Texas Hunting Regulation Changes for 2010-2011

AUSTIN - Expansion of mule deer hunting opportunities tops a short list of regulatory changes adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission as part of the 2010-2011 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation.

The commission approved an open general hunting season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties, and added a day to the mule deer season across the Trans Pecos region. The change addresses a priority goal in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Land and Water Resource Conservation and Recreation Plan to increase access to and participation in the outdoors.

The commission finalized a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only firearm season in Wheeler County and a 35-day archery-only season to offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution.

The extra day of hunting for mule deer in the Trans Pecos region is being tacked onto the front end where the season will now begin the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving and continue for 17 days.

According to TPWD wildlife biologists, mule deer populations in these counties are limited, but are present in some areas having suitable habitat and implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion.

The Texas Outdoor Annual, a complete digest of all Texas hunting and fishing regulations, including seasons and bag limits, will be available Aug. 15, 2010 wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the TPWD Web site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.

Source - examiner.com

Mule Deer Foundation Honors Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson Staffer

Mule Deer Foundation Honors Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson Staffer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah --(AmmoLand.com)- Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) Game Specialist Jim Heffelfinger received the inaugural Professional of the Year award from Miles Moretti, resident and chief executive officer of the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), recognizing a working wildlife professional from a state or federal agency who has made important contributions to mule deer conservation.

The award was presented at the MDF Annual Convention on Feb. 12, 2010. Heffelfinger serves as chair of the Mule Deer Working Group sponsored by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In addition, he has led the publication of the North American Mule Deer Conservation Plan, Mule Deer Habitat Guidelines for seven North American eco-regions, as well as guidelines for mule deer population monitoring and also energy development throughout the West.

Heffelfinger is the author of the books Deer of the Southwest, and the recently revised and reprinted Age Criteria for Southwestern Game Animals. Heffelfinger earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point in 1986, and a master’s degree in range and wildlife from Texas A&M University in 1989.

About MDF
(www.muledeer.org)
The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with over 12,000 members. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and hunt-able deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.

For information about the Mule Deer Foundation please call 888-375-DEER (3337).

About Arizona Game and Fish Department
(http://www.azgfd.gov/)
AGFD’s mission is to conserve, enhance, and restore Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs, and to provide wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment, appreciation, and use by present and future generations.

Source- AmmoLand.com – The Shooting Sports News source.

Measures' aim: Thin deer herd

LINCOLN — The hunting version of shock and awe will be unleashed on Nebraska's growing deer herd this fall.

Nebraska Game and Parks commissioners approved sweeping new regulations Friday designed to help hunters bag many more antlerless white-tailed deer.

Wildlife managers want hunters to kill 42,000 antlerless whitetails later this year, compared to 29,711 killed during the 2009 season. That's a 41 percent increase.

“We expect to reach that goal,'' said Kit Hams, the Game and Parks big game manager.

An overflow crowd of about 80 people, many of them hunters, filled the commission meeting room at Game and Parks headquarters. Most speakers supported the commission's plans.

Farmer Craig Bolz of Palmyra, Neb., however, was skeptical about a goal to boost the number of antlerless whitetails killed in an expanded October season to 10,000 from 262 last year.

“I have a lot of dreams in my life, too,'' he said. “I wish you all the luck in the world. It's not going to work.''

Bolz said many hunters won't go into the field in October because it's too warm, which creates comfort and meat-handling problems.

Bolz supported a new plan to require some hunters in eastern Nebraska to kill a female whitetail before they are permitted to shoot a buck.

“Earn-a-buck is the right path,'' he said. “You have to force guys to shoot does.''

A record deer kill was expected in 2009, but a late crop harvest, a cold winter with record snowfall and low interest in a special October antlerless season resulted in an antlerless whitetail tally that fell below objectives.

Deer hunting is increasingly popular in Nebraska. A record 132,300 permits were sold last year. More than 75,000 deer were killed last year, the second highest total in history. Sixty-nine percent of whitetail bucks and 77 percent of mule deer bucks were at least two years old, the highest on record.

Nebraska's new goals stress reducing whitetail populations, especially in the east and along major river corridors, and to allow south-central and southwestern mule deer populations to increase.

“There's something for everyone here,'' Hams said.

Among regulations adopted:

• Expanding the October Antlerless season — Season lengthened to 10 days from three days. Hunting area expanded to include all of eastern and north-central Nebraska and the Platte River corridor to the eastern edge of the Panhandle. Unlimited number of permits allow two antlerless whitetails each. Cost: $10 residents, $54 nonresidents.

