How buying a gun in Houston works
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Texas law allows.
Texas adds nothing to the federal process. There is no state purchase permit, no waiting period and no registration, and dealers run the federal NICS check directly rather than through a state agency. At the counter you show a current photo ID, fill out ATF Form 4473 and wait for the check to clear. Federal age rules govern: 21 for a handgun from a dealer, 18 for a rifle or shotgun. When you order online, the firearm ships to the Texas FFL you name, and that dealer handles the paperwork and the transfer.
Dealers in these communities all work for Houston-area buyers:
- Pasadena
- Baytown
- Humble
- Spring
- Tomball
- Cypress
- Deer Park
- La Porte
- Katy
Carrying a gun in Harris County
Texas has allowed permitless handgun carry since September 1, 2021 for adults 21 and older who may lawfully possess a firearm. The optional License to Carry comes from the Texas Department of Public Safety, and it still has value for reciprocity in other states and for some posted locations. After a federal court ruling in Firearms Policy Coalition v. McCraw, DPS no longer denies license applications on the ground that the applicant is 18 to 20 years old. Posted private property, schools and courthouses remain off limits.
Hunting near Houston
Both of our Texas cities sit in the North Zone for white-tailed deer. For 2026-27 the North Zone archery season runs October 3 to November 6 and the general season runs November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with a special late season in January and youth-only weekends on either side. Centerfire rifles, handguns, shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders and archery gear are all used, and bag limits are set county by county in the Outdoor Annual. Feral hogs have no closed season on private land with the landowner's consent.
Harris County is in the Texas North Zone, where the 2026-27 general deer season runs November 7 to January 3. Most deer hunting is on leases outside the county, while feral hogs can be taken year round on private land with the owner's permission.
Weekend shooters here mix bay fishing, dove fields west of town and range time, and the wet bottomland along the San Jacinto keeps waterfowl and hog hunters busy through the winter.
Public shooting ranges near Houston
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the national forests in the states we cover. Most ask for a hunting license, a range permit or a small day fee, and hours change with the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency and U.S. Forest Service public range lists, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.