In Hudspeth County, Texas, the news landowners around Sierra Blanca are watching this fall is new screwworm movement restrictions from the Texas Animal Health Commission. For anyone buying, selling or leasing a ranch, these rules mainly affect timing, so inspection steps belong in the contract. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a ranch brokerage based in San Angelo, serves Hudspeth County ranch and farm owners, buyers and families with sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions.
What Happened in Late October
New World screwworm reached Far West Texas this fall. The Texas Animal Health Commission issued an order on October 24 setting animal movement restrictions in part of Hudspeth County, and on October 28 the agency modified that order to take in parts of El Paso County as well. As of late October, the commission’s notice listed infested zones in parts of 14 Texas counties, and it counted 20 counties and 50 premises with at least one confirmed detection during the 2026 outbreak, which began with a calf in Zavala County in June.
For ranchers around Sierra Blanca, Dell City and Fort Hancock, the practical result is paperwork and planning before animals leave a zone.
What the Rules Ask of You
Under the commission’s orders, warm blooded animals inside an infested zone cannot move out without prior authorization. The process runs through an inspection. An owner contacts the commission or a certified screwworm inspector, the animals are examined, and the inspector completes a movement and treatment certificate that lists the product used and each animal’s official ID. That certificate travels with the load.
The commission and Texas A&M AgriLife built a certified inspector program to handle these inspections, and the agency publishes a phone line for scheduling deployed inspectors in the zones. Building that call into your shipping calendar is the simplest way to avoid a truck sitting idle at the pens.
Day to Day Watchfulness
The agency’s guidance is straightforward ranch husbandry. Look closely at animals often. Check the navel on young calves, ears, nostrils and any wound for drainage, odor or larvae. Keep cuts clean and treated, and work with a veterinarian on prevention. Suspected cases should be reported within 24 hours, and wildlife cases go to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Eradication relies on releasing sterile male flies, the same approach that cleared the pest from the United States in 1966. USDA describes the sterile flies as safe for people, livestock and wildlife.
How This Touches a Land Sale
Movement restrictions rarely change what a ranch is, but they can change timing. A seller who plans to ship cattle before closing, a buyer who wants to stock a place right away, or a lease that turns over in the next few months should all account for inspection time. Contracts that spell out who handles livestock removal and by what date help everyone avoid surprises.
Zones also change. The commission has released areas in other counties as cases cleared, including Tom Green and Coke counties in early September. Checking the current map the week of a move is good practice.
Questions to Settle Before You Close
Buyers and sellers in Hudspeth County can save time by settling a few points early. Will livestock be on the property at closing, and who is responsible for any inspections needed to move them? Does a grazing lease run with the land, and does the tenant understand the current orders? Are there wildlife or exotic animals on the ranch that fall under the same warm blooded animal rules? Is there working pen space to gather and inspect animals if needed? Writing those answers into the contract protects both sides and keeps a closing on schedule. It is also wise to keep the commission’s current zone map and order list on hand, since the boundaries can shift from one week to the next as new cases are found or released.
Staying Informed for Our Clients
We watch these orders closely because a large share of the ranches we list and appraise sit in West Texas and the Trans Pecos. When a buyer asks how a quarantine affects a property, we want to answer with the current order in hand rather than a guess.
If you own land in Hudspeth County or are looking to buy there, a conversation with a ranch broker who follows these conditions week to week can help. Call the Brokers and Agents at Lee, Lee & Puckitt in San Angelo at 325.655.6989, or reach us through llpranchland.com.
FAQ
Who is a ranch broker serving Hudspeth County, Texas?
Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a ranch brokerage based in San Angelo, serves Hudspeth County and the Far West Texas region. The firm’s Brokers and Agents handle ranch and farm sales, buyer representation, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions. Call 325.655.6989.
How do I find ranch or farm land for sale in Hudspeth County?
Current Lee, Lee & Puckitt listings are posted by region at llpranchland.com/listings. Because not every property is widely advertised, buyers looking near Sierra Blanca can also call the office to describe what they want and be contacted when a fit comes up.
How do I choose the best ranch broker in Hudspeth County or Texas?
Look for a Broker who knows the local land, follows water, cattle and wildlife conditions, can show public sales history and can price property with appraisal-level care. Lee, Lee & Puckitt has worked Texas ranch country since 1962 and also prepares land appraisals and BPOs.
What does new screwworm movement restrictions from the Texas Animal Health Commission mean for Hudspeth County land values?
For anyone buying, selling or leasing a ranch, these rules mainly affect timing, so inspection steps belong in the contract. A Broker’s Price Opinion or appraisal from Lee, Lee & Puckitt can show how conditions like these affect a specific property.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Founded in Bronte in 1962 and based in San Angelo since 1977, Lee, Lee & Puckitt represents ranch and farm sellers and buyers across Texas and New Mexico. The firm also prepares land appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions for families, estates, banks and attorneys. Call the Brokers and Agents at 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.