License Required to Hunt and Fish Your Own Land

[Show Me]

Yes, but it’s still heavily abused and essentially not enforced at all. Treated like an add-on charge for something else. And it’s unenforceable by design almost. Perfect example is the doe I shot this year. I live in the same county I shot the deer in. When I checked in my deer with kdfwr online all it asked is for hunter identification, what county I shot the deer in, deer sex, and what I used to shoot it. There are occasionally deer in my front yard, so my checked in deer could easily have been checked in as a resident landowner deer and unless there were people who witnessed it (almost impossible) then there would be zero evidence of wrongdoing.

Some states require a more specific location which I think is a good idea. Reference gps location of the device checking in the deer, have the hunter pinpoint kill location on a kinda generic map, and then compare those. Of course there are issues of phone service and people driving around just to appear legal, but it’s better than it is now. Would also be more expensive to operate… but some states require hunters to field dress at the spot of the kill and then DNR can verify by finding the gut pile to see if it’s on the right property, public, private, posted or not…

Yes, but it’s still heavily abused and essentially not enforced at all. Treated like an add-on charge for something else. And it’s unenforceable by design almost. Perfect example is the doe I shot this year. I live in the same county I shot the deer in. When I checked in my deer with kdfwr online all it asked is for hunter identification, what county I shot the deer in, deer sex, and what I used to shoot it. There are occasionally deer in my front yard, so my checked in deer could easily have been checked in as a resident landowner deer and unless there were people who witnessed it (almost impossible) then there would be zero evidence of wrongdoing.

Some states require a more specific location which I think is a good idea. Reference gps location of the device checking in the deer, have the hunter pinpoint kill location on a kinda generic map, and then compare those. Of course there are issues of phone service and people driving around just to appear legal, but it’s better than it is now. Would also be more expensive to operate… but some states require hunters to field dress at the spot of the kill and then DNR can verify by finding the gut pile to see if it’s on the right property, public, private, posted or not…

I cut this way back. I totally disagree. You sound paranoid unless you live in a much more thiefing, dishonest state

 

[Bazoo]

Interesting that other states aren't nearly as free as we still are here. Thanks all for the replies. In this state, you don't have to live on the land, just own it. So you could own 100 acres in the country, live in town, and still hunt your own land without a license. Only tenants have to both live and work on the farm. But if you own "farmland" you don't have to actually farm it as long as it's classified as agricultural land, which is just about any land outside of the city limits.

I don't hunt all 18 of my acres, more like 3 or 4. Deer move between properties of course, but to suggest someone can't get a deer on less than 5 acres is absurd, not to mention small game like squirrel and rabbit.

Land owners do have to purchase a trapping license though here, unfortunately.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Kansass, (AKA- The "Free" State), requires a hunting license and tags to hunt your own land.
If you own 80 acres or more you can get a discounted Landowner tag. Some "enterprising" outfitters used to make deals with farmers to transfer the landowner tag to them so an out of state client could hunt on it but I think that loophole has been closed.

My understanding is that we didn't need a license in Kansas to hunt our own land...

I pulled this from a state website

"...a valid Kansas hunting license is required of all residents age 16 through 74 and all nonresidents, except persons hunting on their own land. "

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My understanding is that we didn't need a license in Kansas to hunt our own land...

I pulled this from a state website

"...a valid Kansas hunting license is required of all residents age 16 through 74 and all nonresidents, except persons hunting on their own land. "

Well, I've been wrong before...

 

[InTheSwamp]

FL

Deer: Hunting License + Deer permit everywhere. If you're hunting WMS, then WMS permit. Same with Turkey.
Wild Hog: Hunting License not required. Usually, WMS Permit is. You can hunt them year-round, day or night.

It's kind of complex around here.

 

[MrBorland]

In NC you don't need a license on your land. You just go get your tags

Right. This just came up in another context. In BC, you can apply for tags without a license to hunt on your own land. Show up at the processor or taxidermist, and they’ll require your tag #. By extension, skipping the whole thing by popping a deer in your back yard and processing it yourself without reporting it is a no-no.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Right. This just came up in another context. In BC, you can apply for tags without a license to hunt on your own land. Show up at the processor or taxidermist, and they’ll require your tag #. By extension, skipping the whole thing by popping a deer in your back yard and processing it yourself without reporting it is a no-no.

The only time you don't tag is with a de-predation permit. In which case you can't take the deer. Have to leave it

 

[MrBorland]

The only time you don't tag is with a de-predation permit. In which case you can't take the deer. Have to leave it

Well, right. I was assuming “hunting” is a different animal than “de-predation”. But AFAIK, you still have to call it in.

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks all for sharing, it's interesting seeing what everyone else has to deal with when hunting in their state. Its also eye opening that some states are much more restrictive. KY is in the middle I reckon, though we are one of the best states for gun ownership/carry.

 

[mcb]

Ohio, where I grew up, no license was need to hunt your own land (and landowner's family). Same in Tennessee where I current do most of my hunting and Alabama were I live.

 

[Cfish]

In Florida if it’s your homestead, you, your spouse and children can hunt without license. If over 65 no license is needed to hunt on other lands.

