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TPWD proposes mandatory mountain lion harvest reporting and premolar submission to improve population data
Summary
Staff proposed mandatory mountain lion harvest reporting via the Texas Hunt & Fish app within 24 hours and submission of a small premolar tooth and tissue sample within 60 days to permit age and sex confirmation. Staff cited confidentiality protections under SB 1248 and offered stamped mailers and optional biologist collection; some commissioners and hunters raised concerns about trophy integrity and practicality.
Jonah Evans, non-game and rare species program leader, asked the commission for permission to publish proposed rules to require mountain lion harvest reporting and to remove a long-standing administrative-code exclusion that allowed handling of mountain lions without a scientific permit.
Evans said reliable population estimation requires accurate harvest data. He described a mandatory-reporting pathway using the Texas Hunt & Fish smartphone app or website with a 24-hour reporting requirement and county-level location only (no precise coordinates). To confirm age and sex for modeling, staff proposed submission of a small tooth (a premolar behind the canine) and a tissue sample within 60 days, with the department providing a stamped mailer and, if requested, a biologist to collect samples.
Evans said confidentiality protections enacted in SB 1248 will prevent disclosure of personally identifying information from reports; only aggregated summaries could be shared. He noted staff had examined alternatives (GPS collars, camera networks) but those approaches are cost-prohibitive or insufficient at statewide scale.
Several commissioners raised concerns. Commissioner Patton objected to mandating tooth extraction that could damage a trophy skull; he asked what data the tooth provides and whether less invasive options (photos) would be adequate. Evans said the premolar provides age determination via microscopic examination of growth layers and that trappers and stakeholders preferred tissue/tooth samples to photos for accuracy and to avoid embedded image metadata.
Chair Foster voiced support for mandatory reporting and the tooth/tissue approach while acknowledging the need for education and an emphasis on initial outreach rather than strict enforcement. Staff requested permission to publish the proposed rules in the Texas Register for public comment; Chair Foster authorized publication.
