License year Sept. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027
Texas Hunting License Guide
All 40 licenses, endorsements, permits and fees TPWD lists for 2026-27, plus hunter education, residency, tagging and where orange is required.
Photo: Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain)
Every Texas license, endorsement and fee
Endorsements ride on top of a license: archery season, upland birds and migratory birds each need one, except on a Youth Hunting License or a package that already includes them.
Hunting licenses
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License | 101 | Texas resident | $25 | Valid date of purchase to Aug. 31; on sale Aug. 15. Any legal bird or animal; endorsements extra. |
| Senior Resident Hunting License | 102 | Texas resident 65+ | $7 | |
| Youth Hunting License | 169 | Under 17 | $7 | Under 17 at purchase, resident or non-resident; exempt from state endorsements (except Reptile and Amphibian); valid whole license year even if 17th birthday passes; only 16 and under may hunt youth-only seasons. |
| Non-resident General Hunting License | 105 | Non-resident | $315 | Only non-resident license valid for white-tailed or mule deer (incl. MLDP tags), pronghorn, bighorn sheep. |
| Non-resident Special 5-Day Small Game/Exotic Hunting License | 157 | Non-resident | $48 | Five consecutive days. Exotics, game birds except turkey, nongame, furbearers, squirrel, javelina. Not valid for deer, alligator, pronghorn, bighorn sheep. |
Combination packages
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Combo | 111 | Texas resident | $68 | Resident hunting + fishing license, Archery, Upland Game Bird, Migratory Game Bird, freshwater and saltwater endorsements. Federal Duck Stamp not included. |
| Senior Super Combo | 117 | Texas resident 65+ | $32 | |
| Combo Hunting & Freshwater Fishing Package | 503 | Texas resident | $50 | |
| Combo Hunting & Saltwater Fishing Package | 504 | Texas resident | $55 | |
| Combo Hunting & All-Water Fishing Package | 505 | Texas resident | $60 | |
| Senior Combo Hunting & Freshwater / Saltwater / All-Water | 506/507/508 | Texas resident 65+ | $16 / $21 / $26 |
Lifetime licenses
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Resident Hunting Package | 981 | Texas resident | $1,000 | By application; includes all state endorsements except Reptile and Amphibian; Federal Duck Stamp still required. |
| Lifetime Resident Combination Hunting & Fishing Package | 980 | Texas resident | $1,800 | By application. |
| Lifetime Hunting Upgrade to Combo | 983 | Lifetime hunting holder | $800 | |
| Lifetime Super Combo License Drawing Entry | 440 | Texas resident 17+ | $5 |
Military and veterans
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Resident Active Duty Military Hunting Package | 512 | Texas resident on active duty | Free | Hunting license + Archery, Upland, Migratory endorsements; in person at a retailer; Federal Duck Stamp not included. |
| Texas Resident Active Duty Military Super Combo | 510 | Texas resident on active duty | Free | |
| Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package | 502 | Resident or non-resident disabled veteran | Free | Loss of use of foot or leg, or VA rating 50%+ with compensation; in person. |
Endorsements and stamps
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Endorsement | 135 | – | $7 | Required to hunt game animals in archery-only season, and deer at any time in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Rockwall. |
| Migratory Game Bird Endorsement | 168 | – | $7 | Required for any migratory game bird. |
| Upland Game Bird Endorsement | 167 | – | $7 | Required for turkey, pheasant, quail, chachalaca. Not valid for turkey with the Non-resident 5-Day license. |
| Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement | 178 | – | $10 | |
| Federal Duck Stamp (via TPWD) | 138 | – | $25 plus fulfillment | Waterfowl hunters 16+. Price as listed by TPWD; see regs_flagged.json. |
| HIP Certification | 137 | – | Free | Required for all migratory game bird hunting; other states' HIP not valid. |
Permits
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit | 590 | – | Free | Issued by TPWD, online or Law Enforcement offices. |
| Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit | 173 | – | $48 | Required for adults 17+ on TPWD public hunting lands; season hunting license required to buy. |
| Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit | – | – | $12 | Access to public hunting lands for non-hunting uses. |
| Regular (Daily) Hunting Permit | 191 | – | $20 | Waived for youth under 17 and APH holders. |
| Mentored Hunting Permit | 189 | – | $25 | |
| Pronghorn Permit | – | – | Free | Issued to landowners/land managers only. |
| Alligator Import Permit | 148 | – | $105 |
Drawings and entries
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drawn hunt application fee | – | – | $3 per adult; $10 Private Lands and Guided categories; youth free | Non-refundable. USFS deer permits and E-Postcard hunts: no fee but APH required (17+). |
| Drawn hunt permit fee | – | – | $80 standard (2-3 day) / $130 extended (4-5 day) | Adults 17+; no fee for youth under 17. |
| Big Time Texas Hunts entry | – | – | $9 online ($5 admin fee per transaction) / $10 retail | Unlimited entries; no license required to enter. |
Other fees
| License or fee | Item | Who | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Education Deferral | 166 | – | $10 | Once per lifetime, age 17+. |
| Resident Trapper's License | 106 | – | $19 | |
| Non-resident Trapper's License | 115 | – | $315 | |
| Hunting Lease License (Small / Medium / Large) | 132/133/134 | – | $79 / $147 / $252 | Required of landowners leasing hunting rights. |
| Non-core alligator hide tag fee | – | – | $21 | Mailed with Non-Core Alligator Hide Tag Report within 72 hours. |
| MLDP enrollment fee | – | – | Harvest Option $30 per management unit; Conservation Option $300 first unit, $30 each additional |
Each license name links to its TPWD page. Sources: hunting licenses; endorsements; permits and certifications, current as of October 11, 2026.
Which pieces a typical trip needs
Built from the license notes. Archery-only season and every game bird add an endorsement to the base license.
