Tagged exotic question

[Dr. Evil]

I saw a large, mature axis buck on my "Ranch" yesterday with a numbered white tag in his right ear. There is nothing but low-fence places within 5 miles of my place. Is he "fair game"?

Thanks

[Chad C]

Yep...

[muley4x4]

yes he is fair game. Any exotic is always.

However if you bordered a high fence ranch you might alert them first. Most people try to build relationships with there neighbors. But yeah he is all yours for the taking if you choose too.

[PHfactor]

hope you get him!

[red]

fair game, go get him

[mboltm]

Go get him Brother,

[Hot4huntin]

From TPWD:

Hunting

Are exotic animals that happen to show up on my property fair game?

It depends! If an exotic animal has a visible tag, brand, or other identifying mark, a person should contact the local sheriff's office and report the exotic animal. Texas estray laws apply to marked exotic animals and the local sheriff is responsible for their enforcement. Exotic animals that are not marked and are free ranging that have wandered onto private property may be hunted with a hunting license, provided the owner of the property allows hunting. However, if an exotic animal appears on your property and you know that it is privately owned, then the ethical approach is to contact the owner.

[Big_gun]

ground check him and check the tag for a phone number....;-)

[Dr. Evil]

Fortunately for him, he is just starting to re-grow his antlers, so he has a few months to find a new home. I will contact the Game Warden about it. Would appreciate someone else doing that for me.

Thanks

[The Crippler]

I did some research on this issue for a thread a while back, I'll see if I can find it.

I think what I found out is that an exotic with an ear tag can be considered livestock, and you can get in trouble for it.

[Hot4huntin]

CHAPTER 142. ESTRAYS


§ 142.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Estray" means stray livestock, stray exotic
livestock, or stray exotic fowl.

(2) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 604, § 5.

(3) "Person" does not include the government or a
governmental agency or subdivision.

(4) "Exotic livestock" means grass-eating or
plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not
indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including
animals from the swine, horse, tapir, rhinoceros, elephant, deer,
and antelope families but not including a mammal defined by Section
63.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, as a game animal, or by Section
71.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, as a fur-bearing animal, or any
other indigenous mammal regulated by the Parks and Wildlife
Department as an endangered or threatened species. The term does
not include a nonindigenous mammal located on publicly owned land.

(5) "Exotic fowl" means any avian species that is not
indigenous to this state. The term includes ratites but does not
include a bird defined by Section 64.001, Parks and Wildlife Code,
as a game bird or any other indigenous bird regulated by the Parks
and Wildlife Department as an endangered or threatened species.
The term does not include nonindigenous birds located on publicly
owned land.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 51, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;
Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 203, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 604, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

§ 142.003. DISCOVERY OF ESTRAY; NOTICE. (a) If an
estray, without being herded with other livestock, roams about the
property of a person without that person's permission or roams
about public property, the owner of the private property or the
custodian of the public property, as applicable, shall, as soon as
reasonably possible, report the presence of the estray to the
sheriff of the county in which the estray is discovered.

(b) After receiving a report under Subsection (a) of this
section that an estray has been discovered on private property, the
sheriff or the sheriff's designee shall notify the owner, if known,
that the estray's location has been reported.

(c) After receiving a report under Subsection (a) of this
section that an estray has been discovered on public property, the
sheriff or the sheriff's designee shall notify the owner, if known,
that the estray's location has been reported, except that if the
sheriff or his designee determines that the estray is dangerous to
the public, he may immediately impound the estray without notifying
the owner. If the owner does not immediately remove the estray, the
sheriff or the sheriff's designee shall proceed with the
impoundment process prescribed by Section 142.009 of this code.

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 51, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

[Dr. Evil]

Just talked with GW. He said he knows of no one in my area missing a tagged axis buck, so he is fair game. Too bad the buck has dropped his antlers recently and is shedding his winter coat. I'm sure he'll be long gone by the time he is prime for a dirt nap!

[Huntindad]

can't eat the antlers... Axis sure taste good.

[WCB]

can't eat the antlers... Axis sure taste good.

ding ding ding here's the winner of the chicken dinner!!

[Dr. Evil]

Already have a freezer full of axis and wt meat.