(a) Special Youth Waterfowl Season. There shall be a Special Youth Season for waterfowl, during which the hunting, taking, and possession of geese, ducks, mergansers, and coots is restricted to licensed hunters 16 years of age and younger accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older, except for persons hunting by means of falconry under the provisions of §65.320 of this title (relating to Extended Falconry Seasons).
  (1) HPMMU:
    (A) season dates: October 21-22, 2023;
    (B) daily bag limits;
      (i) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(1) of this title (relating to Ducks, Coots, Mergansers, and Teal); and
      (ii) geese - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title (relating to Geese).
  (2) North Duck Zone:
    (A) season dates: November 4-5, 2023;
    (B) daily bag limits:
      (i) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(2) of this title; and
      (ii) geese:
        (I) west of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title; and
        (II) east of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(2) of this title.
  (3) South Duck Zone:
    (A) season dates: October 28-29, 2023;
    (B) daily bag limits:
      (i) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(3) of this title; and
      (ii) geese:
        (I) west of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title; and
        (II) east of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(2) of this title.
(b) Special Active-Duty Military and Military Veteran Migratory Game Bird Season.
  (1) There shall be a Special Active-Duty Military and Military Veteran Migratory Game Bird Season for waterfowl, during which the taking and possession of ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and gallinules are restricted to veterans, as defined by 38 U.S.C. Section 101, and members of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, including members of the national guard and reserves on active duty other than for training.
  (2) While hunting during the special season established by this subsection, a person must have in possession at least one of the forms of documentation listed in this paragraph:
    (A) a driver's license or other state-issued identification indicating that the person to whom it was issued is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces;
    (B) a copy of the DD214 or DD215 discharge documentation issued to the person by the United States Department of Defense; or
    (C) any other identification issued by the federal government indicating that the person to whom it was issued is a veteran or member of the armed forces on active duty.
  (3) Season Dates and Bag Limits.
    (A) HPMMU:
      (i) season dates: October 21-22, 2023;
      (ii) daily bag limits:
        (I) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(1) of this title (relating to Ducks, Coots, Mergansers, and Teal);
        (II) geese - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title (relating to Geese); and
        (III) moorhens and gallinules - as specified by §65.319(a)(2) of this title (relating to Gallinules, Rails, Snipe, Woodcock).
    (B) North Duck Zone:
      (i) season dates: November 4-5, 2023;
      (ii) daily bag limits:
        (I) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(2) of this title;
        (II) geese:
          (-a-) west of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title; and
          (-b-) east of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(2) of this title.
          (-c-) moorhens and gallinules - as specified by §65.319(a)(2) of this title.
    (C) South Duck Zone:
      (i) season dates: October 28-29, 2023;
      (ii) daily bag limits:
        (I) ducks, coots, and mergansers - as specified by §65.315(b)(3) of this title; and
        (II) geese:
          (-a-) west of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(1) of this title; and
          (-b-) east of IH 35 - as specified by §65.316(b)(2) of this title.
          (-c-) moorhens and gallinules - as specified by §65.319(a)(2) of this title.
  (4) It is a defense to prosecution that a person cited for a violation of this subsection produces in court proof of the person's veteran or active-duty status in accordance with commission rule.

Source Note: The provisions of this §65.317 adopted to be effective September 1, 2019, 44 TexReg 4063; amended to be effective September 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 5011; amended to be effective September 1, 2021, 46 TexReg 4170; amended to be effective September 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 4854; amended to be effective August 3, 2023, 48 TexReg 4123