Alleged illegal hunting investigated at Austin park near elementary schools

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department told KXAN it knows about the alleged hunting activity near the perimeter of the park.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An east Austin school community said it's frustrated after hearing repeated sounds of gunshots in a nearby park.

The park in question is John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park off Farm to Market Road 969. The school thinks there may be illegal hunting on that property.

The shots prompted the school to go into lockdown on several occasions and forced the school to make changes to some outdoor activities.

'We've always heard things in the area'

Austin Discovery School is located right next to the park. Superintendent Lesa Anderson said it's been dealing with this problem for years now.

Anderson said they've had to bring students and staff inside because of shots coming from the park. Their most recent lockdown was just this Monday.

"We shut down, brought everybody in, made sure that everything was all clear," Anderson said.

The park is 330 acres of largely undeveloped land.

Anderson said they've had to stop guided hikes with students in the area as well.

"We want to make sure, ensure the safety of our students and staff," Anderson said.

'Game wardens set up a camera'

The school tried to get answers and contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Austin Police Department.

"The game wardens had set up a camera because they had seen an illegal blind, hunting blind," Anderson said. "When they went back to get the cameras, someone had taken the blind down and actually even stolen the camera."

KXAN reached out to Texas Parks and Wildlife but has not received a statement yet.

Anderson said they have stepped up more surveillance in the area, but those agencies haven't been able to encounter anyone when they're out there.

Austin Parks and Recreation Department response

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department told KXAN it knows about the alleged hunting activity near the perimeter of the park.

"It is illegal to hunt on City parkland. PARD is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to address the activity. Additionally, PARD will install signage. The Department continues to investigate the matter and will continue to monitor the area."

Austin Parks and Recreation Department

PARD said currently the park is not open to the public. It said, that later this year, a portion of the parkland is scheduled to be developed for use as a public park.

Only park staff and law enforcement are allowed to access the park at this time, according to PARD.

The parks department said hunting is illegal at a park. According to a city ordinance, all wildlife in a park is protected.

"A person may not harm, harass, hunt, trap, or remove an animal, including a mammal, fish, insect, bird, reptile, or other living creature from a park except with the written approval of the director," the ordinance read.

'Bullets near schools'

Amy Fagnant said she's become increasingly concerned with the shots near her children's school.

"Obviously you never want guns near your kid's schools. You don't want bullets near kids' schools," Fagnant said.

She agreed signs on the property will help.

"Basic signage and a physical presence, I think would make a sizable difference," Fagnant said.

Fagnant said her kids and other students enjoy being out in nature and they miss their hikes.

"They like being able to be out in nature every week, and do outdoor learning. That's a big reason we're at the school," Fagnant said. "Because our kids have that opportunity to be outside and do outdoor learning. So it's hard when they're not able to do that."