AUSTIN, Texas -

Archers may be getting more company in the October woods next season if discussion among Texas Parks & Wildlife Department commissioners on Wednesday is any indication of things to come.

The idea originated as part of a presentation to the commission by Clayton Wolf and Mitch Lockwood, TPW program leaders overseeing big game animals and white-tailed deer.

The presentation was part of the preview of the 2009-10 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation. What was discussed last week will be voted on by the commission early next year and, if approved, become law next September.

Lockwood and Wolf discussed data collected from three years of research by the Wildlife Division.

Among other topics were

geographical boundaries of research units, changes in doe-harvest regulations in some counties and the expansion of antler-restriction regulations, including applying them to Atascosa County.

Toward the end of the presentation came a proposal to expand special youth seasons for young deer hunters.

The current “youth-hunting season” for deer hunters includes the last weekend in October and Jan. 17-18, 2009. The January dates cover the last two days of general hunting season in the South Zone, which lasts two weeks longer than the season that hunters enjoy in the northern portion of the state.

For instance, if you hunt in the Hill Country this year, the general gun season closes Sunday, Jan. 4. If an adult wants to take a youngster deer hunting in the youth-only season in the Hill Country, there is a two-week layoff from Jan. 4-17.

A similar gap is built in on the front end of the general deer season. The youth season was Oct. 25-26 followed by a five-day gap preceding the general season opener on Nov. 1.

What Wolf and Lockwood proposed to be changed were the addition of extensions at both ends of the season, such as: Start the youth-only season on the last weekend before the general season (like it is now) but continue it all week, then have the late youth-only season pick up on the Monday after the North Zone season and continue for the final two weeks of the South Zone season.

In other words, close the gaps between youth-only seasons and the general hunting season. The idea met with general approval from commissioners.

Then commissioner John Parker raised his hand.

To paraphrase, he asked if it would be possible to make every weekend in October a youth-only hunting weekend. That evolved into a discussion of making the entire month of October a youth-only deer hunting month. Parker then suggested putting turkey hunting into the youthful mix, as well.

The 12-day extension in January seems a done deal, but there was no vote last week.

Note: This is the proposal phase of the regulatory process, and commissioners have agreed to entertain the idea.

Wolf noted that crafting the regulation to cover a longer youth season (45 days in October and January) allows the commission, by law, to trim it back later, if needed. State law does not allow the commission to expand a more narrowly crafted regulation without it being published in the Texas Register followed by time for public comment.

However, the regulations are crafted, and there will be time next spring for public comment on all proposals before they are voted into law for the next license year.

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