The Texas Parks & Wildlife Code--the actual laws as written and enacted by the Texas Legislature--with links to downloadable PDF and Microsoft Word documents.
Public Hunting
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of hunting opportunities through two public hunting systems. The $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit provides nearly year-round hunting on approximately 1.2 million acres of land. The increasingly popular dove hunting areas are offered through this system. The Public Hunt Drawing System provides opportunities to apply for a wide variety of supervised, drawn hunts including special drawings for both adults and youth hunters. In addition, TPWD offers special hunt package drawings for exotic wildlife and quality native animals on TPWD managed lands as well as specially leased private properties.
Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit Details
• Issued to an individual and valid for a 12-month period from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.
• Provides access to over 1 million acres of land for hunting, fishing, camping, and other uses.
• Offers more than 200 different areas, including approximately 140 special dove hunting units.
• Many areas are open year-round for authorized activities by permit holders.
• Hunt deer, feral hogs, squirrel, turkey, dove, waterfowl, quail, and other legal game.
• The APH Permit waives any applicable daily hunting permit fees on the listed areas.
• Youth under age 17 may hunt free with a permitted adult.
• The APH Permit provides entry to TPWD Wildlife Management Areas at times when they are open for general visitation.
• Go to the Walk-in Hunts main page for more details.
• Only permit holders receive a map booklet listing available areas, facilities, rules, and schedules.
• APH Permits are available at TPWD offices and all license vendors (a place which sells hunting and fishing licenses), or by calling 1-800-TX-LIC-4U (menu choice 1 for license sales) and paying by Visa, Discover or MasterCard). If the permit is purchased at a TPWD office, the map booklet and supplement will be provided immediately at the time of purchase; otherwise, the publications will be mailed to the purchaser within two weeks of purchase.
For more detailed information on public hunting and places to hunt in Texas, click here.
