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Law Question #7405363 01/15/19 05:57 PM
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noname124398 Online Content OP
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Any duck hunting lawyers in here? I have a (possibly dumb) question regarding this law found in the TPWD Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet.

[Linked Image]

My parents live on lake x and have roughly 1000 feet of shoreline on a point that creates a nice eddy/wind break when there is a north-north west wind. We see canvasbacks hanging around in this spot pretty often and I have been wanting to set a little diver spread out for a while but have been reluctant due to there being a pretty strong presence of the boys in green on this lake coupled with my lack of confidence in interpreting this regulation. The two closest structures are the neighboring docks, both of which are outside of the required 150 yards, but barely (~153 when perfectly centered between them). There are however two structures within 150 yards; my parents dock and their house. See picture below for reference, parents dock not pictured. Please refrain from naming lake if you recognize this area.

[Linked Image]


So my questions are: Would these be excluded from the guidance in this law due to them being personal property? Do you think we would be legal in this situation? Would you do it?

Edited to add: there are no lake-specific laws for hunting on this lake, so state regs apply.

Last edited by noname124398; 01/15/19 06:05 PM.
Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7405369 01/15/19 06:05 PM
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LarryCopper Offline
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You might want to clarify with the controlling authority for the lake. If it is where I think it is, that number is actually 200 yards not 150. That rule only exists for the purpose of the owner of the dwelling. If your folks don't care and it is 150 yards you are technically legal.

Even if it is legal, out of common courtesy you or your folks should talk to the neighbors. Let them know what your plans are and feel them out. It's better to have neighbors that don't hate you than to shoot a few divers.


Re: Law Question [Re: LarryCopper] #7405376 01/15/19 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by LarryCopper
You might want to clarify with the controlling authority for the lake. If it is where I think it is, that number is actually 200 yards not 150. That rule only exists for the purpose of the owner of the dwelling. If your folks don't care and it is 150 yards you are technically legal.

Even if it is legal, out of common courtesy you or your folks should talk to the neighbors. Let them know what your plans are and feel them out. It's better to have neighbors that don't hate you than to shoot a few divers.

Good advice on the common courtesy. I will certainly clear it with the neighbors. This is a pretty rural area so gunshots are a common occurrence. I am going to PM you regarding the 200 yard rule as i have searched endlessly for any lake-specific guidance on hunting this lake and have turned up empty.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7405377 01/15/19 06:13 PM
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You can save yourself a lot of time and hearing meaningless opinions if you just call the local GW and tell him what you are wanting to do.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7405378 01/15/19 06:14 PM
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100% agree with the above post. Better to check with the local warden and make neighbors aware. Likely avoid a visit by the wardens...if neighbors are surprised they may call them and then it’s a different conversation.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7405937 01/16/19 03:12 AM
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Do your parents live in the National Forest, because those are general rules for some of the public National Forest area lands? You will even find it worded just like that outside of the State of Texas. More than likely the lake your parents are on has one of two different River Authorities as the controlling authority. Once you know who the controlling authority is, San Jacinto or Trinity, you should be able to find published rules regarding hunting and firearms online. All river authority lakes have rules beyond the State rules. And if you can hunt there, I agree you might as well talk to the local game warden about it in advance. Hunt there and you will talk to him anyway when the neighbors call.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406214 01/16/19 03:55 PM
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I think you're safe to name the lake. Ain't no body going to come hunt a deep water point in the middle of a neighborhood... 2cents

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406234 01/16/19 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Cochise
I think you're safe to name the lake. Ain't no body going to come hunt a deep water point in the middle of a neighborhood... 2cents

Not trying to protect the spot by any means, but naming a lake for any reason seems to be frowned upon here. In fact, if i had named the lake you'd probably be the guy getting butt hurt about it judging by your holier-than-thou attitude.
I just thought it would be fun to wake up and walk down in my PJs and shoot a few canvasbacks when I am visiting my parents but I guess that's not cool enough for you.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406247 01/16/19 04:16 PM
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Thanks to everyone else that responded. The lake is not a river authority lake. Municipal water district lake. I found some literature describing the regs on the lake which deferred to all TPWD guidance regarding hunting.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406401 01/16/19 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by noname124398
Originally Posted by Cochise
I think you're safe to name the lake. Ain't no body going to come hunt a deep water point in the middle of a neighborhood... 2cents

Not trying to protect the spot by any means, but naming a lake for any reason seems to be frowned upon here. In fact, if i had named the lake you'd probably be the guy getting butt hurt about it judging by your holier-than-thou attitude.
I just thought it would be fun to wake up and walk down in my PJs and shoot a few canvasbacks when I am visiting my parents but I guess that's not cool enough for you.


Take a midol bud. Tampons are on isle 6

Last edited by Cochise; 01/16/19 07:07 PM.
Re: Law Question [Re: Cochise] #7406537 01/16/19 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Cochise
Originally Posted by noname124398
Originally Posted by Cochise
I think you're safe to name the lake. Ain't no body going to come hunt a deep water point in the middle of a neighborhood... 2cents

Not trying to protect the spot by any means, but naming a lake for any reason seems to be frowned upon here. In fact, if i had named the lake you'd probably be the guy getting butt hurt about it judging by your holier-than-thou attitude.
I just thought it would be fun to wake up and walk down in my PJs and shoot a few canvasbacks when I am visiting my parents but I guess that's not cool enough for you.


Take a midol bud. Tampons are on isle 6

Will do. While I'm at it, I'll look up the difference between aisle and isle. Oh wait, I already learned that in the 6th grade.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406566 01/16/19 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by noname124398
Originally Posted by Cochise
Originally Posted by noname124398
Originally Posted by Cochise
I think you're safe to name the lake. Ain't no body going to come hunt a deep water point in the middle of a neighborhood... 2cents

Not trying to protect the spot by any means, but naming a lake for any reason seems to be frowned upon here. In fact, if i had named the lake you'd probably be the guy getting butt hurt about it judging by your holier-than-thou attitude.
I just thought it would be fun to wake up and walk down in my PJs and shoot a few canvasbacks when I am visiting my parents but I guess that's not cool enough for you.


Take a midol bud. Tampons are on isle 6

Will do. While I'm at it, I'll look up the difference between aisle and isle. Oh wait, I already learned that in the 6th grade.


Got me there.

Not sure why you even took offense to what I originally said - there was nothing to take offense about, but to each their own I guess. You must have taken something the wrong way. I don't see how you can make the jump from someone saying it's probably ok to name the lake as no one else is going to hunt there (as you even said - they can't) - to someone being holier than thou and whatever else you implied. I think things get lost over text sometimes.

Good luck with your can beat down.

Re: Law Question [Re: noname124398] #7406577 01/16/19 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Cochise


Got me there.

Not sure why you even took offense to what I originally said - there was nothing to take offense about, but to each their own I guess. You must have taken something the wrong way. I don't see how you can make the jump from someone saying it's probably ok to name the lake as no one else is going to hunt there (as you even said - they can't) - to someone being holier than thou and whatever else you implied. I think things get lost over text sometimes.

Good luck with your can beat down.

Seemed a bit condescending but no hard feelings. It is a smaller, lesser-known public lake (that is nowhere near my location) and the guys who hunt it would have their pitch forks out right now if I had named it. I couldn't care less if others knew the name of the lake, just trying to abide by the unwritten law of the land.

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