Rules for duck hunting Texas rivers???

it's kinda hard to find any info on duck hunting texas rivers by boat. what rules do you have to follow?

1. Stay off private property - it's trespassing and could be a felony if you are carrying a gun
2. Don't let shot leave the channel- another crime
3. Be more than 500' from dwelling
4. Outside city limits
5. Be prepared to have the Sheriff or Warden called on you

That's just a start.

5. Be prepared to have the Sheriff or Warden called on you

for sure be ready for a visit

bring an extra prop and a change of underwear

What river you huntin?

sounds like nazi germany....

I've lived through this statement a couple of times

what about pockets and oxbows that are connected to the main river and it's possible to drive your boat into, are those still public?

i know when i used to hunt the navasota river in college when it was out of its banks, the rule was as long as you could motor in, it was still public.

Pockets and oxbows still attached to main river by water are owned by the landowners around them...that's what they think and get ready for a brew-ha when you tell them they don't. Hard to argue your pellets ain't landing on their land so you're gonna lose that one. Most landowners, espoecially those around said pockets/oxbows, have Mr. Greenjeans on speed dial so have your opening statement, your evidence and closing arguement ready to go.

As far as the Nav, yeah, you ain't been out there in a while have ya? Just try that now

Not any more....

you guys are pissin in my cheerios.

Yep, link to it is included in the sticky at the top of the forum. You can fish in it, but you can't hunt on it anymore.

Sec. 62.0061. HUNTING ON OR OVER CERTAIN SUBMERGED LAND. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not hunt or take any wild animal or wild bird when the person is on or over privately owned land that is:(1) submerged under:(A) public fresh water due to seasonal or occasional innundation; or(B) public salt water and located above the mean high tide line of the Gulf of Mexico and its bays and estuaries; and(2) conspicuously marked as privately owned by a sign or signs that are substantially similar to the following:POSTED. PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO HUNTING.(b) This section does not apply to:(1) fishing or to fish and other aquatic life;(2) a person who:(A) owns the submerged land; or(B) obtains the landowner's consent;(3) land that is dedicated to the permanent school fund and that is located within:(A) the tidewater limits of this state; or(B) the gradient boundaries of a navigable river or stream in this state; or(4) land that is:(A) submerged by public water; and(B) located below the mean high tide line of the Gulf of Mexico and its bays and estuaries.(c) This section does not authorize a person to fish by any means or method or at any time or place that is otherwise prohibited by this code.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1002, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.Renumbered from Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 62.002 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921, Sec. 17.001(60), eff. September 1, 2007.

Hmmm...making me re-think some of the areas I have scouted. In Cali- the law was and still is) water rights- if you can get to it in a boat, you can hunt it (as long as you/your shot doesn't hit dry ground), and I hadn't read that law for here.

Glad this was posted. Thanks!

I have hunted the Navasota for years when it floods. My bud owns 900 acres where the old Railroad concrete piling sticks up in the middle of the river. When his property floods it covers 700 of the 900 acres. It is sincerely duck mecca when that happens.

I see both sides of the coin on the river hunting issue. I have been with him when he finds blinds built in his trees, trash and hulls strewn about. Fences cut by propellers and a host of other issues. He pays hefty taxes to own the property but before didn't have a say in what happened to it during duck season. I would be pissed too. He doesn't duck hunt

On a selfish note I am glad it is not huntable. Me and my brother are allowed access to 700 acres of flooded timber and pasture. The only problem is it hasn't flooded to the right height in 5 years during season.

Always a Good subject.

Probably my most memorable duck hunt was a recon excursion on a river:

I'll be hunting the Brazos this weekend. My first ever river hunt on my new lease. I figure I'll hunt one of the tanks Saturday morning early, maybe move to the river after 8:30 if action is slow. I may go all river on Sunday morning.

I talked to the game warden yesterday to double check and make sure I wasn't breaking any laws by hunting out there and he said nothing was holding me back.

Bring it!

