TPWD proposal would ban canned hunting of mountain lions [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is asking for public feedback on proposals to crack down on hunting or trapping mountain lions. 

Mountain lions are relatively uncommon, secretive animals that can be found from Canada to South America. In Texas, they live throughout the Trans-Pecos, the brushlands of South Texas and the western Hill Country.

Currently, Texas law does not ban canned hunting, meaning the capture and later release of a mountain lion for the purpose of hunting it. TPWD has proposed banning the act in Texas.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act, passed by Congress in December 2022, prohibits most instances of possession of mountain lions, but does not address lions that are trapped.

Texas does not currently require traps set for mountain lions to be checked. Concerns have been raised that some …