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Planning your outdoor adventures in Texas for 2025? Understanding your license options can save you both money and hassle. The Texas Super Combo License offers significant value for residents who both hunt and fish, but is it right for you? This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about this popular license bundle.
What Is the Texas Super Combo License?
The Texas Super Combo License is an all-inclusive package exclusively available to Texas residents that combines hunting and fishing privileges with five state endorsements at a discounted price. Priced at $68 for regular residents and $32 for seniors (65+), this comprehensive bundle saves purchasers up to $18 compared to buying each license and endorsement separately.
This license serves as your one-stop solution for nearly all recreational hunting and fishing activities throughout Texas, eliminating the need to carry multiple licenses or worry about missing endorsements.
What’s Included in the Super Combo Bundle?
The Super Combo package includes:
- Resident hunting license
- Resident fishing license
- Archery endorsement
- Freshwater fishing endorsement
- Saltwater fishing endorsement with a red drum and spotted seatrout tag
- Upland game bird endorsement
- Migratory game bird endorsement
What’s not included: The Federal Duck Stamp, which is required for waterfowl hunting, must be purchased separately.
This comprehensive coverage makes the Super Combo particularly valuable for outdoor enthusiasts who participate in multiple hunting and fishing activities throughout the year.
Who Should Choose the Super Combo License?
Ideal For:
- Active multi-sport outdoorspeople who both hunt and fish regularly
- Bow hunters who also enjoy fishing (archery endorsement included)
- Diverse anglers who fish both freshwater and saltwater environments
- Bird hunters targeting upland and migratory species
- Value-conscious residents looking to save on multiple endorsements
- Seniors aged 65+ who qualify for the discounted $32 rate
Not Recommended For:
- Non-residents (not eligible for the Super Combo)
- Single-activity enthusiasts who only fish OR only hunt
- Occasional anglers who might benefit from one-day licenses
- Specialized hunters/anglers who don’t need all included endorsements
Digital License Options for 2025
Starting with the 2025-2026 license year (beginning August 15, 2025), Texas will expand fully digital license options to include all recreational hunting, fishing, and combination licenses. This significant update builds on the initial digital license pilot program that began in 2022.
Key features of the digital Super Combo license include:
- Smartphone accessibility – Store and display your license through the official TPWD mobile apps
- Paperless convenience – No need to carry physical documentation
- Digital tagging – Complete tagging of harvested deer, turkey, and oversized red drum through the My Texas Hunt Harvest (MTHH) mobile app
- Offline functionality – Access your license even without internet connectivity
This modernized approach eliminates the worry of forgetting or damaging paper licenses while in the field or on the water.
Comparing License Options in Texas
When considering your options, it helps to see how the Super Combo compares to other available packages:
| License Package | Regular Fee | Senior Fee (65+) | Hunting | Freshwater | Saltwater | All Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Combo | $68 | $32 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combo Hunting & Freshwater | $50 | $16 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Combo Hunting & Saltwater | $55 | $21 | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Combo Hunting & All-Water | $60 | $26 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Freshwater License Only | $30 | $12 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Saltwater License Only | $35 | $17 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| All-Water License Only | $40 | $22 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Data from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, updated for 2025
If you only fish or only hunt-but not both-purchasing individual licenses makes more economic sense. Similarly, if you exclusively fish in freshwater or saltwater (but not both), a more specific license package might save you money.
How to Purchase Your Texas Super Combo License
Texas provides several convenient options for obtaining your Super Combo License:
Online
Visit the official Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) license portal. Note that online purchases incur a $5 administrative fee.
By Phone
Call 800-895-4248 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The same $5 administrative fee applies to phone purchases.
In Person
Purchase at any of the approximately 1,800 license retailers across Texas, including sporting goods stores, bait shops, and many grocery chains. No administrative fee applies when buying in person.
For the 2025-2026 license year, new licenses will be available starting August 15, 2025.
License Validity and Renewal Information
All Texas hunting and fishing licenses, including the Super Combo, expire on August 31 each year, regardless of purchase date. This fixed expiration date aligns with hunting seasons and simplifies administration.
