What is your understanding?

With having a guest hunter with you in the boat while waterfowl hunting?

I have a friend who would like to go and observe and not hunt.

I could not locate it in the regulations.

They can go , just make sure they never shoot . We had a guy from Arkansas go with my son and just do the calling. Game Warden said as long as he wasn't hunting it is fine.

Make sure does not hold a gun.

And make sure you don't have an extra gun any where close by.

this

Several are correct. As long as he never has a gun he is legal, however I would consider calling for some one else to shoot as an act of hunting, I would think that could get sticky with some game wardens.

Below is TXPW definition of hunting and who must have a license. If the observer does not fit the definition of a hunter he does not have to have a license / duck stamp, otherwise they do.

Hunt:
To capture, trap, take, or kill, and includes any attempt to capture, trap, take, or kill.

A hunting license is required of any person, regardless of age, who hunts any animal, bird, frog or turtle in Texas (except furbearers, if the hunter possesses a trapper's license.) See Hunting Licenses and Permits.

To be on the safe side, a hunting license and a stamp would be less expensive than the ticket and trying to prove he/she wasn't hunting.

Best to call your local game warden and talk to them instead of listening to all of us. We know the game warden that my son had called and asked, so that may have helped. Everyone else has good answers as well. Less than $100 is a license and stamp. Don't have any extra guns, and he doesn't even touch a gun in the blind or boat.

I would reach out to the game wardens in the county you are going and ask them personally.

My biggest problem, I can't imagine sitting with my hands in my pocket while ducks are settling into the decoys

Top 10 Sig worthy quote.

I bet you can't....

Changed it

Good luck with that case! a buddy of mine had similar case, lake in east texas, except fishing, brought his girl friend along to run a trot line off the property line at Lake Livingston. GW saw them just before dark, he pulled them over asked for fishing licenses, he had one, GF did not. She was cited for non license, she got a little rowdy with warden he threaten her that she would be arrested if her future hubby didnt control her!
Cost her 129$ plus court, fees after all said done.


Final, verdict, go buy a license and be done with it, keeps all law happy! its a different world today not like it was in mid 60's when things were cool, and spikes were illegal to shoot!...



hunt safe....

There are some things once seen that cannot be unseen. This ranks at the time of that list.

Make sure they have nothing hunting related on them. Even a spent hull.