Except as specifically provided in this section, the possession limit for all species listed in this section shall be three times the daily bag limit.

1. (1) Ducks, mergansers, and coots. The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may include no more than five mallards (only two of which may be hens); three wood ducks; three scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate); two redheads; one pintail; two canvasbacks; and one "dusky" duck (mottled duck, Mexican like duck, black duck and their hybrids) during the seasons established in subparagraphs (A)(ii), (B)(ii), and (C)(ii) of this paragraph. For all other species not listed, the bag limit shall be six. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, which may include no more than two hooded mergansers.

   1. (A) High Plains Mallard Management Unit:

      1. (i) all species other than "dusky ducks": October 28 - 29, 2017 and November 3, 2017 - January 28, 2018.
      2. (ii) "dusky ducks": November 6, 2017 - January 28, 2018.

   2. (B) North Zone:

      1. (i) all species other than "dusky ducks": November 11 - 26, 2017 and December 2, 2017 - January 28, 2018.
      2. (ii) "dusky ducks": November 16 - 26, 2017 and December 2, 2017 - January 28, 2018.

   3. (C) South Zone:

      1. (i) all species other than "dusky ducks": November 4 - 26, 2017 and December 9, 2017 - January 28, 2018.
      2. (ii) "dusky ducks": November 9 - 26, 2017 and December 9, 2017 - January 28, 2018.

2. (2) Geese.

   1. (A) Western Zone.

      1. (i) Light geese: November 4, 2017 - February 4, 2018. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20, and there is no possession limit.
      2. (ii) Dark geese: November 4, 2017 - February 4, 2018. The daily bag limit for dark geese is five, to include no more than two white-fronted geese.

   2. (B) Eastern Zone.

      1. (i) Light geese: November 4, 2017 - January 28, 2018. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20, and there is no possession limit.

      2. (ii) Dark geese:

         1. (I) Season: November 4, 2017 - January 28, 2018;
         2. (II) Bag limit: The daily bag limit for dark geese is five, to include no more than two white-fronted geese.

3. (3) Sandhill cranes. A free permit is required of any person to hunt sandhill cranes in areas where an open season is provided under this proclamation. Permits will be issued on an impartial basis with no limitation on the number of permits that may be issued.

   1. (A) Zone A: October 28, 2017 - January 28, 2018. The daily bag limit is three. The possession limit is nine.
   2. (B) Zone B: November 24, 2017 - January 28, 2018. The daily bag limit is three. The possession limit is nine.
   3. (C) Zone C: December 16, 2017 - January 21, 2018. The daily bag limit is two. The possession limit is six.

4. (4) Special Youth-Only Season. There shall be a special youth-only waterfowl season 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 chapter (relating to Extended Falconry Season--Late Season Species). Bag and possession limits in any given zone during the season established by this paragraph shall be as provided for that zone by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section. Season dates are as follows:

   1. (A) High Plains Mallard Management Unit: October 21 - 22, 2017;
   2. (B) North Zone: November 4 - 5, 2017; and
   3. (C) South Zone: October 28 - 29, 2017.

Source Note:The provisions of this §65.318 adopted to be effective October 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 9239; amended to be effective October 2, 1997, 22 TexReg 9687; amended to be effective October 4, 1998, 23 TexReg 10033; amended to be effective October 11, 1999, 24 TexReg 8759; amended to be effective October 12, 2000, 25 TexReg 10182; amended to be effective October 18, 2001, 26 TexReg 8188; amended to be effective September 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 8949; amended to be effective October 6, 2003, 28 TexReg 8674; amended to be effective September 27, 2004, 29 TexReg 9197; amended to be effective October 19, 2005, 30 TexReg 6770;amended to be effective October 18, 2006, 31 TexReg 8557; amended to be effective October 9, 2007, 32 TexReg 7076; amended to be effective October 19, 2008, 33 TexReg 8644; amended to be effective October 14, 2009, 34 TexReg 7082; amended to be effective October 17, 2010, 35 TexReg 9323; amended to be effective October 20, 2011, 36 TexReg 6964; amended to be effective October 17, 2012, 37 TexReg 8200; amended to be effective October 15, 2013, 38 TexReg 7116; amended to be effective October 9, 2014, 39 TexReg 7927; amended to be effective October 22, 2015, 40 TexReg 7237; amended to be effective September 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 6062; amended to be effective September 1, 2017, 42 TexReg 3543.