TPWD Clarifies License Benefits For Active Military

Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has clarified the rules and guidelines for a new provision to provide free hunting and fishing licenses for Texas resident active duty military service members.

Service members are only required to present a current military identification card at the license counter to receive the Texas resident active duty military license. However, there are other materials they must be able to produce upon request to document their qualifications for the license. These include a military document indicating their home of record is in Texas or indicating they’ve been at a duty station in Texas for the previous six months. The license holder must be able to provide this material as part of legal proceedings in a game law violation case, for example.

The 79th Texas Legislature passed HB 1076, which directs the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to waive the all fees for hunting and fishing licenses for Texas residents currently on active military duty.

The new Texas Resident Active Duty Military “Super Combo” Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package (Type 510), is available at no cost to any Texas resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the Reserves or National Guard on active duty. The package includes all five state stamp endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, and migratory game bird, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag and upland game bird). The Federal Waterfowl (duck) Stamp is not included.

For a member of the military to qualify for a free “Super Combo,” he or she must have continuously resided in Texas for more than six months before obtaining the license.

The free active military license may be obtained at any location where Texas hunting and fishing licenses are sold, but not over the telephone or Internet.

A member of the military who does not qualify as a Texas resident for the purpose of obtaining a military “Super Combo” may purchase any resident hunting and fishing license. For more information, call (512) 389-4846.