Duck Hunting in Texas

Duck hunting in Texas requires a hunting license.

To hunt duck or any other migratory bird in Texas, a hunter must possess both a hunting license and a migratory bird stamp endorsement. Licenses and stamps may be purchased at Texas Parks and Wildlife offices, sporting good stores and bait shops.

Migratory Bird Stamps

The stamp is required by anyone 17 years or older. Individuals 16 and older must have a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp, or duck stamp. Migratory Bird Stamps cost $7 and Federal Duck Stamps cost $15, as of 2010.

Hunting Hours

Waterfowl hunting hours are listed as one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Bag Limits

The daily bag limit for ducks is six. The Texas Waterfowl Digest states that bag limits may "include no more than 5 mallards, only 2 of which may be hens; 3 wood ducks; 2 scaup; 2 redheads; 1 pintail; 1 canvasback and 1 dusky duck."

Possession Limit

The total number of ducks which may be possessed is twice the daily bag limit.

Legal Methods of Hunting

Shotguns, bows, crossbows, falconry, dogs, "artificial" decoys and manual bird calls are all permitted. Hunting may be from open, blind, or floating crafts as long as the craft has sails furled and the motor stopped. Sink boxes are not permitted.

References

• Federal Duck Stamp
• Duck Bag Limits
• Waterfowl Digest