REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2017-2018 SUMMARY OF FISHING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS
Valid September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information in this guide is a SUMMARY of regulations and statutes governing hunting and
fi shing. For more detailed information on game and regulations, please contact a TPWD Law Enforcement offi ce (see pg. 14) or
call (800) 792-1112 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Please note that information contained in this summary is subject to
change by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the Texas Legislature, and/or the federal government. The offi cial
regulations, current to the day, can be accessed at www.sos.state.tx.us/tac under Title 31 of the Texas Administrative Code. The
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code can be accessed at: www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us
CONTENTS
Where to Get Information and Licenses ........................................................................................................................................................ 14
GENERAL HUNTING AND FISHING REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
Criminal Penalties and Civil Value Recovery | General Law ............................................................................................................. 15
General Information About Licenses, Endorsements and Tags...................................................................................................... 16
Hunting and Fishing Combination License Packages ......................................................................................................................... 17
Lifetime Licenses | Fishing Licenses and Packages ............................................................................................................................ 18
Fishing Endorsements and Tags | License Requirements for Border Waters ............................................................................ 20
Hunting Licenses and Permits ................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Hunting Endorsements................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
Hunter Education ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Transfer of Wildlife Resources | Importation of Wildlife Resources .............................................................................................. 23
SUMMARY OF 2017-2018 RECREATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS
General Fishing Rules for Fresh and Salt Waters ................................................................................................................................ 24
Reservoir Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Freshwater/Saltwater Boundary .............................................................................................................................................................. 27
Defi nitions......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish .............................................................................................. 29
Freshwater Fishing Harvest Regulations ............................................................................................................................................... 32
Statewide Bag and Length Limits | Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations .......................................... 33
How to Attach Red Drum Fish Tag | How to Measure Fish and Crabs | Tips for Releasing Fish .......................................... 37
Identifi cation of Yellow, White, Striped, and Hybrid Striped Bass .................................................................................................. 38
Identifi cation of Alabama, Guadalupe, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass ................................................................................... 39
Saltwater Fishing – General Information | Bag and Length Limits for Saltwater Fish ............................................................. 40
Saltwater Freeze Events | Shrimp Regulations .................................................................................................................................... 42
Crab and Ghost Shrimp Regulations ........................................................................................................................................................ 43
Oyster Regulations ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Other Aquatic Life (Fresh and Salt Waters) .......................................................................................................................................... 47
Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories ......................................................................................................................................................... 48
Boater Education ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Boating Regulations and Safe Boating Tips | Invasive Species | Operation Game Thief .............................................................. 49
SUMMARY OF 2017-2018 HUNTING REGULATIONS
Defi nitions......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Means and Methods....................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Tagging Deer or Turkey .............................................................................................................................................................................. 55
Proof of Sex ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
After Killing a Deer | Processing Deer, Turkey, or Antelope in Camp | Cold Storage or
Processing Facilities .............................................................................................................................................................................. 58
Taxidermist ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59
Game Animals: ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
Pronghorn Antelope; Desert Bighorn Sheep; Deer; White-tailed Deer Youth-Only;
Javelina; Squirrel Youth-Only, Alligator
Game Birds: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Migratory Game Birds; Pheasant; Quail; Turkey; Turkey Youth-Only
Migratory Game Birds ................................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Nongame and Other Species [including frogs and turtles] .............................................................................................................. 68
Fur-bearing Animals..................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Restricted Areas in Counties ...................................................................................................................................................................... 70
COUNTY LISTINGS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 72
Alligator Hide Tag Report Form ....................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Wildlife Resource Document ............................................................................................................................................................................. 96
271
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2017-2018 SUMMARY OF FISHING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS
Valid September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information in this guide is a SUMMARY of regulations and statutes governing hunting and
fi shing. For more detailed information on game and regulations, please contact a TPWD Law Enforcement offi ce (see pg. 14) or
call (800) 792-1112 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Please note that information contained in this summary is subject to
change by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the Texas Legislature, and/or the federal government. The offi cial
regulations, current to the day, can be accessed at www.sos.state.tx.us/tac under Title 31 of the Texas Administrative Code. The
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code can be accessed at: www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us
CONTENTS
Where to Get Information and Licenses ........................................................................................................................................................ 14
GENERAL HUNTING AND FISHING REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
Criminal Penalties and Civil Value Recovery | General Law ............................................................................................................. 15
General Information About Licenses, Endorsements and Tags...................................................................................................... 16
Hunting and Fishing Combination License Packages ......................................................................................................................... 17
Lifetime Licenses | Fishing Licenses and Packages ............................................................................................................................ 18
Fishing Endorsements and Tags | License Requirements for Border Waters ............................................................................ 20
Hunting Licenses and Permits ................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Hunting Endorsements................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
Hunter Education ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Transfer of Wildlife Resources | Importation of Wildlife Resources .............................................................................................. 23
SUMMARY OF 2017-2018 RECREATIONAL FISHING REGULATIONS
General Fishing Rules for Fresh and Salt Waters ................................................................................................................................ 24
Reservoir Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Freshwater/Saltwater Boundary .............................................................................................................................................................. 27
Defi nitions......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish .............................................................................................. 29
Freshwater Fishing Harvest Regulations ............................................................................................................................................... 32
Statewide Bag and Length Limits | Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations .......................................... 33
How to Attach Red Drum Fish Tag | How to Measure Fish and Crabs | Tips for Releasing Fish .......................................... 37
Identifi cation of Yellow, White, Striped, and Hybrid Striped Bass .................................................................................................. 38
Identifi cation of Alabama, Guadalupe, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass ................................................................................... 39
Saltwater Fishing – General Information | Bag and Length Limits for Saltwater Fish ............................................................. 40
Saltwater Freeze Events | Shrimp Regulations .................................................................................................................................... 42
Crab and Ghost Shrimp Regulations ........................................................................................................................................................ 43
Oyster Regulations ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Other Aquatic Life (Fresh and Salt Waters) .......................................................................................................................................... 47
Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories ......................................................................................................................................................... 48
Boater Education ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Boating Regulations and Safe Boating Tips | Invasive Species | Operation Game Thief .............................................................. 49
SUMMARY OF 2017-2018 HUNTING REGULATIONS
Defi nitions......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Means and Methods....................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Tagging Deer or Turkey .............................................................................................................................................................................. 55
Proof of Sex ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
After Killing a Deer | Processing Deer, Turkey, or Antelope in Camp | Cold Storage or
Processing Facilities .............................................................................................................................................................................. 58
Taxidermist ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59
Game Animals: ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
Pronghorn Antelope; Desert Bighorn Sheep; Deer; White-tailed Deer Youth-Only;
Javelina; Squirrel Youth-Only, Alligator
Game Birds: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Migratory Game Birds; Pheasant; Quail; Turkey; Turkey Youth-Only
Migratory Game Birds ................................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Nongame and Other Species [including frogs and turtles] .............................................................................................................. 68
Fur-bearing Animals..................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Restricted Areas in Counties ...................................................................................................................................................................... 70
COUNTY LISTINGS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 72
Alligator Hide Tag Report Form ....................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Wildlife Resource Document ............................................................................................................................................................................. 96
271