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Elk Removals

Houston-Davis Proposal – Free-Ranging Elk Reclassification Effort

The Houston-Davis Proposal seeks a targeted amendment to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code that would classify free-ranging elk as a game animal while fully preserving the current regulatory status of high-fence commercial elk operations.

Chris Gill

• 2 min read
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Houston-Davis Proposal – Free-Ranging Elk Reclassification Effort
Photo by Tyree Adams / Unsplash
This was sent to us this past week, detailing a formal effort to reclassify free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk as a native game animal in Texas. The attached proposal (the Houston-Davis Proposal) would "restore managed status — seasons and bag limits — for free-ranging elk while fully protecting high-fence commercial operations through a clear dual framework."

NOTE: this paper and note was originally sent to us by email, by Tommy Davis  on August 13, 2026.

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Houston-Davis_Elk_Proposal (2)
Houston-Davis_Elk_Proposal (2).pdf
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Dear Mr. Gill,

My name is Tommy Davis. I’m a hunter and outdoor enthusiast from Royse City, Texas.

I’m writing to let you know that I have begun a formal effort to reclassify free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk as a native game animal in Texas. The attached proposal (the Houston-Davis Proposal) would restore managed status — seasons and bag limits — for free-ranging elk while fully protecting high-fence commercial operations through a clear dual framework.

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For more articles about Elk Removals in Texas click here ->

Your work, particularly the paper “Are Elk Native to Texas? Historical and Archaeological Evidence for the Natural Occurrence of Elk in Texas” (Gill, Gill, Peel, and Vásquez), has been foundational to the historical and scientific case. I wanted you to see how it is being used and cited in the materials I’m submitting to legislators and to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

I’ve already contacted key legislators and TPWD staff, including Wildlife Division Director Alan Cain, who recently replied asking about my motivation. The conversation is underway.

I’m attaching the current proposal document for your review. If you have any thoughts, corrections, or additional material you believe would strengthen the case, I would be grateful to hear them.

Thank you for the years of work you and your co-authors put into establishing the historical record.

Respectfully, Tommy Davis 6271 County Road 2560 Royse City, TX 75189 elkarenative@gmail.com

The article mentioned and linked to above, is also available here:

Are Elk Native to Texas--Historical and Archaeological Evidence for the Natural Occurence of Elk in Texas
This paper began as an effort to persuade Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to cease its efforts to eradicate elk on the state lands which it manages in far-West Texas. Our assumption was that TPWD was acting out of a sincere misunderstanding of science, which could be corrected.
Pitchstone WatersChris Gill