Resident deer hunter, rifle only
Resident Hunting License ($25).
Resident who bowhunts, shoots dove and quail
Super Combo ($68).
Non-resident deer hunter
Non-resident General Hunting License ($315).
Non-resident on a short bird or exotic trip
Non-resident Special 5-Day Small Game/Exotic Hunting License ($48).
Hunter on TPWD public land, 17 or older
Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit ($48).
Resident duck hunter, 16 or older
Resident Hunting License ($25); Migratory Game Bird Endorsement ($7); HIP Certification (Free); Federal Duck Stamp (via TPWD) ($25 plus fulfillment).
Sources: licenses; combo packages, current as of October 11, 2026.
Hunter education in Texas
Certification costs $15 in person. A one-time deferral costs $10 for hunters 17 and older who hunt with a qualified companion.
| Topic | TPWD rule |
|---|---|
| Who | Every hunter, including non-residents, born on or after Sept. 2, 1971. |
| Minimum age to certify | 9 |
| Under 9 | Must be accompanied by a person 17+ who is licensed in Texas and has passed hunter education or is exempt, within normal voice control. |
| Ages 9 to 16 | Must complete hunter education or be accompanied. |
| 17 and older | Must complete hunter education, or buy a Hunter Education Deferral ($10, once, valid to end of license year) and be accompanied. |
| Course formats | In person ($15); persons 17 and older may take it in person or online (online cost varies). |
| Proof | Proof of certification or deferral must be carried (printed or electronic). Not required to buy a license. |
| Exempt | Active duty and honorably discharged U.S. armed forces veterans; current or former Texas Army/Air National Guard or Texas State Guard; current or former peace officers. |
| Bowhunter education | Required on Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge; does not substitute for hunter education. |
Sources: hunter education, current as of October 11, 2026.
Exemptions, residency and ID
No license needed for
- Coyotes attacking or about to attack livestock.
- Feral hogs on private property with landowner authorization.
- Furbearers if holding a commercial trapper's license.
- Depredating furbearers taken by landowner or agent.
Who counts as a resident
Lived continuously in Texas more than six months before buying the license, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe members, or U.S. Armed Forces members (and dependents) on active duty.
Identification
Persons 17+ must carry a driver's license or DPS ID (non-residents: equivalent from their state/country).
Sources: licenses; definitions, current as of October 11, 2026.
Tagging and harvest reporting
Paper and digital licenses carry the same tags. A digital tag is executed in the Texas Hunt & Fish app.
| Game | What to do |
|---|---|
| Deer | Fill out and cut out date on the hunting license tag immediately after harvest, before field dressing or moving; attach to the deer; complete the harvest log on the back of the license in ink (not required for mule deer, MLDP, drawn hunt or BTTH deer). Tag stays until final destination and quartered. Digital license holders execute a digital tag in the Texas Hunt & Fish app. |
| Deer tag numbers | Tags 6-7 antlerless only; tags 8-10 buck or antlerless (white-tailed deer, any county with open season). |
| Turkey | Tag immediately upon harvest with a license tag; mandatory harvest report within 24 hours in all counties via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online. |
| Deer reporting | Mandatory 24-hour reporting in listed counties (see deer.mandatory_harvest_reporting). Report within 24 hours via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online; executing a digital tag counts as reporting. |
| Pronghorn | Permit completely filled out and attached immediately after harvest. |
| Alligator | Core: CITES tag before hunting. Non-core: attach WRD immediately, mail hide tag report with $21 fee within 72 hours, affix CITES tag within 10 inches of tail tip. |
| MLDP | MLDP tags replace license tags on enrolled property; hunter enters daily harvest log same day. |
Sources: tagging deer; digital tags; after killing a deer, current as of October 11, 2026.
Hunter orange: public land only
Private land
Recommended but not required on private property.
TPWD public hunting land
Minimum 400 sq in of daylight fluorescent orange with 144 sq in on both chest and back plus orange headwear, during daylight hours when firearm hunting is permitted; exempt for turkey, migratory birds, alligator, desert bighorn sheep, inside a vehicle, campgrounds, parking areas, boat launches, check stations.
Sources: laws and penalties; public hunt rules, current as of October 11, 2026.
License and education questions
What does a Texas resident hunting license cost?
$25. Seniors 65 and older pay $7, and the Super Combo with all three state endorsements is $68.
Which license does a non-resident need for deer?
The Non-resident General Hunting License, $315. It is the only non-resident license valid for white-tailed or mule deer, pronghorn and bighorn sheep.
Do kids need a hunting license in Texas?
Yes. The Youth Hunting License is $7 for anyone under 17 at purchase and covers state endorsements except Reptile and Amphibian.
Do I need hunter education to buy a license?
No. Proof is not required to buy a license, but anyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 must carry certification or a deferral while hunting.
How does the deferral work?
Hunters 17 and older can buy it once for $10. It runs to the end of the license year and requires hunting with a qualified, licensed companion.
Is a license needed to shoot feral hogs?
Not on private property with landowner authorization. Hunter education rules still apply.
What does a duck hunter carry?
A hunting license, the Migratory Game Bird Endorsement ($7), free HIP certification and, at 16 or older, a Federal Duck Stamp ($25 plus fulfillment).
What is the APH permit?
The $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit opens TPWD public hunting lands to adults 17 and older. A season hunting license is needed to buy it.
Who is exempt from hunter education?
Active duty and honorably discharged U.S. armed forces veterans; current or former Texas Army/Air National Guard or Texas State Guard; current or former peace officers.
Double-check with TPWD
TPWD can amend a rule partway through the license year. When a date matters, open the TPWD page linked in the sources before you leave the house.
Other photos on this page: Life Lenses (CC BY-SA 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).