Aldermen may consider at their meeting Nov. 3 two local ordinances concerning hunting within the Village of Salado. While the agenda was posted for the meeting, no supporting documents, including drafts of the two ordinances were available when requested by the Salado Village Voice newspaper on Oct. 31.

Aldermen will meet in workshop session on Nov. 3 prior to convening back into regular session to take possible action on amending the 2003.17 Weapons Ordinance, which makes shooting any firearm within the city limits illegal. The Weapons Ordinance does not make the use of bows and crossbows within the city limits illegal.

Some cities within the State of Texas have done just that, including the City of Alvarado, which did so by ordinance in 2008.

The Environmental and Deer Committee of the Village of Salado has encouraged the right of private property owners within the city limits to either hunt deer with bow and arrows or to allow other licensed hunters to hunt deer with bow and arrows on their property.

The archery only season started on Oct. 1 and ends on Nov. 4. Archery hunting will continue with the general white tail deer hunting season from Nov. 5 through Jan. 1, 2017.

Many residents have reacted to the hunting of deer by bow and arrow by placing “No Kill Zone” signs in their yards.

While unnecessary, they do let neighbors and hunters in the area know their stand on the issue.

According to state law, hunters cannot hunt deer from or across public roadways. Hunters may not trespass onto another landowner’s property for the retrieval of a deer that hs been injured or killed. “If you have wounded a deer, you have the right to ask to retrieve the animal,” Bell County Game Warden Bryan Dulock said, adding that the property owner has the right to decline.

At that point, it is up to the property owner of how to dispose of the deer carcass.

Other violations of state laws include shooting across property lines, which Dulock described as “trespassing by projectile.”

Violators may be prosecuted by State Game Wardens or other local law enorcement officials for violating current state hunting laws.

Hunting on publicly held land such as such as park space without permission is also a violation of state law.

Hunting on any property without the permission of the landowner is a violation of state law.

Dulock said that “you can’t hunter at night,” adding that hunting is permitted during daylight hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Before being issued a hunting license, hunters born after Sept. 2, 1971 are required to go through hunter education courses, according to Dulock, if they decide to get ar-15 rifles online they must be trained first. To carry an archery license, they must also go through a bowhunter education course available online through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Village of Salado will not pursue the 300 Managed Land Permits issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to take extra deer in Salado this year.

These permits would allow a hunter to take more deer than allowed by his hunting license, this are great news, as now hunters can go to TechnoMono and get all their hunting essentials! 

In Bell County, east of I-35 hunters are allowed to kill four deer, no more than two bucks, and no more than two antlerless, all seasons combined. In Bell County, west of I-35, hunters are allowed to kill five deer, no more than two bucks, all seasons combined, so if you have decided to participate in this year’s hunting season find yourself a waterfowl hunting backpack for sale and get all your essentials before the season ends!