Just got on a deer lease right next to a section of the Sabine River. It is my understanding that all navigable waterways are huntable as long as you stay in the boat or on an island. What about small ponds just off the river? If they are connected by a stream or slough or something does that make them still navigable and therefore huntable? Would I only be able to hunt out of my boat or can I stash my boat and hunt on the bank?

Thanks for any help.

Dnt get out of the boat...bank means private land...if you go in a creek and there are no hunting signs posted or a bridge i would turn around....They changed the rule not to long ago that back water or any other water out of the main channel is illegal...im still kinda blurry on the subject to.

You can get out of your boat. You have 30ft from the waters edge. There are a couple hunting clubs on the prairie that used the river for teal season.
Make sure you tread lightly if you hunt someone elses blind, some guys think they own the river and the ducks that sit on it.

I understand the law completly different. It is my understanding you can hunt the river if you stay in the river and you pellets stay in the river. Getting out of the boat and walking 30 feet from the bank is not legal as I understand it.

Your pellets are not going to stay in the river unless your shooting in the water. Also, I have always heard that you have 30 ft from the waters edge, I have never looked it up because I know all the landowners that own the land on the river in the parts that I hunt on. I rarely hunt public land so I have never been really concerned, but to solve the debate and keep from starting an endless thread about laws and debates, you could just look it up on TPWD's website.

Please provide the link that states this. Can't find it, serious.

Your not going to find a link to any regulation that says that. I have never heard that 30 ft from the bank thing before. 30 ft has to do with the width for some waterways to be considered navigable. The laws are not simple on this. A lot depends on the political history behind the river your on and how wide it is. And even if your shot does not cross the public boundary, your game or dog can't either. To retrieve it is to trespass. Not to retrieve it is wanton waste.

Links are cut and pasted from the sticky post at the top of the migratory forum. Let me know if any of them are dead links and I will fix them.

Texas River Guide
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/rivers/

If a River Runs Through It, What Law Applies
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/water_issues/rivers/navigation/kennedy/

Articles on Navigation Law
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/water_issues/rivers/navigation/

Sec. 62.0061. HUNTING ON OR OVER CERTAIN SUBMERGED LAND
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PW/htm/PW.62.htm#62.0061

Sec. 62.0121. DISCHARGE OF FIREARM ACROSS PROPERTY LINE
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PW/htm/PW.62.htm#62.0121

Stream Navigation Law - Criminal Trespass
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications.../trespass.phtml

Thanks Sniper!!

yeah aint no 30 ft from the waters edge. That advice right there is why you always look it up yourself. He is not trying to lead you wrong. Just happens.

I ave studied the laws pretty good not as good as some. Navigable rivers are tough to hunt with the fact that your shot cannot cross a property boundary, and game retrieval. Need a pretty healthy river bed to do much in.

Thanks for the information guys. I looked up the local game wardens for the county and will be giving them a call for final clarification. I'll let yall know what they say.

Best thing right here. The GW's are the good guys (most of the time), they hunt, they know the deal. They'll tell you what they give tickets for... and it's not always the same things.

Generally it's a combination of their interpretation of the laws, the land sittuation in the area, and the political climate between the landowners and the public.

You can read all you want but why study when the teacher will just give you the answers if you ask for them.

Certain Lakes for example ,EAGLE MOUNTAIN,allows a certain feet from last vegitation.As far as fetching ducks,you can as long as you dont carry weapon with you.There isnt a common tresspass law in Texas ,only criminal tresspass .Thats with a weapon or youve been told once to stay off land.Then they will get you for tresspassing.

§ 30.05. CRIMINAL TRESPASS. (a) A person commits an
offense if he enters or remains on or in property, including an
aircraft or other vehicle, of another without effective consent or
he enters or remains in a building of another without effective
consent and he:
(1) had notice that the entry was forbidden; or
(2) received notice to depart but failed to do so.
Notice IF....recieved notice to depart......

Glad I could clear this up.

Sorry for the confusion guys, but like I said I never have had to worry about this issue so I was not clear. That is why I suggested to look it up. And 30ft was just my guess. I knew someone would come along and post the link to TPWD.

Public lakes with a controlling authority like eagle mountain are a completely different thing. How far you can be from the bank on land under their control is not a law or regulation, but a rule. No different than say rules set by a land manager on a private hunting lease. Nor would a controlling authority be able to give permission to trespass on adjacent privately owned land.

Be careful with any trespass assumption. It is still trespassing if you leave your weapon behind, it is just a lesser charge. Notice includes verbal notice, a fence, sign(s), the presence of purple paint on posts or trees, or the visible presence of crops grown for human consumption. So though you may think your ok entering someones land from the river, there may still be and likely will be no trespassing signs posted on the road access that you did not see.

Yes sir but its only enforceable after youve been notified to leave (UNLESS)its clearly posted ect.........Im with you on the careful part I cant afford no ticket or to get shot by a crazy land owner.Im allergic to lead.

I don't think you are correct. If it is a marked property line and you cross it, you are trespassing. There is no need for someone to tell you to leave, b/c they already gave you notice of it being private property by marking the boundary line.

Thats why I stated (unless )it is clearly marked.we agree.You didnt notice the unless.

Not worth the trouble. Get a lease.

I kill limits of greenheads every year on public rivers.

Its not a waste of time if you know what your doing.

Dang! you should get your own hunting show or something up on the www!

30 feet from the bank will get you either shot or arrested.

Is that a cow blind behind you in your sig? I always thought about using one? Do mallards flare off of cows?