Quoted:
You covered it. Just pay the $20 or whatever it is for the basic license. You dont ''have'' to, but its just easier. Either way, its your call.

To answer your question, you don't have to have one, its your property or you have permission if its on someone elses property and you aren't hunting you're exterminating pests. Remember that. ;)

Quoted:
Here is what I was told by TPWD last year when I had a friend come into town to hunt..

If you are "hunting" fereal hogs you NEED a valid Texas Hunting License, does not matter if its your land or not...

Here is were most like to abuse and twist the law..

If you are doing Depredation hunt you do not need a license BUT you may not keep ANY of the meat or remove the dead swine from the property were it was killed.

IT is much easier just to get the basic hunting license and make sure your covered..

Quoted:
I get the full boat combo license for free every year, so I'm covered either way.

Quoted:
According to the most recent publication by tpwd, you have to have a license no matter what. Do y'all read these?


Exotic Animals and Fowl

Exotic animal refers to grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hoofed or cloven-hoofed mammals that are not indigenous or native to Texas and are known as ungulates, including animals from the deer and antelope families that landowners have introduced into this state. Includes, but is not limited to feral hog, Aoudad sheep, Axis deer, Elk, Sika deer, Fallow deer, Blackbuck antelope, Nilgai antelope, and Russian boar. Exotic fowl refers to any avian species that is not indigenous to this state, including ratites (emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary, etc.).

There are no state bag or possession limits or closed seasons on exotic animals or fowl on private property. It is against the law to:

Hunt an exotic without a valid hunting license.
Hunt an exotic on a public road or right-of-way.
Hunt an exotic without the landowner's permission.
Possess an exotic or the carcass of an exotic without the owner's consent.
Penalty: A person who violates these laws commits an offense that is a Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor ($500-$4000 and/or up to one year in jail).

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) regulates the movement of feral swine for disease-control purposes. For more information please call TAHC at (800) 550-8242 or visit the TAHC Web site.

Quoted:


As a matter of fact, I have read the annual, as I do every year when it comes out.  It also says this on page 29:

A hunting license is required of any person, regardless of age, who hunts any animal, bird, frog or turtle in this state (except furbearers, if the hunter possesses a trapper’s license). No license is required for nuisance fur-bearing animals (see pg. 77), depredating hogs or coyotes (see below). Non-residents under 17 years of age may purchase and hunt with the Youth Hunting License (Type 169).

• Coyotes, if the coyotes are attacking, about to attack, or have recently attacked livestock, domestic
animals, or fowl.
• Depredating feral hogs, if a landowner (resident or non-resident) or landowner’s agent or lessee is
taking feral hogs causing depredation on the landowner’s land.
• Fur-bearing animals, if the hunter possesses a trapper’s license or if the fur-bearing animals are
causing depredation

Since hogs can really tear up your property when they breed uncontrollably, you don't need a license to shoot them if they are tearing it up.  Period.