Sandbox

1. Alligator harvest hunters are required to have an up-to-date hunting license with the State of Texas Parks & Wildlife.
2. A HUNTER CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE HARVEST PROGRAM FOREVER IF THE HUNTER VIOLATES THESE RULES AND OR TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE LAWS WHILE HUNTING AT WESTWOOD SHORES SUBDIVISION.
3. All rules and regulations set forth by Texas Parks & Wildlife will be strictly enforced.
4. Hunters are responsible for the removal of the alligator and shall not field dress the alligator, except at a designated location, which is at the Westwood Shores Maintenance Yard. The hunters can dress out their alligator at a different location of their choice, except the alligator cannot be dressed out at a residence in Westwood Shores Subdivision.
5. Hunters must not have a verbal confrontation with residents of the Westwood Shores Subdivision during the hunting period.
6. Should a hunter have a problem with a resident property owner, the hunter is encouraged to contact Mark Cole or the Texas Parks & Wildlife law enforcement officers.
7. Westwood Shores POA has the right to remove any hunter from the managed harvest, which would violate Texas Parks & Wildlife laws; State of Texas Penal Code and POA Rules or Deed Restrictions.

White-tailed Deer Season in Texas is Upon Us, Starts September 27th .... Ends January 4th!
 

Westwood Shores POA Subdivision will be conducting a controlled management archery hunt every Friday evening and on Saturday and Sunday during the morning and evening. The managed hunt will start on September 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with a goal of 50 deer harvested from our ever-growing population of the white tail deer herd. From September 27, 2025, to November 30, 2025, no antlerless permit required. A bag limit of two bucks, (either one buck and one spike or you can harvest two spikes with no buck), and two does can be harvested for the management of the deer population. The following are basic rules and procedures:

GOAL: Removal of 50 deer by a means of a controlled archery hunt.

RULES OF THE CONTROLLED ARCHERY HUNT:

• Compound and crossbows only. (NO GUNS)
• Maximum of numbered sites to be established by Constable Mark W. Cole, working with the Texas Parks & Wildlife law enforcement officers.
• Resident hunters of Westwood Shores may apply to be permitted as a participant and will be charged a $100.00 approved application fee. None resident hunters may also apply to be permitted as a participant and will be charged $250.00 for approved application fee. The application is non­ refundable. A maximum of 35 hunters will be approved for the deer harvest.
• Residents of Westwood Shores Subdivision will be approved first for the deer harvest. The first two weekends, starting September 27, 2024, residents will be the only hunters drawn to hunt. If the goal of 35 hunters are not met, then additional hunters can be signed up for the deer harvest.
• Hunters will submit their application to the Access Control Gate or Constable Mark W. Cole for approval.
• Hunters will be required to be licensed with the State of Texas and hold an archery endorsement.
• The archery endorsement must be shown, when submitting the application to Constable Cole.
• If born after September 2, 1971, a hunting safety education course is required, unless a one-time deferral is applied for.
• Hunters must be at least 16 years of age.
• The managed hunt will take place every Friday evening and during the morning and evening times on Saturday and Sunday except for the opening weekend, which will be on Saturday and Sunday. Bucks with at least a 13- inch spread and spikes can be harvested along with two does. Hunters are reminded that during the latter part of the deer harvest, does will not be permitted to be hunted after November 30, 2025. Hunters can read their hunting book to determine the last day of the doe harvest.
• Dates may be changed by the Board based on factors such as weather, events, and progress of the program to date.
• Hunters will be assigned a site by random draw.
• NO ROAMING OR STALKING WILL BE PERMITTED. A HUNTER CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE HARVEST PROGRAM FOREVER IF THE HUNTER VIOLATES THESE RULES AND OR TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LAWS, WHILE HUNTING AT WESTWOOD SHORES SUBDIVISION.
• Corn or other feeding items can be used at the deer hunting locations.
• An orange colored hunting vest and hat or cap WILL BE required for hunters at all times.
• AII rules and regulations set forth by the Texas Parks & Wildlife will be strictly enforced.
• AII hunters will be permitted and encouraged to provide their own stand.
• Hunters will be signed in and out each day of the hunt at the front gate, NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Hunters will be permitted to check in no earlier than 4:30 am and must check out by 10:30 am during the deer harvest at the Access Control Gate. During the afternoon hunt, hunters can check in no earlier than 3:00 pm and must leave the hunting stand location at dusk, during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening hunt and check out at the Access Control Gate. (EACH HUNTER MUST DO THIS FOR SAFETY.) {FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS RULE CAN HAVE THE HUNTER REMOVED FROM THE HUNTING PROGRAM.)
• Hunters are responsible for the removal of deer and shall not field dress the deer, except at a designated location, which is at the Westwood Shores Maintenance Yard.
• Hunters must show, at sign out at the Access Control Gate, any deer harvested, which the hunter had taken on Westwood Shores Subdivision property.
• AII deer must have the appropriate deer tag, before leaving the field. AllTexas Parks & Wildlife regulation will apply while hunting.
• Any violation of the above rules will not be tolerated and the hunter will not be allowed to hunt again on Westwood Shores Subdivision property.
• If a harvested deer runs onto a private property, the hunter must contact Constable Mark W. Cole or the Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden (936- 707-0686) to retrieve the deer.
• Every hunter must take into mind to not have a verbal confrontation with a resident of the Westwood Shores Subdivision during the hunting period.
• lf a hunter has a problem with a resident property owner, the hunter is encouraged to contact Constable Mark W. Cole or the Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement officers.
• Westwood Shores POA has the right to remove any hunter from the managed harvest of deer or hogs, which would violate Texas Parks & Wildlife laws; State of Texas Penal Code, and or POA Rules or Deed Restrictions.

