Do You Need a Hunting License to Hunt Hogs in Texas?

You do not need a hunting license to hunt hogs in Texas on private land, as long as the landowner has given you permission. On public land, the answer flips: a valid Texas hunting license is required, and many units also require an Annual Public Hunting Permit on top of that. Residency does not change the private-land exemption, and neither does age.

Private Land: No License Required

Any person, resident or non-resident, of any age, may hunt feral hogs on private property in Texas without a hunting license, provided the landowner has given permission.¹ That consent is the only legal prerequisite on the hunter’s side. Written permission is not required, but a signed note, a lease document, or even a text message is worth keeping in case a game warden asks.

The paperwork burden shifts to the landowner when money changes hands. Any landowner or landowner’s agent who takes payment or other consideration for hunting access must hold a hunting lease license from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).² The paying hunter still does not need a hunting license for hogs. The person collecting the money does.

Public Land: License and Often a Permit

A Texas hunting license is required for anyone hunting feral hogs on state or federally managed land, regardless of residency.³ A resident hunting license costs $25.¹

Beyond that base license, many Wildlife Management Areas and other public hunting units require an Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit. The APH permit costs $48 and covers hunting, fishing, camping, and other recreational access across more than a million acres of public land.⁴ Some units also run drawn hunts for feral hogs with their own application process. Check the regulations for the specific unit before you go, because weapon rules, access dates, and permit requirements vary.

Hunter Education Still Applies

Skipping the license does not skip hunter education. Anyone born after September 1, 1971, must complete a hunter education course before hunting with firearms or archery equipment in Texas and must carry proof of certification in the field.⁵ Proof can be a physical card, a photo, or an electronic copy on your phone. This applies on private land too, even though no license is required for hogs there.

By age:

Under 9: cannot be certified, and must be accompanied by a licensed hunter at least 17 years old who meets hunter education requirements.
Ages 9 through 16: may hunt without certification if accompanied by a qualified hunter 17 or older, or may take the course and become certified starting at 9.⁵
17 and older (born after September 1, 1971): must complete the course. An online-only option is available for this age group.⁵

If you are 17 or older and have not finished the course, a one-time Hunter Education Deferral is available for $10.⁶ The deferral covers the remainder of the license year in which you buy it, but you must be accompanied by someone 17 or older who holds a valid hunting license and has either completed hunter education or is exempt. You can only use it once.⁵

Certificates from other states are recognized through reciprocity, so a course that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards will be accepted in Texas.

Non-Resident Hunters

Non-residents get the same private-land exemption as Texas residents. No hunting license is needed to hunt feral hogs on private property with the landowner’s permission.¹

For public land, non-residents need a non-resident hunting license. Two options cover hogs:

Non-Resident Special Small Game/Exotic Hunting License: $48, valid for five consecutive days. Covers exotic animals, non-game animals (including feral hogs), most game birds, fur-bearing animals, squirrel, and javelina. Does not cover deer, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep.¹
Non-Resident General Hunting License: $315, valid for the full license year, covering all legal species.¹

If you are coming to Texas specifically for hogs on public land, the $48 five-day license is the practical choice, and budget for the $48 APH permit on top if the unit you plan to hunt requires it. Driving in with firearms, keep them unloaded and stored where they are not readily accessible from the passenger compartment, consistent with the federal safe-passage protection at 18 U.S.C. § 926A.⁷ If your vehicle has no separate trunk, use a locked container other than the glove compartment or center console.

A Note on Helicopter Hunts

Hog hunts from a helicopter follow a separate framework and are not covered by the private-land license exemption in the way ground hunting is. Aerial hunting requires a Landowner’s Authorization to Manage Wildlife or Exotic Animals by Aircraft on file with TPWD, and the authorization is not valid until TPWD stamps and issues it a number. A paying gunner joining an aerial hunt must qualify as a landowner’s agent, which excludes anyone convicted of a Parks and Wildlife Code violation that is a Class A misdemeanor or higher, or a Lacey Act violation.⁸ If a helicopter hunt is on your list, book through an outfitter who already holds the permit.

1
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements
2
Texas Parks & Wildlife. Hunting Lease License Information
3
Texas Parks & Wildlife. New Texas Laws Affecting Feral Hog Hunting, License Validation Take Effect Sept. 1
4
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Annual Public Hunting Permit / Walk-in Hunts 2025-26
5
Cornell Law School. 31 Texas Admin Code 51.80 – Mandatory Hunter Education
6
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunter Education
7
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms
8
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Aerial Management Permit FAQ