AUSTIN, Texas — New residency requirements for Texas hunting and fishing licenses took effect Aug. 3, requiring applicants to provide additional identification to verify their residency before receiving resident-priced licenses.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the requirements in March as part of an effort to prevent people from falsely claiming Texas residency to obtain lower license prices and other resident benefits, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The changes took effect less than two weeks before annual hunting and fishing licenses go on sale Aug. 15.
Texas residents and residents of most other states can purchase licenses with a valid, unexpired driver license or personal identification card.
However, identification requirements vary depending on where an applicant lives.
Residents of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming can present either a valid REAL ID-compliant or non-REAL ID driver license or personal identification card. The credential cannot be temporary or limited-term.
Residents of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories must present a valid REAL ID-compliant driver license or identification card.
Applicants from those jurisdictions who hold a non-REAL ID license or identification card must also provide one of several additional documents, including an original U.S. birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, or an unexpired U.S. military ID.
Applicants who need to provide supplemental documents must complete their transactions in person at a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office or authorized agent location. TPWD does not process those transactions online.
People visiting from other countries must present a valid foreign passport along with any additional documents required for entry into the United States.
TPWD said the new requirements aim to ensure that only eligible residents receive resident license prices and benefits while reducing residency fraud.
