How to Get Your 2025 Texas Hunter Education Course in 3 Easy Steps
Hunting in Texas is a deeply rooted tradition that contributes to wildlife management, conservation funding, and the state’s outdoor heritage. The state offers abundant opportunities for hunting deer, turkey, dove, ducks, and many other species.
However, with these opportunities comes the critical responsibility of practicing hunter safety. Good hunter safety essentials include proper firearm handling, wearing blaze orange for visibility, understanding the hunting laws for the state, and more.
What's the best way to learn how to stay safe? Hunter education courses are essential for preventing accidents and ensuring ethical practices.
Texas requires hunter education for most new hunters. So, if you're planning a hunt in 2025 (and looking ahead to 2026), keep reading to learn how to take your Texas hunter education course and get your hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Texas?
If you were born on or after September 2, 1971, you must complete a Texas Parks & Wildlife-approved hunter education course to hunt legally.
You must have this certification to purchase a hunting license. Briefly, here are your options:
1. Take an Online Course
If you’re 17 or older, you can complete the entire certification online. This means you can take the Hunter-Ed course for Texas, pass the quizzes and final exam, pay any required fees, and then you’ll be able to access your certificate to print a temporary one.
TPWD will email a link to print a permanent certificate.
An online course is the most convenient way to learn everything you need to know and get your certification.
2. Take an Online Course and Field Course (Young Hunters)
If you’re under 17 years old, after finishing the online portion, you’ll also need to attend a Field Day course. This is an in-person, hands-on instruction session to complete your certification.
Then, after all requirements are met, your permanent certificate is made available for download/print via the TPWD system.
3. Take a Classroom-Only Course
Hunters of any age can also take an in-person class with an instructor. Classes include six hours of basic hunting safety essentials, including firearm instruction and legal and ethical practices. Course fees include $15 plus any additional range or facility fees.
You'll also need to pre-register for the class on a date, time, and at a location that's convenient for you.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2025 Texas Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Texas hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Again, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971, you must complete a Texas-approved hunter education (safety) course before purchasing your license.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that with our online course, approved by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which license you need: resident, nonresident, youth, or specialty license (or a combination with fishing). Then, purchase your license online via the Texas Parks & Wildlife website, by phone, or at an approved retailer (e.g., sporting goods stores, TPWD offices, and other designated locations). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting (Digital or Printed)
You can choose a digital license (viewable via the Texas Hunt & Fish / Outdoor Annual apps) or have it printed. Always carry your license (digital or physical) when hunting.
If tags are required (for deer, turkey, etc.), make sure to tag your harvest properly.
Let's look at these steps in more detail.
Take the Texas Hunter Education Course Online!
Step 1: How to Take Hunter Education Courses in Texas
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course!
Our course:
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and TPWD.
- Saves your progress, so you can start and stop as needed to fit your schedule and work at your own pace.
- Includes illustrations, videos, games, and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, tablet, or computer.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. You'll need to score at least 75% on the exam to pass.
- Offered in English or Spanish for most states.
- Free access to the course study guide to help you learn the material and pass the final exam.
- Gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
You must be at least nine years old to take the Texas hunter safety course. Hunters 17 years or older can take our online course to get certified without needing an in-person or field day classroom session.
Want a sneak peek of the content? Check out one of the videos you'll see in the course and study guide!
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certification Card
After passing your exam, you have immediate access to print a temporary hunter certification card. We also send your course results to TPWD so they can issue your permanent card.
In your Hunter-Ed student dashboard, you'll see a button to "Print Course Certificate." Click that to print your temporary card. This convenience means you can get certified and go hunting on the same weekend!
Within a few weeks, you'll receive an email with a link to print your permanent card from TWPD. You can also print it from the TPWD website.
Your Card is Your Proof of Certification
Treat your card like you do other important documents. You'll need to carry your hunter education card as proof that you completed one of the approved Texas hunter safety courses before you can hunt.
When you're in the field, wildlife officials can ask to see your hunting license and safety certification, so make sure you have these documents handy.
However, if you lose it, you can download it and print it again from the TPWD website.
