Joe this is the email that TPWD sent to Gallego's office. I am suspect that this is just one person, or a small group of persons within TPWD. This was posted below and I can provide a link if you want to view the whole post. Or I can copy the post here since I have it saved.



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Currently, it is a violation to hunt game animals, game birds, furbearers, exotic animals, or exotic fowl on a public roadway. “Hunt” is defined as capture, trap, take or kill, or the attempt to capture, trap, take or kill. Additionally, it is a Penal Code violation to discharge a firearm on or across a public road. Currently, it is not illegal to hunt nongame animals from a public road or rights of way, as long as a person is not hunting from a vehicle. Any hunting from a public road may create a potential traffic hazard and safety concern. House Bill 2414 HCS, prohibits the hunting of a wild animal or wild bird from the public road or rights of way. The bill does not apply to the trapping of a raptor for educational or sporting purposes as provided by Chapter 49, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. An offense will be a Parks and Wildlife Code Class C misdemeanor. If enacted, the bill will provide game wardens with an enforcement tool that will enable them to clearly distinguish lawful activities on roadways from unlawful activities. A person hunting nongame on a public road or rights of way would be clearly in violation if they do not have a Texas Parks and Wildlife permit authorizing collection on a public road or rights of way. Much of nongame wildlife collection on public roads and rights of way is for commercial purposes. This bill would stop this aspect of nongame collection on public roads and rights of way. This bill would create a wildlife sanctuary where collection would be prohibited. The bill also provides an alternative enforcement tool for game wardens. Hunting from a vehicle on a public road is currently a Parks and Wildlife Code Class A misdemeanor. This bill makes the offense for hunting any wild animal or wild bird on a public road or rights of way a Parks and Wildlife Code Class C misdemeanor. Game wardens would have the discretion to file a lesser charge, if conditions warranted (e.g., juvenile or first time offender.) This bill will not prohibit entities such as schools from obtaining a collection permit for zoological collections, scientific research or educational display.

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