Bill Text: TX HCR71 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating La Salle County as the official Wild Hog Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2025-05-24 - Signed by the Governor [HCR71 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HCR71-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 71 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The State of Texas is renowned for the diversity of | ||
| its animal population, and select species have become iconic | ||
| symbols for certain locations in the state; La Salle County, a | ||
| renowned destination for hunting in South Texas, has become | ||
| associated with one of its most challenging quarries, the wild hog; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, These hardy animals are descended from pigs that | ||
| escaped into the wild as well as Eurasian wild boars that were | ||
| imported as exotic game in the early 1900s; feral hogs thrive in | ||
| many parts of the U.S. and have expanded throughout Texas; while | ||
| their adaptability is impressive, they are recognized as an | ||
| invasive species that poses serious problems for landowners and | ||
| other animals; wild hogs forage for food by rooting, and Texas' | ||
| estimated population of more than three million inflicts | ||
| substantial damage to crops, pastures, and wildlife habitat each | ||
| year; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Hunting has been an important part of efforts to | ||
| control the numbers of wild hogs, and that is especially true in La | ||
| Salle County; residents and hunting enthusiasts from across the | ||
| state and beyond are drawn to the area to pursue the elusive game, | ||
| and the sport has a sizable impact on the local economy; the county | ||
| is home to numerous ranches that offer opportunities to hunt feral | ||
| hogs in addition to other game; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Building on the popularity of feral hog hunting, the | ||
| La Salle County Fair hosted the first Wild Hog Cook-Off competition | ||
| in 1981; the event proved immensely popular and grew rapidly, | ||
| adding a range of categories, including the much-anticipated | ||
| artistic presentation contest, in which teams are judged on the | ||
| elaborate trays they use to serve their food; today, the fair and | ||
| cook-off take place every March in Cotulla, and the family-friendly | ||
| event features live music, entertainment, carnival rides, and | ||
| vendors in addition to the wild hog cooking contest; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The feral hog hunting industry and the Wild Hog | ||
| Cook-Off festivities are sources of pride and prosperity for the | ||
| residents of La Salle County, and the importance of these | ||
| attractions is indeed deserving of special recognition; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate La Salle County as the official Wild Hog Capital of | ||
| Texas; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
| Guillen | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 71 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 5 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 71 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 9, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
