Received notifacation of this today and thought I would pass it along.

For all of you folks that have been voicing concerns about the proposals you have been hearing about, just go to the TP&W web site and you can voice those concerns and see the actual proposals.

Now is the time to start letting TP&W know how you feel about these proposals.

Scoping: Major Changes in Deer Hunting Regulations.

The online public comment period is 12:00 p.m. November 17, 2008, through 05:00 p.m. January 14, 2009.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has transitioned away from political boundaries for the purpose of monitoring white-tailed deer populations and toward biologically-based communities or Resource Management Units (RMUs).

The department has identified 33 unique RMUs across the state having similar soils, vegetation types and land use practices they believe will more accurately capture deer population dynamics. The intent is to develop deer season bag limit frameworks based on these units, although implementation will still track county boundaries to avoid confusion among hunters.

In a briefing of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Committee, TPWD unveiled an extensive suite of potential regulation changes in deer harvest throughout much of the state. The department will be gathering public input on the possible proposals during the next couple of months and present to the commission in January a comprehensive set of proposals.

Those proposals will then go back out for official comment during a series of public hearings around the state next spring. A final decision will be made by the commission at its March 25-26, 2009, public meeting.

Don't know if the new proposals have been posted on here yet... but here is the link....

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20081110a

I just posted my opinions. Strangely, I feel more American (and Texan) than when I voted in the general election.....

I really enjoy the Public Comments periods, because it does make me feel like I made an effort instead of just setting around and griping about things after they have been put in effect.

I also feel good when I attend the Publc meetings and give my opinion at those.

The problem that I have seen with the actual meetings is that usually it is just the people that are for the proposals that make any rel effort to show up.

CHC - don't worry, I delete those anyway...

Just joking!! All are forwarded to appropriate biologist and their supervisors.

OOOHHH MY!!!

I was thinking about this the other day and reading the new proposals just highlighted it again. I don't even know where most of these places (counties) are without looking at a map. I'm glad to see Terrell County on the list for more tags, that should bring some more land for lease out there and a little more money into Sanderson and Dryden.

I hope a large number of people from this forum can attend and voice their opinions or at least post them.

Thank you for posting this regarding the public comment. I had seen the proposed changes, but was unaware the public could provide feedback on the website.

Looks like more antler restrictions

How 'bout re-classifying crossbows as archery gear and allow them for use in october? They're a hoot to shoot!

I went to the TPWD website and posted my opinions on the deer hunting proposals, and it feels a lot better to post my opinions where people may actually listen for a change!

I like it, as long as they read them and go by what the majority of the people want to see, and I have no problem with that!

Really good, accurate thoughts on the whole system.

Having been to several of the Public meetings, I feel that the on-line comment sessions have a real potential to obtain better information and actual concerns than the Public meeting did/do.

Things I have noticed about the Public meetings, have been:

1. The majority of the folks that show up, are usually completely for the proposals or are completely against them.

Very few folks that feel the opposite way show up and express their concerns.

2. Turn out for those meeting across the board are usually very small. I believe 30 people was the most at any of the ones I attended.

3. People that do show up, either get emotional and go off topic, or just set there and never say a word.

By doing them on-line, I believe more people will be comfortable in expressing their opinion and keeping to the issue at hand.

Also, one other thing that folks need to keep in mind, comments about existing or proposed regulations can be made to TP&W at any time during the year on-line.

Just go to the TP&W web site, click-on the contact us prompt and follow the directions.

You made a real good post Jimbo.

big fat hog

nice big

nice

Have you got some kind of statement your tying to make here??????

If you do, stand up on your hind legs like a man and make it.

Quite a few years ago I attended one of these public forums. The meeting was heavily attended by the public. It involved closing the area below Lake Granbury Dam to PUBLIC fishing. The State Biologists wanted to use it to catch large female Stripers so they could strip the eggs. Under questioning they admitted that they could get all of the eggs they needed without closing off the area. The public was 100% against the closing. They did it anyway. I've never been too impressed with the ability to give my input to government officials.

Don't know when that meeting was, because I fished behind Granbury for many years, and the only area I ever knew of that was closed Pre 9-11 was the stilling basin once the water releases reached a certain CFS volume.

Post 9-11, it was completely closed down for "Security Issues".

I have heard that part of the area is open again, but it is back to where you have to walk in from the main road.

Supposedly the parking lot and road to it that was just a short way above the river have been closed to private vehicles.

There are situations, where, Public sentiment is one way, but the below board dealing are all another, and that is when the system messes up.

It is like the deal with allowing firearms in Grayson county for deer hunting.

I believe some minds higher up the food chain have already been made up about this issue and it will get pushed thru over many peoples protests. JMO.

CHC - thanks for posting this! I might not like the ARs, but overall I like what I am seeing...

AR's, an extended doe/spike season, and increased bag limits in Young... Cool!

ARs and a 4 day doe season in Anderson... Bout time on the does!

TxP

Everyone, PLEASE comment on the proposals if you are unable to attend any of the public hearings or the Commission Meeting. When you voice your thoughts, suggestions and opinions, this is what goes directly in front of the TPWD Commissioners when it is time to vote on the new proposals.

I do hope all of you comment one way or another on the proposals for next season.

Here's the link

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/

great post