Permit To Kill Protected Wild Birds or Animals - "Depredation Permit"
PURPOSE OF THE PERMIT
Permits to kill protected wildlife may be issued to individuals who have evidence clearly showing such wildlife is causing serious damage to commercial agricultural, horticultural, or aquacultural interests, or is a threat to public safety (e.g., airports).This permit is not required to kill depredating nongame animals, including nuisance fur-bearing animals. Be aware there are restrictions on the possession of nongame animals. This permit does not authorize the take of migratory birds. Rather, a permit from the United States Department of the Interior or the United States Department of Agriculture is required to kill migratory birds.
A hunting license is required for anyone who kills protected wildlife under this permit.
PERMITS FOR MULTIPLE TRACTS
One permit may be issued for multiple tracts if: (1) the tracts are contiguous and under common ownership; or (2) the tracts are contiguous and leased by a common lessee (even if the tracts of land are not under common ownership). The presence of public roads does not affect the contiguity of tracts. If the tracts are not contiguous, a separate application and fee must be submitted for each tract.PERMIT PROCESS AND CONDITIONS
Permit applications must be submitted to the TPWD Wildlife Permits Office. Wildlife Permits Office staff will notify the local TPWD wildlife biologist(s) and game warden(s). Depending on the situation, a TPWD biologist or technician may need to conduct a site inspection to verify that serious damage has occurred or such damage is imminent, and that reasonable alternative control measures have been executed and were unsuccessful. When the species of concern is mule deer, pronghorn antelope, or bighorn sheep, a site inspection by a TPWD biologist or technician prior to application approval is mandatory. In this case, TPWD personnel must make recommendations to the applicant regarding ways to minimize the damage or threat. If heeding the Department's recommendations proves ineffective, then the Department may issue a permit to kill the protected wildlife. To obtain contact information for your local wildlife biologist or technician, please visit:![This link takes you away from the TWIMS Private Lands application.](img/icon_External_Link.png;jsessionid=4E71312D1E24EB40B78DE9D6EF5C0FC4)
If the application is approved, a permit will be issued within 10 days of TPWD receiving the complete permit application and application processing fee. Applicants who include an email address in the permit application will have the permit issued electronically (via email). Applicants are strongly advised to contact all adjoining landowners to notify their neighbors of their intentions to kill wildlife under the authority of a depredation permit. Applicants are expected to have tried other reasonable control measures prior to seeking a depredation permit. For example, allowing a group of hunters to utilize their antlerless deer tags or apply for and utilize antlerless deer permits to reduce or eliminate damage caused by the protected wildlife is expected where feasible. This permit does not authorize the killing of wildlife on authorized tracts where the crop(s) listed on the permit have not yet been planted.