have
been receiving many of
Cases are winding down, but those which remain open have allowed me the opportunity to concentrate on their investigation. I’m disappointed in the way some citizens have conducted themselves, by the nature of the complaint against them, I can tell this behavior is “business as usual”.
Case # 1
I received a call from an absentee landowner about someone hunting on their property without permission in the Giddings area. Someone cut a lock off the gate and replaced it with their own lock. They entered the property and took time to trim trees and passageways so they could travel about. After placing several deer stands and feeders throughout, a campsite was established where a fire ring and bar-b-que pit were found; case pending.
Case # 2
I received a call from a disgruntled deer hunter who paid money to lease property in the Fedor area. His complaint was about a rancher who had the same property leased for cattle. Both parties executed written lease agreements to establish a protocol and “ground rules” so all involved would abide by the rules and stay on their side. The hunter emailed me a video of the rancher seen carrying a gun in hand while he walked around a deer feeder. So much for playing by the rules; case pending.
Case # 3
An investigation continues in the Dime Box area where leasing of property for hunting, without landowner’s permission has taken place. Hunters pay money without lease agreements and do not suspect they are part of a scam. When calls are made to the unsuspecting landowners, one can imagine what they must feel to know they pay taxes on their property only to have another person make cash money off their land.
I want to thank all those who have contributed in some way or another, in making sure our wildlife remains protected. Thanks to your calls, cases are being made and the problems disappear. Not all cases have gone the way I wanted, but we’ll keep trying. As always, call me at 979-540-0194 (c) or 979-542-2666 (h). Thanks!
Patrol
Report
By Victor Gonzales,
12/9/08 Things are
starting to slow a bit, but from what I’m seeing, bucks are still
running does. The only difference between now, and the last time I
reported this information, is the bucks are concentrated on one doe and
the bucks are bigger and mature looking.
This past Friday afternoon I was driving on FM 1624
near Walch Store in
Someone asked the other day what happens to the
illegal deer that are seized after the case has been made. Chapter 12 of
the Parks and Wildlife code authorizes an employee (warden) to donate to
a charitable organization or person whenever practical, any fish or
game. Under other circumstances fish may be sold to the highest of three
bidders utilizing a competitive bidding process.
Here locally, deer have been donated to the
Two cases were made last week involving improperly
tagged deer and hunter education.
The rules are simple; cut out the month and date,
fill out the harvest log and put your tag on the antlers or carcass.
If anyone is born on or after September 2, 1971, you must have taken the hunter education course. The only exceptions are; age 9 to 16 hunting with someone 18 years or older who are licensed and hunter education certified or exempt from being certified, or having purchased a one time only hunter education deferral that allows hunting the current hunting fiscal year until a time the purchaser can take the course.
Patrol
Report: Ask and You Shall Receive
By Victor Gonzales,
After weeks of requesting, at times almost begging, the public has responded in a manner that has allowed some good cases to be filed over the last 7 to 10 days. I have answered many phone calls which have resulted in poaching cases being filed in all three Justice of the Peace precincts. As of today, the public has accounted for almost 100 % of all cases filed this hunting season.
I know sometimes people are reluctant to call because the case involves someone they know or they’re not sure what’s occurring. I can tell you this; those who have responded tell me they feel a sense of relief to know something was done. Plain and simple; the problem continues until we can put a stop to it.
Case # 1
A
Case # 2
Two local residents are being investigated for shooting turkey off a public road and hunting on property of another without the landowners consent. Case pending.
Case # 3
A local resident was filed on for taking an illegal buck that measured 12 inches wide. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that a second buck had been harvested earlier in November that more than likely did not meet the 13 inch minimum. In antler restriction counties, two spikes or one spike and one 13 inch minimum buck may be taken in one county; not two 13 inch minimum in the same county.
I have five other ongoing cases being investigated with no suspects and weak leads. While these are more difficult to prove, they remain open until new evidence presents itself.
Deer Season Patrol Report
By
11/24/08 The rut is on! Since last Sunday
morning, the number of bucks being seen has increased dramatically.
Almost every time I’ve seen a group of does, there is a buck, or bucks,
close behind. I watched a buck and doe bedded down on private property
Saturday night and the buck paid no attention to me as I got within 40
yards from them in an open field. Yes, the rut is on.
