Texas Parks and Wildlife staff seek permission to expand fully digital hunting and fishing licenses statewide

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff asked the commission on March 26 to allow the agency to offer fully digital license and tag options for all recreational hunting, fishing and combination license types beginning with the 2025-26 license year.

The request, presented by Chris Cerny, business analyst for TPWD's Wildlife Division, would extend digital licensing and digital tag execution beyond the current mix of combo, youth and select specialty licenses to 56 recreational license and tag products, including nonresident options. Cerny said more than 148,000 digital licenses have now been sold and that digital tags have been executed more than 45,000 times so far in the current license year.

"The strong growth in sales of digital licenses over the past several years indicates that the digital program is popular with customers and supports the goal of expanding the digital option to additional license types," Cerny said.

Why it matters: TPWD said digital licensing and tagging simplify customer transactions, are compatible with field enforcement and can reduce paper handling. Game wardens use partner apps to verify digital licenses in the field; license holders remain responsible for furnishing proof on a mobile device. For harvested deer and turkey, TPWD requires a short handwritten carcass document remain attached even when a digital tag is executed.

What staff proposed: Staff presented amended regulatory language to Chapter 53 of the Texas Administrative Code (license issuance procedures) and related alignments in proclamation and tagging chapters so that digital options and tagging requirements are consistent across code and proclamation products. Cerny emphasized the rule changes would not eliminate paper licenses — paper options would remain.

Public feedback and concerns: As of the meeting staff reported 69 public comments on the proposal, with 45% in agreement and 55% either in disagreement or partially in disagreement. The main concerns grouped by staff included: customers worried that digital options would replace paper entirely; confusion among license agents and customers about how digital tags work; questions about field use when cell service or phone batteries fail; and worries about privacy and phone-data tracking. Cerny said the app can work offline and that instructions prompt users to finalize reports once they regain service.

Commission discussion and staff clarifications: Commissioners asked technical questions about the tagging workflow and data fields. Commissioner Patton asked whether the tag workflow requires entering the county; Cerny confirmed county selection is required during the harvest report workflow. Commissioners also discussed the relationship between the Texas Hunt and Fish mobile app (where tags are executed) and the Outdoor Annual app (which provides regulations and can display licenses but cannot execute digital tags). Staff said they will provide outreach materials for license agents and customers and consider better cross-linking between apps.

Next steps: Staff asked that the item be placed on the Thursday commission meeting agenda for public comment and action.

Provenance: TPWD presentation by Chris Cerny and subsequent commissioner Q&A (work session item 5).