Yes, night hunting is legal in Texas for certain species and under specific circumstances, but it is not generally legal to hunt every game animal after dark. Texas law establishes specific hunting hours for protected game, while allowing certain nongame animals and predators to be hunted at night. Additional restrictions can apply on public hunting lands, and the use of artificial light to take protected game is generally prohibited.
Is Hunting Wildlife at Night Generally Legal?
Texas law generally prohibits hunting protected game birds and game animals between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise unless an exception applies. This means that ordinary nighttime hunting of protected species, such as deer, is generally not permitted during those hours.
However, Texas regulations distinguish between protected game and other species. Certain nongame animals, furbearers, and predatory animals may be legally hunted at night when the applicable regulations allow it.
Therefore, whether nighttime hunting is legal depends primarily on what species is being hunted, where the hunt occurs, and which regulations apply.
Can You Hunt Coyotes at Night in Texas?
Generally, yes. Coyotes are classified as nongame animals under Texas hunting regulations. TPWD states that nongame species may generally be hunted at any time by lawful means and methods on private property, although specific restrictions can apply to individual species and public hunting lands.
For coyotes on private property, landowner authorization is still important. TPWD also states that no hunting license is required to hunt depredating coyotes on private property with landowner authorization.
The rules can be different on public hunting lands, where individual properties may establish additional restrictions.
Is Night Hunting of Feral Hogs Legal?
The answer depends on where the hunting occurs. Feral hogs receive special treatment under Texas law, particularly on private property. TPWD states that no hunting license is required to hunt feral hogs on private property when the hunter has landowner authorization.
TPWD’s wildlife information also identifies night shooting as a method used for controlling wild pig populations. However, hunters should not assume that every Texas property permits nighttime hog hunting. Public hunting areas can impose specific shooting-hour restrictions, and some public hunts expressly prohibit night hunting.
Thus, a hunter should check the rules for the specific property before hunting feral hogs after dark.
Can You Hunt Deer at Night?
Generally, no. Texas law generally prohibits taking protected game animals between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise. White-tailed deer are subject to established hunting seasons and legal shooting hours, meaning a hunter generally cannot simply hunt deer throughout the night.
Private property does not automatically eliminate these restrictions. A landowner or hunter must still follow the applicable deer season, shooting hours, tags, bag limits, and other requirements.
Can Artificial Lights Be Used for Night Hunting?
Generally, no for protected game. Texas Parks & Wildlife Code Section 62.005 prohibits hunting a game animal or protected bird with the aid of an artificial light that illuminates the animal or bird, including vehicle headlights, subject to statutory exceptions.
This rule is important because being allowed to hunt a particular species at night does not necessarily mean that every lighting method is lawful.
Hunters should distinguish between lawful equipment and prohibited use of artificial light. The applicable rules can also differ for nongame species and particular hunting situations.
Is Night Hunting Legal on Public Land?
Not necessarily. Public hunting areas can have regulations that are more restrictive than general statewide rules. TPWD’s 2026–2027 public hunting information demonstrates this distinction: some public hunting areas permit predators or furbearers to be taken at night, while other units specifically prohibit night hunting.
For example, TPWD identifies public hunting units where furbearers and predators may be taken day or night unless a particular unit’s Legal Game rules provide otherwise. Other individual hunts expressly state that night hunting is prohibited.
Consequently, hunters using public land should check the regulations for that specific property rather than relying only on statewide rules.
Do You Need a Hunting License at Night?
If a license is required for the species or hunting activity, the requirement generally does not disappear because the hunt occurs at night. TPWD states that a hunting license is required for the take of nongame species, subject to specified exceptions, while feral hogs and certain depredating coyotes on private property have specific license exemptions when the required landowner authorization exists.
Hunters should also check whether additional endorsements, permits, tags, or reporting requirements apply to the species being hunted.
Conclusion
Hunting at night is legal in Texas in certain circumstances, but it is not a blanket right to hunt wildlife after dark. Protected game animals and birds generally cannot be hunted between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, while certain nongame animals, predators, and furbearers may be hunted at night when permitted.
Feral hog hunting on private property can also be conducted under rules that differ from those governing protected game. Public hunting lands may impose additional restrictions, including complete prohibitions on nighttime hunting. Hunters should therefore verify the current TPWD regulations for the species, county, property, and hunting method before hunting after dark.