For those of you who do not know what the rut is,
let me explain. Plain and simple, it’s the time of year when does become
ready to breed. When this occurs, the white-tailed buck ignores almost
all of his survival techniques just for a chance or chances to breed the
doe. Unfortunately for the buck, this is the time of year when the
papers print who shot the biggest buck in the county. Another occurrence
of the breeding period is the number of deer/vehicle accidents. As does
begin to be chased and bucks begin to pursue, they don’t look both ways
before crossing the highway. The result equals a trip to the body shop.
As mentioned in an earlier
report, when deer activity increases, so do the questions, complaints,
and cases filed. Call it human nature, call it misfortune, call it what
you will, it is, what it is. Here is a sample of what goes on in
Case # 1
When an absentee landowner hired someone to tend to
their cattle, the cow hand noticed someone had entered the property from
an oilfield gate. Further investigation revealed someone had gone
through an adjoining oilfield gate onto private property where the fence
had been taken down at the corner post and peeled back just enough for
livestock to pass through. Was this a hunting case, probably not? My
investigation suggests someone is planning to steal hay or turn cattle
loose from an adjoining property so they can eat free grass. An added
bonus is this property has good hunting activity with deer and hogs.
Case # 2
A landowner called to ask if hunting across the
roadway was legal. The answer is no. It seems he just bought a piece of
property and had it cleaned out. As he was walking the property, he
noticed where someone had place two buckets and tarp in the brush line
across the county road from his property. The would be hunters then
through corn out from their location onto the complainant’s property
across the county road back to their buckets. Keep in mind from this
vantage point, there is no other
way to look or shoot except onto the complainant’s property and
across a public road.
Case # 3
A landowner called to complain about finding a deer
carcass on his property that had been cleaned and discarded in a creek
bed. Being the creek bed was some distance from the county road; it
initially suggested possible illegal activity. After 3 hours of
investigation which included canvassing the area, taking photos,
re-creating possible scenarios, and putting skeletal remains back
together, I concluded the deer died of natural causes. It had a broken
leg which meant it was probably hit by a vehicle. From there the buck
traveled into the creek bed where it succumbed to its injuries. Nature
being what it is, other wild animals including domesticated pets took
turns feeding until the carcass gave the impression of being cleaned by
a hunter.
Cases filed during the last week include; Display
Weapon in State Park, Illegal Buck (8 ¼ inches wide), Improper Tagging
(Use of mule deer tag for white-tail), and Proof of Sex (killed spike
buck and discarded head before reaching final destination). Contact me
at 979-540-0194 (m), or 979-542-2666 (h) to report possible illegal
activity or ask questions.
Deer Season
Patrol Report
By
11/17/08
The first two weeks of the 2008-2009 deer season have been uneventful.
Between bad moon phase, economic woes, high school and college football,
the field has been almost void of hunters. Combine this with few deer
being harvested and it doesn’t add up to much. Over the last two days
though, spirits have been lifted with the passage of the cold front and
some pre-rut activity taking place.
This past weekend I witnessed a change beginning to take place as far as deer movement is concerned. With the moon in full phase, I finally figured out when and where deer would be moving. For those hunters who have had deer under their feeders, this does not apply to you. I’m talking about deer movement throughout the county traveling to and from food sources and the number of deer hit by vehicle.
Every hunter has their own opinion of when to hunt the different moon phases. I’m no different. Some look at what the cows are doing, some look at what’s available to eat, and others just go hunt. While science plays a part in deer activity, it sometimes comes down to being in the right place at the right time.
On Saturday I was out from 9:30 am to 10:30 pm. I crisscrossed the county covering as much area as possible and driving approximately 200 miles. I did not see one deer in camp but began seeing deer in the evening hours. The deer fed throughout the evening into the wee hours of the morning; then they bedded down. While checking duck hunters early Sunday morning, I saw no deer. By 8 am, deer were up and moving again; this time does were being chased by eager bucks, I saw bobcats and coyotes searching for food and this activity continued until approximately 10:30 am. Driving a 30 mile line, I counted 55 deer feeding under live oak trees, crossing the road, eating small patches of winter grass, and bedded down in high grass next to the highway.
Oh, the other thing that happened during this time were complaints began coming in for trespassing, deer/vehicle accidents, questions about hunter ethics, especially feeders and blinds next to the fence, and the always plentiful “what if” questions. This goes to show when deer are moving, so are people. I hope this continues into Thanksgiving.
