Do you need a hunting license to hunt feral hogs on private property if you live out of state. Basically my brother may come in from out of state and I thought I heard somewhere that you don't need to have a license for pigs. Gonna look it up on TPWD now but thought I might get a quick answer here.
Thanks

You don't need a lisence to hunt ferral hogs just like you don't need a lisence to hunt cyotes or bobcat. Theyre considered varmit

great thanks..thought so but just wanted to be sure.

your wrong. feral hogs are considered an exotic not a non-game species. page 73 of the 2011-2012 outdoor annual states that it is illegal to hunt an exotic without a valid hunting license. page 72 states you need a hunting license to hunt bobcat and coyote.


so yes, you friend will need a valid texas hunting license to kill pigs.

Yes and no, this is a gray area. You can hunt them without a license if they are deperdating your land/live stock. Just check with your local game warden.

wrong information is as bad as no information. if you dont know the law then dont tell someone what you think it is. it is everybody's responsiblity to know the game laws. its amazing that people go out and hunt everyday and they dont have the slightest idea they are breaking the law because they hear nonsense. in the laws eyes, ignorance is no exuse.

If you are pulling a trigger (gun or bow release) you better have a license!!!

as far as the depredation part, read the very last email from tpwd

thanks to all who responded. i did look it up and what i was thinking about was the deperdating land but i thinks its just best to have the license regardless.

Yep:)

best to get a license the land depradation part has a lot of holes in it , don,t think you can even take one for meat have to let them lay

Yes you better get a license.

I'd prolly get the license. This is prolly not one of those go ahead and do it and beg forgiveness later situations.

That's sort of a gray area but I think that the best answer you will come up with is that there is ZERO chance that you or your brother will have any guns impounded or be subject to any ruinous fines if he ponies up about $50 for a limited non-resident hunting license.

Or the one other alternative:

He can get a 3 day non resident speacial....pretty cheap...id still like to meet the warden that would give you a ticket for shooting pigs or preditors...just dumb

READ THE HANDBOOK before you give advice. You need a license to HUNT anything in Texas.

ALWAYS COVER YOUR BUTT

A gw told me that I could shoot all the wild hogs on my place without a license but don't process them. That would come under hunting rather the depredation. Since he carries the ticket book, I didn't argue. Being over 65, the tax is pretty small but his reasoning doesn't follow logic. On the other hand, that is not the only law on the books that doesn't pass the "logic" test.

LOLOL, you guys trip me out, all you gotta do is read page 25 of the game law book, it explains it. I like how "fur down" put "READ THE HANDBOOK before you give advice you need a license to hunt anything in Texas" lolol, looks like you need to read the handbook bud!

Exceptions: a hunting license is not required to hunt the following:
• Coyotes, if the coyotes are attacking, about to attack, or have recently attacked livestock, domestic
animals, or fowl.
• D epredating feral hogs, if a landowner (resident or non-resident) or landowner’s agent or lessee is
taking feral hogs causing depredation on the landowner’s land.
• Fur-bearing animals, if the hunter possesses a trapper’s license or if the fur-bearing animals are causing
depredation.
Note: All laws and regulations governing hunter education still apply.

So hogs have rooted up dozens of acres of my property, don't see why that would mean I need a hunting license?

Also I shot a coyote in my backyard when my chickens were out didn't need a license for that either....


You will lose but you can legally hunt coyotes and hogs without a license to say you can't is wrong. Now if you consider yourself recreationally hunting then yes you would need a license.

I have a license by the way...

yes he needs a license... he probably wouldn't get caught but to be legal he'll need a license.

Rick O'Shay, read page 25 of the game law book. Did you not read the above post quoted from the book????

From page 73 in the Outdoor annual.

EXOTIC ANIMALS AND FOWL
Exotic animal refers to grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hoofed or cloven-hoofed mammals that are not indigenous or native to Texas and are known as ungulates, including animals from the deer and antelope families that landowners have introduced into this state.
Includes, but is not limited to feral hog, Aoudad sheep, Axis deer, Elk, Sika deer, Fallow deer, Blackbuck antelope, Nilgai antelope, and Russian boar. Exotic fowl refers to any avian species that is not indigenous to this state, including ratites (emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary, etc.).
There are no state bag or possession limits or closed seasons on exotic animals or fowl on private property.

It is against the law to:
• Hunt an exotic without a valid hunting license.
• Hunt an exotic on a public road or right-of-way.
• Hunt an exotic without the landowner’s permission.
• Possess an exotic or the carcass of an exotic without the owner’s consent.

Penalty: A person who violates these laws commits an offense that is a Class A Parks and
Wildlife Code misdemeanor ($500-$4,000 and/or up to one year in jail).

But, Mr. Rustler, You can hunt feral hogs if they are causing depredation WITHOUT A HUNTING LICENSE as per page 25 of the game law book, Did you not read it either?? WOW!!!!