No rules just fast and loud

Richard kambell

If you have permission of the landowner, you are golden

Yep, we have 4.5 miles of river frontage on our new lease...so I'll be walking in.

what about shooting from the boat? does it have to be anchored? can you drift-shoot?

How are you going to ensure that your pellets don't land on private property?

All movement created by a motor has to be stopped before you can hunt.

I'm not sure on the exact wording but I think that is the gist of it. Some people interpret that to mean that if you are just drifting you can shoot but others interpret it to mean that you have to be tied up.

If you are serious you really should read the regulations. Understanding the definition of a navigable waterway and normal channel are pretty important and you don't want to rely on Internet advice when the Game Warden shows up.

"Some people interpret" means nothing. Go by the actual rules. No where does it say you have to be anchored and no where does it say you can't drift. But I recommend you go a step further and leave the trolling motor out of the water and pull your motor up while hunting so it is obvious your not under way by motor or sail to any approaching game warden.

Waterfowl Hunting Methods
Lawful Hunting Methods
Legal shotguns, lawful archery equipment, falconry, dogs, artificial decoys and manual or mouth-operated bird calls. Hunting is permitted in the open or from a blind or other type of concealment or from any floating craft (except a sinkbox) provided that all motion resulting from sail or motor has ceased (sails furled and motor shut off). Powerboats and sailboats may be used to pick up dead or injured birds.

Unlawful Hunting Methods
Any firearm other than a legal shotgun, trap, snare, net, crossbow, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance, live birds as decoys, recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds, sinkbox or by means of baiting or hunting over a baited area. It is unlawful to hunt from or by means of motor-driven vehicles and land conveyances or aircraft of any kind except paraplegics and single or double amputees of legs may hunt from stationary motor-driven vehicles or land conveyances. It is unlawful to use motor-driven land, water or air conveyances or sailboats to concentrate, drive, rally or stir up any migratory game bird.

Yep, I don't read it that way but I get tired arguing with people who do. My wording was spot on for being from memory (stopped vs ceased).

Like I sad, if he's serious he should go to the regulations sticky at the top and read up on all the laws because it is too complicated to get into in a few posts.

long story short, dont hunt rivers

mods, go ahead and lock this one down, I covered it

let me help garrett

mods, go ahead and lock this one down

thank you mr hayraker

Don't lock it. HOF will reply 5 years later on this.

Hunting rivers is awesome! My most memorable hunt from two seasons ago was on the mighty.... Never mind, don't want you guys to get pissy about regulations AND lake/river naming.

If its flooded and not marked you are good to go.

On another note I asked a warden last week about the whole shot over the property line thing and he said "he takes it on a case by case basis but that he wouldnt be doing any arresting for someone hunting a river." Each warden and his connections may be different though.

I use my Hobie peddle propulsion to sneak in on them. Works pretty good. Human powered propulsion is allowed.

When I was a young man living in East Texas my squirrel hunting
buddy Leon Compton who was from Weches and I would jump hunt the
Neches River in the Nat'l Forest..this was before steel shot, ect. We got quite good at getting Wood Ducks, Pin Tails , and Mallards along with an occasional cat squirrel...but he was raised there and I hunted those bottoms all the time w/my Coon
Hounds...I'd have no idea how they are nowaday..DD

Any new rules on this?

That’s dedication.

ttt

Just stay in the boat. getting out and standing on the ground is a no no

I was told by a warden when I asked them about this issue. When it's flooded, as long as you are in the water, and you meet the other criteria such as not posted and so on, that you can hunt it. But you cannot get out of your boat, even if your dog touches bottom when he makes a retrieve, trespassing. Lots of folks hunt a particular river near me that do not understand this and I guarantee you they have the G-dub on speed dial. But they hunt it anyway, and then post of FB about it.

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. -Grace Hopper-

Not HOF but Hopedale and 7 years later.

We hunt the red and I have never had any issues what so ever. I hunt oxbows, sand bars, get out of the boat etc... I don’t hunt it if it’s posted though.

Hey, do you still have those pics of Fowldreams' truck almost drowning in the river from that one hunt?

The before and after are classic