For more information call me at 979-540-0194 (m) or 979-542-2666 (h).
By Victor Gonzales,
This past weekend, a group
of 5 boys and 3 girls, along with parents and guides, were treated to a
youth deer hunt sponsored by the Texas Youth Hunting Association. The
hunt was held south of
The TYA is an organization dedicated to working with landowners and sponsors to secure hunting property across the state for youth who apply to hunt. Locally, Mr. Roger Wubbenhorst of Dime Box, is a TYA certified Hunt Master for the outfit. His responsibility includes planning, coordinating, and evaluating the hunt and reporting to the TYA board. He also chooses experts in particular fields of endeavor so they might be able to teach the participating youth the “tricks of the trade”.
The hunting party arrived on Friday evening where a quick meeting was held; then off to the shooting range for weapon familiarity. As the evening drew to a close, the temperature dropped off to a comfortable “slide a little deeper into the sleeping bag”.
Saturday’s
hunt went well; 12 spikes and does rolled in about 10 a.m. As the kids
unloaded one by one, I was quick to note the safety features they had
been taught; bolts open, handing weapons to someone, no running, etc.
They learned well.
During game care processing, the kids assisted in skinning and eviscerating their own deer. While somewhat complacent, they willingly took turns in front of their peers learning by doing. As a game warden, I was pleased they displayed such an attitude. I know the next time any one of these kids harvests a deer, they will know exactly what to do.
On
a lighter note, one girl had to be reminded to take rings off both hands
as she reached into the chest cavity. At that point in time, I don’t
think it really mattered to her, she just wanted to show the boys she
could clean her deer!
On Saturday evening, 2 more deer were harvested and the process repeated itself. After a good meal of chicken fried steak and all the trimmings, the kids were ready to turn in.
On Sunday morning, 3 additional deer were harvested
and the camp began to pick up and clean up in anticipation of heading
home. After
completing necessary paperwork, camp broke and the end of
For more information on how you can sponsor a youth
hunt for deer, hogs, squirrel, rabbits, or varmints, contact Roger
Wubbenhorst (Dime Box exchange) or
Outdoor News: November 3, 2008
Opening Weekend Report
By Victor Gonzales, Lee County Game Warden
Something happened
last weekend I have not experienced in the last 16 years working deer
hunters. That something was nothing. What I mean to say is; I did not
receive one single call about illegal or suspicious activity. This is
not to say it didn’t occur, just that it was not reported. I checked my
phone periodically to see if it was on! Here’s a sample of what occurred
during the last 24 hours…
8 a.m.
Patrolled to
In talking to area
duck guides that frequent
10 a.m.
I began making my rounds of deer camps and hunting areas that usually
contain people every opening day. I drove a line that included Hwy 290,
FM 180, FM 1697, FM 141, Hwy 21, and Hwy 77, back to Hwy 290. I traveled
east to west, north to south including the county lines of
Lee/Washington/Burleson counties.
For some unknown
reason, most of the camps/areas did not have anyone in them. I began
calling people who live in these areas to see if they were hearing any
shots. They all said one or two hear and there. Feeling somewhat
discouraged, I felt it was time to regroup.
2 p.m.
Lunch time
3 p.m.
I began evening patrol on the same line, this time reversing course and
continuing in a counterclockwise manner.
5:30 p.m.
Deer started moving about on the highways and county roads. In the area
between Hwy 77 and FM 141 some of the camps reported deer harvested and
some hog activity. The number one complaint was the weather and drought.
7:30 p.m.
One of the last camps I came out of stated while they had seen plenty of
deer, they weren’t really interested in cleaning one as dusty and warm
as the weather was. I concurred.
8:30 p.m.
I did a set on grazing deer in an open field hoping to catch someone who
could not resist the temptation of deer so close to the roadway. No such
luck.
12 a.m.
I went home after 16 hours.
Sunday was pretty
much the same except for shortening patrol time and concentrating on the
following week’s patrol area. I talked to hunters in the western part of
the county who reported seeing deer that would be worth harvesting later
in the season. The camps all seemed to say the same thing; opening
weekend was not what they expected and unless it got colder, they
probably would not be back until Thanksgiving.
