REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 23
If you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and you are:
• under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied.*
• age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course or be accompanied.*
• age 17 and over, you must successfully complete a hunter education course; or purchase a “Hunter Education
Deferral” and be accompanied.*
Hunter Education Deferral (Type 135): $10
Allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a hunter education program to defer
completion for up to one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the
current license year. A person who has been convicted or has received deferred adjudication for violation of
the mandatory hunter education requirement is prohibited from applying for a deferral.
*”Accompanied” means: By a person (resident or non-resident) who is at least 17, who is licensed
to hunt in Texas, who has passed hunter education or is exempt (born before Sept. 2, 1971), and within
normal voice control.
Note: Certifi cation is not required to purchase a hunting license.
Bowhunter Education: Certifi cation is required on the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Pottsboro.
Note: Bowhunter education does not substitute for Hunter Education certifi cation.
For course information, please consult the TPWD Hunter Education section at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/
education/hunter-education or call toll-free (800) 792-1112 (menu 6) or call (512) 389-4999.
TRANSFER OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
A person may give, leave, receive, or possess any species of legally taken wildlife resource, or part of the resource, that is
required to have a tag or permit attached or that is protected by a bag or possession limit if the wildlife resource is
accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) (see pg. 96) from the person who killed or caught the wildlife
resource. Also at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/transfer-of-wildlife
• For deer or antelope, a properly executed WRD shall accompany the wildlife resource or part of the
resource until it reaches its fi nal destination and is quartered (Defi nitions, see pg. 50, 51). For turkey, the WRD
must remain attached until the turkey reaches its fi nal destination and is fi nally processed (see pg. 50).
- NO WRD is required to possess a wildlife resource that is required to be tagged if the wildlife resource
is tagged.
• For all other wildlife resources except aquatic resources (for aquatic resources, “Possession Limit,” see
pg. 28), a properly executed WRD shall accompany the wildlife resource until it reaches the possessor’s
permanent residence or a cold storage/processing facility, except:
- NO WRD is required if a person receiving the wildlife resource does not exceed the possession limit
(exception: Migratory Game Birds - Documentation, see pg. 65).
- A person may use the WRD provided in this guide (see pg. 96) or a handwritten WRD document that
includes the same required information may be used.
NOTE: No WRD is required when the entire carcass of a deer (including head, which may be skinned or
unskinned) or antelope (including head, which must be unskinned) is given to, or transported by, another
person if the tag from the hunter’s license and other required permits or the pronghorn permit remains
attached until the carcass reaches its fi nal destination and is quartered.
IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
It is unlawful to import a wildlife resource into this state or possess a wildlife resource taken outside this
state unless the person possessing the wildlife resource possesses a valid hunting, fi shing, or other
applicable license, endorsement, tag, permit, or document for the state or country in which the wildlife
resource was legally taken. Such documentation must be produced upon request of a game warden.
NOTE: It is unlawful to land by boat or person any fi sh taken from public water within a protected length limit, or in
excess of the daily bag limit or possession limit established for those fi sh in Texas, regardless of the state or country in
which they were caught.
A person possessing a wildlife resource for importation must produce, upon request of a game warden, a
valid driver’s license or personal identifi cation certifi cate.
A person may possess an animal or bird killed outside of Texas that is listed in Texas as threatened or
endangered, provided that the person possesses proof that the animal or bird possessed was lawfully
killed. Proof consists of bill-of-sale, license tag, or notarized affi davit.
NOTE: (IMPORTS FROM MEXICO) The requirements listed above are waived if an offi cial United States
Customs Offi cer’s Statement is obtained from the United States Customs Offi ce at the port of entry showing
that the wildlife resource was brought in from Mexico. The Customs Offi cer’s statement must accompany
the wildlife resource to a fi nal destination.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
281
If you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and you are:
• under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied.*
• age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course or be accompanied.*
• age 17 and over, you must successfully complete a hunter education course; or purchase a “Hunter Education
Deferral” and be accompanied.*
Hunter Education Deferral (Type 135): $10
Allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a hunter education program to defer
completion for up to one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the
current license year. A person who has been convicted or has received deferred adjudication for violation of
the mandatory hunter education requirement is prohibited from applying for a deferral.
*”Accompanied” means: By a person (resident or non-resident) who is at least 17, who is licensed
to hunt in Texas, who has passed hunter education or is exempt (born before Sept. 2, 1971), and within
normal voice control.
Note: Certifi cation is not required to purchase a hunting license.
Bowhunter Education: Certifi cation is required on the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Pottsboro.
Note: Bowhunter education does not substitute for Hunter Education certifi cation.
For course information, please consult the TPWD Hunter Education section at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/
education/hunter-education or call toll-free (800) 792-1112 (menu 6) or call (512) 389-4999.
TRANSFER OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
A person may give, leave, receive, or possess any species of legally taken wildlife resource, or part of the resource, that is
required to have a tag or permit attached or that is protected by a bag or possession limit if the wildlife resource is
accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) (see pg. 96) from the person who killed or caught the wildlife
resource. Also at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/transfer-of-wildlife
• For deer or antelope, a properly executed WRD shall accompany the wildlife resource or part of the
resource until it reaches its fi nal destination and is quartered (Defi nitions, see pg. 50, 51). For turkey, the WRD
must remain attached until the turkey reaches its fi nal destination and is fi nally processed (see pg. 50).
- NO WRD is required to possess a wildlife resource that is required to be tagged if the wildlife resource
is tagged.
• For all other wildlife resources except aquatic resources (for aquatic resources, “Possession Limit,” see
pg. 28), a properly executed WRD shall accompany the wildlife resource until it reaches the possessor’s
permanent residence or a cold storage/processing facility, except:
- NO WRD is required if a person receiving the wildlife resource does not exceed the possession limit
(exception: Migratory Game Birds - Documentation, see pg. 65).
- A person may use the WRD provided in this guide (see pg. 96) or a handwritten WRD document that
includes the same required information may be used.
NOTE: No WRD is required when the entire carcass of a deer (including head, which may be skinned or
unskinned) or antelope (including head, which must be unskinned) is given to, or transported by, another
person if the tag from the hunter’s license and other required permits or the pronghorn permit remains
attached until the carcass reaches its fi nal destination and is quartered.
IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
It is unlawful to import a wildlife resource into this state or possess a wildlife resource taken outside this
state unless the person possessing the wildlife resource possesses a valid hunting, fi shing, or other
applicable license, endorsement, tag, permit, or document for the state or country in which the wildlife
resource was legally taken. Such documentation must be produced upon request of a game warden.
NOTE: It is unlawful to land by boat or person any fi sh taken from public water within a protected length limit, or in
excess of the daily bag limit or possession limit established for those fi sh in Texas, regardless of the state or country in
which they were caught.
A person possessing a wildlife resource for importation must produce, upon request of a game warden, a
valid driver’s license or personal identifi cation certifi cate.
A person may possess an animal or bird killed outside of Texas that is listed in Texas as threatened or
endangered, provided that the person possesses proof that the animal or bird possessed was lawfully
killed. Proof consists of bill-of-sale, license tag, or notarized affi davit.
NOTE: (IMPORTS FROM MEXICO) The requirements listed above are waived if an offi cial United States
Customs Offi cer’s Statement is obtained from the United States Customs Offi ce at the port of entry showing
that the wildlife resource was brought in from Mexico. The Customs Offi cer’s statement must accompany
the wildlife resource to a fi nal destination.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS
281