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Time to purchase hunting license: Many options available with season approaching
BY Luke Clayton, Special to Star Local News
It's time to beat the rush and purchase a hunting license for the upcoming season.
Current hunting licenses expire Aug. 31 and licenses for 2012-13 are now on sale.
Each year, about 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses are purchased. One of the easiest methods is purchasing online at: tpwd.state.tx.us/buy or by phone at: 800-895-4248. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that require a tag.
To hunt dove or teal in September, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive Harvest Information Program certification. HIP certification involves a brief survey of previous year's hunting success and is conducted at the time licenses are purchased. Certification will be printed on the license. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to hunt migratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with a lifetime license.
There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase.
An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant and chachalaca.
If multiple species are hunted, the Super Combo license package is by far the best deal at $68. With this license, hunters automatically get the needed stamps. Sportsmen ages 65 and older qualify for a discounted Senior Super Combo for $32. Duck hunters will still need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp.
For younger hunters looking at many years of hunting ahead, the purchase of an $1,800 Lifetime Super Combo is a very good deal. A Hunter Education Certification is required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 who is at least 17. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education course before hunting season, TPWD offers a deferral option that allows people 17 or older a one-time only extension to complete the state's hunter education requirements. The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase the deferral option No. 166.
Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17 or older that is licensed to hunt in Texas.
The accompanying individual must have completed hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born before Sept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time the person with the deferred option needs to complete a course.
This option is not available to those who have ever received a conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter education certification. These folks must still take the course before going afield.
The days of simple game laws are in the past.
Last year's TPWD Outdoor Annual contained about 112 pages, most of which were devoted to spelling out regulations for hunting and fishing in great detail. I suggest every hunter or fisherman pick up a copy of this year's Outdoor Annual and keep it in the truck for quick reference. Make sure you thoroughly understand the laws that pertain to the harvest of the wildlife or fish you pursue.
If, after reading the regulations, there are points you do not thoroughly understand, take the time to call TPWD for clarification.
Dove hunting prospects look good
Things are looking good for the dove opener, but we veterans of the dove field know that an early arriving cool front, especially a wet cool front can cause doves that have been as dependable as the Polar Star with their feeding and watering patterns to pack up and move.
A bumper crop of native sunflower and other seed-producing weedy plants this year has created ideal habitat conditions leading into September's dove hunter opener.
Better habitat is good for the birds, but might make hunting tougher during early migratory game bird seasons.
"Abundant seed production, predominately sunflower and croton, will help recently fledged birds to rapidly put on weight," said Corey Mason with the TPWD. "But, quality range conditions could also cause doves to disperse as food sources become readily available and make managed fields less attractive early in the season."
Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run Sept. 1-Oct. 24 and reopen Dec. 22-Jan. 6 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.
The South Zone dove season runs Sept. 21-Oct. 28, reopening Dec. 22-Jan. 22 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.
The Special White-winged Dove Area will be restricted to afternoon-only hunting (noon to sunset) Sept. 1-2 and 8-9 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area must close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than four mourning doves and two white-tipped doves.
Once general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves.
For hunters looking for opportunities on public lands, check out TPWD's Public Hunting Program. TPWD offers affordable access to quality hunting experiences with the purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit.
It's always a good idea to get out and shoot a few clay targets before the opener of dove season.
The mechanics of putting that shot string at exactly the right place in front of a fast-flying dove takes practice and there are few that won't benefit from a bit of practice. A trip to a skeet, trap or sporting clays course is fun, but a much more economical way of sharpening your shooting eye is to simply buy a case or two of clay targets and a hand thrower. Find a safe place to shoot and practice throwing the clays at different angles and speeds.
Dove is the most challenging of upland game birds. Sharpen your skills with clay targets and I can almost guarantee your percentages will increase come opening day.
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