TPW Commission
Commission Meeting, November 6, 2025
Transcript
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
November 6, 2025
EL PASO CONVENTION CENTER
1 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
EL PASO, TEXAS 79901
OCOTILLO ROOM
COMMISSION MEETING
CHAIRMAN PAUL L. FOSTER: Good morning, everyone.
Glad to be here again in El Paso, Texas.
Before I begin, I’d like to take roll call.
I’m Paul Foster, and I’m present.
Commissioner Galo?
COMMISSIONER ANNA GALO: Present.
Commissioner McCall?
COMMISSIONER DR. JOHN A. McCALL: Present.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Commissioner Patton?
COMMISSIONER BOBBY PATTON: Present.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Commissioner Rowling?
COMMISSIONER TRAVIS ROWLING: Present.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Commissioner Timmerman?
COMMISSIONER TIM TIMMERMAN: Present.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
This meeting is called to order on November 6, 2025, at 9:01 a.m.
Before proceeding with any business, I believe Dr. Yoskowitz has a statement to make.
DR. DAVID YOSKOWITZ: Public notice of this meeting containing all items on the proposed agendas has been filed in the Office of the Secretary of State as required by Chapter 551 Government Code referred to as The Open Meetings Act.
I would like for this fact to be noted in the official record of this meeting.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
And before we proceed, I’d like to announce that Commission Agenda Item No. 2– Implementation of Legislation During the 89th Texas Legislative Session– House Bill 3088– Relating to the Authority of the Parks and Wildlife Department to Procure Goods and Services Related to Items for Resale by the Department– Recommended Approval of Procurement Methods– that was a long one– has been withdrawn from today’s agenda, so…
And I’d like to recognize Representative Joe Moody, who’s here with us.
Joe is a state rep from here in El Paso.
And he does a great job for us, and we’re always proud to see him in the house.
So, welcome, Joe.
Up first is the Approval of Minutes from the Commission meeting held August 21, 2025.
Those have been distributed.
Do I hear a motion for approval?
COMMISSIONER GALO: Galo, so moved.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Galo.
And second?
COMMISSIONER McCALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay, second by McCall.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
That passes.
And next is Acknowledgment of the List of Donations.
That also has been distributed.
And I would entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER ROWLING: So moved.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right, Rowling.
And second?
COMMISSIONER TIMMERMAN: Second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Timmerman?
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
And next is Consideration of Contracts, which have been distributed.
Entertain a motion?
COMMISSIONER PATTON: Patton, so moved.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Patton.
All right.
And a second?
COMMISSIONER ROWLING: Second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: By Rowling.
Thank you.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
None.
So, that passes.
And next is one of my favorite items.
Retirements and Service Award presentations.
And Dr. Yoskowitz will make the presentations.
DR. YOSKOWITZ: Thank you, Chairman and Commissioners.
We have a couple of individuals we’re going to recognize today.
Not usually the large crowd that we get at headquarters, but we have a couple of special people that are from the region, and it’s great that they could be here today so they could be recognized for their service to the department.
The first one I’d like to recognize is Floyd Ray Spears.
He began his career at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department July 1, 2000, as a cadet at the 47th Texas Game Warden Academy in Austin.
Given the nickname “Tackleberry,” which, Ray, I want you to talk to me about that later on, how you got that nickname.
His first duty station was Brewster County after graduating from the academy on January 17, 2001, where he served as Texas Game Warden until June of 2008.
Two years into that role, while patrolling a vacant area in Presidio County, and thinking he was encountering an illegal hunter or trespasser, he was involved in a car chase and tire shoot-out that ended with the discovery of slightly over a ton of marijuana.
In March 2003, Warden Spears responded to a possible helicopter crash near Cathedral Mountain Ranch.
He quickly acted to help the helicopter’s occupants reach safety.
Years later, Warden Spears realized that the occupant was Jeff Bezos.
You never know who you might meet during the duties as a Texas game warden, especially out in West Texas.
Warden Spears was then transferred to the El Paso/Hudspeth County duty station, serving there until he was promoted to Captain Game Warden of the El Paso Law Enforcement District, on December 7, 2012, where he still serves in this district as Supervisor in El Paso.
Ray, with your 25 years of service, congratulations.
[ APPLAUSE ]
FLOYD RAY SPEARS: Appreciate it.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Congratulations.
