If you decide to collect from the wild, might I suggest that you only break
off one pad from any one plant. They root extremely easily and grow
quickly.

But before you decide to do this, there are some relatively spineless
prickly pear cacti that have very sweet edible fruit which can be used for
preserves and wine. I am told that one which I have just received will grow
10 feet tall in three years under optimal conditions in Bisbee, AZ. Your
local nursery might be able to provide you with better stock than you can
find in the wild population.

You must be excited to learn what grows in Texas. I just started exploring
succulents and cacti as landscape plants: it is a difficult transition from
my northeast roots. I now live in the Southern California mountains.
Good luck.