16 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 REGULATIONS SUMMARY
• IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
- take, attempt to take, or possess wildlife resources within a protected length limit, in greater numbers, by
other means, or at any time or place, other than as indicated within this guide or as may otherwise be
provided by law.
- store, transport, or abandon an unsecured loaded fi rearm in a place where children can obtain unsupervised
access to the fi rearm. A person under age 17 who has lawful access to a fi rearm may hunt with the fi rearm
if the youth has successfully completed the hunter education course, or is accompanied by a licensed
hunter age 17 or older who has complied with the hunter education requirement, if applicable.
- drive a motor vehicle in the bed of a navigable freshwater stream, unless approved by a local river access
plan established by a city, county, or river authority. This law does not apply to the Canadian River and
Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. There are other exemptions as well. The full text of this law may
be found in Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 90.
- fi sh on privately owned waters, fi sh in public water from private land, or hunt on privately owned lands
without the permission of the owner or the owner’s agent. Under the Texas Penal Code (§30.05) it is an
offense for any person to enter property that is fenced, posted with a sign(s), or marked (purple paint) without
the express permission of the owner. Posts or trees bearing purple paint marking of not less than eight
inches in length and not less than one inch in width at not less than three or more than fi ve feet from the
ground constitute notice that the property is posted. A person who hunts without owner consent and kills
a desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, white-tailed deer, or mule deer commits an offense that is a
Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony. Upon conviction, your hunting and fi shing license is automatically revoked. You are not required to have a fi shing license to fi sh in private waters in Texas, but if you
are on private property while fi shing in public water, a fi shing license is required.
- discharge a fi rearm on or across a public road.
• Sale of Inedible Wildlife Parts: The following inedible wildlife parts may be purchased or sold provided the part was
lawfully taken or possessed:
- Hair, hide, antlers, bones, horns, skull, hooves, or sinew from the following game animals: mule deer,
white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep, gray or cat squirrels, fox squirrels or red
squirrels, and collared peccary or javelina.
- Feathers from ducks, geese, and brant may be used, purchased, or sold for making fi shing fl ies, pillows,
mattresses, and similar commercial uses.
- Feathers from migratory birds may not be purchased or sold for hats or ornamental purposes nor may a
person purchase or sell mounted migratory game bird specimens taken by hunting.
- Feathers, bones, or feet of game birds other than migratory game birds (turkey, grouse, pheasant,
partridge, quail, and chachalaca).
• Hunter Orange: No hunter orange is required while hunting on private property, but it is recommended.
• It is unlawful to hunt on public roads or the right-of-way of public roads.
EXCEPTION: Reptile and Amphibian, see pg. 22.
• It is unlawful to possess a deer or any part of a deer that has been hit by a motor vehicle.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LICENSES, ENDORSEMENTS AND TAGS
See sections on Fishing (pg. 18) and Hunting (pg. 21) for specifi c licensing information.
License fees ARE NOT refundable.
All of the licenses, license packages, endorsements, and tags listed in this guide, unless otherwise noted, may be
purchased at approximately 1,800 locations statewide where licenses are sold.
Many licenses may be purchased by phone or through the Internet with approved Visa, Discover, or
MasterCard. Call (800) TX LIC 4 U (1-800-895-4248) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed
Saturday, Sunday and most holidays), or log on to: www.tpwd.texas.gov/licenses/online_sales
Generally, fi shing and hunting licenses and endorsements are valid from the date of sale through Aug. 31,
2018. Temporary hunting and fi shing licenses and packages, Year-from-Purchase fi shing licenses and Lake
Texoma fi shing licenses have different expiration dates.
Endorsements (historically called "stamps"). Endorsements are required to engage in all recreational fi shing
and some hunting activities. All fi shing and combination packages include one or more endorsements, and
additional endorsements may be purchased at any time during the effective dates of the license/package.
Actual stamps with pictures are no longer issued with licenses.
Lost/Destroyed License, Package or Endorsement: Any type of license or endorsement that has been lost or
destroyed may be replaced at any license sales location by signing an Application for Replacement License
affi davit. Fees vary from $3–$10 for replacement of recreational licenses or endorsements.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
274
• IT IS UNLAWFUL TO:
- take, attempt to take, or possess wildlife resources within a protected length limit, in greater numbers, by
other means, or at any time or place, other than as indicated within this guide or as may otherwise be
provided by law.
