The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is soliciting public comments regarding proposed changes to mountain lion harvest reporting. The item was initially slated for the May 27 Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, but was recently pulled from the agenda. BHA is encouraging members to comment in support of the proposed changes to ensure the persistence and success of a huntable population of mountain lions in Texas for generations.

Texas BHA Position Statement – Mountain Lion Harvest Reporting

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recognizes hunting and trapping as appropriate wildlife management tools and understands the important role sportsmen and women play in collecting harvest data on public and private lands. Consistent with our support for the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Texas BHA believes fish and wildlife resources are an important part of the public trust and supports science-based wildlife management, including mandatory harvest reporting and biological sample collection for harvested mountain lions.

Texas is the only state in the U.S. with a huntable population of mountain lions that does not require harvest reporting. Scientifically sound management strategies require scientifically sound data, and the current voluntary harvest reporting system does not provide enough data. The biological data collected from mountain lion harvests will help wildlife managers fill critical research gaps needed to create accurate population models and ensure the persistence and success of a huntable population of mountain lions in Texas for generations.