Deer

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 and Wildlife Department again is offering services, drawings and permits to make it easier for hunters across the state to gain access...

Texas’ big buck forecast isn’t going to be great this season, but in a state long considered among the top whitetail destinations in the country, that type of prediction isn’t bad. Even in down or average seasons, we’ve still got it good when it comes to deer quality. We have the...

Chronic wasting disease has become a hot-button issue in the Texas white-tailed deer-hunting landscape, and the most recent positive test from a captive deer shot on a release site is only going to heat up the debate. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Texas Animal Health Commission are said to...

Chronic wasting disease is not prevalent in Texas, having only been discovered in the remote far western reaches of El Paso and Hudspeth counties, but as with other safety issues, deer hunters again are urged this fall and winter to take precautions to help curb the possibility of outbreaks...

Do you know where your deer hunting lease is? For many Texas hunters, this time of year is filled with the anticipation of strutting gobblers on crisp early mornings, but it’s also time to think about locking up a place to hunt deer come fall – especially if thousands of...

This deer season may not be one for the overall record books, but in Texas that type of prognostication isn’t dire. In fact, even in what biologists and land managers would term an “average” or even “below average” season, we’ve still got some great hunting opportunities. The Lone Star State...

There's no doubt there always will be rotten apples out there, but for the most part, the more than 1 million people who buy hunting licenses in Texas each year are law-abiding citizens. They’re people who go out of their way to be polite, courteous and open should they be...

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...

The Texas deer hunting forecast is always "good," though that statement comes with a caveat. In terms of quality and quantity, there's no place like the Lone Star State for deer hunters. We’ve still got the largest population estimate in the country and there is no shortage of big bucks...

It was a good year in 2013 for those of us who took part in all the hunting and fishing pursuits that Texas has to offer. And not simply because Dick Cheney didn’t shoot anybody — that we know of. With that in mind, here are 10 things hunting and...