Yes, you can shoot Egyptian geese in Texas. The state classifies them as unprotected exotic fowl, which means no closed season, no bag limit, and no possession limit on private property.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened and Protected Species You still need a valid Texas hunting license, you need the landowner’s permission, and you need to be certain the bird in your sights is actually an Egyptian goose and not a protected native species.
Why Egyptian Geese Have No Legal Protection
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lists Egyptian geese among a short group of birds that neither state nor federal law protects. Because the species is native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile Valley rather than North America, it falls outside the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.2U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Ecological Risk Screening Summary – Egyptian Goose TPWD classifies it as exotic fowl, defined as any bird species that is not indigenous to Texas and not protected by the MBTA. Unprotected birds may be killed at any time, and their nests or eggs may be destroyed.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened and Protected Species
You Still Need a Hunting License
TPWD is explicit: the unprotected bird listing itself ends with the note “Hunting license required.”1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened and Protected Species A license is required of any person, resident or non-resident, of any age, to hunt any animal or bird in the state.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses A standard resident hunting license costs $25.
If you were born on or after September 2, 1971, you must complete a hunter education course before buying a license. The minimum certification age is nine.4Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunter Education Requirements by State/Territory If you haven’t taken the course yet, hunters 17 or older can buy a one-time Deferred Hunter Education option for $10, valid through the end of the current license year. Under the deferral you must hunt while accompanied by someone at least 17 who holds a valid Texas hunting license and has either passed hunter education or is exempt, stay within normal voice control of that person, and carry proof of the deferral in the field. The deferral can only be purchased once, and anyone previously convicted of violating the hunter education requirement is ineligible.5Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunter Education
No Seasons, No Limits, Few Method Restrictions
On private property there are no required methods of take, no bag or possession limits, and no closed seasons for exotic fowl.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened and Protected Species “No closed seasons” also means no restricted hunting hours, so Egyptian geese can legally be taken at night.
The method rules are much looser than what applies to native waterfowl. Baiting is allowed. Artificial lights and electronic calls are allowed. You can use a shotgun, a rifle, or archery equipment. You can also hunt them from a motor vehicle or boat on private property, as long as you are not on any part of the state road system.6State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 62.003 – Hunting From Vehicles
Where You Cannot Shoot
The open rules on methods don’t translate to open rules on location. This is where hunters get into real legal trouble.
Private Property and Landowner Consent
Roughly 95 percent of land in Texas is privately owned, so almost all hunting happens on private property with the landowner’s permission. Entering agricultural land, fenced property, posted property, or land marked with purple paint without the owner’s express consent is criminal trespass under the Texas Penal Code. Hunting any animal without landowner consent is separately unlawful and can escalate to a state jail felony if the animal taken is a deer, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep.7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Laws, Penalties and Restitution
Public Roads
Hunting from a public road or right-of-way is prohibited under Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Section 62.0031.8Texas Public Law. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 62.0031 – Hunting From Public Road or Right-of-Way Prohibited There is no statewide minimum setback distance, but you must be entirely off the road and right-of-way before firing. Local ordinances may add their own distance requirements.
Inside City Limits
In cities with populations of 100,000 or more, recklessly discharging a firearm within city limits is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 42.12, carrying up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or both.9Texas Public Law. Texas Penal Code 42.12 – Discharge of Firearm in Certain Municipalities Smaller municipalities commonly have their own ordinances restricting or banning firearm discharge in city limits. If you’re seeing Egyptian geese on a suburban pond or in a city park, check local law before assuming anything.
Navigable Waterways
Texas recognizes a limited right to hunt from navigable streams and their banks, which are held in public trust. TPWD still advises hunters to check with local law enforcement first because of numerous local restrictions and exceptions.10Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Lawful Activities Along Navigable Streams Shooting a goose from a kayak on a navigable river that runs through private land is permitted in some circumstances, but the gray area is wide enough to produce disputes with landowners and game wardens.
Identify the Bird Before You Fire
Mistaking a Canada goose, or any other bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, for an Egyptian goose is a federal offense. Knowingly taking a protected migratory bird with intent to sell is a felony carrying fines up to $250,000 and up to two years in prison, with forfeiture of all equipment used.11U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Criminal Provisions of the US Criminal Code Title 18 and Other Statutes Even a misdemeanor violation for an accidental kill can carry significant fines. “I thought it was an Egyptian goose” is not a reliable defense.
The two species look nothing alike in good light. Egyptian geese are the smaller bird, roughly 63 to 73 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2.25 kilograms, with pale brown and grey plumage, dark chocolate-brown patches around the eyes, pinkish legs, and bright white wing patches in flight. Canada geese run 90 to 110 centimeters, weigh about twice as much, and show the familiar black head and neck with a bold white chinstrap. Low light and long distances close that gap fast. If you cannot positively identify the bird as an Egyptian goose, don’t pull the trigger.