Hunting

The dusty breeze tickled the tops of spindly mesquites and thick bunch grass as I descended the steps of the tower stand. At the bottom, the icy chill of the late November morning hit me square in the face as binoculars were raised for what seemed like the 100th time. The...

Hitting a baseball is like sighting in a firearm for Texas deer hunters preparing to head afield in search of whitetails. When you first chew on it, that statement may sound puzzling. But upon closer inspection, both pursuits can be broken down into three simple steps: Load, aim and shoot. When...

Texas has a long and documented history of hunting and fishing excellence. However, sometimes it helps to stack the odds in our favor, something that officials from Texas Parks & Wildlife and other agencies and organizations have done for decades. And while those efforts mostly have been aimed squarely at...

  It’s a safe assumption the majority of Texans are fully aware of the regulations associated with dove hunting, but there remain common violations that game wardens continue to see each September. Most of them are easily avoidable, and in all reality, these issues rest at the heart of conservation: It’s...

The largest barrier to hunting in our state is the fact that upwards of 95 percent or more of it rests in private hands. However, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department again is offering services, drawings and permits to make it easier for hunters across the state to gain access...

Quail are a rainfall-dependent species, and thanks in large part to increased moisture during the right life cycles, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists say this fall and winter season should be improved. Lingering drought across much of the core quail hunting areas in spring and summer 2013 resulted in...

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Public Hunt Drawing System will be online-only beginning with summer applications for hunts ranging from deer and turkeys to alligators and exotics. The drawings also include eight specifically for youth only. Applications will only be accepted online, and in a change from the past, no “Applications...

Spring means turkey hunting season in Texas. It's also synonymous with prime time for trout fishing along the coast. South Texas remains the top location, far and away, to find the biggest whitetail bucks in the state. That’s true, regardless if you’re hunting under a high fence, low fence or even...

Texas hunting seasons again are here, and with a little help from Mother Nature things are looking up for doves, deer, ducks and a host of other wildlife. With that in mind, here is a preview for fall hunting seasons, including the best areas of the state for a variety...

Exotics have been a staple on the Texas landscape for roughly a century, with game ranches stocking hundreds of thousands of antelope, deer and other horned critters of all shapes and sizes. In most cases, the exotics are welcome for the thousands of dollars per head they can bring via...