Texas varmints ?

[GT Accuracy]

Hey guys

i have just moved to Houston about a month ago and am looking for places where the coyotes / p-dogs may have become a problem but i would also like to know a little bit about the licensing for varmints and public lands work in TX.

I have places to stay near austin and amarillo so if you're on the other side of the state, i may have no problem traveling such distances.

That said, I have 4 new rifles i need to test out and try and get some blood accredited too.


Please feel free to PM or email me at: gtaylor1023@mac.com

 

[ShootDots]

The Dalhart, 109 miles NORTH of Amarillo, area is excellent for prairie dogs. The road between Dalhard and Etter is FULL of places to hunt. Just stop and ask any of the "farmer / ranchers" you see outside working and you will get easy permission. BUT GET PERMISSION! As far as "Public Lands" Texas has a lot of acreage BUT still 96pct of land in Texas is private! You will need a hunting license.

To me the "public lands" are not really good for hunting as everyone and their brother, who do not want to pay for a lease, are on those lands>>>thus they are definitely over-hunted.

 

[GT Accuracy]

ShootDots

Thanks - I'll have to go see Gary and Cathy in Amarillo sometime this late summer / fall. My GF is a graduate from WT A&M so she will be excited to go see her stomping grounds again i'm sure.

 

[ShootDots]

You are quite welcome.. There also appears to be an inordinate amount of Game Wardens "up there" and they will also have info for you.. BUT remember, many of them are NOT hunters, they are Law Enforcement officers, so they "know" the people and the "layout of the area" and they can help that way.

 

[GrocMax]

Don't need a license for varmints in TX, and it is legal to shoot from a vehicle, as long as the vehicle is not on a road or right-of-way.

Only find PD's west of the bluff above about 2500 ft elevation, this map is about right, more prevalent within the panhandle. Look for areas that haven't been cultivated for awhile, and they don't care for caliche type topsoil or non-native vegetation. As mentioned its most likely going to be private property.

Wild hogs are a BIG problem in central and N TX, I'm not sure of the laws on them.

 

[people]

One thing that has helped me is go to small towns and stop at the local café. Talk to some of the locals you just might be amazed at how much access you get.

 

[Sniper338]

You DO need a hunting license... 100%

 

[GrocMax]

You DO need a hunting license... 100%

For varmints in TX? No.

"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)."

"Landowners or their agents may take nuisance fur-bearing animals in any number by any means at any time on that person's land without the need for a hunting or trapping license. However, fur-bearing animals or their pelts taken for these purposes may not be retained or possessed by anyone at any time except licensed trappers during the lawful open season and possession periods.

Nuisance fur-bearing animals may be captured and relocated if the person has received authorization from the department and the owner of the property where the release will occur. A monthly report is required and must be submitted to the department on number and kind of fur-bearers captured, location of release site, name and address of person authorized to release."

http://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/fur-bearing-animal-regulations/nuisance-fur-bearing-animals

As the AGENT for a landowner, I am only restricted from taking FURS from said prairie dogs and coyotes without a license.

"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."

If the landowner wants them gone, prairie dogs are "causing depridation".

Now with that being said, a bunch of the 'normal' game species that would usually have a season and limit, they get REAL particular about on a county by county basis. For instance don't get caught shooting at or in possession of a wild turkey in MANY counties in NTx, its strictly verboten.

 

[kmon]

Get the hunting license, you do not need the big game license small game works for varmints, predators, hogs and other exotics. Makes life much easier with the GW and the small game license is cheap.

 

[Sniper338]

Get the hunting license, you do not need the big game license small game works for varmints, predators, hogs and other exotics. Makes life much easier with the GW and the small game license is cheap.

yep id still get it... cheap insurance...

 

[shoot4fun]

We get the $45 five-day license and never have a problem. But we come from out of state to hunt PD.
Most every guide worth his salt has told us to buy the license to avoid any problems.
It is true that it's OK to shoot from a vehicle as long as not on the road. Sometimes that is the best way to cover a town.

 

[ShootDots]

We get the $45 five-day license and never have a problem. But we come from out of state to hunt PD.
Most every guide worth his salt has told us to buy the license to avoid any problems.
It is true that it's OK to shoot from a vehicle as long as not on the road. Sometimes that is the best way to cover a town.

We actually would drive out INTO the PD field. We would then set up a swivel bench in the bed of the pick-up and start shooting from an elevated position on a bench! Some of the PD fields are so large it amazes me. We had one field that was about 1500-2000 yards wide and over 4000 yards long. We literally could drive all over the field "chasing" the PD's.. Great fun!!