If you have any questions please contact Constable Mark W. Cole

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM
In 2013, the Westwood Shores POA Board of Trustees approved a managed harvest of the deer, using 10 hunting sights, assisted by the Parks & Wildlife of the State of Texas (Game Wardens).  The program consisted of the managed harvest of deer and hogs within the Westwood Shores Subdivision, with safety being the number one priority.  It was their determination that the average weight of a doe was approximately 30 to 35 pounds at that time.  The average weight of a heathy doe should be 60 to 80 pounds.  The large abundance of deer within the subdivision caused the deer to inter-breed with one another, which could cause genetic problems within the deer herd.  The deer looked very poor and the food abundance was rapidly growing short.  This caused the deer to forage the plants, flowers and gardens of the residents of Westwood Shores.  Residents were instructed to not feed the deer corn, because this was not a proper food item for them, but some residents continue to feed the deer corn.   A trapping program to catch and remove some deer was estimated to be very costly.   

After the third year of the deer harvest, the does showed an improvement in weight.  The average doe weighed between 60 to 80 pounds and looked healthier.  We as residents should make sure that the wild life that we have are able to forage for their natural food and not over populate.  And when we have visitors to our neighborhood, they observe healthier deer and not one that is under weight or diseased.

Due to the managed harvest and control of the deer herd within the Westwood Shores Subdivision, more of the residents can observe does that are having healthy twins and even triplets.          

Our goal is to help our deer population and we have been advised by the game wardens to not feed deer and it is a Westwood Shore POA policy to not feed deer and you can be fined if you do so.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

The white-tailed deer is one of the most popular and recognizable species of wildlife in Texas. They are a significant recreational resource among hunters and those who just like to watch wildlife. White-tailed deer are also an important economic resource to many rural landowners who lease hunting rights on their property and the businesses that profit from traveling hunters. They are also an increasingly common animal in and around many Texas urban and suburban communities.

White-tailed deer are an important natural resource and a part of Texas’ natural heritage.  However, they are currently considered more of a nuisance in some parts of their range.  Thoughtful, proactive management of overabundant deer in urban and suburban settings can help ensure that white-tailed deer are always viewed in a positive light.
At one point in the late 19th century, white-tailed deer nearly disappeared from the Texas landscape. Over harvest and alteration of natural plant communities had reduced or eliminated deer numbers across much of Texas.  Protective measures were taken, including the first deer seasons, harvest limits and the establishment of the Game Warden Service.  This protection from exploitation was accompanied by adaptation of deer to altered landscapes and widespread restocking by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  From their near disappearance over 100 years ago, white-tailed deer have been restored to most areas they previously occupied and may have expanded their range into historically unoccupied areas of Texas. The restoration of white-tailed deer is a wildlife management success story in Texas and many other states.  The current status of white-tailed deer populations nationally is also a testament to the resiliency and adaptability of this species.  White-tailed deer can thrive side-by-side with human populations in Texas. The adaptability of white-tailed deer and the desire of people to live and work in areas that retain “green spaces” have resulted in deer overabundance in many areas.

An overabundant deer herd can be described as one that has exceeded the capacity of the native plant community.  Overabundant deer herds can result in concerns for the deer, for native plant communities, for urban landscapes and the health, safety and economic well-being of local communities.  Neighborhoods across Texas are beginning to confront these issues which have been a concern of communities in the northeastern states for several decades.  As overabundant white-tailed deer reduce the health of native plant communities, other wildlife species can become less common.  Over-abundant herds have deer-health problems such as starvation, increased numbers of parasites and more disease.  

Overabundance of deer living in close proximity to people also cause concerns such as:

• Automobile accidents from deer collisions or drivers trying to avoid deer
• Severe damage to landscaping.
• Buck (male) deer that are unafraid of people can be dangerous during the breeding season (fall and   winter).
• Increased numbers of disease-causing agents such as ticks carrying Lyme’s disease.
• Deer feeding resulting in more reproduction and further aggravation of all overabundant deer concerns.

• Do not feed deer. Supplemental feed will only increase the number of deer in the neighborhood.  And again, it is a Westwood Shore POA policy to not feed deer and you can be fined if you do so.
• Work with neighbors to monitor deer numbers in your neighborhood and impacts to your landscape.
• Landscape with plants that deer do not prefer to eat.
• Consider removal of adult deer through lethal and non-lethal means.
• Limit movement of deer into the neighborhood from surrounding areas with high fencing.
• Work cooperatively, from the start, with other residents and neighboring landowners in deer monitoring and management. This is particularly important in areas where deer numbers are high in surrounding areas.