As always, if you
do not report suspicious activity, I can’t help you. Surrounding county
wardens report multiple citations being written due to landowner
cooperation. Please call 979-540-0194 (m) or 979-543-2666 (h) to report
illegal or suspicious activity or questions. Be careful and Happy
Hunting!
Outdoor News:
October 29, 2008
Opening Weekend of Deer Season
By Victor Gonzales,
It’s
finally here; opening weekend of the 2008-2009 deer season. Reports from
bow hunters and last weekend’s youth hunter’s indicate we may have a
pretty good year despite the drought-like conditions we’ve had. Deer are
moving about and a few bucks have been seen in the early stages of the
rut. In an earlier district meeting with other game wardens of our 11
county district, they report the same conditions.
Contrary to popular belief, deer season is not my busiest time of the year even though most calls come during this time. It’s kind of funny because the questions and problems that could be addressed any other time of the year, are asked or reported from opening weekend through the end of January. Truth be told, water safety patrol during the months of May through September are busiest because of the number of people/contacts you meet. Nonetheless, deer season goes on and the calls and questions continue.
As mentioned in earlier articles, the public plays
a vital role in whether or not a game warden can make cases where no one
has seen any illegal activity. Just last week in
The point is this; it’s very difficult to be everywhere at the same time. Most of the time cases can be made with direct evidence which includes forensic evidence. Other times it may take the rest of the season or up until two years to make a case. Because some of these cases are above Class C Misdemeanor, the investigation can continue adding witness statements and hopefully confessions. The quicker one calls to report a violation, the better the chances of someone getting caught or better preservation of evidence for case filing.
While I won’t reveal my patrol technique, those few citizens that have ever ridden with me know they’re unorthodox to say the least. Unlike other agencies, wardens prefer not to be seen during their patrol hours. When we are seen, we’re either just getting out, or just going home, or on our way to our “napping” spot. I keep a blanket and pillow in my truck during hunting season because I never know when I’ll be home.
Good luck and be safe!
By Victor Gonzales, Lee County Game Warden
October
20, 2008
This time of year
game wardens receive reports of illegal activity or at least of
questionable activity surrounding deer hunting. For unknown reasons the
activity seems to always follow the way wildlife moves about the
countryside as they search for food sources.
Our deer numbers
are on the increase including favorable fawn crop reports. With this
increase brings a surge in the number of hunting leases available.
A problem that has
begun to surface is property owners leasing small tracts of land to
large numbers of hunters. This in turn angers the hunters because
they’ve paid money to hunt only to find other stands and feeders in
close proximity of theirs.
Every landowner has the right to lease their property, but when doing so, they are required to purchase a hunting lease license equal to the size of their property. These licenses may be purchased at any point-of-sale outlet (Wal-Mart, Academy, TPWD).
Another factor in
leasing for hunting is whether the property can sustain the hunting
pressure and provide acceptable deer numbers. Think about this; if I own
50 acres and have 2 or 3 paid hunters, legally, they can take up to 12
deer in all seasons combined. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to
figure out if you kill your herd bull, what’s left to breed remaining
females? Anyone can see this mentality played out by looking at the
cattle industry. Drive down the road and see how many cows you see on
small acreage.
One of the most
reported
complaints
I get is about deer stands and feeders too close to property lines.
While no law exists that prevents this, it doesn’t make for good
neighbor relations. Another facet is when someone places a stand
overlooking another person’s property because their stand is surrounded
by brush. Again, it’s clear what the intent is.
So far this hunting season, I’ve had several reports of shooting off the
road in the Manheim/Fedor area, one deer shot off FM 2440, leasing
property without landowner permission, placement of feeders and/or
stands on property where no hunting is allowed, shots fired during
unusual hours, and trespassing onto private property.
The most important
thing citizens can remember is; when it comes to shooting, hunting, or
poaching, it is in “real time”. To be halfway successful, I need to know
immediately when the activity occurs. As is standard procedure, I don’t
get the call until tomorrow or next week, by then it’s too late. The
fastest time I ever caught a poacher shooting our decoy was about a
minute and a half. From the time he drove by and saw the target, turned
around in the ditch, pulled along side the decoy and shot, it was over.
The only reason I caught him in the first place was because I was right
across the road working the controls. The other wardens down the road
never even heard him shoot until I started hollering over the radio. So
again, please call me directly at home or on my cell phone. I’m in the
book and my cell is 979-540-0194.
