ASK A WARDEN

How Can I Get Started in Hunting as an Adult?

Wei-Wei Lin serves as a game warden in the Hill Country after holding posts in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Gulf Coast and South Texas. She was often featured on the TV show “Lone Star Law.” She is happy to answer your questions about the Texas outdoors.

Q: I am a 30-something woman in the Texas Hill Country. I grew up appreciating the outdoors but never learned the basics of hunting or fishing. I would love to take the time to learn. I noticed there is a focus on encouraging youth to become involved in outdoor activities like hunting, but what about for us adults? Where should I start?

A:  Great question! Quick background, I grew up hunting with my family, but I was never very interested in it until after I graduated high school. By that time, I was too old for any youth hunting opportunities and not aware of any programs to get adults involved in outdoor activities. One of the most rewarding parts of my job now is introducing adults to hunting, fishing and boating. Not only does it allow adults to finally experience the activities they might have missed but it also empowers them as advocates to share with younger generations. This ensures that the importance of conservation is passed on to the next generation.

Even if you do not plan on participating in hunting, I highly recommend attending an in-person Hunter Education course facilitated by local instructors. The course is required (online or in-person) for anyone who plans to hunt and was born after Sept. 2, 1971 (with a few exceptions). Not only is the course a great way to learn about the requirements to hunt in Texas, it also allows you to network with people in your area, who may help guide you to local outdoor events and opportunities.

You might also look for mentored experiences, which provide invaluable instruction and support. Some of the programs I helped with over the years are hosted by TOWN (Texas Outdoors-Women Network) and BOW (Becoming an Outdoors-Woman), both outreach programs under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. From mentored hog hunts just outside of Dallas to weekend-long outdoor workshops on the coast in Rockport, women are introduced to outdoor activities (and I get to share my expertise) throughout Texas.

If you’re ready to give hunting a try, public hunting areas are accessible with the purchase of an Annual Public Hunting Permit (an addition to the general hunting license). There’s also the public drawn hunts program, which offers chances to hunt on large ranches and wildlife management areas. You may even get the opportunity to hunt at a state park, many of which are not usually open for hunting.

I recently saw the effects of these programs in action. I volunteered over the past two years as a mentor at the local state park for its public management deer hunt and workshop. I mentored a junior high school teacher for this year’s hunt. She grew up in a hunting family but never really got involved. She recently attended a BOW event, where she was introduced to the public drawn hunt program and decided to put in for a drawn hunt. She won the draw, where I taught her all the ins and outs of a hunt. She harvested her very first white-tailed buck and feral hog! While outreach through youth hunts is important, the impact of having a schoolteacher share her experiences with all her students is just as important. She’s able to influence numerous youths and explain the importance of conservation. What an incredible utilization of our public programs!

No matter what you decide to participate in, you can always reach out to a local game warden, and they can point you in the right direction.

Until next time. Stay safe, y’all!   

Have a question for the game warden? Email us at magazine@tpwd.texas.gov and we will pass it along to Wei-Wei.