Texas legalizes shooting invasive sheep from a helicopter for sport

[alexnelon]

That doesn’t apply in this instance. They are not game animals in the state of Texas.

Any attempt to do this or anything close to it would be met with immediate lawsuits that would (correctly) strike down TPWD’s overreach. That is one of many reasons why that idiotic plan would NEVER happen.

"Game" and "Non-Game" are simply classifications of animals. They both still fall under the purview of TPWD and any lawmaker can introduce a bill to amend the regs to make specific rules that apply to just these animals.

Being classified as non-game doesn't magically exempt them from regulation. Not having seasons for exotics IS the regulation currently codified for TPWD.

They can just pass a law with new regulations for hunting a specific species exactly the exact same way they did to make it legal to hunt them from a helicopter or making it legal to kill pigs without a hunting license like they did in 2019.

 

[RdRdrFan]

"Game" and "Non-Game" are simply classifications of animals. They both still fall under the purview of TPWD and any lawmaker can introduce a bill to amend the regs to make specific rules that apply to just these animals.

Being classified as non-game doesn't magically exempt them from regulation. Not having seasons for exotics IS the regulation currently codified for TPWD.

They can just pass a law with new regulations for hunting a specific species exactly the exact same way they did to make it legal to hunt them from a helicopter or making it legal to kill pigs without a hunting license like they did in 2019.

Non-game absolutely removes it from TPWD. They are no different than any other livestock at that point. The aoudad are owned by the landowner. That is where the line gets drawn from it being a case of “North American Game Management Model” to property rights. TPWD has no say so in this.

The legislature could try. But they would get shot down as well. The only way around it would be to classify them as a game animal and even then there would be a successful lawsuit as they are a non-native species.

 

[JGRaider]

"Game" and "Non-Game" are simply classifications of animals. They both still fall under the purview of TPWD and any lawmaker can introduce a bill to amend the regs to make specific rules that apply to just these animals.

Being classified as non-game doesn't magically exempt them from regulation. Not having seasons for exotics IS the regulation currently codified for TPWD.

They can just pass a law with new regulations for hunting a specific species exactly the exact same way they did to make it legal to hunt them from a helicopter or making it legal to kill pigs without a hunting license like they did in 2019.

Ignorant idiots like this alexnelon guy are the biggest reason TX landowners don't open their ground to public hunters any more than they see fit. Once again, you have not the first clue what you're talking about. The vast majority of TX landowners who have aoudad on their ranches didn't put them there in the first place. Why should they be held accountable for a situation they had nothing to do with? As pointed out above, being classified "non native" absolutely does exempt them from regulation, for very obvious reasons.

 

[Weldor]

Read about Catalina island in California, They exterminated the hogs and goats to restore the island . LOL They aerial gunned them. I'm pretty sure if they (gov) really wanted the Aoudad gone it would have been done. The whole thing looks to be a huge mess at least for DBS. I've hunter them in the 80's, cheap back then, I'm all for retro pricing.

 

[RdRdrFan]

Read about Catalina island in California, They exterminated the hogs and goats to restore the island . LOL They aerial gunned them. I'm pretty sure if they (gov) really wanted the Aoudad gone it would have been done. The whole thing looks to be a huge mess at least for DBS. I've hunter them in the 80's, cheap back then, I'm all for retro pricing.

While large, a self-contained 76 square mile island owned by 2 entities is a much easier management job than what you are proposing for aoudad. That land mass is equal to one mid-sized ranch in the part of Texas that we are discussing. For reference, Big Bend National Park is roughly 1250 square miles. And that is a small portion of the area we are discussing.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If they couldn’t make money off these animals, landowners would be jumping up and down begging the government to help get rid of them.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Weldor]

While large, a self-contained 76 square mile island owned by 2 entities is a much easier management job than what you are proposing for aoudad. That land mass is equal to one mid-sized ranch in the part of Texas that we are discussing. For reference, Big Bend National Park is roughly 1250 square miles. And that is a small portion of the area we are discussing.

It is just an example of what is possible. Been hunting TX for over 20 yrs, believe me I know how large it is. I've bowhunted 4 horn , Barbary, merino etc. all for a grand total of $329.00 including bus fair. Ah yes the good old days.

 

[PORK]

It is just an example of what is possible. Been hunting TX for over 20 yrs, believe me I know how large it is. I've bowhunted 4 horn , Barbary, merino etc. all for a grand total of $329.00 including bus fair. Ah yes the good old days.