Feral Hogs
It’s been said there are two types of landowners who have feral hog problems; those who have them now, and those who will eventually get them. And so goes the continuing saga of feral hogs and the problems they bring. Being one of the most prolific breeders of wildlife species, babies start having babies as early as 6 months.
Introduced by early settlers, these hogs roamed the countryside until the advent of fencing. By that time many were simply out of control or too difficult to catch or tame. Of course early settlers utilized the meat and by-products of the hogs so they always had a means of survival. However, in today’s modern world, we simply have too many.
Feral hogs do damage to farmers and ranchers by uprooting coastal fields and crops. When that isn’t bad enough, they prey upon vulnerable domestic animals and venture close enough to homes to ruin horticulture and landscapes.
So how do we control them? The answer isn’t simple,
and here in
Hunters who lease hunting rights, or those who have been encouraged to shoot all they can, only account for a small portion of the population. How many hogs can you eat at one time?
Trapping feral hogs seems to have a better impact because with a trap, you’ll catch more at a time. The problem with this is, once hogs grow accustomed to seeing or smelling traps, they’ll never go into another one. So again, how do we control them?
Unfortunately, trapping and hunting involve time, money, insight of the quarry, and PATIENCE. Not something we have a lot of in our daily lives. There are some alternative methods which work temporarily, and I mean temporarily. Like fire ants, you can get rid of them for awhile, but they’ll go to your neighbor or move out for a couple of weeks. Eventually you have to start all over again.
Here in
One place to look is the Lee County Wildlife
Association. The Association has game cameras and hog trap gates and
serve as the best way to come in contact with seasoned hunters and
trappers. Another method is to contact the Extension Agency for phone
numbers to area trappers and hounds man organizations. Finally,
contacting the local feral hog buyers that are in contact with everyone
(hunters/trappers). These guys know the area and have unlimited
resources. We have two such buyers located in the Dime Box and Blue
area. The newest buyer, “Blue Branch Boars”, just opened up on FM 696
between
For more information, go to this web page;
http://www.texasboars.com.Bow Season
Report
With a little more than one week gone into the 2008 Archery season, reports indicate that deer are moving, unfortunately not in the direction archers would prefer.
While some deer have been harvested locally, most hunters are being selective. The story seems to go like this; it’s to warm to clean a deer or hunters are waiting for the right deer to come along. Nevertheless hunters are glad the fall hunting season has begun.
In some areas of the county acorns are more plentiful than others. There you’ll find deer bedded down eating under the trees. In other parts, deer are beginning to hang around corn feeders. Either way, deer are moving across the public road, so be cautious.
Another item worth mentioning is the increased reports of deer and feral hog being found by the side of the road that appear to have been shot. Landowners are noticing more unfamiliar vehicles driving by their county roads than usual. While every road eventually leads home, this activity increases the chances of someone being up to no good. For more information, contact the game warden at 979-540-0194 (mobile).
Hurricane Ike:
Strike Team 1
Part 2 of 2
We awoke on September 14th and had a cold shave and breakfast. As we refueled all vehicles, we anxiously awaited the orders for the day. We didn’t know where we would go, but we knew wherever it was, it would be wet.
As some of you know,
in this type operation, before
any activity can commence, we must receive orders from the District
Disaster Command which is divided by districts across the state. This in
turn is verified through the Governor’s Division of
Emergency
Management.
The
Major came back with the announcement we would split into 3 separate
teams and disperse to the area of
Our team, led by the Major, proceeded towards
As
we drove into
We met with
Around 3 or 4 o’clock, we proceeded back to
At
approximately 8 p.m., we got the word the city did not complete the
proper FEMA paperwork. This paperwork, known as a “213”, would be what
would later have Wardens activated across southeast
On the morning of September 15th, we
received orders to pack up and head towards
We
traveled down Highway 124 to an insertion point between
Upon completion of this task, we headed back into
the
As we talked and met people who had somehow survived
the storm, I couldn’t help feel a bit sad.
At the end of the 12 hour day, we hated to leave
because we knew the job wasn’t done. That would be left up to the
continued wave upon wave of volunteers that would come in and do what
they could. As we pulled up on the high bank of the Intracoastal, I had
some of the guys pose for a shot. I’ll never forget Hurricane Ike and
all we went through.
