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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the classification of and regulation of the taking of |
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aoudad sheep as game animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1.101(4), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(4) "Wild," when used in reference to an animal, means |
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a species, including each individual of a species, that normally |
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lives in a state of nature and is not ordinarily domesticated. The |
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term [This definition] does not include exotic livestock defined by |
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Section 161.001(a)(4), Agriculture Code, except that the term does |
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include aoudad sheep. |
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SECTION 2. Section 43.103(3), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(3) "Exotic animals" includes exotic livestock and |
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exotic fowl as defined by Section 161.001(a), Agriculture Code, |
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wild animals that are nonindigenous to Texas, [aoudad sheep,] and |
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elk. The term does not include aoudad sheep. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.054, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A proclamation of the commission under this section must |
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provide for the taking of aoudad sheep to be regulated in the same |
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manner that the taking of deer is regulated under this code and |
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commission rule, including with respect to bag limits and carcass |
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removal. This subsection does not apply to the regulation of |
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breeder deer. |
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SECTION 4. Section 62.015(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "exotic animal" means exotic livestock |
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or exotic fowl as defined by Section 161.001(a), Agriculture Code, |
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and [aoudad sheep, or] elk. The term does not include aoudad sheep. |
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SECTION 5. Section 63.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.001. GAME ANIMALS. (a) The following animals are |
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game animals: mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, |
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desert bighorn sheep, aoudad sheep, gray or cat squirrels, fox |
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squirrels or red squirrels, and collared peccary or javelina. |
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(b) No species of any animal set out in Subsection (a) [of |
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this section] or any other animal is a game animal if it is not |
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indigenous to this state, except that aoudad sheep are game |
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animals. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |