With another hunting season approaching, it’s time to purchase 2021-22 annual Texas hunting and fishing licenses.
Current year licenses, except the Year-from-Purchase-All-Water-Fishing Package, will expire Aug. 31, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
The annual sale of more than 2.7 million hunting and fishing licenses in Texas directly fund conservation efforts and recreational opportunities. Some of the projects funded by licenses sales include wildlife management, habitat restoration, fish stocking, public hunting leases, river fishing access and Texas Game Wardens.
Hunters and anglers can purchase a variety of license combinations and packages online through the TPWD website, by phone at 1.800.895.4248 or in person at more than 1,800 retailers across the state. If you are planning to purchase a license from TPWD’s Austin headquarters, an advance appointment is required. Call 1.800.262.8755 to schedule an appointment.
Repeat license buyers can use an expedited checkout process to speed up re-purchasing the same license bought in recent years.
Customers can access past and current licenses in several ways: (1) an electronic photo of one’s license, (2) an emailed receipt of your purchase; (3) one’s account in the online license sales system; (4) via License Lookup in the Outdoor Annual app or in the My Texas Hunt Harvest app.
Hunters and anglers must still have a physical license for any activities requiring tags.
Hunting and fishing regulations for the 2021-22 season are available online at outdoorannual.com, on the Outdoor Annual mobile app or in the printed Outdoor Annual booklet. The mobile app is free and allows hunters and anglers to access regulations, even without internet connectivity. Other features of the app include location-based functionalities, such as hunting seasons and regulations by location, where to fish and more.
Printed copies of the Outdoor Annual can be picked up at license retailers when customers purchase their license or at TPWD offices Additionally, the Outdoor Annual website offers the option to download and print all or select sections of the Outdoor Annual.
The My Texas Hunt Harvest app enables electronic submission of mandatory harvest reports including alligator gar harvest reporting. Hunters are also able to complete on-site registration for many TPWD public hunting lands via the app. Hunters can hunt on more than one million acres of public land with the purchase of an Annual Public Hunting Permit.
When purchasing a license, hunters and anglers can also choose to enter a number of drawings, including an entry in the Lifetime License Drawing. Three winners will receive a Lifetime Super Combo License and never need to buy a Texas hunting or fishing license again. Entries are $5 each and can be purchased online, by phone or at any license retailer. The first entry deadline is Sept. 30.
When buying a license, hunters and anglers can add a donation of $1, $5, $10 or $20 to support the non-profit Hunters for the Hungry or the Fund for Veterans Assistance.
Click here for more information on frequently asked questions about licenses.
I don’t know why Texas could not be like other states that lets people over 65 have free hunting and fishing?
Everyone knows a new license is required September 1 Opening day of dove season.
Why then does the department wait till 2 weeks before hand to release the renewals. Makes for a mad scramble to get licensed to save a ticket. Can’t the state agency start 2 weeks earlier. Duh!!