www.gonzalesinquirer.com
21, 2016 FRIDAY PAGE 11
Sportsmen reminded
to buy licenses
AUSTIN The Texas
Parks and Wildlife Depart-
ment (TPWD) reminds
hunters and anglers that
the new 2016-2017 licenses
went on sale Aug. 15. All
current year Texas hunting
and fishing licenses (except
year-to-date fishing licenses)
expired Aug. 31.
Every year, the depart-
ment issues more than 2.4
million hunting and fishing
licenses through the agencys
28 field offices, more than 50
state parks and at over 1,700
retailers across the state.
All revenue generated from
hunting and fishing license
fees pays for conservation
efforts and recreational op-
portunities that help make
Texas one of the best places
in the country to hunt and
fish. Fish stocking, wildlife
management, habitat resto-
ration, public hunting leases,
river access permits and
Texas Game Wardens are
just some of the initiatives
funded in part by license
fees.
This season, when pur-
chasing their license Texans
can also enter several excit-
ing drawings. Big Time Tex-
as Hunts offers the chance to
win one or more premium
guided hunt packages, with
all lodging and food includ-
ed. There are opportunities
to pursue bighorn sheep,
mule deer, white-tailed deer,
pronghorn, alligator, wa-
terfowl, upland game birds,
wild hog and exotics. Big
Time Texas Hunts entries
are available online for $9
each at www.tpwd.texas.gov/
buyentry or for $10 each at
license retailers or by phone.
TPWD will also be award-
ing Lifetime Super Combo
Licenses to three lucky win-
ners during the Lifetime
License Drawings. Win-
ners will never need to buy
another Texas hunting or
fishing license. Participants
can enter for $5 per entry
at license retailers or on-
line at www.tpwd.texas.gov/
licensedraw. The first en-
try deadline for the three
monthly drawings was Sept.
30 and all non-winning en-
tries will still be eligible to
win in the next two draw-
ings. The second drawing
entry deadline is Oct. 31
for chances in the last two
drawings and the final entry
deadline is Nov. 30 for the
last drawing. Big Time Texas
Hunts and Lifetime License
Drawing entries go to sup-
port conservation and help
keep hunting and fishing
great in Texas.
Beginning this year the
Texas Legislature has made
it easier for hunters and an-
glers to support two worth-
while causes when they buy
their hunting or fishing li-
cense. Now license buyers
can make voluntary dona-
tions to help veterans or to
support the Hunters for the
Hungry program.
The Texas Veterans Com-
mission is asking Texans
donate $1, $5, $10 or $20 to
the Fund for Veterans As-
sistance when purchasing a
fishing and hunting license,
whether in person or on
the Internet. All donations
go to the Texas Veterans
Commission Fund for Vet-
Gonzales
Livestock Market, Inc.
Working hard to ensure quality
service for all our customers.
David Shelton
830-857-5394
Mike Brzozowski
830-857-3900
Hwy 90A Gonzales 830-672-2845
Live Broadcast www.cattleusa.com
erans Assistance (FVA)
program which provides
grants to Veteran service
organizations and non-
profit charitable institu-
tions that assist Veterans
and their families at the
community level through-
out Texas. Your donation
will improve the lives of
Texas Veterans and their
families by supporting
grants to organizations
like Meals On Wheels to fields and, especially, unhar-
provide nutritious meals
to home-bound Veterans
in Central Texas; to Paws
for Reflection Ranch to
provide individual, mari-
tal, and family counseling
to Veterans affected by
post-traumatic stress and
other mental health issues
through horse-therapy in
North Texas; and to the
Salvation Army-Tyler to
provide emergency finan-
cial assistance to Veterans
and their families on the
brink of homelessness in
East Texas. To learn more
about the Fund for Veter-
ans Assistance grant pro- 23, 2017. There should be
gram visit www.tvc.texas.
gov or call 512-463-1157. the arrival of winter.
Donations to the Hunt-
ers for the Hungry pro-
gram help feed Texas fam-
ilies in need by providing
millions of venison meals
annually.
Hunters and anglers
can get their new 2016-
2017 hunting and fishing
licenses at license retail-
ers, online at www.tpwd.
texas.gov/buy or by phone
at 1-800-895-4248. Call
center hours are Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. The online trans-
action system is available
24/7. Please note that
there is a required $5 ad-
ministrative fee for each
phone or online transac-
tion, but multiple items
can be purchased during
a single transaction occa-
sion for the $5 fee. All of
these license sales outlets
will offer the opportunity
to make a donation to help
veterans and/or families
in need of food.
Hunting and fishing
regulations for the new
season can be found in
the 2016-2017 Outdoor
Annual, available in print
form at license retail-
ers, online at www.out-
doorannual.com and in
the free Outdoor Annual
mobile app available for
both Apple and Android
devices and updated with
regulations for the new
season.
