AUSTIN – With opening of dove hunting season only a couple weeks away, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reminds sportsmen that all current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) expire Aug 31. New licenses for 2018-19 go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Outdoor enthusiasts in Texas purchase more than 2.4 million hunting and fishing licenses annually. Hunters and anglers can purchase licenses online, by phone or in person at any of the agency’s 28 law enforcement field offices, at more than 50 state parks, and at over 1,700 retailers across the state.  Hunting and fishing license fees fund conservation efforts and recreational opportunities that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. Fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, public hunting leases, river access permits and Texas game wardens are just some of the initiatives funded in part by license fees.

Hunters can also enter to win any of 10 exciting premium guided hunt packages in the Big Time Texas Hunts drawing.  All lodging and food is included and most of the packages allow winners to bring friends along to hunt. There are packages to hunt bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, alligator, waterfowl, upland game birds, wild hog and exotics. New this year is an opportunity to hunt Nilgai antelope in South Texas. Big Time Texas Hunts entries are available online for $9 each at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buyentry or for $10 each at license retailers or by phone at (800) 895-4248. Big Time Texas Hunts raises over $600,000 each year for wildlife research, habitat conservation efforts, and public hunting programs in Texas.

Hunters and anglers can also purchase an entry in the Lifetime License Drawing. Three lucky winners will each win a Lifetime Super Combo License and never need to buy another Texas hunting or fishing license again.  Entries are $5 each and can be purchased online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/licensedraw, by phone or at any license retailer. The first entry deadline for the three monthly drawings is September 30 with the first winner drawn on October 1. Any entries not drawn will automatically be included in the next drawings on November 1 and December 3.

When making their purchase, license buyers can add a donation of $1, $5, $10 or $20 to help support the “Feeding Texas’ Hunters for the Hungry” program or the Veterans Commission’s Veterans Assistance Fund.

Donations to the Hunters for the Hungry program provide hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to participating processors, and this processed meat goes to local food banks to feed Texas families in need. Donations to the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) program provide grants to veteran service organizations and nonprofit charitable institutions that assist veterans and their families at the community level throughout Texas.

2018-19 hunting and fishing licenses and special drawing entries or Big Time Texas Hunts entries are available online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buy, at license retailers or by phone at (800) 895-4248. The online transaction system is available 24/7. Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a required $5 administrative fee for each phone or online transaction, but unlimited items can be purchased during a single transaction for this $5 fee. All of these license sales outlets offer the opportunity to make a donation to help veterans and/or families in need of food.

Hunting and fishing regulations for the new season are available in the Outdoor Annual in print, online and on the Outdoor Annual mobile app. A limited number of Outdoor Annual booklets can be picked up at any of the 1,700 license retailers.

To get more information on Texas hunting and fishing throughout the year, sign up for free email updates at www.tpwd.texas.gov/email or by texting TPWD HUNT or TPWD FISH and your email address to 468-311 (ex. TPWD HUNT myemail@emailaddress.com).