How to Hunt on Public Land in West Texas
- 1). Attend a hunter safety course. Hunter safety courses are required to have been taken by all hunters, regardless of their age, who hunt on public lands. Hunters are required to have their hunter safety education card with them when hunting.
- 2). Purchase a hunting license. The basic Texas hunting license includes tags for deer and turkey and also allows hunters to pursue small game such as rabbits and squirrels. Additional endorsements can be added for those who wish to hunt migratory waterfowl or dove.
- 3). Purchase an Annual Public Hunt Permit. This can be bought at the same time as the hunting license. The Annual Public Hunt Permit grants access to public lands and includes a booklet with maps and information regarding specific rules and regulations regarding the individual parcels.
- 1). Identify the parcels of land you will be hunting using the map booklet mailed to you after purchasing your public hunt permit. Some properties have designated camping areas and specific points of entry or on-site registration requirements. You will need to plan your trip accordingly.
- 2). Choose a date for your hunt. Each parcel has specific dates when particular species may be hunted.
- 3). Pack your equipment. All hunters are required to wear a blaze orange vest and hat, so these articles of clothing must be included. All firearms are required to be unloaded during transport and while not actively hunting, so be sure to pack ammunition separately from your shotgun or rifle.
- 4). Determine the means you will use to harvest the game animal you are pursuing. Most parcels of land have means restrictions that permit only shotguns or archery equipment to be used when hunting. Consult your map booklet to determine what methods are legal to harvest game on the property you plan to hunt.
- 5). Comply with all on-site registration requirements. Most parcels of land require that hunters fill out a two-piece information card each day with the first part submitted before hunting and the second at the end of hunting that day. These forms are generally available at check stations near the entrance to the property, but, in the case they are not, hunters can use additional forms found at the back of the booklet mailed to them.
Obtain Proper Permits and Licenses
Plan Your Hunt
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