Texas Looking to the Skies to Target Invasive Aoudad Sheep with Helicopter Hunting

In a bold move to tackle the growing ecological threat posed by invasive aoudad sheep, the Texas House has passed HB 5398, a bill that would legalize hunting these animals from helicopters. Now awaiting approval from the Texas Senate, the legislation aims to curb the destructive impact of aoudads on native wildlife and commercial livestock in West Texas. If signed into law by the governor, HB 5398 could mark a significant step in invasive species management, following the precedent of Texas’ “porkchopper law” for feral hogs.

Aoudad sheep, native to North Africa’s Barbary Coast, were introduced to Texas after World War II. Since then, their population has exploded, with an estimated 30,000 now roaming the state, marking a staggering 1,800% increase since 1963. Contrast that with the fact that Texas is home to just 1,500 native bighorn sheep and suddenly you find yourself looking at every option possible to eliminate these invasives. 

Aoudad sheep are highly destructive creatures who overgraze vegetation, compete with native species for resources, and spread Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a bacteria harmful to local sheep and goat populations.

The bill, introduced by the ever-so-charismatic State Representative Eddie Morales, Jr., proposes amending the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code to allow aerial hunting of aoudads, making them the third species, after feral hogs and coyotes, targetable from helicopters. The bill is designed to empower landowners to manage aoudad populations more effectively, particularly in the rugged, expansive terrains of West Texas where traditional hunting methods are less feasible.

“This is not a baa-a-ad bill,” Rep. Morales said during a recent legislative session. “And I’m not pulling any wool over anyone’s eyes, either.”

Morales has framed the legislation as a defense of “liberty and freedom,” emphasizing its role in protecting native ecosystems. A companion bill, SB 1245, championed by Senator Cesar J. Blanco, reinforces these efforts. With the Senate having previously supported a similar measure, HB 5398 is poised for approval and awaits the governor’s signature.

The great state of Texas has a history of using aerial hunting to manage invasive species. The 2011 “porkchopper law” legalized helicopter hunting of feral hogs, a practice now supported by companies like HeliBacon and Divided Find Ranch. HB 5398 extends this strategy to aoudads, leveraging the efficiency of helicopters to cover vast areas and target animals that are difficult to reach on foot. Proponents argue that this approach is critical to controlling a species that reproduces rapidly and wreaks havoc on fragile ecosystems.

While HB 5398 enjoys strong support among landowners and conservationists, aerial hunting is not without controversy. Ethical debates, similar to those surrounding helicopter hog hunting, may arise over the humaneness of culling from the air. But judging by the fact that the senate showed no signs of objections to an earlier version of the bill and that this is Texas, after all, it likely won’t be long before the choppers are swirling over invasive sheep.