TexasCHLforum.com

Looks like we can hunt with silencers now:


NEW LAW ALERT: HUNTING WITH SILENCERS

Clients, Members, & Friends:

You may have heard the rumors, speculation, and talk show chatter that Texas has legalized hunting with silencers. Guess what, it is TRUE. On September 1, 2012, it will become legal in Texas to hunt alligators, game animals, and game birds with a silencer or sound suppressed firearm. Prior to this date, the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife had prohibited hunting alligators, game animals and game birds with a suppressed or silenced firearm, as well as a fully automatic firearm. While the prohibition against hunting with a suppressor has been removed, it continues to be illegal to hunt with a fully automatic firearm.

For you folks who like the legal details, the newly revised administrative regulation is found in Title 31, Part 2, Chapter 65, Subchapter A, Division 1, Rule §65.11(1)(A), of the Texas Administrative Code (that's a mouth full). The procedural history of the change can be followed on the Texas Secretary of State, Administrative Code website, for those of you who are interested.

Prior to this rule change, in Texas it was legal to hunt only non-game animals, such as wild hogs and varmints, with a silencer. However, starting on September 1, Texas hunters who are duly licensed may hunt whenever otherwise legal or in season, the following game animals with a suppressed firearm: mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep, gray squirrels, red squirrels, or javelina. For those of you who prefer hunting fowls, the following birds may be hunted in season using a suppressor: wild turkey, wild ducks, wild geese, wild brant, wild grouse, wild prairie chickens, wild pheasants, wild partridge, wild bobwhite quail, wild scaled quail, wild Mearn's quail, wild Gambel's quail, wild red-billed pigeons, wild band-tailed pigeons, wild mourning doves, wild white-winged doves, wild white-fronted doves, wild snipe, wild shore birds, chachalacas, wild plover and wild sandhill cranes.

Due to the recent popularity of hunting wild hogs with a suppressed rifle, there is reason to believe that the popularity of hunting all animals with suppressors will grow after September 1. If you or your friends are interested in becoming part of this growing trend, remember you must go through all the proper procedures and requirements as set forth by the ATF to legally possess and use a suppressor. Likewise, you also must be approved by the ATF to own a short-barreled firearm or fully automatic weapon. [Pre-paid legal service], LLP, has a specially designed program to quickly and efficiently assist our members in obtaining lawful possession of these cool weapons. Get one, enjoy, and good luck hunting!

Edwin Walker
President
[Pre-paid legal service], LLP