31 TAC §65.321
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department adopts, on an emergency
basis, an amendment to §65.321, concerning Special Management Provisions.
The emergency action is necessary for the state to respond to federal regulations
authorizing a conservation season for light geese, which have overpopulated
their arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds. The emergency action will implement
special management provisions for the take of light geese.
The section is adopted on an emergency basis because the department has
determined that the conservation season is necessary to properly manage light
geese, and because federal action to authorize the season took place at such
a late date that the timeline for the ordinary rulemaking process would substantially
diminish the biological effectiveness of the season.
The amendment is adopted on an emergency basis under Parks and
Wildlife Code, Chapter 64, Subchapter C, which authorizes the Commission and
the Executive Director to provide the open season and means, methods, and
devices for the hunting and possessing of migratory game birds, including
emergency regulations in cases where conditions affecting the supply or condition
of migratory game birds exist.
§65.321.Special Management Provisions.
The provisions of paragraphs (1)-(3) of this section apply only to
the hunting of light geese. All provisions of this subchapter continue in
effect unless specifically provided otherwise in this section; however, where
this section conflicts with the provisions of this subchapter, this section
prevails.
(1)-(3)
(No change.)
(4)
Early closures.
(A)
At sunset on January
23, 2000
[
31, 1999
], the open seasons for the following species of migratory birds
are closed until further notice.
(i)
[
(A)
] sandhill crane: in Zones B
and C;
and
(ii)
[
(B)
] light geese
and Canada
geese:
in the Eastern Zone
.
[
;
]
[(C)
ducks, coots, and mergansers (extended
falconry season): statewide; and]
[(D)
woodcock (extended falconry season):
statewide]
(B)
At sunset on February 4, 2000, the open
seasons for the following species of migratory birds are closed until further
notice.
(i)
sandhill crane: in Zone A; and
(ii)
light geese and dark geese: in the Western Zone.
(5)
Special Light Goose Conservation Period.
(A)
From
January 24, 2000
[
February 1, 1999
] through April
2, 2000
[
25, 1999
], the take of
light geese is lawful in the Eastern Zone as defined in §65.317 of this
title (relating to Zones and Boundaries for Late Season Species).
(B)
From February
5, 2000
[
15, 1999
]
through April
2, 2000
[
25, 1999
], the take of light
geese is lawful in the Western Zone as defined in §65.317 of this title
(relating to Zones and Boundaries for Late Season Species).
(C)
Special Regulation: In Refugio,
Calhoun, and Aransas counties it is unlawful to hunt light geese after March
10, 2000 on the seaward side of a line beginning at the Gulf of Mexico at
Port O'Connor (including Pelican Island), thence northwest along State Highway
185, thence southwest along State Highway 35 to Aransas Pass, thence southeast
along State Highway 361 to Port Aransas, thence east along the Corpus Christi
Channel, thence southeast along the Aransas Channel to the Gulf of Mexico,
except that it is lawful to hunt light geese from March 11, 2000 through April
2, 2000 on Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area.
Filed with
the Office of the Secretary of State, on January 10, 2000.
TRD-200000141
Gene McCarty
Chief of Staff
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Effective date: January 10, 2000
Expiration date: May 9, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 389-4775