August is that time of the year when Hunting and Fishing licenses go on sale. Licenses are valid from date of purchase until Aug. 31 each year, unless otherwise noted. In addition to a hunting license, additional endorsements may be required to hunt different species.

The following is a condensed information on the main licenses, permits, and tags required. For a complete information please check the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website.

Youth Hunting License - $7

Valid for any person, resident or non-resident, under 17 years of age at the date of license purchase. Exempt from state hunting endorsement requirements, except for Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement. State endorsement exemptions remain valid for the entire license year.

Resident Licenses
Resident Hunting - $25

Valid to hunt any legal bird or animal (terrestrial vertebrates). Endorsement requirements apply. Required of any resident unless the resident possesses a valid:
• Senior Resident Hunting License;
• Youth Hunting License;
• Super Combo or Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing License Package;
• Lifetime Resident Hunting License;
• Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and Fishing License Package;
• Lifetime Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing License; or
• Texas Resident Active Duty Military Hunting Package
• Texas Resident Active Duty Military Super Combo Hunting and Fishing License Package.

Senior Resident Hunting - $7

Valid only for residents 65 years of age and older. Valid to hunt any legal bird or animal. Endorsement requirements apply.

Youth Hunting License - $7

Valid for any person, resident or non-resident, under 17 years of age at the date of license purchase. Exempt from state hunting endorsement requirements, except for Reptile and Amphibian Endorsement. State endorsement exemptions remain valid for the entire license year.
Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package
For residents who hunt and fish freshwater and/or salt water, the “Super Combo” package can save purchasers up to $18. It includes the following at a discount price:
• a Resident Hunting License,
• a Resident Fishing License
• and all 5 state endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag, upland game bird and migratory game bird).
• The Federal Duck Stamp is not included.

“Super Combo” License Package - $68
Senior “Super Combo” License Package - $32 (age 65 and over)

Disabled Veteran “Super Combo” FREE

Available to a resident or non-resident qualifying as a disabled veteran. Disabled veteran means a veteran with a service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a foot or leg or a disability rating of 50% or more, and who is receiving compensation from the U.S. for the disability. Official proof of disability (issued by the V.A.) must be shown when applying for this license and must state the rate of disability. Includes all five state endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, migratory game bird, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag, and upland game bird). The Federal Duck Stamp is not included.

Texas Resident Active Duty Military “Super Combo”FREE

Available to any Texas resident on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Reserves or National or State Guard. Proof of residency for this license is: military service record(s) indicating that the person’s home of record is in Texas or that the person’s duty station for the six months immediately prior to the time of application is in Texas.

Texas Resident Active Duty Military Hunting Package FREE

Available to any Texas resident on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Reserves or National or State Guard. This package includes a resident hunting license and 3 state endorsements (archery, upland game bird and migratory game bird). NOTE: The Federal Duck Stamp is NOT included. Proof of residency for this license is: military service record(s) indicating that the person’s home of record is in Texas or that the person’s duty station for the six months immediately prior to the time of application is in Texas.
Combo License Package
The “Combo” packages include:
• a Resident Hunting License,
• a Resident Fishing License
• and either the saltwater endorsement (with a red drum tag), freshwater endorsement or both, depending on the specific package purchased.

Resident Combination Hunting and Freshwater Fishing - $50
Resident Combination Hunting and Saltwater Fishing - $55
Resident Combination Hunting and All-Water Fishing - $60
Senior Resident Combination Hunting and Freshwater Fishing - $16 (age 65 and over)
Senior Resident Combination Hunting and Saltwater Fishing - $21
Senior Resident Combination Hunting and All-Water Fishing - $26

Residents who purchase “Combo” packages specific to either salt or freshwater fishing may upgrade to the All-Water package through the purchase of the endorsement not included in the initial license package purchased.

Lifetime Licenses

Residents may buy hunting and fishing licenses valid for the lifetime of the license holder. The holder of a lifetime license is exempt from all state endorsement requirements except the Reptile and Amphibian endorsement; however, the red drum license tag and federal duck stamp requirements still apply.

Non-resident Licenses

Nonresident General Hunting - $315
Valid to hunt any legal bird or animal (including deer). Endorsement requirements apply.

Non-resident Spring Turkey - $126 – Available after February 1

Valid to hunt turkey only during the open spring turkey season. Holders of this license are exempt from the upland game bird endorsement requirements. (Unlawful to possess both this license and a valid Non-Resident General Hunting License.)

Non-resident Special Hunting - $132

Nonresident 5-Day Special Hunting - $48

Legal for any period of 5 consecutive days (valid hunting dates will be printed on the license when issued). Valid to hunt:
Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package - FREE
Available to a resident or non-resident qualifying as a disabled veteran. Disabled veteran means a veteran with a service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a foot or leg or a disability rating of 50% or more, and who is receiving compensation from the U.S. for the disability. Official proof of disability (issued by the V.A.) must be shown when applying for this license and must state the rate of disability. Includes all five state endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, migratory game bird, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag, and upland game bird). The Federal Duck Stamp is not included.

Permits, Certifications & Stamps

Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit - FREE

This permit is required to hunt sandhill cranes. The permit can be obtained:
• in person ONLY at TPWD Law Enforcement offices and TPWD headquarters in Austin
• by phone at (800) 792-1112, #4820 or (512) 389-4820, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
• online any time – a $5 administrative fee will be charged for online orders.
For phone and online orders, a transaction receipt will be issued in lieu of a permit. Permittees should keep a record of hunting activities because 26% of crane hunters are chosen for a federal harvest survey.

Harvest Information Program (HIP) Certification - FREE

This certification is required to hunt any migratory game bird.

Archery Endorsement - $7

Required to hunt deer or turkey during an Archery-Only open season. Required to hunt deer at any time in Collin, Dallas, Grayson or Rockwall counties.

Texas Migratory Game Bird Endorsement - $7

Required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane and woodcock). A valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and HIP Certification are also required of waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older. A free Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit is required to hunt sandhill cranes. The permit is available:
• in person only at TPWD Law Enforcement offices,
• online,
• or by phone: (800) 792-1112.

Upland Game Bird Endorsement - $7

Required to hunt turkey, pheasant, quail or chachalaca. Non-residents who purchase the Non-resident Spring Turkey License are exempt from this endorsement requirement. May not be used to hunt turkey with a Non-resident Special Hunting License (Type 107) or a Non-resident 5-Day Special Hunting License (Type 157).

Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) - $25, plus fulfillment fee.

Required for all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older; available at most U.S. Post Offices, TPWD Law Enforcement offices, Austin headquarters and all license retail sales locations. The stamp must be signed on its face by the person using it. A valid hunting license, HIP Certification and a valid Texas Migratory Game Bird Endorsement are also required.