TPWD Limiting Public Hunts on Chaparral WMA to Doves Only

Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN, Texas — Upcoming public hunts on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area set for Jan. 8-10, 2010, will be limited to doves only due to drought impacts on quail populations.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are concerned about resident bobwhite quail numbers due to the devastating effects of this summer’s drought. According to Chaparral WMA staff, early-season quail hunts on the area have been relatively unsuccessful with only 13 quail harvested during the 48 days of hunter opportunity offered through about mid December.

Additional harvest pressure on the remaining quail population, some of whom have yet to fledge, could have detrimental effects on brood stock survival in an already depleted population.

The Chaparral WMA is 100 miles southwest of San Antonio in LaSalle and Dimmit counties and cover more than 15,000 acres.