Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Tired old question - tired old subject - from a tired old guy!

Since I make several trips to Texas each year, I usually buy the "Non-resident Special Hunting (Type 107): $125" license and was about to do this, online, for next year.

I stumbled onto " (Type 550): Non-Res Nongame Permit" for only $60 (but does not include a set of Ginsu Knives).
I can’t seem to find any description of this.

Sooooooooo . . . .

Does anyone know if I can save 65 bucks and just buy this Nongame Permit?
Or
Is this permit for something else, like commercial stuff?
Or
Should I just stay home, drooling on the couch, drink a beer and hope to see something naked on TV?

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Regards, Bill McGighan

Well Bill I can't find any info on the 550 either, but for sure the type 107 is for more than non-game:

Non-resident Special Hunting (Type 107): $125 Valid to hunt: Exotic animals, all legal game birds (except turkeys), all nongame animals, squirrel and javelina (not valid for alligators or other game animals).

My best "guess" is that the 550 is for those are only after non-game, and that it's good for a year, but that would only be a guess since I can't find any documentation on it either.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/shop/licenses/hunting/#nonres

>>Tired old question - tired old subject - from a tired old guy!
>>
>>Since I make several trips to Texas each year, I usually buy the "Non-resident Special Hunting (Type 107): $125" license and was about to do this, online, for next year.
>>
>>I stumbled onto " (Type 550): Non-Res Nongame Permit" for only $60 (but does not include a set of Ginsu Knives).
>>I can’t seem to find any description of this.
>>
>>Sooooooooo . . . .
>>
>>Does anyone know if I can save 65 bucks and just buy this Nongame Permit?
>>Or
>>Is this permit for something else, like commercial stuff?
>>Or
>>Should I just stay home, drooling on the couch, drink a beer and hope to see something naked on TV?
>>
>>-----
>>Regards, Bill McGighan

Thanks Joe,
I found it listed in the "online" ordering form.
I've sent the question to TPW and will post their response when the send it.
-----
Regards, Bill McGighan

I would say to stay home and watch out for the nudity and drool. Just don't settle for a naked "something" because that area is too broad. By this statement I guess you can tell how well my year has gone so far.

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Steve W.

..
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Regards, Bill McGighan

no such provision for any non-resident for reptiles other than the 5 day special ( 157 ? ) permit and i was told this again by texas parks and wildlife just this past week. Yes you can renew at after the 5 day. Unless you are looking for someting else, you are waisting money on any other permit if you are a non-resident. $45.........the last years hand book clearly ( yeah sure ) states this.
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

Thanks Mike
(sigh).....I guess I'll pay $125 ....... again... (sigh)
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Regards, Bill McGighan

other than the $45 5 day special permit ? Even at renewal for another 5 days, you are only spending $90 oppose to $125.
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

If anyone is going to spend more than nine nights hunting the $125 license makes sense. You have to remember that technically a ten day license is only good for nine nights of collecting unless you stop at midnight the last night or start after midnight on the first night.
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Steve W.

I'm not really complaining, Mike.
It's just my scotch soul! LOL
Personally I average about 4 to 8, 2 week plus business trips to Dallas per year, and on every one of them, being semi-retired, my wife and I try to hit the field for another week. The year round license is fine for me.
It's really nice herpin' on someone elses dime!!!!

I just couldn't find any info on type 550 and it only showed up as the last one when you went into the purchase phase of buying the license online.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/licenses/online_sales/list_available_online/index.phtml

It's different than the old "Non-Resident Five-Day Special Hunting " (Type 157).
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Regards, Bill McGighan

Scotch soul or no, laddie, it sounds leek a barrrrrgin t' me! If I wernah from Texas, I would pey the 125 jest ta stey out a reach o' th long arm a th law! LOL! I don't know what it costs to hunt out of state in any other states but I would have to grin n bear it. I will hunt Florida and Arizona I hope next year and am getting ready for the payout. There isn't very much out of state that i want to see, but there are a few things i will pay for.
Todd Hughes

Wow, Todd,
I don't think I've ever seen anyone write with a scottish accent!
.
Florida doesn't require anything.
AZ requires a hunting license and there is a 3 day version.
www.gf.state.az.us/pdfs/h_f/herp_regs.pdf
.
On your way to Florida there is some great herpin':
LA requires a fishing license.
MS ????
AL ????
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Regards, Bill McGighan

Heheh, I was havin a lil' fun!Glad to see I didn't upset anyone! I really hope to get around a bit more now that all the kids are out on their own! I'm not old yet but that scenario made me feela bit older! Just gotta get used to not checking bedrooms and condition of the family car, etc., lol! Hope to make 1 or 2 more runs at west Texas this year yet. Any rain out west? It rained in east central Texas a little and I heard DFW got slammed.
Todd Hughes

" all the kids are out on their own"
This is one of the major plateaus in life. Personal freedom and $$$$$$.
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Regards, Bill McGighan

I am soooo hearing that but am awaiting the "boomerang effect"! One must have enough socked away for an emergency....like a 3 day getaway to alternaland!!! Looking forward to some time out west.
See ya' 'round the Bend!
Todd Hughes

OK, Sports fans and athletic supporters, here’s the O-FISHAL TPW response in its entirety:

……………………………………………………………………………….
Dear Bill,

Thank you for your email correspondence regarding non-resident hunting permits. We appreciate hearing from our customers especially when you have questions or concerns regarding the products or services we offer.

