Definitions for Waterfowl Hunting

Texas Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Geese and Cranes

Baited Area: Any area where salt, grain or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered, if that salt, grain or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such areas will remain a baited area for ten days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain or other feed.
Baiting: The direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them.
Daily Bag Limit: The maximum number of birds as specified for each species which may be taken during the legal shooting hours of any one day.
Light Geese: Snow (including blue) and Ross' geese.
Dark Geese: All other geese including Canada and white-fronted.
Lawful Archery Equipment: Longbow, recurved bow or compound bow. Crossbows are unlawful.
Legal Shotgun: Shotguns not larger than 10-gauge, fired from the shoulder, and incapable of holding more than three shells. Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells must be plugged with a one piece filler which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun, so the gun's total capacity does not exceed three shells.
Livestock: Cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats and hogs.
Manipulation: The alteration of natural vegetation or agricultural crops, including but not limited to mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning and herbicide treatments. Manipulation does not include the distributing or scattering of grain, seed or other feed after removal from or storage on the field where grown.
Migratory Game Birds: All wild species of ducks, mergansers, geese, brant, coots, rails, gallinules, plovers, Wilson's snipe or jacksnipe, woodcock, mourning doves, white-winged doves, white-tipped (white-fronted) doves, red-billed pigeons, band-tailed pigeons, shorebirds of all varieties and sandhill cranes.
Natural Vegetation: Any nonagricultural, native or naturalized plant species that grows at a site in response to planting or from existing seeds or propagule. Natural vegetation does not include planted millet. However, planted millet that grows on its own in subsequent years after the planting is considered natural vegetation.
Normal Agricultural Practice: A normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Normal Soil Stabilization Practice: A planting for agricultural soil erosion control or post-mining land reclamation conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Possession Limit: The maximum number of birds that can be possessed at one time.
Resident: A person who has lived in Texas for more than six months immediately before applying for a license and members of the United States Armed Forces (and their dependents) on active duty anywhere.
Non-Resident: Any person who is not a resident.
Sinkbox: A low floating device concealing a person below the surface of the water.
Waterfowl: Ducks (including teal), geese, mergansers and coots.