Cost of Texas Hunting License

[Tallinthesaddle]

I have not been hunting in several years which before was usually for doves. I put together a prairie dog gun and found out than I need a hunting license to hunt them. Mind you, I have a farm with range land that has a good sized prairie dog on it. I go down to Academy Sports to buy a license and the license is $64.00. What???? I used to pay $12 or $15 bucks I thought for a license.
Is this really the cost of a 2008 hunting license?

[KD5NRH]

I go down to Academy Sports to buy a license and the license is $64.00. What???? I used to pay $12 or $15 bucks I thought for a license.
Is this really the cost of a 2008 hunting license?

Yup. Grab yourself a copy of the booklet and it'll list all the license fees.

Might not be worth it this year, though. If the election goes wrong, we may have to use slingshots for spring turkey season.

[boomerang]

Might not be worth it this year, though. If the election goes wrong, we may have to use slingshots for spring turkey season.

The basic resident license is $23 but in the age of identity theft do you really want to give your social security number to some minimum wage clerk?

[flintknapper]

I have not been hunting in several years which before was usually for doves. I put together a prairie dog gun and found out than I need a hunting license to hunt them. Mind you, I have a farm with range land that has a good sized prairie dog on it. I go down to Academy Sports to buy a license and the license is $64.00. What???? I used to pay $12 or $15 bucks I thought for a license.
Is this really the cost of a 2008 hunting license?

No, that is incorrect. They were trying to sell you the "Super Combo" package.

A regular "resident" hunting license (no other tags) is $23.00 (type 101)

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... _licenses/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The cost of your license will depend upon your age, what you want to hunt and any applicable tags.

[Commander Cody]

I think that with the price of a fishing license they should come with free fish!

[sbb]

At $64.00 the value realized in a Super Combo is hard to beat.

[KFP]

Someone may correct me, and I'll check the hunting regs myself, but if I read your post correctly you own the land. I believe that if it is your land, the license is not required. Don't take my word alone - I'm sure a prarie dog isn't worth it, but I'll check and let you know what I come up with. I'm sure others will have the right answer to this for you as well.

[flintknapper]

Someone may correct me, and I'll check the hunting regs myself, but if I read your post correctly you own the land. I believe that if it is your land, the license is not required. Don't take my word alone - I'm sure a prarie dog isn't worth it, but I'll check and let you know what I come up with. I'm sure others will have the right answer to this for you as well.

A hunting license is required of all persons (with certain age limitations) except where the taking of an animal is associated with depredation or sheer numbers constitute a health hazard. I will look up the exact verbiage later and post it....but generally speaking a license is required for everything else.

EDIT (to add info)..............
From TPWD:

A hunting license is required of any person, regardless of age, who hunts any animal, bird, frog or turtle in this state (except furbearers, if the hunter possesses a trapper's license). No license is required for nuisance fur-bearing animals, depredating hogs or coyotes (see below). Non-residents under 17 years of age may purchase and hunt with the Youth Hunting License (Type 169).

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.
Depredating 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 (submitted by flint): Not mentioned in the above are certain birds (grackles, starlings, sparrows) that may be taken if by virtue of numbers they constitute a health hazard.

[KFP]

Thanks Flint, I knew someone would know for sure. I did pull out my copy of the regs from this year and found on page 71 that there is no closed season, but a license is required. Hopefully you put your money to good use - you'll have to let us know how the gun shoots for you too!

[KRM45]

I think that with the price of a fishing license they should come with free fish!

They do give you free fish... The problem is they leave them in the lake for you...

[texasag93]

At $64.00 the value realized in a Super Combo is hard to beat.

+1

It is not the cost of the license; it is the cost of getting to the land, the lease of the land, and the upkeep of the jewelry to keep your wife happy

texasag

[sbb]

Texasag, its like anything else. If you're gonna play then you gotta pay. Instead of buying jewelry, get your wife into the shooting sports. My better half has been infected by the "gun bug" and now loves to shoot. In fact we are heading to the range in just a few minutes. Now that I think about it, when comparing costs for a new carry pistol, ammo, and all the related gear, I probably would have been better off buying the jewelry.