To hunt snakes, what is required is the Non-game Collecting Permit: Type 550: $60 - Collecting: To collect, keep, sell or trade non-game animals.
This permit is issued at any Texas Parks and Wildlife Office or with a retail license agent.

Non-game dealer Permit: Type 551 - Dealer: to buy for resale. This permit is issued only through the Wildlife Division.

Please contact April Chronister in the Wildlife Division at (512)
389-4585 for further assistance regarding these permits.

Non-resident Special Hunting (Type 107): $125 - Valid to hunt: Exotic animals, all legal game birds (except turkeys), all nongame animals, squirrel and javelina (Not valid for other game animals, NOT VALID FOR DEER). Stamp endorsement requirements apply. This license is for someone to hunt all season.

If you have any questions or need additional information, the License Team can be reached at 1-800-792-1112, Option 5, and then 2.

Sincerely,

Patsy Martinez
Corporate License Agent Coordinator
mailtoatsy.martinez@tpwd.state.tx.us at 1-800-792-1112, Option 5, and then 2.
……………………………………………………………………………….

The way I read it, unless you're blasting Thumper while you're visiting, the permit is sufficient!

And, if you do want to blast Thumper and enjoy some "Quail in Ancho Chile and Honey Sauce" to boot, you don't have to pay extra to sample a GBK!
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Regards, Bill McGighan

So, how long is this non-game permit good for? The entire year? In other words, is this a better option for the whole year instead of non-game special hunting for $125?
Glenn

A definite maybe, Glenn.

I have two questions sent in to TPW on email for clarification; these folks are generally helpful and quick to respond.
1. Is it yearly?
2. Is this permit in addition to hunting license?
I'll post when I find out.
-------------------------------------------------

I have to say this in frustration and I'm not singling out Texas.
In fact I think Texas has clearer and more reasonable non-game laws the many other states.
Many states like AZ and my own TN have clear statements on downloadable PDFs or FAQ pages. You can agree or disagree with the laws, but at least you know where you stand.
.
As a general rule, since I travel all over this fantastic country of ours and always research the laws ahead of time, many (maybe most) state DNRs make the non-game laws so cryptic and hard to clearly find and understand that the negative effect is on those of us who are law abiding citizens and want to follow the rules; we just need to know the rules!

I've talked to several law enforcement officers (usually when I'm fishing) in some states that have as much trouble understanding the laws as we do.
.
Let's face it, most reptiles don't bark, don't require much space, seem to be damn near anaerobic LOL, and aren't necessarily in big hunting and fishing locations so wildlife officers are thin and underfunded. This makes the potential for poaching reptiles and other non-game violations high. Folks who are ignoring season and bag limits are probably less likely to care about licenses needed.

Ok…. I feel better ….
Hopefully more to come …….

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Regards, Bill McGighan

You're right Bill. Some state's codes pose more questions than they answer. In California the confusion seems to arisen primarily during a cultural change at DFG over the last decade or so. A wag charactorized the shift as "the bait and bullet boys meet Sean." Evidence remains from the old camp,ie: open season, no license, no limits, any method of take of any rattlesnake. An odd artifact given the otherwise restrictive tone of the regs...
Mostly though, many thanks for your work "pinning-down" Texas!

Agreed, good work and thank you. Even though a resident, your sleuthing can only do good for those outta towners that want to obey the law, and it can only work in our favor when the LE know we are doing the right thing on their watch! Also a good source to refer to for new adventurers and us forgetful type! Check Chris McMartin's page for some other state's reg's.He posts on the field notes forum sometimes.
Todd Hughes

.
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Regards, Bill McGighan

If you are going to visit west texas and hunt multiple times in the year, the first license you mentioned would be preferable. Otherwise you can purchase a five-day non-resident non-game license. When I hunt there for ten days each year I purchase two consecutive nr ng licenses and come out ahead.

Marlon

I finally got clarification from TPW.

The “Non-Resident Nongame Permit”, Type 550, is intended for non-residents who plan on selling what they catch.

A hunting License is required with this permit.

So back to square one. For those of us who are not commercial, buy a hunting license.

I apologize to any "out of of staters" out there that I’ve mislead here with this thread, trying to chase down this permit.

Lesson - Don't listen to some clown on the internet in regards to legal matters!!!!

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Regards, Bill McGighan

Copy that. LOL. Thanks Bill