Overview of Fishing and Hunting Licenses

License Fees are Non-refundable

License fees are not refundable, exchangeable or transferable. 100% of license fees fund on-the-ground conservation efforts that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. Thank you for supporting outdoor recreation and conservation.

Display of Licenses on a Mobile Device

It is legal to display an image of information from TPWD’s website or a photograph of a hunting, fishing, or combination license on a wireless device for the purpose of verification of possessing a valid license. You must have your physical license for any activities requiring tags.

Texas Resident Licenses

Resident: a person who has lived continuously in Texas for more than six months immediately before buying their license, officially documented members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas or members of the U.S. Armed Forces (and their dependents) on “active duty” anywhere. A person who claims residency in any other state for any purpose and is not an officially-documented member of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces (or dependent) on active duty is not a resident.

Proof that a person has lived continuously in Texas for more than six months (any three of the following):

a current Texas homestead property tax statement

the most recent six months of utility bills

the most recent six months of paycheck receipts

the most recent tax return from the Internal Revenue Service

a statement from a parole board or probation officer stating that the person has continuously resided in Texas for the six months immediately preceding the application for a license or permit

a valid Texas driver’s license*

a current Texas voter registration certificate*

a current vehicle registration*

* issued at least six months prior to license or permit application

All documents must reflect the applicant’s name and a physical address in Texas. Except for a valid driver’s license or other state-issued identification card, additional residency documentation is not required at time of purchase or while hunting or fishing.

Non-Resident Licenses

Non-Resident: A person who is not a Texas resident (see proof of residency requirements). Non-residents under 17 years of age are considered residents for the purchase of the youth hunting license (Item 169).

Valid License Dates

Most hunting and fishing licenses are valid from the date of sale through August 31, 2021. Hunting and fishing licenses and packages that do not meet the August 31, 2021 date:

Temporary hunting and fishing licenses and packages

Year-from-Purchase fishing license

Lake Texoma fishing license

Endorsements (historically called “stamps”)

In addition to license requirements, the purchase of a license endorsement may be required to engage in certain hunting and fishing activities:

Archery Endorsement Required to hunt during an archery-only season (required to hunt deer at any time in Collin, Dallas, Grayson, or Rockwall counties). Migratory Game Bird Endorsement Required to hunt migratory game birds at any time. Upland Game Bird Endorsement Required to hunt upland game birds at any time. Freshwater Fishing Endorsement Required to fish in public fresh water. Saltwater Fishing Endorsement Required to fish in salt water.

All fishing and combination packages include one or more endorsements. Additional endorsements may be purchased at any time during the effective dates of the license/package.

Lost or Destroyed Licenses, Packages or Endorsements

Lost or Destroyed Licenses, Packages or Endorsements may be replaced at any license sales location by signing an Application for Replacement License affidavit. Fees vary from $3–$10.

Unlawful Activities

It is unlawful to:

hunt or fish without a valid license, permit and applicable endorsement(s) on your person and available for inspection by a game warden, unless exempt by age, program or a reciprocal agreement with another state.

use another person’s license or tag to hunt or fish.

let someone else hunt or fish with your license or tags.

purchase or obtain more than one of the following license types:

Resident Hunting



Texas Resident Active Duty Military “Super Combo” Package



Youth Hunting



Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing Package



Senior Hunting



Senior Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing Package



Disabled Veteran “Super Combo”



Texas Resident Active Duty Military Hunting Package - Resident “Super Combo” Package



General Non-Resident Hunting



Senior Resident “Super Combo” Package



Non-Resident Spring Turkey Hunting

Collection of Social Security Number

Collection of Social Security Number (SSN) is mandated by federal and state law (42 U.S.C.A. 666 and Texas Family Code, Section 231.302) for the purpose of child support collection enforcement; however, state law exempts persons 13 years of age and younger from having to provide a SSN to purchase a license, if they choose. TPWD cannot force persons older than 13 years of age to provide the SSN, but if it is not provided, a license will not be sold. If a license is being purchased for another person, the law requires that the purchaser provide the SSN of the person who will be holding the license.

How to Purchase

Licenses, license packages, endorsements and tags, unless otherwise noted, may be purchased at approximately 1,800 locations statewide where licenses are sold. Many licenses may be purchased by phone or online with approved Visa, Discover, or MasterCard. Call (800) 895-4248 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed Saturday, Sunday and most holidays).

Licenses are not refundable.