MR. SPEARS: Thank you, Sir.
I appreciate it.
Where do you want us?
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Right here.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
DR. YOSKOWITZ: Next, we’d like to recognize Rosemary Iniguez.
She began her career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at Indian Lodge Restaurant in 2005, where she became head cook.
She created many recipes for holiday menus, especially for Thanksgiving, which many families enjoyed.
Not only did she cook many meals for guests, but she assisted with the ordering, organizing, and training new staff.
In 2009, she transferred to Balmorhea State Park as a Maintenance Specialist, to be closer to home as her son and daughter were very active in many school activities.
Rosemary gained many skills and knowledge in the maintenance field, such as repairing water leaks, operating water systems, operating and maintaining sprinkler systems, maintaining facilities, utility plant operations, and safety officer duties– along with all the other duties as maintenance requires.
Her cooking skills have always been on full display during the monthly staff meeting potlucks, where she frequently treats the staff to her famous chocolate cake.
Throughout the years of experience, she has strategically created a to‑do list with completing the annual pool maintenance cleaning for San Solomon Springs swimming pool.
Her thought process in completing this list has enabled our team to work together and complete the long process in a timely manner.
Rosemary is a key player in the maintenance team, and is a very valuable asset to our park operating team at state parks.
With 20 years of service, Rosemary Iniguez.
[ APPLAUSE ]
She didn’t make it today.
But we’re happy that she is part of the team, and thank her for those 20 years of service.
Chairman, that concludes my presentation.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: At this time, I’d like to inform the audience that you are all welcome to stay for as long as you want for the remainder of the meeting.
However, if anyone wishes to leave, now would be an appropriate time, to make your exit.
Thank you.
All right.
Item No. 1 is: Election of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission vice‑chair.
The election of the vice‑chair is a very important item.
As Chairman, I run the meetings, and the vice‑chair is right there to serve when I cannot be there.
The vice‑chair has obligations and responsibilities that go with this title.
So, it is a big job.
If the Commission wants to discuss, we can do so.
If not, at this moment, I would entertain a motion by a commissioner to nominate a vice‑chair.
COMMISSIONER GALO: Commissioner Galo.
I nominate Commissioner Oliver Bell.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
Is there any discussion or dissension?
COMMISSIONER TIMMERMAN: I second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
We have a motion and a second.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
None.
So, that passes.
Oliver was not able to join us today, but I told him that that wasn’t going to get him out of this responsibility, so…
[ LAUGHTER ]
All right.
Thank you.
Action Item No. 2: Implementation of Legislation During the 89th Texas Legislative Session– House Bill 3088.
That is the item that was withdrawn, so I do not have to read the rest of that.
Action Item No. 3: Land Acquisition– Kinney and Edwards Counties– Approximately 54,000 acres.
And Mr. Zeke Sanchez is going to brief us on this.
ZEKE SANCHEZ: Good morning, Commissioners and Mr. Chairman.
My name is Zeke Sanchez, and I’m with the Land Conservation Program.
And I’ll be presenting to you this morning on a land acquisition in Kinney and Edwards counties for approximately 54,000 acres.
You see there a state map with the red star indicating the approximate location of Kinney and Edwards counties.
We have a closer view here of the area in question, subject tract, near Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
The property proposed for acquisition consists of approximately 54,000 acres, including steep canyons and rolling hills.
7.5 miles west of the West Nueces River.
A 30‑acre lake within the Nueces River with water holes across the property.
Staff believes this property is suitable for a new state park, and acquisition will create additional recreational opportunities and habitat protection.
Here you have the Kickapoo Cavern State Park outlined in red on the left, and the subject tract outlined in yellow.
Our latest review of the public comments revealed 1,092 responses, of which 94 percent, or 1,030, agree, and 6 percent, or 62, disagree.
Staff recommends the Commission adopt the following motion: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire from a willing seller approximately 54,000 acres in Kinney and Edwards counties for a new state park.
That concludes my presentation.
I’d be glad to take any questions.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you, Mr. Sanchez.
Even though the comments are overwhelmingly in favor of doing this, there are 62 people that apparently sent in disagreement.
Can you address, kind of, what the basis of some of those were?
MR. SANCHEZ: Yes, Sir.
There was a variety of some topics of interest.
Some neighboring landowners did express some concern on the fact that this property would be converted into a state park; impacts to their property.
