License to Carry while Hiking in Texas

handgun-02-520x340Many hikers and people who enjoy the outdoors are interested in owning a firearm for hunting and self protection. Among this population exists a subset that is interested in obtaining a Texas license to carry. Hiking often affords the possibility of hunting (when in season and in an area where hunting is legally permitted). Moreover, sometimes a hiker might have occasion to use a firearm for self protection when on a hike and away from areas where law enforcement can easily police.

It is a fairly straight forward process for a hiker to obtain a Texas license to carry from the Texas State Department of Public Safety. According to the State of Texas Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter H all applicants for a license to carry a firearm must meet the following criteria for eligibility:

  1. All applicants must be at least twenty-one years old. There is an exception for active duty military.
  2. All applicants must comply with all Federal requirements to buy a firearm (See Federal statute 18 USC 44 §922).
  3. No applicant may have a felony conviction.
  4. No applicant may have certain misdemeanor conviction resulting in probation or adjudication that has been deferred.
  5. No applicant may have certain pending criminal charges (see Texas state statute GC §411.172).
  6. No applicant may have a dependency on alcohol or narcotics
  7. No applicant may be diagnosed with certain psychiatric or psychological illnesses (see Texas state statute GC §411.172).
  8. No applicant my have an outstanding protective order or restraining order issued against them.

All applicants for a license to carry a firearm in the State of Texas in addition to the above eight requirements must then complete the following additional steps:

  1. All applicants must submit a complete application.
  2. All applicants must pay all required fees.
  3. All applicants must complete the required training courses.
  4. All applicants must submit all required supplemental forms.