• Earn-a-Buck — Designed to increase doe harvest. Requires hunters with Elkhorn and Wahoo unit November firearm permits to check in a doe before or at the same time they check in a buck. November firearm season extended two days for these hunters.

• Mule Deer Conservation Area — South-central and southwestern Nebraska. Only youth, landowners and those with special permits (allowing harvest in archery, muzzleloader and November firearms seasons) may kill a mule deer buck.

• Expanded January late antlerless season — Season lengthened to 24 days from 15. Hunter orange required for archers.

• Using bow with firearm permits — Archery equipment allowed as a legal weapon on firearm permits in November and January. Hunter orange required.

• New Statewide Whitetail Buck permit — Unlimited in number and valid in archery, muzzleloader and November firearm seasons. Bag limit: one whitetail buck and one antlerless whitetail. Permit price: $72.50 residents; $521 nonresidents.

• More permits — Additional 45,000 antlerless permits and bonus tags available statewide.

Also, new Season Choice Areas were established in central and western Nebraska to put more pressure on whitetails in riparian areas and to allow for mule deer doe harvest where needed.

Hams said hunters need to kill about a fourth of the state's whitetail does to begin thinning the herd. The state's deer population is an estimated 380,000, up from 250,000 in 1996. Deer cost farmers millions of dollars in crop damage and are a highway hazard.

Duane Hovorka of Elmwood, Neb., executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation and a deer hunter, said many hunters who felt guilty about shooting a doe in the past now realize it's the right thing to do.

Contact the writer:

444-1127, david.hendee@owh.com

Source - omaha.com

Hymas earns Peer Recognition Award

Green River – Cokeville Game Warden Neil Hymas recently received one of the most-prized awards from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the 2009 Green River Region Peer Recognition Award, from his co-workers.
According to Green River Wildlife Management Coordinator Mark Zornes, Hymas is a 30-year veteran of the Game and Fish with a rich and varied background.

“Neil started out as a warden-trainee and has served in both the Wheatland and Cokeville warden districts,” Zornes said.
“Neil’s can-do attitude and work ethic is a model for all employees and reflects very positively not only on Neil, but on the Game
and Fish as a whole. Neil goes above and beyond to accomplish, direct and influence management activities at the region and statewide levels. He is always available to assist those that need help regardless of what time of day or night it is.”
Warden Hymas is involved with numerous regional and statewide projects beyond those duties normally assigned to a district game warden.

“Neil is currently the department’s representative in drafting the conservation and hunting plans for Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and serves as a key member of the department’s Wyoming Range Mule Deer Initiative Team,” Zornes said. “Neil is the Green River Region’s main contact for all subjects related to trophy game (bears and lions) management and is a member of the statewide Wildlife Human Attack Response Team.
“Neil has also contributed significantly to department efforts regarding the Nugget Canyon Mule Deer Connectivity Project and has spent a significant amount of his career taking this project from conception in the 1980’s to reality, a truly monumental undertaking. Thousands of deer can now safely migrate underneath the highway.”

Zornes says Warden Hymas has been involved with several big game conservation projects in southwest Wyoming, including the statewide Mule Deer Initiative, interstate game tag regulations, disturbance of wintering wildlife, antler collection and elk management challenges.

“Neil is an extremely well-rounded district game warden,” Zornes said. “He is as much a population and habitat biologist as he is game warden. He is quick to offer good insights and projects that benefit a host of wildlife species, both game and nongame, terrestrial and aquatic.”
“Neil is a true advocate for the Department’s core customer. He regularly battles for access and has ensured sportsmen access is maintained in areas threatened by landownership changes. He is quick to defend the rights of sportsmen and seeks opportunities to increase sportsmen opportunities at all times.”

Green River Information and Education Specialist Lucy Wold says Hymas is just as dedicated to game and fish education efforts as he is in his other job responsibilities.
“Neil takes education of our youth and hunter recruitment very seriously,” Wold said. He can often be found in and out of the classroom in communities throughout his district and statewide. As the Region’s lead in trophy game issues, Neil assists the Trophy Game Section by conducting the mountain lion portions of the Living in Bear, Lion and Wolf Country Seminar in the Region. He truly is passionate
about educating everyone about wildlife and wildlife issues.”

“Neil is truly a team player that always puts the departments’ needs before his own,” said Zornes. “Given his long list of contributions to Wyoming’s wildlife, its sportsmen and the department, Neil Hymas is more than deserving of this award.”

Source - littlechicagoreview.com