Since you no longer have to have a hunting license to hunt pigs, what are the requirements for a 15 year old to hunt?
I have a father who wants to bring his son out and hunt pigs from stands that are about 1/2 mile apart. Any legal problem?

I would want him to have a hunter ed certificate.

X2

x3.

Legally, I think you are fine. But safety wise, Do you know the boy? Seen him handle a rifle? Has he proven to observe safe firearm handling? Those are the questions that I would ask myself.

^^^^^^^this

At least tag along with someone with a hunters ed certification

When did it become legal to hunt hogs in TX without a hunting license?

Hogs are a special case. You don't need one for depredating hogs on your own land or if you are the owner's agent. Supposedly, the game wardens are not writing citations for hunting hogs anymore. Now, there is legislation up to make that into an actual law that no license is needed.

However, I don't think any of that means you don't need a hunter's ed certificate if you are in the age range that needs one. The child hunter at 15 would need it, I believe.

IF he is going to be hunting, he should have it regardless

Here is what one of our THF members got back from a GW about hog hunting. But you are correct in a call I made that they still need a Hunter's Ed card.

Stormy King <Stormy.King@tpwd.texas.gov>
Sun, Feb 17, 7:22 PM
to me

No license is required to hunt feral hogs on private land, regardless of any circumstances, as long as the person has consent to hunt on the land. There is legislation pending this session that, if passed, will further clarify. Hopefully this will remove some of the confusion.



Stormy King
Texas Game Warden
Asst. Commander/Wildlife Enforcement
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

(512)284-1766 cell
(512)389-4627 office

Although not spelled out entirely, I feel somewhat safe saying license and Hunter Education requirements are independent of each other. In other words, no license does not mean the HE requirement is not in place.

From the TPWD website...

Who needs to take Hunter Education?

Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete hunter education. Minimum age for certification is 9 years and cost is $15.

If you were born on or after September 2, 1971 and you are:
•under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied*.
•age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete hunter education, OR you must be accompanied.
•age 17 and over, you must successfully complete hunter education; OR purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral,” and you must be accompanied.


Now as a certified HE instructor, I know that "accompanied" means within normal speaking distance.

A youth license for the kid is $7, dad's going to spend more than that on gas getting to the hunting location he needs to just buck up and buy the kid a license if he doesn't have one just for the example it teaches the kid. As to hunting a 1/2 mile apart I wouldn't be comfortable with it unless I knew the kid and he'd had hunters ed, even the people you hear about that end up shooting someone or a cow thinking its a pig probably always swore before hand they were safe and experienced....

If the boy is hunting by himself a hunter education course is required. No Lic. needed if hunting with his dad. But the real question is are they harvesting them? If its for harvest it becomes hunting , if it is for a nuisance then no licenses are needed. But if for nuisance they must be left alone and not harvested for the meat. I would say if harvesting have a lic. period.

The question is, AFTER the law is passed clarifying that no license is required for pigs, then is it (legally) hunting? I would think so, but that's only my non legal opinion.

Can a 15 year old go in private property and target shoot alone without hunters ed? Two different things, or legally, are they?

This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO incorrect. Please show us where this is even stated in the Annual Hunting Guide.

the animal is not the issue. Any person hunting alone if born after 9-2-1971 required to have a hunter ed certification.

Call your county game warden..

I saw on Lone star law the other day a warden said if you are doing any sort of hunting whether it be predator, hogs or anything you need a license.
Youth license is what $7

From the TPWD site:

Feral Hogs And Coyotes
Hunter Education requirements apply.
A resident or non-resident hunting license is not required to hunt depredating feral hogs or coyotes on private property with landowner authorization.
Transportation and release of live feral hogs is unlawful, unless in compliance with Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) regulations. The TAHC regulates the movement of feral swine for disease-control purposes. For more information please call TAHC at (800) 550-8242 or visit tahc.state.tx.us.



link to TPWD page

The thing about calling a GW, you can ask the same question to 10 different GW and get 10 different answers most of the time. The issue of hunting hogs with a license/without a license has been brought up so many times, it's like beating a dead horse. I don't worry about it because I have a Lifetime License. Guys that come from out of state to hunt hogs on my place, I tell them they don't need one. Some will get one, some won't. I don't care.
If the kid in question lives in Texas, he should already have a youth license unless this is his first time to hunt. In that case, he shouldn't be hunting by himself. And to hunt by himself, he must have Hunter's Ed.

X2. You can be sure every GW in the state of Texas has been informed of the potential new law about hog hunting and how to deal with it.

Not true, they can take the hogs for meat.
Hunter ed is still required to harvest pigs but no license if on private property with owner's permission.

Here are some more emails with Mr King that I received:


Stormy King <Stormy.King@tpwd.texas.gov>
Thu, Feb 7, 2:00 PM
to me


Hi Pam,
Texas statute(Parks and Wildlife Code Ch 42) has since 2005 allowed the hunting of depredating feral hogs without a license by a landowner or landowners agent/lessee. For purposes of this chapter, and to provide for the fullest execution of the legislative intent of the law, this has been accepted to allow any person authorized by the landowner, be they resident or non resident, to assist the landowner in controlling feral hogs and to meet the eligibility for the hunting license exemption. Bear in mind that all laws pertaining to required hunter education certification still apply. I hope this answers your question but if you need any further clarification, please just let me know.

Thank You


Stormy King
Texas Game Warden
Asst. Commander/Wildlife Enforcement
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

(512)284-1766 cell
(512)389-4627 office

Stormy King <Stormy.King@tpwd.texas.gov>
Feb 7, 2019, 3:04 PM
to me

Sorry forgot to address your question about leaving the Hogs. No portion of the law prohibits taking the hog for food purposes.
Thanks again for your questions