Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering expanding white-tailed deer hunting opportunities in East Texas. The recommendations are among a slate of proposed deer hunting regulation changes for 2016-17.

• TPWD staff are also proposing to create a definition of “unbranched antlered deer” for the purpose of identifying a legal buck across seasons and to alleviate confusion among hunters;
• Staff also seek to replace the “Special Late Antlerless and Spike-buck Season” with a “Special Late Season” to accommodate the inclusion of “unbranched antlered deer” in the bag limit;
• The department proposes to allow the take of antlerless deer without a permit on U.S. Forest Service Lands during youth-only seasons
• In addition, the department is looking to implement additional “doe days” in 23 counties; and
• Implement a muzzleloader-only open season in 32 additional counties.

Additional details on these proposals will be published in the Texas Register and available for review later this month in narrated presentations to be archived on TPWD’s website.

Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted by phone or e-mail to Robert Macdonald (512) 389-4775; e-mail: robert.macdonald@tpwd.texas.gov , Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744.  Comments may also be submitted through the department’s Internet website www.tpwd.texas.gov