Fish & Game

You Can Become a Bowhunter by Fall

Outdoor enthusiasts, have you considered joining in on the sporting adventures, harvested meals and the connection to our heritage that bowhunting can provide? Join a newsletter that 96 percent of last year’s subscribers said provided help and enthusiasm in their preparation for a new hobby. Visit the TPWD Community Archery webpage and enter your email address to receive a series of monthly “Bowhunter by Fall” emails between now and the opening of archery season that will help you overcome common barriers.  

Steps for July:

Finding a place to hunt: If you don’t have access to land for hunting, consider hunting on public land. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s public hunting program offers chances to hunt on over 1 million acres of publicly accessible land located throughout Texas. Programs such as mentored hunts and Hunting 101s can also provide opportunities. 

Scouting your hunt: When you have identified a place to hunt, you will need to find the game you are targeting. “E-Scouting” uses electronic resources, apps, maps, websites and social media to get an overview of the property and hunting locations. Highlight the areas that provide the best opportunity for game encounters. Deer favor “edge” areas, where two or more habitats meet, such as a cedar thicket and a meadow. If you can, you should physically go to the property ahead of the hunting season to test your theories and scout, looking for deer sign that will indicate where they will be during the hunting season.