For many years now the Texas Park and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been using “lethal” methods to control aoudad sheep and elk as well as other “non-native” species. It would appear as if the primary strategy has been and continues to be flying around in helicopters and eliminating all available aoudad or elk, mowing down every one they see. According to the TPWD website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/bighorn/ this strategy was implemented to reduce competition with Native game species specifically Desert Bighorn. Which are also not native as they are of the sub-species "Nelsoni" as oppossed the "Native" extinct "Texensis".

 “TPWD staff will also continue efforts to control aoudad, or Barbary sheep, an exotic from North Africa. Aoudads reproduce and spread quickly, with herds often exceeding 100 individuals. In the Trans-Pecos area THEY COMPETE with native mule deer and bighorn sheep for space, forage, and water and can be devastating to desert environments. Aoudads MAY also pose a disease threat to wildlife and livestock." Besides incorecctly spelling the plural of aoudad they also clearly disclaim they don't have anything supporting these claims.

Biodiversity is natural. As of now the state is implementing strategies which could be detrimiental to the ecosystem as a whole and has not taken the effort to research the effects if any of the allegedly "invasive" species. These animals could possibly be contributing to substantial redesertification of certian areas in our region of Texas.

Our concern is not just the lack of research and poorly thought out strategy, but also the ethics of the program.  Obviously due to certian restrictions, many aoudad and elk are injured via eradication techniques and meat is left to spoil in the pasture, which goes against everything ethical hunters stand for. Secondly these "invasive" species provide jobs, work and revenue for our local people in the form of millions of dollars annually. The "eradications" have and will continue to work against a large part of our local economy. 

More on the issue:

http://circleranchtx.com/are-elk-native-to-texas-yes/​

http://www.highdesertwma.com/blog/the-war-on-aoudad​

http://circleranchtx.com/aoudad-mule-deer-and-summer-rain/​

http://circleranchtx.com/aoudad-the-bogus-boogeyman/​

http://www.highdesertwma.com/savetheaoudad/