For example, the water use along the river, and how it may impact them for their future use and their family.
There were other considerations.
Some environmental topics were also mentioned.
And those are some examples.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
Thank you.
MR. SANCHEZ: Yes, Sir.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Does anybody have comments or questions?
If not, we will hear from anybody who signed up to speak.
I’m getting…
DEE HALLIBURTON: No one signed up to speak.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
So, if there are no more comments from Commission or staff, I would entertain a motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER GALO: Galo, so moved.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you.
And a second?
COMMISSIONER TIMMERMAN: Timmerman, second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: By Timmerman.
Thank you.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
That motion passes.
I think this is a very exciting opportunity for the department.
Next, we have Action Item No. 4: Land Acquisition in Briscoe County– Approximately 1,120 acres– at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway.
And again, Mr. Sanchez is going to present.
MR. SANCHEZ: Yes, good morning, Commissioners and Mr. Chairman.
For the record, my name is Zeke Sanchez, and I’m with the Land Conservation Program.
I’ll be presenting on a land acquisition in Briscoe County, consisting of approximately 1,120 acres at the Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway.
You have the Texas map there, with the red star indicating the location of Briscoe County.
A closer view.
They are indicating Caprock Canyons Trailway and Caprock Canyons State Park.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway consists of approximately 15,300 acres in Briscoe County, making it the third largest state park in Texas.
Staff seeks approval to acquire a 1,120 acre parcel to add to Caprock Canyons State Park.
The subject property includes 4.1 miles of Holmes Creek and Dry Creek.
The land would increase the habitat for the state bison herd, as well as expand recreational opportunities at the state park.
The Caprock Canyons State Park is outlined in red.
And the subject tract is outlined in yellow.
Our latest review on the public comments.
There were 226 responses, of which 94 percent, or 211, agree.
And 6 percent, or 15, disagree.
Staff recommends the Commission adopt the following motion: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire from a willing seller approximately 1,120 acres at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway.
That concludes my presentation.
I’d be glad to take any questions.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
Questions or comments?
I would ask the same here.
Ironically, it’s exactly 6 percent again.
The 15 people that disagree, was there a theme to those, or…
What was the basis of the disagreement?
MR. SANCHEZ: Yes, Sir.
There were some, I guess, opinions on the use, you know, of the park, and maybe other uses.
And that’s the ones that I recall.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: So, they were concerned about how the park was going to be used, or…
MR. SANCHEZ: Yes.
Yes, give me one second, Sir.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
MR. SANCHEZ: Justin, do you have anything to add?
JUSTIN RHODES: Hey, good morning.
Justin Rhodes with our State Parks Division.
Some of the comments we typically receive are some people are just opposed to the state purchasing any property, and that’s… that was some of those 6 percent, in addition to what Zeke said.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: So nothing… nothing that stands out of the norm?
MR. RHODES: Nothing that stands out extraordinarily, Sir.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you.
MR. RHODES: You bet.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you, Mr. Sanchez, as well.
All right.
Anybody sign up to speak on this item?
MS. HALLIBURTON: No, Sir.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
Is there any further discussion by the Commission or staff?
If not, I’ll put this item up for… or I’ll ask for a motion for approval.
COMMISSIONER PATTON: Patton, moves to approve.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER McCALL: Second.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Second by McCall.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
That passes.
And next is Action Item No. 5: Land Acquisition Strategy in Caldwell County– Approximately 200 Acres– at Lockhart State Park.
And Trey Vick is going to present.
TREY VICK: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
For the record, my name is Trey Vick.
I’m with The Land Conservation Program.
And I’ll be presenting a land acquisition strategy in Caldwell County of approximately 200 acres at Lockhart State Park.
As you can see here, the red star on the map indicates Caldwell County.
It sits just outside of this town of Lockhart.
Lockhart State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps over 80 years ago.
It comprises about 258 acres, and provides hiking and bike trails, fishing on Clear Fork Creek, and camping.
The state park is within about a 45 minute drive of Austin, and within roughly an hour drive of San Antonio.
Expansion of the park will allow for greater recreational opportunities, and will help accommodate more visitors.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff has identified several strategic tracts adjacent to Lockhart State Park, totaling approximately 200 acres.
All, or portions, of these tracts will be available for acquisition from willing sellers, and would add an excellent habitat and operational utility to the park.
