Texas Tightens Rules on Hunting, Trapping Mountain Lions
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved regulations banning canned hunts and implementing trapping standards for mountain lions during its May meeting — the first changes in more than 50 years regarding management of mountain lions in Texas. The new rules move the state toward more modern hunting and trapping standards.
“The passage of these regulations is an important step toward better management of mountain lions in the state,” says Richard Heilbrun, director of TPWD's Wildlife Diversity Program. “The regulations support ethical hunting and trapping practices while continuing to provide flexibility for landowners to manage mountain lions.”
TPWD formed a Mountain Lion Stakeholder Group in January 2023 that included landowners, biologists, livestock producers, trappers, conservation professionals and subject matter experts.
The commission unanimously voted to ban canned hunts, meaning the capture and release of a mountain lion for the purpose of hunting or pursuing with hounds.
The commission also approved a 36-hour trapping standard after concerns were raised that some mountain lions are left to perish in traps, which many consider to be inhumane and potentially damaging to the reputation of trapping. This regulation ensures that live lions are not kept in traps or snares for more than 36 hours. Mountain lions are relatively uncommon, secretive animals. In Texas, they are primarily found in the Trans-Pecos region, the brushlands of South Texas and the western Hill Country.