L
AVACA
C
OUNTY
P
ROPANE
361-798-2581
361-798-2751 fax
385 Hwy 77 S. Hallettsville, TX
Earl Schacherl
Hunters Guide
Upcoming hunting seasons
By DAN WADDELL
Gonzales County Game Warden
Hello outdoorsmen and
women.
I sincerely hope that your
dove hunting season has
been productive. In checking
hunters the last few weeks,
its been hit or miss. The
birds have concentrated in
and around harvested corn
vested sunflowers. With the
bountiful rains in Texas this
year, there is a lot of food
and water and the doves
have been spread out, mak-
ing for challenging hunting
conditions. However, keep
your fingers crossed for
some cooler weather to push
the northern birds into our
area. Consider a late season
hunt. Remember, dove sea-
son south of I-10 has been
extended to Nov. 13 this year
providing enhanced hunting
opportunities. Dont forget
about the second season:
Dec. 17, 2016 through Jan.
plenty of doves in the area by
There are a number of sea-
sons coming up Id like to
make you aware of as well as
a few regulations concerning
questions I always receive
here in Gonzales regarding
deer hunting. First, dont for-
get about those Javelina (col-
lared peccary). Believe it or
not, we do have a few pock-
ets of these desert dwellers in
Gonzales County. Normally
found in South and West
Texas, Javelina are, by statute,
game animals (just like deer),
which means that their take
is governed by means, meth-
ods and seasons. In Gonza-
les, Javelina season is Oct. 1,
Texas gets very long
dove hunting season
AUSTIN Texas dove
hunters can look forward
to the longest season in 80
years, thanks to season dates
adopted by the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Commission.
While the traditional
opening dates established
by the U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service remain fixed, a
new 90-day season this fall
means hunters will have 20
more days of opportunity
compared to previous years.
The additional days are
being integrated early in the
season to take advantage
of birds migrating into the
Lease tanks
Tank sales
Heaters
Gas grills
Oct.
GUEST COLUMN
2016 through Feb. 26, 2017 violators by calling the Op- Thank you for your sup-
and the statewide bag limit is eration Game Thief (OGT) port and I look forward to
two per year. hotline at 1-800-792-GAME. seeing you in the field.
White-tailed deer and
turkey: Archery-only sea-
son begins Oct. 1 and runs
through Nov. 4. Remember Stoney Herchek
to get your archery stamp to
hunt deer and turkey dur-
ing this season. In Gonza-
les, a licensed hunter may
lawfully take two antlerless
and two buck deer during 361-293-1941
archery season with lawful 2345 Bootlegger Lane
archery equipment, includ-
Yoakum, Tx 77995
ing crossbows. Remember,
all bucks must meet the ant-
ler restriction guidelines to
be lawful, unless hunting on
properties that have been is-
sued MLD buck permits.
Quail: I have seen a few
coveys of quail in Gonzales
CHUMCHAL
Insurance Agency
County over the last few
weeks. Quail season starts
Oct. 29, 2016 and runs
through Feb. 26, 2017. Daily 519 N. Ave. E Shiner, Texas
bag limit is fifteen birds per
day with a possession limit
of forty-five birds. For your Auto, Home, Life
I hope the beautiful fall and Commercial Insurance Coverage
weather we have experi-
enced the last few days has
put you in the mood for a
great hunting season. Please
Ronnie Chumchal, Agent
consider taking a hunter Or call (361)594-2500
education course online
or find a classroom course
near you by checking the
E.J. Meat Company
Parks and Wildlife website.
Dont forget to grab a copy
of the Outdoor Annual or
download the electronic
copy from the app store if
you have a smart phone.
3.5 miles north of Shiner
Lastly, please report all sus- (512)576-3366 or (361)594-3201
picious activity in the fields
or country roads to law en-
forcement or call your local
game warden. Monetary re-
DEER PROCESSING
wards are available for infor-
mation leading to the arrest
We make sausage to
and conviction of wildlife your specifications!
Deer must be skinned
Hunting tag required
Pork available for smoked or dry sausage
state, as well as at the end Cut Wrap Vacuum Pack
of the season in the Special
White-winged Dove Area
to offer more wingshooting Call anytime. Happy Hunting
opportunities.
Set your sights
On great Healthcare.
Memorial Hospital
Med Spa
Sievers Medical Clinic
Waelder Medical Clinic
Memorial Hospital Home Health
James C. Price Wellness Center
(830) 672-7581
1110 N. Sarah Dewitt Drive |(830)
Gonzales | www.gonzaleshealthcare.com
672-7581
HOLIDAY FINANCE
(830) 672-7581
CORPORATION
Need a loan for hunting gear?
Loans up to
(830)
(830)672-7581
672-7581
$1,340
Serving Texas For Over 50 Years
506 St. Paul Gonzales
830-672-6556 1-888-562-6588