TPWD Proposes Regulation Changes for Eastern Turkey Hunting

TPWD has proposed to shorten the Eastern spring turkey hunting season in Bowie, Cass, Fannin, Grayson, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Red River, and Sabine by one week while retaining the current closing date of May 14. Staff also proposes closing the Eastern turkey season in Upshur and San Augustine counties

Yep...and I'm all for it but just think it should be implemented for next year rather than a month before the opener.

There will be a lot of people who won't get the memo before then because the April 15th dates have been scheduled since last summer and that's when most hunters expect for it to start. I wouldn't have know if someone who was paying attention and knew I planned on hunting wouldn't have told me.

I think anything being proposed should be more strategic and well in advance and published in the annual rules and regulations booklet, so everyone will be aware well before season and prepared. What do you guys think?

Here's the link for public comment Eastern Turkey Season Proposed changes

I agree. While I have no problem with the proposed change, their timing couldn't be worse.

This just being a public comment period till March 22nd, I don't see them having enough time to put the proposed regulations in place for this season. Surely some of our legislators will rule with some common sense and realize changing regulations just days before the season would be an utter cluster for enforcement agencies.

TPWD should have planned this better if they wanted the regulations to be enforced for the upcoming season. Constituents shouldn't be made to pay for their lack of planning and have commented such in the public comments.

If this proposed regulation is approved for this year, it will change my plans drastically, as I already have hunts out of state planned for the new opening date.

The proposed changes are for the 2018-2019 season. I take it to mean it won’t be in effect until next spring for the 2019 eastern turkey season. Long time coming. Good luck this spring.

That may be their intent, but the proposed changes includes "this years".

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now accepting public comment on a suite of proposed changes to this year’s hunting regulations, which include: a unified statewide deer season opener, legalizing air guns and air bows for hunting certain wildlife species, and a reduction of the spring Eastern turkey season.

They are clearly trying to push this through for this year...we'll have to see if the legislature will allow it to pass as proposed and apply emergency status.

Exactly...the vast majority of hunters who work and have families have to plan that time off. This time of the year and this close to season, most of us already have planned time off based on dates that are already in place.

And you would be correct. The info was initially sent to me insisting that it was being pushed for this year and I couldn't find any info to the contrary. A video was posted on the Parks & Wildlife facebook page today giving details on all the proposed regulations for 2018/2019.

I'm on board for shortening the season as long as it wasn't a last minute push for this year since season is so close, but I think it's necessary to do the coming years until the numbers are what they need to be in most places.

When birds were restocked on the Angelina NF there was still a season listed in the regulations booklet and signs had to be posted on the road entrances on the forest, so wasn't sure about this push when I was told about it.

Just want to make sure that everyone is clear on what's being proposed and suggest you all go and comment or re-comment if you've already done so thinking it the push was for this year..

Thanks for confirming Tjack. Someone tell gamblinman.

Good to know. Glad someone in Austin woke up.