Outdoor News September 22, 2008
Hurricane Ike: Strike Team 1
By Victor Gonzales, Lee County Game Warden - Part 1 of 2
I
recently returned from Hurricane Ike "search and rescue" duty in
We began the trip September 11th, by
spending the night at
During a lapse in the day, we assisted several bus
loads of assisted living patients from the
After breakfast on September 12th, we
loaded up and broke camp heading towards
On
the morning of September 13th, we were preparing for a good
hot meal when the order came down to pack up and move out. We were a
little disappointed because some of the guys from
As we got closer to
As
we got closer to the outskirts of
When we arrived in
Our
“home” was an abandoned Academy store right off I-10. We pulled into the
parking lot, refueled all vehicles and tried to pick a good spot to park
our trucks and find some concrete to sleep on.
Now, game wardens being the resourceful guys we are, we are not ones to fuss over accommodations. While I cranked up my 40 year old Coleman stove, another guy set up a canopy. Others around us broke out their cots and folding chairs. After a canned supper, we heated water and took turns using other guys portable shower that he hung over the headache rack. As we prepared for sleep, someone took a picture of six or seven of us that tried to cram under two 10x10 canopies.
Along about midnight, guess what?, it started to rain. We jumped up and hopped into our trucks for the remainder of the night. We couldn’t help not telling one warden who was a heavy sleeper until the laughter was too much.
Next week…pictures taken during actual search and rescue operations.
Outdoor News September 2, 2008
Work Schedule Part 2 of 2
By Victor Gonzales,
Being a
One might ask, how can you cover the size of
Under federal guidelines, we are bound by a 28 day,
160 hour work month. This means we work 20 days and are off 8 days. Of
course these days are not consecutively taken. Because of these hours,
it allows us to have a flexible schedule to compensate when outdoor
enthusiasts are out and about.
Another way at looking at this is, game wardens work
every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We work every holiday and try to
split Thanksgiving and Christmas between wardens. Our days off are
during the week which doesn’t make for a good weekend when our families
are away. If we get a call on our days off, we’re required to either
make the call and adjust our schedule or prioritize the call and answer
it on a case by case basis.
If you’ve ever wondered why you saw me at church in
uniform, in Wal-Mart’s outdoor section, sitting in my vehicle on the
side of the road, seeing my vehicle at home for long periods of time,
seeing me in another county, seeing me when you went to work and again
when you came home, talking with various business owners, and any other
countywide function, fundraiser or get together, it’s because I’m
working. Our number one priority is community policing. This means going
out and talking with you instead of driving by and waving. Our motto is;
Education, Prevention, and Apprehension.
The job of a game warden is
not a job at all; it’s a way of life. That’s how our families have to
look at it. There are too many times we cannot make a family function or
vacation because of our dedication to the resource. As I write this
article, we have three “strike teams” that have deployed for hurricane
duty. It is the responsibility of those who have not been called up to
take their calls while they are away. So the next time you see a game
warden and wonder what he’s doing or where he’s been he’s probably been
everywhere and done everything in order to protect wildlife resources
and the citizens of
Work Schedule - Part 1 of 2
By Victor Gonzales
Oftentimes I’m asked by the public how come they
don’t see game wardens until hunting season, or how come they get
checked every time they go to the lake or river. For
Here in
I haven’t even mentioned training, schools,
in-service, updates, answering calls, special assignments, and trying to
make time for vacation, family, church, and working around the house.
Year after year, month after month, the schedule seems to stay the same.
We game wardens have the task of making our
waterways safe for all boaters and recreationists. In addition to
receiving federal funding for water safety patrol, game wardens are also
included in the governor’s Texas Task Force One, which deploys to the
Just this past Sunday while working
Shooting
Across Property Lines
By
Every dove season it happens; shooting and not being cognizant of where shotgun pellets will land. The number one complaint during dove season is shotgun pellets hitting the house or falling in the yard while people are outside.
Most dove hunters abide by good hunting rules which include safety, shooting lane assignment, target acquisition, and surroundings awareness.
In 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature passed a bill (TPW 62.0121.) which makes it illegal to shoot across property lines while hunting or recreational shooting. This bill provides protection for property owners; especially those in and around rural/urban areas of the state where subdivisions or property lines lie close together.
