Thinking about venturing out into the Texas wilderness to catch some game? With the abundance and variety of wildlife in Texas, it’s a much sought-after place to go hunting. But because wildlife varies so much, there are several rules and regulations that you’ll want to become familiar with before you go out on the hunt. In this article, we’ll walk through the basic hunting laws in Texas, including what kind of animals you can look forward to hunting and the specific rules that apply to them.
Let’s start with the basics. This isn’t a complete and comprehensive list of Texas hunting laws, but it will definitely get you started. For a complete list and to get the official Texas hunting law app, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/.
Most states require some form of hunter education, and Texas is no exception. In Texas, every hunter born after September 2, 1971, must complete a Hunter Education Course–this includes out-of-state hunters. Certification is not required to purchase a hunting license, but you must have proof of certification or a deferral for your certification on your person while you are hunting. The minimum age for hunter certification in Texas is 9 years old.
Additional endorsements beyond your hunting license may be required depending on your activity. Here are a few of the endorsements you may need to obtain:
Along with your education certificate, any person 17 years of age or older must carry a valid driver’s license or personal identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. If your residence is outside of Texas, you must carry a valid ID from your state or country.
If you fail to make a reasonable effort to retrieve a game bird or animal that you have injured while hunting, that is a Class C misdemeanor. It is also an offense if you intentionally take a game bird, animal, or fish and don’t keep the edible portions in edible condition.
Regardless of circumstance, trespassing is still trespassing. You must have landowner consent to enter any private property to pursue wounded game or retrieve your dog.
Inedible wildlife animal parts may be sold or purchased if they were lawfully possessed. Some of these parts include:
Migratory birds and their parts are not allowed to be sold or purchased for ornamental or decorative purposes.
In Texas, like most states, there are only certain types of animals you are allowed to hunt. Make sure you are familiar with the current laws and what the legal game is for that year. If a species is not listed in the legal game legend for Texas, it is not allowed to be hunted. Here are the current legal game at the time of this article:
It is just as important to know what is legal as it is to know what is not legal while you are hunting in Texas. Here are some of the unlawful activities that you should be aware of:
In Texas, the wildlife varies a lot, and as such, there are laws that pertain to specific types of animals as you engage in hunting and trapping activities. Here are some species-specific laws to take note of.
Feral hogs have become a nuisance over the years. They are a non-native species that cause damage to property, and as such, there are specific laws in Texas for hogs that you should know.
There is a limit for hunting frogs and bullfrogs: you may only catch 25 per 24-hour period (midnight to midnight).
Texas turkey hunting laws include the following:
Black bears are a protected species and may not be harmed or killed. If you see a black bear during your hunt, Texas authorities ask that you report any sightings to the appropriate wildlife district office.
For an all-comprehensive list of laws specific to each animal you are allowed to hunt in Texas, please visit tpwd.texas.gov.
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