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, you do need a Texas hunting license, and most public units also require an Annual Public Hunting Permit on top of it. Feral hogs are classified as non-game animals, which is why the state treats them differently from deer or turkey.
Private Land: No License Required
Any person, resident or non-resident, of any age, may hunt feral hogs on private property without a hunting license if the landowner has given permission.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements Permission is the only legal prerequisite. It does not have to be in writing, but a text message or a signed note is worth keeping if a game warden stops to ask.
If you are paying the landowner for access, the licensing burden shifts to them, not to you. A landowner or landowner’s agent who receives payment or other consideration for hunting access must hold a hunting lease license from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.2Texas Parks & Wildlife. Hunting Lease License Information That license comes in three tiers by acreage: Small ($79), Medium ($147), and Large ($252).1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements You, the paying hunter, still do not need a hunting license.
Public Land: License and Usually a Permit
The private-land exemption disappears the moment you step onto state or federally managed land. A Texas hunting license is required for anyone hunting feral hogs on public land, regardless of residency.3Texas Parks & Wildlife. New Texas Laws Affecting Feral Hog Hunting, License Validation Take Effect Sept. 1 A resident hunting license costs $25.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements
Many Wildlife Management Areas and other public hunting units also require an Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit. The APH costs $48 and covers access to more than a million acres of public land for hunting, fishing, and camping.4Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Annual Public Hunting Permit / Walk-in Hunts 2025-26 Weapon restrictions, access dates, and whether baiting is allowed vary by unit, so pull up the specific regulations for the tract you plan to hunt before you drive out.
Hunter Education Still Applies
Skipping a hunting license does not skip hunter education. Anyone born after September 1, 1971, must complete a hunter education course before hunting with firearms or archery in Texas, and must carry proof while in the field.5Cornell Law School. 31 Texas Admin Code 51.80 – Mandatory Hunter Education A physical card, a photo, or an electronic copy on your phone all count.
The requirements by age:
- Under 9: cannot be certified; must be accompanied by a licensed hunter at least 17 who meets hunter education requirements.
- Ages 9 through 16: may hunt without certification if accompanied by a qualified hunter 17 or older. Certification is available starting at age 9.5Cornell Law School. 31 Texas Admin Code 51.80 – Mandatory Hunter Education
- 17 and older (born after September 1, 1971): must complete the course. An online-only option is available for this age group.5Cornell Law School. 31 Texas Admin Code 51.80 – Mandatory Hunter Education
If you are 17 or older and have not yet taken the course, a one-time Hunter Education Deferral costs $10.6Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunter Education The deferral is good for the remainder of the license year it was purchased in, and you must hunt with someone 17 or older who holds a valid hunting license and has completed hunter education or is exempt. You can only use it once.5Cornell Law School. 31 Texas Admin Code 51.80 – Mandatory Hunter Education A certificate from another state is accepted in Texas through reciprocity if the course met International Hunter Education Association standards.
Non-Resident Rules
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.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements
For public land, two non-resident options cover feral 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.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements
- Non-Resident General Hunting License: $315, valid for the full license year, covers all legal species including deer.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Licenses, Permits and Endorsements
If you are driving in from out of state specifically for public-land hogs, the $48 five-day license is the usual pick, plus the $48 APH permit if the tract requires one.
Season, Bag Limit, and Methods
Texas sets no closed season and no bag limit on feral hogs. You can hunt them year-round and take as many as you want.7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Feral Hog Hunt Category Details – Drawn Hunts Because hogs are non-game animals, the usual restrictions tied to game species do not apply. On private land there is no caliber restriction, no magazine capacity limit, and suppressors are legal. Baiting is allowed on private property; on most public land it is prohibited, so check the unit’s rules.8Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Means and Methods
The rule prohibiting artificial light to illuminate “a game animal or bird” does not reach feral hogs, which sit outside that category.8Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Hunting Means and Methods Night hunting with spotlights or thermal optics is common on private land across the state.