TPWD is working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy to acquire these strategic tracts.
As you can see here, Lockhart State Park is outlined in red.
The area of interest is outlined in yellow.
As of yesterday evening, we’d received 814 responses.
799 agree, with 15 disagreeing.
Staff recommends the Commission adopt the following motion: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to acquire from willing sellers approximately 200 acres of Lockhart State Park.
And I’d be happy to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
Any questions or comments from the Commission?
All right.
Thank you, Trey.
MR. VICK: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Anybody signed up to speak?
I guess not.
Is there a motion for approval?
COMMISSIONER GALO: Galo, so moved.
Oh…
COMMISSIONER McCALL: So moved.
Second.
COMMISSIONER GALO: I’ll second.
[ laughs ]
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right, McCall and Galo.
All in favor?
[ CHORUS OF AYES ]
Any opposed?
Thank you.
That motion passes.
Next, we have a briefing item.
No. 6: Texas Mountain Lion Research and Monitoring Plan.
Mr. Jonah Evans is going to make the presentation.
Welcome.
MR. CRAIG BONDS: Hey, Jonah.
Turn on the mic, please.
JONAH EVANS: Thank you.
Good morning, Chairman, Commissioners.
For the record, my name is Jonah Evans.
I’m the Non‑Game and Rare Species Program Leader within the Wildlife Division.
At the January, 2024, Commission meeting, staff were directed to develop a mountain lion management plan for Texas.
Today, we are pleased to present the final draft of the plan, and summarize some of its key elements.
Over the past year, it became clear that because we are currently lacking fundamental data on mountain lion populations, the plan needed to predominantly focus on research and monitoring, and would not fit within the classic definition of a “management plan.”
To more accurately reflect the research focus of the plan, we titled it the Texas Mountain Lion Research and Monitoring Plan.
Before discussing the plan details, I’d like to recognize the significance of this milestone, and some of the history that got us here.
In the early 1970s, when U.S. states were beginning to formally manage and monitor mountain lions, two bills were introduced into the Texas Legislature to provide additional protections for mountain lions, neither of which passed.
Shortly afterwards, Texas classified them as “non‑game” with no closed seasons, limits on take, or monitoring program.
20 years later, in 1991, a petition was filed with the department to provide greater protections for the species after the hunting of three mountain lions in East Texas was widely reported in the press.
The department held meetings with stakeholders and conducted an internal review.
The request was ultimately denied, as the department biologist at the time believed that the increasing trend and voluntary sighting reports from the public indicated the species was expanding in numbers and range.
However, the voluntary sighting reports are now known to be an unreliable data source.
The department committed to increase work to track voluntary sighting reports, and consider mandatory reporting if voluntary reports weren’t producing the needed data.
A bill was then proposed in 1993, in the legislature, to change the mountain lion status, but did not pass.
In 2007, the department invited…
I’m sorry.
In the wake of the petition, the department initiated two research projects, one in South Texas and one in the Trans-Pecos.
Both studies ultimately found high rates of mortality, with hunting being the primary cause of death in South Texas, and trapping being the primary cause in West Texas.
These projects were foundational to our knowledge of mountain lions today.
Then in 2007, the department invited a panel of mountain lion experts from several states to come to
Texas and provide research and policy recommendations.
Gathering more population data was their primary recommendation.
In 2011, a Ph.D. project at Texas A&M University, in Kingsville, that examined historic and contemporary mountain lion genetic samples found significant decreases in genetic diversity in the South Texas population.
And due to concerns among biologists about a possible South Texas population decline in 2012, a meeting of agency leadership was convened to provide recommendations.
Again, the recommendation was that the department needed to gather more data on mountain lion populations.
Then, at 2022, the Commission received a petition that criticized the department’s lack of data on mountain lions, and requested several policy changes.
It was rejected to allow additional time for stakeholder engagement, and staff were directed to form a stakeholder working group and report back in one year.
The stakeholder group was chaired by previous Commission Chairman Joseph Fitzsimons, and consisted of 19 stakeholders.
A final report was presented to the Commission in early 2024, and the stakeholder group found broad agreement that the department should develop a mountain lion plan that focuses primarily on data collection.
And they agree the voluntary reporting system used by the department was inadequate, and that we needed better data on lion populations.
The group is split, however, on whether to recommend mandatory harvest reporting.