 

[Hugger-4641]

TN is similar to KY and doesn't require license for resident if hunting on 5 acres or more owned by you or immediately family, or if you are a tenant on agricultural land. When you report a harvested animal online as a land owner or other mentioned, you have to give county, map and parcel number of land it was taken on.
If you are checking an animal taken as regular licensed hunter, you only have to list county it was taken in.
I buy license anyway because I do hunt land other than my own, so I typically end up using both channels.
As for tags, you can print them out, but all that is required is you have the confirmation # of your reporting attached to animal before transporting the carcass.

CWD has changed some things. My county and two neighboring counties are not in the "CWD" unit, which consists of all counties that had have CWD positive animals. Carcasses can not be transported out of the CWD counties. So, if I were to kill a deer in one of those counties, I have to get it processed and/or taxidermy done in one of those counties. This is regardless if you are landowner or other.
You also cannot transport carcasses from out of state. So when/if I take deer in KY where I've been hunting some this year, I have to have it processed/taxidermy done in KY.
BTW, KY is also expensive for out of state hunters compared to TN.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I'm Illinois....?
Not only buy a license...but also a habitat stamp.
You would think if you built a pond...bought the fish to stock it
...that you wouldn't need a license!

Can't just take the king's fish...

 

[jmorris]

This is TX, in 2019 they dropped the license requirement for people hunting pigs on private property, with permission from the landowner.

A hunting license is required of any person (resident or nonresident), of any age, to hunt any animal, bird, frog or turtle in this state, except the following:

• coyotes, if the coyotes are attacking, about to attack, or have recently attacked livestock, domestic animals, or fowl.
• feral hogs on private property with landowner authorization.
• fur-bearing animals, if the hunter possesses a commercial trapper’s license.
• depredating fur-bearing animals, if a landowner (resident or non-resident) or landowner’s agent is taking fur-bearing animals causing depredation on the landowner’s land. No portion of the nuisance fur-bearer may be possessed, sold or retained for any purpose.

 

[dannyd]

Here in Florida you can purchase a Lifetime Sportsman License, so I got my grandson one when he was a week old, so he will never have to worry about that.

Sad thing is he is a member of the Class 2024, boy does time fly by.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Delete duplicate post

 

[Hugger-4641]

This is TX, in 2019 they dropped the license requirement for people hunting pigs on private property, with permission from the landowner.

If hunting pigs with paid guides in TX, you do have to purchase a permit.

 

[Bazoo]

Here in Florida you can purchase a Lifetime Sportsman License, so I got my grandson one when he was a week old, so he will never have to worry about that.

Sad thing is he is a member of the Class 2024, boy does time fly by.

I wish we could purchase lifetime permits here.

 

[jmorris]

If hunting pigs with paid guides in TX, you do have to purchase a permit.

I truly feel sorry for people who pay to kill them. They should at least get a free box of ammo if they are paying to pig hunt.

What permit do they have to buy and who has to buy them, the guide, hunter or both?

 

[Hugger-4641]

I truly feel sorry for people who pay to kill them. They should at least get a free box of ammo if they are paying to pig hunt.

What permit do they have to buy and who has to buy them, the guide, hunter or both?

I'm not sure if the guides had to buy anything, but I and my Sil's definitely did. I think I've still got it at home , I'll post it later if I find it.

 

[JDeere]

Damn pigs are destructive here. I shoot the damn things off my back porch. It never ends.

 

[jmorris]

I'm not sure if the guides had to buy anything, but I and my Sil's definitely did. I think I've still got it at home , I'll post it later if I find it.

I dug a little deeper and there are a number of non game species where you do need a hunting license in Texas.



Pigs and coyotes are not on the list though. Oddly enough, you do need to have hunters Ed if you were born before Sept 1 1971 IIRC. They don’t say anything about paying the owner for the permission but it could be there somewhere or the Guide just wanted a little more going to TP&W. If the trip was before 2019 the law itself was different.




If anyone was wondering why someone would haul them around, this is the list of places you can take and sell them, here. If you trap them vs shoot.

https://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/swine/FeralSwineFacilities.pdf

 

[JDeere]

I dug a little deeper and there are a number of non game species where you do need a hunting license in Texas.

In Texas just buy a license and call it good plus it supports TPWD. Game wardens will be a lot happier as well. I get a super combo for like 35 bucks being over 65. Just common since and covers the bases...

 

[wombat13]

It's closed.. the landowner tag is in the landowners name. I get one a year for my 80 areas, and it must be used on my place and replaces my any whitetail any sex tag.. only 1 buck pre year in KS.

Based on the "range" of your average game animal, I don't see a problem with everybody having to buy a license. The whole "I own the land, therefore the game" is a royalty thing, that we did away with a long, long time ago.

Instead, the state owns the game.

 

[wombat13]

In NY, you must have a license to hunt all game, regardless of location. Landowners (50+ contiguous acres) automatically get a doe permit for the zone in which they own land. That doe permit is transferrable. As much as I dislike the state dictating to citizens and dislike taxes, I think the point is that you have to show proof of hunter safety training to get a hunting license. Much of NY is more populated than most states and I'd rather the state require proof of safety training than shut down hunting altogether. NY also made a rare change for the better a few years ago and dropped the license fees. It is now $22 for hunting/fishing license ($5 for <16 or 70+) and $10 if you want doe tags (up to two). If you can't scrape together $22 for your hunting license I'm sure you aren't paying for liability insurance and don't have anything in the bank to compensate someone if you cause damage (or injury).