A major regulatory proposal is now in front of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission that would require anyone who harvests a mountain lion in Texas—whether by hunting or trapping—to report that take within 24 hours. Hunters would also need to submit a biological sample, including a premolar tooth and tissue sample, within 60 days so biologists can determine the animal’s age and sex.
For Texas hunters, this would be a meaningful procedural change—but not a shutdown of mountain lion hunting.
Mountain lions in Texas are classified as nongame animals, meaning they currently can be harvested year-round with no closed season or bag limit under existing state rules. The proposed change does not alter that status.
So why the change?
According to TPWD, the agency still lacks reliable harvest and mortality data needed to understand mountain lion populations statewide. Texas has relied largely on voluntary reporting, but wildlife managers say participation has been too inconsistent to support accurate population monitoring. Mandatory reporting is a central piece of the agency’s long-term Texas Mountain Lion Research and Monitoring Plan.
The proposed reporting would require only county-level harvest information—not ranch names, exact coordinates, or precise property details. TPWD says the reporting system is intended for population science, not landowner tracking. Hunters would be able to report through the department’s website or mobile app.
Some hunters and landowners have raised concerns that reporting could become a stepping stone toward future harvest limits or additional predator hunting restrictions. TPWD has stated the current proposal is about data collection, not new harvest caps.
This proposal follows Texas’ first major mountain lion regulatory changes in 2024, when the state banned canned mountain lion hunts and imposed trap-check requirements for traps targeting lions.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is expected to vote on the proposal this week. If adopted, Texas hunters and trappers pursuing mountain lions should be prepared to add reporting compliance to their post-harvest checklist.
Hunterizer will track the final decision and any changes affecting Texas predator hunters.
