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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYes, feral hogs may be shot from helicopters in Texas in a regulated aerial-management operation—but that is not the same as sport hunting from an aircraft. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) says the permitted process applies to depredating hogs and requires authorization for the property; sport hunting feral hogs from any aircraft is illegal.
When is helicopter take of feral hogs legal in Texas?
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code §43.1075 allows a qualified landowner or the landowner’s agent, under a permit, to contract to participate as a hunter or observer in a helicopter operation taking depredating feral hogs. The statute also names coyotes and aoudad sheep. The governing framework is the Aerial Wildlife Management Permit program, not a general license to hunt from the air.
The law authorizes management of depredating animals under the permit system. TPWD explicitly says sport hunting feral hogs or coyotes from any aircraft is illegal under state and federal law. Calling the activity “helicopter hunting” can therefore be misleading: whether it is lawful depends on its management purpose and compliance with the permit and property-authorization rules.
Who may participate as a gunner?
A paying participant cannot simply book a seat and shoot. TPWD says a qualified landowner or landowner’s agent may pay to participate as a gunner, but an approved Landowner’s Authorization (LOA) must be on file before that person does so. TPWD’s qualification rules exclude people with certain serious Parks and Wildlife Code or Lacey Act violations. The agency’s permit FAQ explains the requirements.
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The statutory authority describes participation as a hunter or observer; the agency FAQ addresses when an eligible participant may pay to gun. The LOA and qualification requirements are not optional day-of paperwork.
Is a Texas hunting license required?
TPWD says a landowner or landowner’s agent may manage nuisance feral hogs on that property without a Texas hunting license. That answer concerns the license question only. It does not waive the aerial permit framework, the required property authorization, or other participation requirements.
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What property permission and permits are needed?
Aerial management on private land requires landowner permission and authorization for the tract where the activity will occur. TPWD says feral hogs may not be hunted from aircraft on private property without permission from the landowner or agent. The operation must also be authorized through the state’s Aerial Wildlife Management Permit framework; permission to be on the land by itself is not the complete authorization.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the rules do not establish
The statute and TPWD permit guidance establish who may participate and the legal framework; they do not, by themselves, establish the details of a particular operator’s current permit, firearm selection, flight or safety procedures, or the results of a specific operation. They also do not provide a current statewide hog-population estimate or a measured comparison showing how helicopter take performs against trapping or ground-based control.
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The displayed Texas statute records a 2025 amendment to §43.1075 effective September 1, 2025. Because permit details and legal requirements can change, consult the current TPWD FAQ and live statute before arranging an operation.
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