After reviewing input from the stakeholder group on May 23, 2024, the Commission passed a prohibition on canned hunting and a 36‑hour trap check standard.
At the same meeting, I provided a briefing on the development of a mountain lion plan, strategies for improving voluntary harvest data, and the development of a harvest reporting module within the Texas Hunt and Fish smartphone application.
There was robust discussion at this meeting regarding voluntary versus mandatory reporting.
And we committed to spend the next year exploring options that may overcome the limitations of voluntary reporting, which I will discuss further in this presentation.
That brings us to the plan we are presenting today.
This plan is the culmination of over a year of effort involving significant stakeholder review and input, all of whom I would like to thank for their contributions.
This process was shepherded predominantly by our state mammal specialist, Dr. Dana Karelus, who I would also like to recognize as the primary author of the plan.
And the plan contains the following key elements:
A background section with detailed information on species biology and review of past mountain lion research in Texas.
A discussion of data gaps and funding needs.
A timeline for evaluating progress– it covers a ten‑year time frame, and recommends a progress update to the Commission after a five‑year period.
And the plan contains five overarching goals, each of which is: as detailed objectives; strategies; and actions.
In the following slides, I will highlight a few of the key elements in each of those goals.
Goal A is to determine the status of mountain lion populations and initiate an ongoing monitoring program.
I’m highlighting the second objective here, which is the most relevant to our discussion today.
We consulted outside experts and reviewed many possible methods of developing a program that is unique to the needs of Texas.
The recommended method is called an Integrated Population Model, and this is a flexible model that generates population size estimates over time, as in the chart below from Nevada.
It incorporates data on rates of births, deaths, and movements in and out of the population.
The ability of this model to work correctly, however, is contingent upon obtaining accurate death rates, which I will come back to later, as well.
The next goal of this plan is to develop a data management and stakeholder engagement framework for Texas mountain lions.
And I’m highlighting the first two of the five objectives here.
The first objective is to define data analysis units within each population.
And this process would rely on constituent feedback, and factor in land use types and local perspectives.
And the second objective is to determine population objectives for each data analysis unit.
And the plan here is to identify the minimum viable population size to determine… I’m sorry, a minimum viable population size for an analysis unit, as well as the level of cultural tolerance, to determine a preferred population size range.
This process would be guided by data from regional research projects and local stakeholder engagement.
Goal C is about encouraging voluntary steps to maintain mountain lion populations in each analysis unit within the ranges discussed on the previous slide.
While actions on this goal will not be possible until a monitoring program is established and analysis units are defined, the goal provides guidance on steps the department can take to influence lion populations.
The objectives here state that in analysis units where populations fall outside the established threshold, the department will encourage voluntary actions to adjust population levels until the return to the desired range, and that could be either ways to increase the population, or ways to decrease the population.
Goal D outlines steps that we will take to mitigate lion conflict.
It contains actions geared toward maintaining low levels of livestock depredation, public outreach, and education, and developing sustainable hunting opportunities for mountain lions.
And finally, Goal E is to identify and prioritize additional knowledge gaps.
Over time, new research needs will arise, and the goal here is to ensure we are adaptable and able to adjust priorities as needed.
There are three additional planned elements that warrant further discussion: scientific permits; harvest data; and the Hunt and Fish app.
Wrong way.
Texas Administrative Code requires entities to obtain a scientific permit when handling native wildlife for research, and to provide certain data in a report to the department.
However, in 1997, a provision was added that specifically excludes mountain lions from the permit requirement.
The result is that mountain lions are the only native species that can be handled for research in Texas, but does not require a scientific research permit.
Some partners voluntarily opt to obtain a permit and share data with the department.
But this is not always the case.
And data obtained from these projects, while quite limited in scope, could provide… could prove valuable to the department.
The plan recommends consideration be given to closing this loophole and to facilitate more collaboration with the department and the mountain lion research community, and to help prevent costly duplication.
Next, I will discuss the role of harvest data in mountain lion monitoring.
The plan lays out strategies the department can take to monitor populations over time.
However, it also outlines the limitations of what is possible within our current regulatory and budgetary constraints.
Effective population monitoring requires combining data on births, deaths, and movements.
Birth rates and movements in and out of a population tend to be relatively stable; varying with environmental conditions such as drought and food availability, but generally within a predictable range.
