Texas Administrative Code › Title 31 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION › Part 2 - TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT › Chapter 65 - WILDLIFE › Subchapter H - PUBLIC HUNTING PROCLAMATION › Section 65.199 - General Rules of Conduct

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a)
				  This section applies to all public hunting lands unless an exception for a
				  specific area and time period is designated by the executive director or by
				  written permission of the department.
(b) For the purposes of this section, gear,
				  equipment, and floating conveyances are "unattended" if the person who is
				  responsible for the gear, equipment, or floating conveyance is not within 200
				  yards of the gear, equipment, or floating conveyance.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to:
(1) fail to obey regulations posted at the
				  area or policies established by order of the executive director, fail to comply
				  with instructions on permits or area leaflets, or refuse to follow directives
				  given by departmental personnel in the discharge of official duties;
(2) possess a firearm, archery equipment,
				  arrow gun, air gun, or any other device for taking wildlife resources on public
				  hunting lands, except for persons authorized by the department to hunt or
				  conduct research on the area, commissioned law enforcement officers, and
				  department employees in performance of their duties; provided, however, a
				  person may possess a handgun in compliance with applicable law, including, but
				  not limited to, the provisions of Penal Code, Chapter 46, and Government Code,
				  Chapter 411, Subchapter H.
(2)
				  possess a firearm, archery equipment, arrow gun, air gun, or any other device
				  for taking wildlife resources on public hunting lands, except for persons
				  authorized by the department to hunt or conduct research on the area,
				  commissioned law enforcement officers, and department employees in performance
				  of their duties;
(3) camp or
				  construct an open fire anywhere other than in a designated campsite. On the
				  Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation, and Sam Houston National
				  Forest WMAs, this restriction applies only during the period from the day prior
				  to the opening of the archery deer season through the day following the close
				  of the general deer season;
(4)
				  camp for more than 14 consecutive days on the same unit of public hunting
				  lands, or for more than 21 days in any 30-day period;
(5) cause, create, or contribute to excessive
				  or disturbing sounds beyond the person's immediate campsite between the hours
				  of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.;
(6)
				  establish a camp and leave it unattended for a period of longer than 24
				  hours;
(7) disturb or remove
				  plants, wood, rocks, gravel, sand, soil, shell, artifacts, or other objects
				  from public hunting lands, except as authorized by the department;
(8) write on, scratch, or otherwise deface
				  natural features, signs, buildings, or other structures;
(9) fail to deposit refuse in designated
				  containers or fail to remove it from the area;
(10) consume or be under the influence of
				  alcohol while engaged in hunting activities, or to publicly consume or display
				  an alcoholic beverage while on public hunting lands;
(11) possess dogs in camp that are not
				  confined or leashed;
(12) use or
				  possess any type of riding stock or pack animal on public hunting lands at any
				  time, except:
(A) as may be provided by order
				  of the executive director; or
(B)
				  by written authorization of the department;
(13) use an airboat within the boundaries of
				  public hunting lands, except as provided by executive order or by written
				  permission of the department;
(14)
				  take an antlerless deer during the general open season on wildlife management
				  areas jointly managed by TPW and the U.S. Forest Service (Alabama Creek,
				  Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation, or Sam Houston National Forest) unless that
				  person possesses on their person a U.S.F.S. antlerless permit;
(15) enter a unit of public hunting lands
				  with an equine or equines, or cause the entry of an equine or equines to a unit
				  of public hunting lands, unless that person has in their immediate possession,
				  for each equine in the person's custody or equine that the person allowed to
				  enter the unit of public hunting lands, a completed VS Form 10-11 (Texas Animal
				  Health Commission) showing that the equine has tested negative to an official
				  Equine Infectious Anemia test within the previous 12 months. The documentation
				  required by this paragraph shall be made available for inspection upon the
				  request of any department employee acting within the scope of official
				  duties;
(16) park or leave a motor
				  vehicle unattended anywhere other than in designated parking areas, if parking
				  areas have been designated;
(17)
				  use a motor vehicle, off-road vehicle, or ATV on a road, in an area, or at a
				  time when such use is restricted to disabled persons, unless the person is in
				  possession of a state-issued disabled parking placard or disabled license plate
				  or assisting such a person;
(18)
				  leave personal gear, equipment (including decoys), or a floating conveyance
				  unattended for more than one hour following the close of legal shooting hours.
				  This paragraph does not apply to personal gear, equipment, or a floating
				  conveyance:
(A) within a designated camping
				  area or designated campsite; or
(B)
				  that is unattended during reserved participation in a public hunting activity
				  that has been specifically scheduled by the department; and
(19) engage in any activity not
				  specifically authorized by order of the executive director or regulation of the
				  commission.