How Many Acres Do You Need to HUNT in TEXAS? Minimum Acreage Requirements

This is a very common question for landowners and hunters. Check out this short video to find out more about how many acres you need for hunting or discharging a firearm in Texas.

For full details and resources, check out the article I wrote on this topic at

For more information about your land, check out www.LandAssociation.Org

[spencerboaz]

I think most Texas Game Wardens just want you to be safe with firearms . I have 10 acres and I also have a large backstop
made from skitter tires stacked up . Two Game Wardens came to my house looking for my closest neighbor 1/2 mile from
me . She called them because someone was shooting across her land . The one Game Warden looked at my shooting backstop
and said "I wish other people would make those." I shoot a lot and am as safe as possible and they know it, so the Wardens and
I are good .

[jerrypauling]

They have been selling 8-10 acre tracts around our ranch, we have lots of deer and game, I guess it's time to high fence.

[frequentlycynical]

So, bottom line, you can unless you can't.

My daughter's family has about ten acres that is within the city limits of...well, a mid-sized city north of Austin. While they do most of their hunting on a lease on the Rio Grande, family and friends do some harvesting with cross bows.

[desmondmerka]

I go to my brother's Land he has 12 acres that back up to a creek and on the other side of said Creek is national Forest great place to shoot

[jeffreykcarlin]

Seems like if you just hunt from a tree stand, tripod or other elevated position shooting at a downward angle it takes all the steam out of the argument.

[freddylife]

Yea but is it legal to hog hunt at bars?

[ravensmill]

I totally love that show 'Lone Star Law'!

[brentshutt]

You could have 1000 acres where the bullet ends is what’s important
If you’re at the border of your property of 1000 acres and the bullet ends on the neighbors property hitting something someone you’re liable

[cowboy]

That is exactly why I hunted with a bow for many years here in Indiana.

[benzun]

I love Texas, but purchased large acres in Wyoming. I love the freedom of going out to my hill and shooting and firing. And hunting on it

[altonkenne]

Talk to you local game warden. Ciy hall and county courthouse. I did and i hunt and fill all tags every year in south texas out of city limits on a 2 acre tract. Theres a huge pile of dirt maybe 10 ft tall 35 ft wide on back corner towards a non used 3000 acre ranch. I put corn at base of the pile of dirt in the middle of pile and neck shoot at 35 yds never miss never had a deer run never had a slug stray. Its shot placement and direction you shoot that makes it safe ck with local law enforcement before you take a chance. Im lucky. My county has no land size minimum or distance from a dwelling most ppl where i live depend on wild game to survive. Everyone respects each other persons property boundries

[MikeA]

I just panicked for a second for my parents back home in unincorporated Johnson County. We got 6 acres and go shooting down at the bottom of the property towards a creek. Just googled and it looks like there might be technical rules, but for the most part, the JCSD says it's all cool as long as you're safe and mindful of your neighbors.

[RealRadNek]

But what about archery hunting? I called the game warden in Spring Texas and asked what the minimum was and he said there was none. So at least in 2018 when I asked, with a bow you could kill a deer in Spring Texas on a quarter acre lot as long as your arrow did not cross the property line. Didn't ask about firearm as hunting with a gun bores me :).

[NoName-txgn]

Hays county sheriffs office says no minimum to discharge as of 2 months ago

[williamtripletjr.]

I live in Bastrop county and it used to be 10 acres you could do recreational shooting or hunting. BUT! The acre you live on didn't count. So technically you need 11. Now the law is 5 acres, not counting the acre your house is on. If there's a predator or you're protecting life, livestock and so on you can shoot it no matter the amount of land you have.

[johnparks]

You have to have written permission from the land owner on your person. Min 10 acre

[VictorMartinez-vwgj]

Do bow hunt. Silent and deadly. And no ATF. Just saying.

[mausercal]

How much is an acre of land in Texas ? Out in the country away from town limits .

[leodanryan]

I'm pretty sure it's 11 acres. I have hunted on small properties with a bow and unless you get a very good shot and the animal dies quickly that's not enough. Rifle hunting would be easier, but if your neighbors are close it's probably too dangerous for them.

[SMASHTIME]

What if I just want to shoot at targets and not hunt? Same rules?