To ensure safety for everyone, hunters should be at least 200 yards away from property lines or houses when shooting doves. While pellets may fall around houses, barns, people, or whatever; hunters should be aware that any person may seek restitution in the event property is damaged.
What I suggest is, prior to the season opener, practice your shotgun swing and follow through by shooting skeet. Include follow through exercises that encourage shoot/don’t shoot situations. Always remember that once you shoot, you can’t take the shot back.
Another consideration hunters should think about is if property lines are still to close to ensure safety, perhaps hunting should not take place at all. Is it worth the risk of losing a good relationship with friends and neighbors?
Crossing Property Lines
By Victor Gonzales
Every year, landowners, and adjoining property
owners, call to report hunting or fishing activity on property they know
no one should be on. When I respond to the area in
question, and make
contact with the hunting or fishing party, I find that permission had
been granted. Sometimes, no permission was granted.
If hunters will contact landowners or managers of
adjoining properties, a lot of time and trouble can be avoided. It’s
really quite simple; just pick up the phone, or stop by and visit. Not
every landowner hunts or fishes, but they expect, or would like to know,
who’s doing all that shooting, or driving in at all hours of the day and
night.
Hunters and fisherman do not have the right to enter
someone else’s property to retrieve fish or game for any circumstance
whatsoever. While the law states that a reasonable effort shall be made
to retrieve wounded game, it does
not imply that a hunter may cross property lines to do so. Believe
me, nothings worse than trying to play referee between landowner and
hunter when both believe they are right!
It’s been said that dogs don’t read or know boundary
lines; well that’s true, but their owners do. Make an effort to work
with those affected by your sport and they’ll work with you when the
time comes to cross onto their property.
By: Victor Gonzales,
As posted in an earlier column, the Texas Parks &
Wildlife Department has announced the dates for the Early Season
Migratory Bird hunting. According to Assistant Chief of Wildlife, Scott
Vaca, the dates were not included in the “Outdoor Annual” due to
printing deadlines. Vaca reported that the information for the “Outdoor
Annual” was due to Texas Monthly for printing by June 25th,
while dates and bag limits were not approved until July 29th.
Here in Lee, and surrounding “Central Zone”
counties, the season begins September 1, 2008 and lasts until October
30, 2008 and then again from December 26, 2008 to January 4, 2009. Bag
limit includes 12 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in the
aggregate, to include not more than 2 white-tipped doves. Possession
limit is twice the daily bag limit.
One
sub-species of the mourning dove that can be found locally is the exotic
collared dove. This bird does not count towards
your bag limit, but it is advised to keep the plumage intact while
mixing it with mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves.
Dove hunters are reminded that in addition to a resident hunting license, a $7.00 migratory game bird stamp is required. Those exempt from stamp requirement include hunters under 17 years of age (resident or non-resident), holders of Lifetime Resident Combination or Lifetime Resident Hunting licenses. For more information, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us .
Early Migratory Bird Hunting Guidelines (2 Pages)
By: Victor Gonzales, Lee County Game Warden
7/28/08 Lee County Game Warden Victor Gonzales reports that the 2008-2009 hunting season is right around the corner. Hunters of all ages are encouraged to check their equipment, purchase licenses, and pick up the new Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual, available wherever licenses are sold.
September 1st usually marks the beginning of Early Season Migratory Bird (dove) hunting. This year, the "Early Season" dates had not been announced prior to the printing of the "Outdoor Annual". By Monday, July 28th the 2008 - 2009 dates are expected to be announced via public media outlets.
Until then, generally speaking, the means and methods of dove hunting have not changed, however hunters should be familiar with sunrise/sunset times because dove hunting is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/Texas.asp
The most common violation is hunting after sunset!
While a fair amount of daylight remains at sunset, too often hunters are
cited for shooting doves well into the evening. Many cases have been
made when hunters utilize the backdrop of an orange sky to silhouette
birds; even to the point where the shotgun muzzle flash illuminates the sky!
To read about hunting conditions and other
worthwhile information throughout the state, go to the
In other outdoor news, Warden Gonzales is seeking information from women who are interested in learning about shooting sports, hunting, tracking, etc. In cooperation with TPWD and Lee County Wildlife Association, a “women's only” outdoors program has been mentioned and can be fulfilled if enough participation is garnered. For more information, contact Warden Gonzales at 979-540-0194, if interested.
