How do I get hunter education in Texas?
In Texas, every hunter born on or after September 2, 1971 needs hunter education, available from age 9 as a $15 classroom course, a free internet course plus a $15 field course, or, at 17 and older, an online-only course, and a one-time $10 deferral lets adults hunt accompanied first.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Texas hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Texas? | Every hunter born on or after September 2, 1971, including nonresidents, must complete hunter education. Hunters under 9 must be accompanied; hunters 9 through 16 must either be certified or be accompanied; hunters 17 and older must be certified or buy a deferral and hunt accompanied. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Texas? | The minimum age for hunter education certification is 9. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Texas hunter education online? | TPWD offers a classroom course (about 6 hours plus a final exam, any age), a free TPWD internet course followed by an in-person field course (any age), and an online-only course from approved providers that is open only to hunters 17 and older. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Texas? | Hunters under 17 who study online must finish with an in-person field course of at least 4 hours with a final exam. The online-only option for hunters 17 and older has no field course. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Texas hunter education cost? | The classroom course and the field course each cost $15, paid to the instructor, and some instructors may add range or facility fees. Online-only course fees are set by each provider; two internet courses are free for hunters under 17. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you hunt in Texas before taking the course? | TPWD's hunter education pages describe no separate apprentice license; instead an uncertified hunter may hunt accompanied (under 9 always, 9 through 16 as an alternative to certification, 17 and older with a deferral). Accompanied means by a licensed Texas hunter at least 17 who is certified or exempt, within normal voice control. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Texas offer a hunter education deferral? | Anyone 17 or older who is not certified may buy a one-time Hunter Education Deferral for $10 from license vendors. It lasts up to one year and only until the end of the license year bought, the holder must hunt accompanied, and anyone convicted of or given deferred adjudication for violating the hunter education rule cannot get one. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Texas hunter education card? | Proof of hunter education can be shown in the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app or printed from TPWD's online certification lookup. To correct a birth date or update a last name, TPWD says to call 512-389-4999. Proof of certification or deferral must be carried while hunting. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Texas accept hunter education cards from other states? | Texas recognizes hunter education certificates from all other states and provinces. | Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born on or after September 2, 1971, including nonresidents, must complete hunter education. Hunters under 9 must be accompanied; hunters 9 through 16 must either be certified or be accompanied; hunters 17 and older must be certified or buy a deferral and hunt accompanied.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Texas?
The minimum age for hunter education certification is 9.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Texas hunter education online?
TPWD offers a classroom course (about 6 hours plus a final exam, any age), a free TPWD internet course followed by an in-person field course (any age), and an online-only course from approved providers that is open only to hunters 17 and older.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Texas?
Hunters under 17 who study online must finish with an in-person field course of at least 4 hours with a final exam. The online-only option for hunters 17 and older has no field course.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Texas hunter education cost?
The classroom course and the field course each cost $15, paid to the instructor, and some instructors may add range or facility fees. Online-only course fees are set by each provider; two internet courses are free for hunters under 17.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you hunt in Texas before taking the course?
TPWD's hunter education pages describe no separate apprentice license; instead an uncertified hunter may hunt accompanied (under 9 always, 9 through 16 as an alternative to certification, 17 and older with a deferral). Accompanied means by a licensed Texas hunter at least 17 who is certified or exempt, within normal voice control.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Texas offer a hunter education deferral?
Anyone 17 or older who is not certified may buy a one-time Hunter Education Deferral for $10 from license vendors. It lasts up to one year and only until the end of the license year bought, the holder must hunt accompanied, and anyone convicted of or given deferred adjudication for violating the hunter education rule cannot get one.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Texas hunter education card?
Proof of hunter education can be shown in the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app or printed from TPWD's online certification lookup. To correct a birth date or update a last name, TPWD says to call 512-389-4999. Proof of certification or deferral must be carried while hunting.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Texas accept hunter education cards from other states?
Texas recognizes hunter education certificates from all other states and provinces.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- List of carcass parts allowed into Texas from states with CWD (out-of-state import rule); the agency page returned an error when fetched. Check tpwd.texas.gov.
- Blaze orange on private land in Texas (no TPWD page read states a private-land rule). Check tpwd.texas.gov.
Hunting in Texas by the numbers
In 2024, 1,117,858 people held a paid Texas hunting license, down 1.3% from 1,132,186 in 2022, the 1st most of the 50 states. They bought 1,781,676 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (1,695,905 resident, 85,771 nonresident) for a gross cost of $49,743,147, 26.7% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Texas's 31,290,831 residents in 2024 that is 3.6 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 1,132,186 | 1,110,678 | 1,117,858 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 1,663,261 | 1,673,653 | 1,695,905 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 83,243 | 82,922 | 85,771 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 1,746,504 | 1,756,575 | 1,781,676 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $36,355,021 | $36,030,550 | $36,471,498 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $12,970,984 | $12,954,554 | $13,271,649 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $49,326,005 | $48,985,104 | $49,743,147 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Source: USFWS license data, checked October 27, 2026. USFWS counts each license year in the apportionment year two years later (licenses sold in 2024 are apportionment year 2026). License holders are not a count of hunters: hunters exempt from buying a license are left out, and some hunters buy licenses in more than one state. Population: Census Bureau 2024 estimate.
How much Texas land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 6,805,479 acres of Texas with public access, 4.0% of the state's 171,901,324 acres: 4,706,509 acres open access and 2,098,970 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 4,706,509 acres | 2.7% |
| Restricted access | 2,098,970 acres | 1.2% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 3,222,777 acres | 1.9% |
| Managed by state agencies | 2,544,893 acres | 1.5% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 1,037,809 acres | 0.6% |
| All public access land | 6,805,479 acres | 4.0% |
Source: PAD-US 4.0 (USGS), 2024 release, checked October 27, 2026. PAD-US does not record whether hunting is allowed: some of this land is closed to hunting, so check each property's rules with its manager.
What to do next
- Start the course on the agency's page: tpwd.texas.gov. Rules change each season, so read the current page before you buy a license.
- Getting ready for deer season? Hunt Ready's 8-week whitetail track puts the course in week 1, with fitness, shooting practice and field skills after it.
- Hunting data for the state: Texas hunting.
- Hunter education in other states