For 2025, key dates to remember:
- Current licenses expire: August 31, 2025
- New licenses available: August 15, 2025
- Purchase window: August 15, 2025 – August 31, 2026
Unlike some other states that offer year-from-purchase validity, Texas annual licenses always follow this fixed cycle. However, licenses purchased between August 15-31 provide a small bonus period, as they’re valid immediately upon purchase and still run through August 31 of the following year.
Lifetime License Options
For dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, Texas offers a Lifetime Super Combo License for $1,800. This license:
- Never expires
- Covers all hunting and fishing privileges included in the annual Super Combo
- Provides one red drum tag annually
- Eliminates the need for annual renewals
While the upfront cost is significant, frequent hunters and anglers who plan to enjoy Texas’ outdoor resources for many years may find this option economically advantageous in the long run.
Cross-Border Fishing and Reciprocity
Texas has reciprocity agreements with Louisiana and Oklahoma that allow licensed residents to fish border waters without purchasing a nonresident license:
Louisiana Reciprocity:
- Texas residents 65+ can fish anywhere in Louisiana with just a Texas senior fishing license
- Texas residents under 65 can fish in shared border waters like Caddo Lake, Sabine River, and Toledo Bend Reservoir with just a Texas license
Oklahoma Reciprocity:
- Texas residents 65+ can fish in Oklahoma with just a Texas senior license
- Oklahoma residents 65+ can fish in Texas with just an Oklahoma senior license
- Lake Texoma has its own special licensing options
These agreements can provide additional value for Super Combo license holders who live near state borders.
Conservation Impact of Your License
By purchasing a Texas Super Combo License, you directly contribute to conservation efforts throughout the state. License fees fund essential programs including:
- Fish stocking in public waters
- Wildlife habitat management and restoration
- Public hunting land acquisition and maintenance
- Conservation law enforcement
- Research and monitoring of fish and wildlife populations
These conservation initiatives ensure sustainable populations of game and fish species while maintaining balanced ecosystems across Texas’s diverse landscapes.
Is the Super Combo available for non-residents?
No, the Super Combo License is exclusively available to Texas residents. Non-residents must purchase separate hunting and fishing licenses at higher rates.
Can I upgrade from a regular combo to a Super Combo?
No direct upgrade path exists. However, residents who purchase “Combo” packages specific to either salt or freshwater fishing may upgrade to the “All-Water” package by purchasing the additional endorsement not included in their initial package.
Do I need a fishing license when fishing from a private pond?
No license is required when fishing on private property in Texas.
Are there any days I can fish without a license?
Yes, the first Saturday in June is designated as Free Fishing Day in Texas, when anyone can fish in public waters without a license.
Does the Super Combo include fishing in all Texas waters?
Yes, the Super Combo includes both freshwater and saltwater fishing endorsements, allowing you to fish legally in all public waters throughout Texas.
Special Exemptions and Considerations
While most people need a license to fish or hunt in Texas, there are some notable exemptions:
- Visitors fishing within Texas state parks (from shore or pier only)
- Anglers fishing in privately owned waters
- Texas residents born before January 1, 1931
- Persons with intellectual disabilities fishing as part of medically approved therapy
- Children under 17 years of age
Always carry your license when hunting or fishing in public waters and be prepared to present it upon request from a game warden.
Conclusion: Making the Right License Choice
The Texas Super Combo License offers excellent value for residents who actively participate in multiple hunting and fishing activities. At $68 (or $32 for seniors), it provides comprehensive coverage while supporting vital conservation efforts across the state.
When deciding if this bundle is right for you, consider your planned activities for the year:
- If you’ll hunt AND fish (especially in both freshwater and saltwater), the Super Combo likely offers the best combination of value and convenience
- If your outdoor pursuits are limited to just hunting OR just fishing, one of the more specific license packages will better serve your needs
- If you’re a senior (65+), the discounted Super Combo rate of $32 provides exceptional value
With digital licensing expanding in 2025, Texas continues to modernize its approach to outdoor recreation, making it easier than ever to purchase, carry, and use your licenses while enjoying the state’s abundant natural resources.