- store, transport, or abandon an unsecured loaded fi rearm in a place where children can obtain unsupervised
access to the fi rearm. A person under age 17 who has lawful access to a fi rearm may hunt with the fi rearm
if the youth has successfully completed the hunter education course, or is accompanied by a licensed
hunter age 17 or older who has complied with the hunter education requirement, if applicable.
- drive a motor vehicle in the bed of a navigable freshwater stream, unless approved by a local river access
plan established by a city, county, or river authority. This law does not apply to the Canadian River and
Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. There are other exemptions as well. The full text of this law may
be found in Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 90.
- fi sh on privately owned waters, fi sh in public water from private land, or hunt on privately owned lands
without the permission of the owner or the owner’s agent. Under the Texas Penal Code (§30.05) it is an
offense for any person to enter property that is fenced, posted with a sign(s), or marked (purple paint) without
the express permission of the owner. Posts or trees bearing purple paint marking of not less than eight
inches in length and not less than one inch in width at not less than three or more than fi ve feet from the
ground constitute notice that the property is posted. A person who hunts without owner consent and kills
a desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, white-tailed deer, or mule deer commits an offense that is a
Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony. Upon conviction, your hunting and fi shing license is automatically revoked. You are not required to have a fi shing license to fi sh in private waters in Texas, but if you
are on private property while fi shing in public water, a fi shing license is required.
- discharge a fi rearm on or across a public road.
• Sale of Inedible Wildlife Parts: The following inedible wildlife parts may be purchased or sold provided the part was
lawfully taken or possessed:
- Hair, hide, antlers, bones, horns, skull, hooves, or sinew from the following game animals: mule deer,
white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep, gray or cat squirrels, fox squirrels or red
squirrels, and collared peccary or javelina.
- Feathers from ducks, geese, and brant may be used, purchased, or sold for making fi shing fl ies, pillows,
mattresses, and similar commercial uses.
- Feathers from migratory birds may not be purchased or sold for hats or ornamental purposes nor may a
person purchase or sell mounted migratory game bird specimens taken by hunting.
- Feathers, bones, or feet of game birds other than migratory game birds (turkey, grouse, pheasant,
partridge, quail, and chachalaca).
• Hunter Orange: No hunter orange is required while hunting on private property, but it is recommended.
• It is unlawful to hunt on public roads or the right-of-way of public roads.
EXCEPTION: Reptile and Amphibian, see pg. 22.
• It is unlawful to possess a deer or any part of a deer that has been hit by a motor vehicle.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LICENSES, ENDORSEMENTS AND TAGS
See sections on Fishing (pg. 18) and Hunting (pg. 21) for specifi c licensing information.
License fees ARE NOT refundable.
All of the licenses, license packages, endorsements, and tags listed in this guide, unless otherwise noted, may be
purchased at approximately 1,800 locations statewide where licenses are sold.
Many licenses may be purchased by phone or through the Internet with approved Visa, Discover, or
MasterCard. Call (800) TX LIC 4 U (1-800-895-4248) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed
Saturday, Sunday and most holidays), or log on to: www.tpwd.texas.gov/licenses/online_sales
Generally, fi shing and hunting licenses and endorsements are valid from the date of sale through Aug. 31,
2018. Temporary hunting and fi shing licenses and packages, Year-from-Purchase fi shing licenses and Lake
Texoma fi shing licenses have different expiration dates.
Endorsements (historically called "stamps"). Endorsements are required to engage in all recreational fi shing
and some hunting activities. All fi shing and combination packages include one or more endorsements, and
additional endorsements may be purchased at any time during the effective dates of the license/package.
Actual stamps with pictures are no longer issued with licenses.
Lost/Destroyed License, Package or Endorsement: Any type of license or endorsement that has been lost or
destroyed may be replaced at any license sales location by signing an Application for Replacement License
affi davit. Fees vary from $3–$10 for replacement of recreational licenses or endorsements.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
274