Texas Gun Laws 2026

Texas requires no permit to buy a firearm, no registration and no state waiting period. At a licensed dealer the buyer shows photo identification, completes ATF Form 4473, and the dealer runs a NICS background check. A current Texas License to Carry can stand in for that check at most dealers. Adults 21 and older who may lawfully own a firearm can carry a handgun without a license, unless a recent qualifying conviction bars them. The License to Carry is still issued statewide by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Buying a gun

A purchase from a licensed dealer requires photo identification and ATF Form 4473, followed by a federal background check through NICS. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Texas adds no permit to purchase, no firearm registration and no state waiting period, so a buyer whose check returns a proceed can take the firearm home the same day.

Private sales between Texas residents need no state background check. Selling a firearm to someone you know is barred from owning one is still a crime.

Buying online and shipping to a Texas dealer

An online firearm order is shipped to a licensed dealer chosen at checkout. That dealer runs the background check and hands over the firearm. Ammunition, optics and most parts ship directly to the buyer's address.

Carrying a handgun and permits

The Firearm Carry Act, in effect since September 1, 2021, lets an adult aged 21 or older who may lawfully own a firearm carry a handgun without a license, either concealed or in a belt or shoulder holster. A conviction within the past five years for assault, deadly conduct, terroristic threat or certain disorderly conduct offenses bars a person from doing so.

A License to Carry is still available. The Texas Department of Public Safety, Handgun Licensing, issues it statewide, not through a county office. It costs $40, runs five years, and requires four to six hours of classroom instruction plus a range qualification with a certified instructor. Carriers must stay out of the places that state law or a posted sign closes to handguns.

Hunting rules

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sets deer seasons county by county. Harris County and the rest of the Gulf Coast and East Texas fall in the North Zone, where the 2026 to 2027 dates are:

Archery: October 3 to November 6, 2026
General season: November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027
Muzzleloader and special late seasons: January 4 to 17, 2027

The bag is four deer, no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless. In Harris County, only one buck may have an inside spread of 13 inches or more. Any legal firearm may be used on deer except rimfire ammunition, which is not allowed.

Feral hogs on private land with the landowner's permission need no hunting license, a rule in effect since September 1, 2019. A license is still required on public land.

For waterfowl, hunters need a hunting license, the Texas migratory game bird endorsement, HIP certification and a federal duck stamp. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun plugged to three shells, loaded with non-toxic shot, is the usual choice.

Buying and carrying requirements at a glance

Activity	What Texas requires
Buying from a licensed dealer	Photo identification, ATF Form 4473, NICS check; a current License to Carry can replace the check at most dealers
Minimum age to buy from a dealer	18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns (federal)
Permit to purchase, registration, waiting period	None
Private sale between Texas residents	No state background check
Carrying a handgun without a license	Age 21 or older, lawfully able to own a firearm, no qualifying conviction in the past five years
Carrying with a License to Carry	Issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety; $40 fee; five-year term; four to six hours of classroom instruction and a range qualification

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to buy a gun in Texas?

No. Texas has no permit to purchase and no firearm registration. The buyer completes Form 4473 and passes a NICS background check at the licensed dealer that receives the order.

Is there a waiting period in Texas?

No. Texas sets no waiting period, so once the background check returns a proceed, the firearm can be taken home the same day.

Who issues carry licenses in my county?

The Texas Department of Public Safety issues every License to Carry in the state, so a county sheriff's office is not involved. Applicants apply online, get fingerprinted, and complete four to six hours of classroom instruction plus a range qualification.

Can I carry a handgun in Texas without a license?

Yes, if you are 21 or older and not barred from owning a firearm. Carry it concealed or in a belt or shoulder holster, and stay out of the places that state law or a posted sign closes to handguns.

Laws change; confirm current rules with the state agencies named on this page.