How buying a gun in El Paso 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 no state layer to the federal process. There is no purchase permit, no registration and no waiting period, and dealers run the NICS check directly with the FBI rather than through a state agency. At pickup you show a current photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473 and wait for the check to clear, which usually takes minutes. Federal age limits apply: 21 for a handgun from a dealer, 18 for a rifle or shotgun. Order online and the firearm ships to the Texas dealer you name, who handles the transfer and charges their own fee.
Dealers in these communities all work for El Paso-area buyers:
- Socorro
- Horizon City
- San Elizario
- Clint
- Fabens
- Canutillo
- Anthony
- Tornillo
Carrying a gun in El Paso County
Texas has allowed permitless handgun carry since September 2021 for adults 21 and over who may lawfully possess a firearm, openly in a holster or concealed. The optional License to Carry is issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety and remains useful for reciprocity in other states and for some posted locations. After federal litigation over the age limit, DPS no longer refuses applications solely because the applicant is 18 to 20. Schools, courthouses, polling places and properly posted private property stay off limits with or without a licence.
Hunting near El Paso
Texas Parks and Wildlife sets white-tailed deer seasons county by county, with most of the state split into a North Zone and a South Zone and the Trans-Pecos handled separately for mule deer. The usual pattern is archery from early October, a general firearms season opening in early November and running into January, and special late and youth-only seasons around it. Centerfire rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders, shotguns with slugs and archery gear are all legal for deer. Bag limits are set county by county, so read the current Outdoor Annual before you hunt.
El Paso County sits at the western end of the Trans-Pecos, where mule deer are the main big game and the general season is short and tag-limited. Most hunting is on private ranches or draw hunts, and the Franklin Mountains State Park is closed to it.
Desert shooting culture here favours flat-shooting rifles and long sight lines, and a lot of local practice happens on the Fort Bliss ranges or out on the public land north towards the Organ Mountains.
Public shooting ranges near El Paso
The ranges below are run by or officially listed by a state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest in the states we cover. Most ask for a hunting licence, a range permit or a small day fee, and hours move with the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forest and U.S. Forest Service public range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.