That is a very poor comparison. Comparing an island to Texas? But it shows how nearly impossible the task would be when that’s the best example one could muster up.

Anyone that hunts auodad for sport is part of the problem. Take away the monetary value of Texas trash sheep would be a great start. To complete the demise of them I recommend Alaska Dept of Fish and Game manage them. In a few short years there will be hardly any left. Fact.

 

[flathead#2]

Love me some Aoudad, and mad respect for them, compared to the obviously weaker DBH
that have a hard time maintaining their numbers.
Survival of the fittest. And I can actually hunt Aoudad.

 

[PORK]

Love me some Aoudad, and mad respect for them, compared to the obviously weaker DBH
that have a hard time maintaining their numbers.
Survival of the fittest. And I can actually hunt Aoudad.

That’s too bad you’ve made poor life choices and can’t hunt DBH. Native > exotics

 

[WCB]

I mean seems like fantastic Military Training. Seek and destroy living moving targets in varied terrain day or night....pretty sure if a demand was enacted to virtually eliminate Aoudad, it would be highly successful fairly quickly. 100% probably not but you wouldn't see herds of 100s running around.

 

[JGRaider]

I mean seems like fantastic Military Training. Seek and destroy living moving targets in varied terrain day or night....pretty sure if a demand was enacted to virtually eliminate Aoudad, it would be highly successful fairly quickly. 100% probably not but you wouldn't see herds of 100s running around.

If the plan is to eliminate them without the use of a 'copter, then it's a dream......won't happen......just like hogs. Hunting from the ground and it'll never happen.

 

[cuerro viejo]

"Game" and "Non-Game" are simply classifications of animals. They both still fall under the purview of TPWD and any lawmaker can introduce a bill to amend the regs to make specific rules that apply to just these animals.

Being classified as non-game doesn't magically exempt them from regulation. Not having seasons for exotics IS the regulation currently codified for TPWD.

They can just pass a law with new regulations for hunting a specific species exactly the exact same way they did to make it legal to hunt them from a helicopter or making it legal to kill pigs without a hunting license like they did in 2019.

there are no exotic regulations on means of take, season or limit. There are a few regulations on identifying ownership.
The licensing isn’t a regulation on exotics it’s a tax to hunt. Just like the lease license tax, it a tax on income stream.

Exotics without identification of ownership are property of the landowner until it leaves on its own free will.

This is fundamental problem with aoudad or exotics in Texas. Texas is a land owner rights state first and foremost and that’s not changing, so fragmentation controls effective means as all exotic rights stop at the property boundary, and then defer to that landowner

 

[cuerro viejo]

Love me some Aoudad, and mad respect for them, compared to the obviously weaker DBH
that have a hard time maintaining their numbers.
Survival of the fittest. And I can actually hunt Aoudad.

Man please go smoke some wild horses and donkeys!!!! Survival of the fittest after all. You got this bro!

 

[cuerro viejo]

I mean seems like fantastic Military Training. Seek and destroy living moving targets in varied terrain day or night....pretty sure if a demand was enacted to virtually eliminate Aoudad, it would be highly successful fairly quickly. 100% probably not but you wouldn't see herds of 100s running around.

Negative, you can hunt them day or night now, thermal, spotlight, night vision etc. it’s that fence line and terrain that’s a problem

 

[PORK]

Man please go smoke some wild horses and donkeys!!!! Survival of the fittest after all. You got this bro!

*feral horses

 

[CMF]

The legislature could try. But they would get shot down as well. The only way around it would be to classify them as a game animal and even then there would be a successful lawsuit as they are a non-native species.

I'm not sure how successful that lawsuit would be. New Mexico has several example species of non native game animals.

 

[alexnelon]

Non-game absolutely removes it from TPWD. They are no different than any other livestock at that point.

This is patently false.

The terms "non-game" (which refers to native animals) and "exotic animal" are each clearly defined in the Texas Parks and Wildlife code (Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65) and are both subject to myriad regulations therein.

There are zero protections in place that would keep them from adding two lines into the wildlife code to prevent the use of exotic animals in commerce.

 

[RdRdrFan]

I'm not sure how successful that lawsuit would be. New Mexico has several example species of non native game animals.

Yeah Texas doesn’t typically take its cues from New Mexico when it comes to politics and laws.

 

[cuerro viejo]

*feral horses

Same thing. No ownership, need to repel that legislation