Texas Porch

Hunting

Alligators Have a Short Spring Hunting Season Here

Hidalgo County is in the non-core zone for alligator hunting, with a season from April 1 through June 30 and a limit of one per person per year.

Hidalgo County The Great Outdoors

Alligators live in the resacas—old river channels—and drainage canals of the lower Rio Grande Valley. Hidalgo County is in the non-core zone for alligator hunting.

In the non-core zone, the season runs April 1 through June 30. The limit is one alligator per person per license year. That is a tight window and a small limit, so plan ahead.

To hunt alligators, you need a standard hunting license and a CITES tag from TPWD—in non-core counties, you must immediately affix a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) to the alligator at harvest, then submit a Non-Core Alligator Hide Tag Report within 72 hours with a $21 fee to receive the permanent CITES tag by mail. The tag tracks the harvest. Getting onto good habitat is the hardest part—most suitable land is privately owned. Confirm the season dates and that tags are still available before you go. Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual for current rules.

Source to confirm: TPWD – Hidalgo County Outdoor Annual Regulations

More Hidalgo County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes

Hidalgo County has one office that values your property and a different office that collects the taxes—you need to know which to contact.

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Homestead Exemption

A Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill

If your home is your main residence, you can file for a homestead exemption that reduces how much of its value gets taxed.

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Taxing Units

Your Tax Bill Comes From Many Different Entities

Hidalgo County has 56 active taxing units, so your total tax bill is the sum of rates from several different entities.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value

Texas law lets qualifying farmland and ranchland be taxed on what it produces rather than what it could sell for, which can cut the tax bill significantly.

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