REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 15
GENERAL HUNTING AND FISHING REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY
IF YOU VIOLATE FISH AND WILDLIFE LAWS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL RESTITUTION YOU MAY:
• be fi ned (Class C – $25-$500; Class B – $200-$2,000; Class A – $500-$4,000;
State Jail Felony, $1,500-$10,000);
• be jailed (Class B and higher offenses);
• face automatic suspension or revocation of licenses for up to fi ve years;
• forfeit hunting gear, including fi rearms, used to commit a violation.
CIVIL RESTITUTION: In addition to the criminal penalty for hunting and fi shing violations, the department will seek the
civil recovery value for the loss or damage to wildlife resources.
Failure to pay
the civil recovery value will result in the department’s refusal to issue a license, tag, or permit. An individual who hunts or
fi shes after the refusal commits a Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by a fi ne not less than $500 or more than
$4,000; punishment in jail not to exceed one year; or both fi ne and confi nement.
LICENSE REINSTATEMENT: A person who seeks reinstatement of license privileges following license revocation, denial
or suspension must apply for license privilege reinstatement and pay a
$
100 application fee. For questions concerning civil
restitution call (512) 389-4630.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Texas is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC). The IWVC is a multi-state
compact that allows member states to share information about wildlife violators and to deny licensure to persons who
have failed to comply with conservation law in member states. For example, if a person has had their hunting, fi shing
or trapping privileges suspended in one member state, the suspension may be recognized by any member state. For
more information call (512) 389-4381.
GENERAL LAW
The following information addresses some of the more commonly asked questions about hunting and fi shing requirements
and restrictions. For additional information not included in this guide, contact your local game warden or phone the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) toll free at (800) 792-1112.
• INSPECTION AUTHORITY: A game warden who observes a person engaged in an activity governed by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Code or reasonably believes that a person is or has been engaged in such an activity may inspect:
(1) any license, permit, tag, or other document issued by the department and required by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code
of a person hunting or catching wildlife resources;
(2) any device that may be used to hunt or catch a wildlife resource;
(3) any wildlife resource in the person’s possession; and
(4) the contents of any container or receptacle that is commonly used to store or conceal a wildlife resource.
• PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION: while hunting, fi shing or trapping, persons 17 years of age or older must carry on their person a
driver’s license or personal identifi cation certifi cate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Non-residents must carry
similar documents issued by the agency in their state or country of residence that is authorized to issue driver’s licenses or
personal identifi cation certifi cates.
• WASTE OF GAME: It is an offense (Class C misdemeanor) if a person while hunting kills or wounds a game bird or game
animal and intentionally or knowingly fails to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal or bird and include it in the
person’s daily or seasonal bag limit. It is an offense if a person intentionally takes or possesses a game bird, game animal, or a
fi sh and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, or with criminal negligence, fails to keep the edible portions of the bird, animal,
or fi sh in an edible condition. It is a Class A misdemeanor to fail to retrieve or to keep in an edible condition a whitetail or mule
deer, pronghorn antelope, or desert bighorn sheep hunted without landowner consent; from a vehicle, boat, or aircraft
(including unmanned aerial vehicles); on a public road; at night; or with the aid of a light.
• RETRIEVAL OF GAME: No person may pursue a wounded wildlife resource across a property line without the consent of
landowner of the property where the wildlife resource has fl ed. Under the trespass provisions of the Penal Code, a person on a
property without the permission of the landowner is subject to arrest.
• HARASSMENT OF HUNTERS, TRAPPERS, OR ANGLERS (Sportsmen’s Rights Act – TPWD Code, §62.0125) is punishable
by a fi ne of $200 to $2,000 and/or 180 days in jail.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
273
GENERAL HUNTING AND FISHING REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY
IF YOU VIOLATE FISH AND WILDLIFE LAWS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL RESTITUTION YOU MAY:
• be fi ned (Class C – $25-$500; Class B – $200-$2,000; Class A – $500-$4,000;
State Jail Felony, $1,500-$10,000);
• be jailed (Class B and higher offenses);
• face automatic suspension or revocation of licenses for up to fi ve years;
• forfeit hunting gear, including fi rearms, used to commit a violation.
CIVIL RESTITUTION: In addition to the criminal penalty for hunting and fi shing violations, the department will seek the
civil recovery value for the loss or damage to wildlife resources.
Failure to pay
the civil recovery value will result in the department’s refusal to issue a license, tag, or permit. An individual who hunts or
fi shes after the refusal commits a Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by a fi ne not less than $500 or more than
$4,000; punishment in jail not to exceed one year; or both fi ne and confi nement.
LICENSE REINSTATEMENT: A person who seeks reinstatement of license privileges following license revocation, denial
or suspension must apply for license privilege reinstatement and pay a
$
100 application fee. For questions concerning civil
restitution call (512) 389-4630.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Texas is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC). The IWVC is a multi-state
compact that allows member states to share information about wildlife violators and to deny licensure to persons who
have failed to comply with conservation law in member states. For example, if a person has had their hunting, fi shing
or trapping privileges suspended in one member state, the suspension may be recognized by any member state. For
more information call (512) 389-4381.
GENERAL LAW
The following information addresses some of the more commonly asked questions about hunting and fi shing requirements
and restrictions. For additional information not included in this guide, contact your local game warden or phone the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) toll free at (800) 792-1112.
• INSPECTION AUTHORITY: A game warden who observes a person engaged in an activity governed by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Code or reasonably believes that a person is or has been engaged in such an activity may inspect:
(1) any license, permit, tag, or other document issued by the department and required by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code
of a person hunting or catching wildlife resources;
(2) any device that may be used to hunt or catch a wildlife resource;
(3) any wildlife resource in the person’s possession; and
(4) the contents of any container or receptacle that is commonly used to store or conceal a wildlife resource.
• PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION: while hunting, fi shing or trapping, persons 17 years of age or older must carry on their person a
driver’s license or personal identifi cation certifi cate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Non-residents must carry
similar documents issued by the agency in their state or country of residence that is authorized to issue driver’s licenses or
personal identifi cation certifi cates.
• WASTE OF GAME: It is an offense (Class C misdemeanor) if a person while hunting kills or wounds a game bird or game
animal and intentionally or knowingly fails to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal or bird and include it in the
person’s daily or seasonal bag limit. It is an offense if a person intentionally takes or possesses a game bird, game animal, or a
fi sh and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, or with criminal negligence, fails to keep the edible portions of the bird, animal,
or fi sh in an edible condition. It is a Class A misdemeanor to fail to retrieve or to keep in an edible condition a whitetail or mule
deer, pronghorn antelope, or desert bighorn sheep hunted without landowner consent; from a vehicle, boat, or aircraft
(including unmanned aerial vehicles); on a public road; at night; or with the aid of a light.
• RETRIEVAL OF GAME: No person may pursue a wounded wildlife resource across a property line without the consent of
landowner of the property where the wildlife resource has fl ed. Under the trespass provisions of the Penal Code, a person on a
property without the permission of the landowner is subject to arrest.
• HARASSMENT OF HUNTERS, TRAPPERS, OR ANGLERS (Sportsmen’s Rights Act – TPWD Code, §62.0125) is punishable
by a fi ne of $200 to $2,000 and/or 180 days in jail.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
273