31 Tex. Admin. Code § 65.152 - General Rules

(a) A person who holds an AMP is authorized to engage in the management of wildlife and exotic animals by the use of aircraft only on the tract(s) of land specified in the LOA. The AMP must be carried in an aircraft when the aircraft is engaged in activities authorized by the AMP, unless the aircraft is a UAV, in which case the AMP shall be in possession of the operator.

(b) A pilot of an aircraft used for the management of wildlife or exotic animals must maintain, on a daily basis, a flight log and report. The daily flight log must be current and available for inspection by game wardens at reasonable times. Each AMP holder and pilot shall comply with all FAA regulations for the specific type of aircraft listed on their AMP.

(c) It is lawful for a person who holds an AMP to contract with a qualified Landowner, Agent, or Subagent to act as a gunner the taking of depredating feral hogs or coyotes from a helicopter, provided:

(1) the contract is in writing and signed by the Landowner or Agent;

(2) a department-approved Subagent authorization form has been properly executed and is in the physical possession of the Subagent during all AMP activities in which the Subagent participates; and

(3) the AMP holder possesses a valid, properly executed LOA.

(d) A person (which includes a pilot, applicant, gunner, observer, or Subagent) commits an offense if:

(1) the person counts, photographs, relocates, captures, hunts, or takes or attempts to count, photograph, relocate, capture, hunt, or take from an aircraft any wildlife or exotic animals other than wildlife or exotic animals authorized by the AMP and LOA;

(2) the person intentionally harasses any wildlife or exotic animals by the use of an aircraft other than wildlife or exotic animals authorized in an AMP and LOA;

(3) the person participates in the take or attempted take of any wildlife or exotic animal other than depredating feral hogs or coyotes without having on his or her person a valid hunting license issued by the department;

(4) the person pilots an aircraft to manage wildlife or exotic animals without a valid pilot's license as required by the FAA;

(5) the person pays, barters, or exchanges anything of value to participate as a gunner, observer, or Subagent except as may be otherwise provided in this subchapter;

(6) the person acting as a gunner or pilot under an AMP takes or attempts to take any wildlife or exotic animals for any purpose other than is necessary to protect or to aid in the administration of lands, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life, or crops, except that any wildlife or exotic animals, once lawfully taken pursuant to this subchapter may be sold if their sale is not otherwise prohibited;

(7) the person acting as a gunner or pilot takes or attempts to take wildlife or exotic animals during the hours between 1/2-hour after sunset and 1/2-hour before sunrise;

(8) the person operates an aircraft for the management of wildlife or exotic animals and is not named as an authorized pilot by an AMP;

(9) the person takes, kills, captures, or attempts to take, kill, or capture more wildlife or exotic animals on properties than are specified in the LOA;

(10) the person uses an AMP for the purpose of sport hunting;

(11) the person is engaging in AMP activities and pilots an aircraft over land for which the person has not received written permission to overfly, except as is necessary to gain initial access to the land described in the LOA prior to commencing AMP activities and to leave following the conclusion of AMP activities; or

(12) the person otherwise violates a provision of this subchapter.

(e) It is lawful for a pilot operating under a valid AMP or AMP holder to use a UAV at any time solely for the purpose of locating feral hogs; however, no person may take or attempt to take feral hogs from a UAV.

(f) These rules do not exempt any person from the requirement for other licenses or permits required by statute or rule of the commission.

(g) The department may waive the fee requirements of this subchapter for an employee of a governmental entity acting in the scope and course of official duties.

(h) The department will not approve an LOA for the take of feral hogs on a tract of land where feral hogs have been released or liberated by or with the approval of the Landowner or Agent for the purpose of being hunted.

Notes

31 Tex. Admin. Code § 65.152

The provisions of this §65.152 adopted to be effective April 4, 2005, 30 TexReg 1952; amended to be effective October 30, 2011, 36 TexReg 7343; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 23, June 3, 2016, TexReg 4042, eff. 1/4/2017; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 51, December 23, 2022, TexReg 8732, eff. 1/1/2023