Step 3: Where to Get Your Texas Hunting License in 2025
Texas hunter education courses are now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember that you'll need a new hunting license every year. Last year's Texas hunting license isn't valid in 2025. Depending on what you plan to hunt or trap, if you're a resident or nonresident, or if you qualify for youth, apprentice, or senior hunting licenses, make sure you research carefully and purchase the correct license to hunt legally this season.
Texas also offers combination hunting and fishing licenses.
Buy Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to a retailer or you plan to hunt in Texas as a resident of another state.
You can buy digital or printed licenses and tags through the TPWD website.
Buy from a Retailer
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, Texas offers plenty of retail locations offering 2025 hunting licenses.
Use the "Find a Retailer" feature on the TPWD website to find a location near you. In general, most Academy Sports, Wal-Mart stores, other sporting goods stores, and some gun ranges offer annual hunting licenses in Texas.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Why do states require hunter safety education?
It's a vital part of responsible hunting (for new hunters and seasoned hunters), whether you’re using a bow, a crossbow, or a firearm.
When every hunter passes one of the approved hunter education courses in Texas, this helps ensure that hunters know how to protect themselves, others, and the environment while preserving the integrity of the sport.
Hunter safety education is crucial because it:
- Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Comprehensive training in firearm handling, safe shooting practices, and hunting techniques significantly reduces the risk of accidental shootings and other field-related injuries.
- Helps Create Skilled, Knowledgeable Hunters: Safety courses teach critical skills such as firearm safety, navigation, first aid, and survival techniques. They also teach respectful behavior toward other hunters, landowners, and the outdoors.
- Promotes Ethical and Responsible Hunting: Every hunter must be an ethical hunter. Hunter education emphasizes respect for wildlife, adherence to hunting laws, and the importance of sustainable practices to help ensure healthy animal populations for future generations.
- Ensures Legal Compliance: In most areas (including Texas), completing a certified hunter education course is required to purchase a hunting license. This reinforces the importance of understanding and following state regulations.
In short, hunter education helps keep the sport safe, maintains healthy animal populations, and teaches essential skills to help hunters tag out.
Take the Texas Hunter Education Course Online!
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
It's true that some states accept hunter safety certifications in other states. For example, Texas certifications are good in most states. This is known as "reciprocity."
However, without taking a course that's specific to the state you plan to hunt (for example, taking the Alabama hunter safety course for hunting in Alabama), you miss critical information about hunting in that specific state.
These state-specifics can include important rules and regulations that can be critical to hunting safely and legally in that state.
So, before you trust another course from another state or assume that "one course works in any state" to prepare you for hunting in Texas, take a few hours to sign up for the Hunter-Ed Texas hunter education course and get certified!
Why Choose Hunter-Ed
In addition to choosing a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know and meets the state's requirements, you get access to Hunter Perks — something no other hunter education provider offers!
Hunter Perks is an exclusive, free offering from the team at Hunter-Ed. As soon as you purchase your course, you will have full access to:
- Tools: Hunter-tested resources to help you hunt with confidence and success.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities: Additional course options to help you learn more skills, like archery and saddle hunting. You can take advantage of these courses at a discount!
- Easy Access to Hunting Regulations: You have easy access to learn about the hunting rules and regs for your state each year.
- Video and Article Content: Curated blogs and videos to help you keep learning and exploring how to be a better hunter.
Plus, you'll see contests to win free stuff and gear discounts to gather what you need for great hunts (while saving money).
The best part? These Perks never expire. You'll always have access to your Hunter-Ed dashboard and Hunter Perks to support you through a lifelong pursuit of hunting!
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Texas with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Texas hunter education course. You won't be able to hunt without it!
It's easy to sign up for the Hunter-Ed Texas course, finish every unit and quiz, then pass the final exam. Within a few hours, you'll be ready to hunt safely and legally in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to your questions about taking the Texas hunter education course!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Texas?
Yes, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971, you must complete a Hunter Education course to hunt legally in Texas.
Q: Can you take the Texas Hunter Safety course online?
Yes. Texas Parks and Wildlife offers an approved online hunter education course (like Hunter-Ed) that you can complete at your own pace.
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
We recommend signing up and completing your course a few weeks before the season begins, whether you're hunting spring turkeys or deer in the fall.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No! Your Texas hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in Texas after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is good for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $39.95. You'll also pay a fee of $5.25 to TPWD (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department).
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in fines, and your hunting license may be invalid until you complete the course.
