Governor Greg Abbott has given some ammunition to those who are in a battle against Texas' feral hog population. Governor Abbott signed House Bill 317 which allows people to hunt feral hogs without a hunting license. The law, which was authored by Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineloa, was passed unanimously by the House and Senate before going to the governor's desk
Posts: 19718 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
If the price of a license was all that was keeping someone from hunting hogs, that person isn't a serious hunter, and this law will have no impact on hog populations.
Posts: 13919 | Location: Texas | Registered: 10 May 2002
Originally posted by Kensco: If the price of a license was all that was keeping someone from hunting hogs, that person isn't a serious hunter, and this law will have no impact on hog populations.
True dat! Check the cost of a short-term license for an out-of-stat hunter and then compare it to the cost of a 'chopper hog hunt or a NV hunt, or even a simple weekend sitting in a blind over a feeder--no comparison.
$48 for a 5-day license or $315 for the annual--
An old pilot, not a bold pilot, aka "the pig murdering fool"
Originally posted by larryshores: One has never needed a license for hogs in Florida on private land. There is no season or limit either.
No license was required for landowners to kill hogs on their own property in Texas, no season or time restrictions. At least that was my understanding, of course I buy a hunting license every year anyway. Being over 65 it's practically free.
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind..." Hosea 8:7
Posts: 579 | Location: Texas | Registered: 07 January 2015
I don't remember the price in February I paid. But it was quite cheap. But I was 67 at the time. I had my card for Hunter's Education on me. Out of state hunting was cheap with respect to the Texas Requirements. Guess it pays in a few ways to be a senior citizen. Be Well. Packy
The hogs are such as problem around here that most landowners are glad to have them culled.Lets hope the state legislature does'nt see money signs + start issueing licenses + screw everything up for everyone.
For what it's worth, I had hunted hogs twice in N. Texas, within the last couple years, both times on leased land. I was told I didn't need a license. However, I bought one anyway assuming the money might go to a good cause. I think a five day was less than 50 bucks.
Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can.
Posts: 5283 | Location: Near Hershey PA | Registered: 12 October 2012
You have always needed a license to hunt feral pigs in Texas! The exception was if the hogs were doing damage on your property. As one Game Warden said " Just buy the license, very difficult to proven them doing damage" when your are driving down the road with a dead pig. I will buy mine any way. "What were you shooting at?" " A feral pig" "Got a dead pig to show?" "No" "Want my drivers license to write the citation for hunting with out a license?"
Posts: 763 | Location: South Central Texas | Registered: 29 August 2014
I have always bought the Grand Slam license (for everything)although I never use most of the hunts,but the money ALL goes to the Parks + Wildlife Dept.That I consider a good deal.Live Oak,the law might have changed,but I have never in the past needed a license to hunt hogs here in Texas.That being said,several years ago we did not need a license to hunt doves in our county of residence.Many years ago I had a friend with a large piece of property that he was wanting to make any kind of money on so I suggested stocking it with pheasant +doing hunts W/ a B+B,etc.Seems that since there was one county in the panhandle that had a pheasant season,no other part of the state was exempt.
Originally posted by Live Oak: You have always needed a license to hunt feral pigs in Texas! The exception was if the hogs were doing damage on your property. As one Game Warden said " Just buy the license, very difficult to proven them doing damage" when your are driving down the road with a dead pig. I will buy mine any way. "What were you shooting at?" " A feral pig" "Got a dead pig to show?" "No" "Want my drivers license to write the citation for hunting with out a license?"
this is correct. you need a lisc to shoot a rabbit in tx. but theres no season, limit, or special lisc to hunt hogs
Posts: 1547 | Location: south of austin texas | Registered: 25 November 2011
If I hunt hogs in Texas its because Im deer hunting and that non residence license is about $300. and varies each year, but it includes 2 Javalina, two turkeys, 2 bucks and two or three does, but I can shoot all the does I want on a depredation ranch permit, way too many deer on the ranches I hunt, and the ranchers form a Co-opt and most of them shoot 100 or more does every year, that go to the local butchers then to needed causes..When I ranched in Texas, or when any of my family of ranchers needed cull hunting it was difficult to get it done, its more work than one can imagine..
Culling Elk in Idaho are even more work on the ranchers part..The rancher can give permits away or shoot them himself but cannot sell them on depredation hunts. The system would work better if the game dept. just gave them x number of permits and let the rancher manager his own ranch..The depts. system would then be able to manage the herds better as they would have accurate counts, not guess and by gosh...Most states have found this management works best and they have healthy herds and accountable numbers..
