Game wardens or other commissioned peace officers may inspect certain hunting-related documents, equipment, wildlife resources, and containers, but not conduct such searches in a person’s residence, temporary residence, or on certain public roads.
Sec. 12.102. INSPECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES. (a) In this section: (1) "Residence" means a person's principal or ordinary home or dwelling place. (2) "Temporary residence" means a place where a person temporarily dwells or seeks shelter. The term does not include a hunting blind. The term does include a: (A) hunting club or lodge; (B) clubhouse; (C) cabin; (D) tent; (E) manufactured home used as a hunting club or lodge; and (F) hotel room, motel room, or room in a boardinghouse used during a hunting trip. (3) "Wildlife resource" means any animal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or form of aquatic life or any part of an animal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or form of aquatic life the hunting, catching, or possession of which is regulated by this code. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department who observes a person engaged in an activity regulated by this code or under the jurisdiction of the commission or reasonably believes that a person is or has been engaged in an activity regulated by this code or under the jurisdiction of the commission may inspect: (1) any license, permit, tag, or other document issued by the department and required by this code of a person hunting or catching wildlife resources; (2) any device that may be used to hunt or catch a wildlife resource; (3) any wildlife resource in the person's possession; and (4) the contents of any container or receptacle that is commonly used to store or conceal a wildlife resource. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department may inspect any wildlife resource that has been taken by a person and is in plain view of the game warden or other peace officer. (d) Nothing in this section authorizes a game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department to conduct a search otherwise authorized by this section: (1) in a person's residence or temporary residence; or (2) on a publicly maintained road or way that is: (A) improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic; (B) open to the public; and (C) distinguishable from a shoulder, berm, or other area not intended for vehicular traffic. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 558, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.