Actually Boo, in some cases they have.
In 1958, I think, TPWD brought in a group of Aoudad Sheep from north Africa and turned them loose in the Palo Duro Canyon. Palo is the second largest canyon in the USA. TPWD thought..."No big deal"...
well, the Aoudad not only survived but flourished. They actually took over the habitat of the local Whitetails and Mule deer. 40 Aoudads were initially released. In less that 10 years that number had grown to over 500.
There are now over 30,000 free-range Aoudads in Texas. Not to mention those behind high fence operations.
Here we say they are the "poor man's mountain sheep hunt". However, there is nothing poor about what outfitters charge for a hunt. They run anywhere from about 3-6K for a guided hunt.
I like to hunt them. They are an extreme challenge in the mountains of far west Texas.
Only drawback, you can't eat the blasted things!! Like trying to chew the air bladder in an old football!!
They do have a tendency to run deer off feeders. They can be bullies. An adult Ram can weigh over 300 pounds.
We also have a huge population of Indian Antelope known as Nilgai. They were introduced to the King Ranch in 1930. They are now free range over most of the south coastal area of Texas. TPWD says there are bout 37,000 Free Rangers in Texas.
They graze like cattle, and don't seem to bother native game. Bulls can weigh well over 500.
We have Axis and Blackbucks just about everywhere you look. Axis numbers are around 126,000. Blackbucks are about 20-25,000 free range in central Texas.
Plus we have Red Stag, Mouflon and Red Sheep and a host of others that "escaped" from game ranches.
And let's not forget we have about 2.6 MILLION feral hogs destroying the ecosystem.
They wreak havoc on fawn Deer, wild Turkeys, Quail and any other ground nesting birds. They destroy crops, fences, river systems and in some cases like us, your front yard.
We still have about 5 million Whitetail Deer in Texas. Plus, Pronghorns, Mule Deer, Elk, Javelina and Turkey (2 species).
For "exotics" there is no closed season. All you need is a hunting license and landowner permission. And hogs...No license is needed!!
Everything else "in season", set by TPWD.
I've told this before, but TPWD has draw hunts every year for areas that are part of the TPWD wildlife management system. You do NOT have to be a resident to apply. Simply check out TPWD's website for draw hunts.
And in advance....Good Luck!!
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow, What a Ride!