For the Integrated Population Model, we can initially use values from previous studies, and then periodically update them as future studies are conducted.
Death rates, however, tend to fluctuate unpredictably, and therefore need to be updated at more regular intervals for population estimates to be accurate.
Additionally, all past studies in Texas found harvest of mountain lions by people to be the primary source of mortality.
And this is actually also the case in essentially every other state that has a hunted mountain lion population.
Human‑caused mortality is the primary cause.
And for this reason, a reliable estimate of total harvest is one of the most important pieces of information needed for a population model to be accurate.
For several decades, the department has attempted to engineer an effective voluntary reporting system for mountain lions.
And in other states with hunted lion populations… I’m sorry, the other states with hunted lion populations rely on mandatory harvest reporting, and compliance is generally high enough to represent total harvest, as in the bar on the left there.
A common misconception is that we simply need more voluntary reporting.
However, the underlying issue is that the number of voluntary reports received is an unknown proportion of the total harvest, as in the bar on the right.
So, during the past year, staff saw input from outside statisticians and population modeling experts, and received widespread agreement that the voluntary harvest data simply cannot be used to estimate total harvest.
We also explored alternatives for monitoring populations and the absence of harvest data.
However, options are limited, and would involve annual large‑scale field studies and a subset of analysis units each year.
We have conservatively estimated this would cost around one to two million dollars annually, and would also result in large regions being unstudied for several years at a time, and may not be possible in areas with limited access to private property.
So, ultimately, without a reliable method for frequently updating harvest rates, it’s unlikely we will be able to achieve the goal of monitoring mountain lion populations over time.
So, lastly, I would like to report back on our progress regarding the mountain lion module for the Texas Hunt and Fish app.
We officially released this module on October 24, 2024– just over a year ago.
The app is confidential, uses county‑level location data, and uses photos to verify the age and sex of the animal.
Publication of the module was accompanied by press releases, social media posts, and outreach to the landowners, which resulted in articles and posts by numerous outlets, including the Texas Farm Bureau, “Odessa American,” NBC News, the “Menard News and Messenger,” the Texas Wildlife Association, and many others.
While we were initially optimistic that the publication of the app would result in an influx of new data,
to date, we have received only two reports through the platform.
So, before closing, I would again like to note the significance of this milestone.
For several decades, people have recognized that the department needed accurate data on mountain lion populations.
And for the first time, we have a plan that clearly lays out the options for how this can be achieved.
While the plan outlines significant limitations of what is possible, given our current constraints, it marks a significant step forward in our effort to achieve our mission through responsibly steward wildlife populations.
I would like to again thank Joseph Fitzsimons for his leadership through this process, and the stakeholders who provided input.
And this concludes my presentation.
And I’d be happy to take any questions.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you, Mr. Evans.
I appreciate it.
First, I’ll open it up for comments or questions from the Commission.
Anybody?
COMMISSIONER TIMMERMAN: I have a question.
Based upon the research that has been done, where is the population?
Is it declining, increasing?
Of course, I’m sure it probably would vary by region.
But maybe you can address that based upon what limited information we do have.
MR. EVANS: Yeah.
I think the last piece of what you said, Commissioner, is really the key there.
The information we have is really limited.
And it’s pretty difficult to tell.
We have some indication from genetics that the South Texas population, parts of it, might be in a state of being… of declining.
But again, those are… we have very limited information.
It’s an extremely difficult and expensive animal to study because of how elusive they are.
So, that’s essentially the challenge in front of us, is we really do not have a good indication of exactly how the population is doing.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: On your Slide 10, which is the map that shows the different counties right…
MR. EVANS: Right there.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Yeah, there.
What are the different colors represent on this map?
MR. EVANS: It’s simply a gradient of areas where we’ve had a higher number of reports; are showing in a darker red.
And the lighter yellow is where fewer reports have been… we’ve received fewer reports.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
All right.
COMMISSIONER ROWLING: What is the time-line?
MR. EVANS: This is a ten‑year time period.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: All right.
As Jonah mentioned, Former Chairman Joe Fitzsimons is here with us today.
And we’re proud to have him here.
And he’s been very involved with this process from way back.
He’s been… he was on the taskforce that helped put all of this together.
And I’d like to ask Mr. Fitzsimons if he would like to make any comment today.
Thank you.
