Texas hawking land questions

[tsmith101]

Hey, I live in the Fort Worth area, and i have an interest in falconry. I have just a general question about hunting. Are there any requirements for the land that you hunt your bird on? Can you hunt on private property? I read the state regs and I didn't see anything about what I asked. Do you require a hunting license when hunting on private property? Thanks for the help.

[Falcon Boy]

You would need permission to hunt on private property, just like any other type of hunting. Same with the hunting license, you would need one to my knowledge. I've never heard of one not being needed in any state.

[nanahawk]

Basically if its a rule for hunting in general it applies to falconry. (In Texas you cannot hunt from a car you can not lamp hunt ect). You can hunt on private property so long as you have permission from owner (see Texas rules and regulations on trespassing). You do require a hunting license as well as a stamp for any game you intend to take if required (duck for instance), and a hunter education cert as well.

And you are also required to hunt with a copy of your falconry permit and your birds acquisition documents on hand.

[tsmith101]

So can you hunt on public property if its allowed?

[nanahawk]

Yes you can however I would advise against it. The majority of hunting property in Texas is privately owned property. Because of that there are allot hunters that get packed into that public space during hunting season. And they all have weapons that could kill your bird.

[tsmith101]

what about just like a park in my city?

[nanahawk]

Parks are not a great idea IMO. In most cases city ordinances will not allow hunting in parks, if they do you still have to deal with unwanted dogs,cats,and people that can disrupt a hunt. Let alone offending a group for either 1 keeping a hawk "captive" or 2 letting the hawk kill another creature.

Really the best thing you could do is some legwork and try and find private fields you can hunt in, get ahold of land owners, and get permission to hunt those areas. Do that before you ever get a bird. I have found that since Texas is such a hunter friendly state it's very easy to get land to hunt on. I just introduce myself explain my purpose, I might even suggest they join hunt when the season starts so they know what to expect. Promise to at least keep the land in the condition I found it in (or improve it if need be). I have yet to be turned down.

[tsmith101]

How do i find out who owns the land if it is just a plot of land not off of any roads?

[nanahawk]

That can depend on the area, sometimes there are signs, or neighbors to ask. I know a realtor that helps me from time to time . If not look for another field. But You might be getting a little bit ahead of yourself.

Your sponsor can help you a bit on locating land in your area. But first you need to have a sponsor. Before you start worrying about getting land, Get out in the fields with falconers, this can let you see what kind of fields you need to be looking for. It helps you to see what kind of a commitment this takes, and puts you in contact with potential sponsors.