JOSEPH FITZSIMONS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the staff for all their hard work.
Two and a half years on this… on this round.
I was at that 1992 meeting in Del Rio.
And so, I think that’s why Chairman Aplin asked me to do this, because I’m one of the former chairmen that kicked this can down the road back in the early 2000s.
And I think Jonah’s presentation makes it clear that without the data to support management decisions, those management decisions are… will be called into question.
And the one thing everybody in this very diverse group of 19 people agreed on is we just don’t have the data.
And I visited a lot with other states, reviewed all the…
My old friends at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife agencies looked at those plans.
And they just got better data.
And I think the time’s here.
I’m encouraged by the participation of a lot of landowners.
In the South Texas study, we have put together a group of 300,000 acres, of four different landowners.
And we are collecting that data from collared animals, getting the DNA, which is really important for the genetic study.
So, I really feel like the time is right to gather what we need in order to support future management decisions.
Any questions?
Comments?
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: So, you’ve eloquently stated it, but what you… what I think, to boil it down, is it your opinion that we should have mandatory reporting?
Sorry to put you on the spot.
MR. FITZSIMONS: It took me a long time… it took me a long time to get there, Mr. Chairman.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Because I was one that argued for the voluntary, but the voluntary is not successful.
And as Dr. Logan pointed out, he said that number doesn’t tell me… a voluntary number, I don’t know if that’s a denominator or a numerator.
And so, you know, again, I don’t want to repeat myself.
But yes, I do support it, especially in light of the bill that was passed in the last session making all harvest reporting confidential.
So, you know, the idea would be that you just call in and get a unique ID number, and you’re legal.
And all they know is the county, not the person who harvested the animal, nor the property.
So, I think that’s adequate protection for people’s privacy.
And…
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Okay.
MR. FITZSIMONS: That’s all I got.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: I appreciate it.
Do we have any questions?
MR. FITZSIMONS: It only took me 33 years.
[ LAUGHTER ]
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Yeah.
Well, we appreciate all your hard work, not only for the Commission, but in particular on this project.
And we appreciate you making your way out to El Paso to talk to us today.
MR. FITZSIMONS: You got it.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: So, thank you.
MR. FITZSIMONS: Well, thank you.
Thank you for your leadership.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: What I’d like to do… it’s apparent to me that we’re not getting the data that we need to get.
And I think making it voluntary was kind of a first step in kind of trying to get that data.
And what Mr. Evans and Mr. Fitzsimons both have talked about is the fact that “voluntary” really isn’t getting us there.
I’d like to ask the staff to work on a plan to roll out mandatory reporting.
Maybe come back to us in our March meeting.
The other thing is the scientific permits.
I think… I don’t know what the reasoning was when they excluded mountain lions from needing scientific permits.
But I don’t see that… I can’t quite get there.
And so, I’m certainly open to hearing discussion about it, and listening to arguments on both sides.
But if I could ask the staff to work on a plan, to present to us in our March meeting, to bring both of these forward, both mandatory reporting and scientific permits.
I think that will get us to a better place.
And I appreciate all the work that’s gone into this research and monitoring plan.
It’s obviously a lot of work, and a lot of passion behind it from people from all sides, and also on the taskforce that’s been involved.
And so, that’s all very much appreciated.
And I think… I hope that when we are sitting here a year or two from now, that we’ll have some really good data and be able to talk more from a more informed point of view about what’s happening with the mountain lion population throughout the state.
Does anybody on the Commission have any issue with that?
So, if not, I will direct the staff to do that.
All right?
And that concludes our meeting.
Dr. Yoskowitz, this Commission has completed its business, and I declare us adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
DR. YOSKOWITZ: Thank you, Chairman.
That may be a record.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: It may be.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Thank you.
DR. YOSKOWITZ: Thank you all for being here to help out.
CHAIRMAN FOSTER: Thank you all for coming to El Paso.
In official recognition of the adoption of this resolution in a lawfully called public meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, we hereby affix our signatures this day of .
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Paul L. Foster, Chairman
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Oliver J. Bell, Vice-Chairman
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William "Leslie" Doggett, Member
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Anna B. Galo, Member
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John A. McCall, Jr., Member
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Robert L. "Bobby" Patton, Jr., Member
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Travis B. Rowling, Member
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Dick Scott, Member
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Timothy "Tim" Timmerman, Member