That the deer-hunting landscape is changing will come as no surprise to many Texans. The bucks are bigger. The tracking technology is state-of-the-art. And the sticker price for a weekend in a deer stand, once an austere pastime, has become, in many instances, staggering. So while the business of deer is thriving, participation is declining. What’s to make of all of this? And what does the future hold for a sport that has long occupied an important place in our state’s heritage?
Collection
The Thrill of the Hunt
Photograph by Nick Simonite
From the Issue
Notes on Life, Death, and Family From a Hill Country Deer Blind
"We both watch the blood and steam spill out into the winter air. At this point, it is not unusual for at least one of us to cry."
Jack Brittingham and the Obsessive Quest for Ever-Bigger Trophy Deer
The gear is better, the antlers are grander, and the price of admission has shot way up. Welcome to the new world of Texas hunting.
Meet the Next Generation of Texas Hunters
Austin’s Greater Calvary Bible Church believes the sport is a training ground for essential life lessons. Here’s how the congregation’s efforts defy hunting trends across the state.
How to Talk Like a Hunter
A brief primer so the next time you get an invite to your buddy’s deer stand, you won’t booger things up.
The Best Deer Hunts in Texas
Whitetail season is nearly upon us. Here are the destinations that belong at the top of every hunter’s bucket list.
Has Hunting Become a Rich Man’s Game?
The deer industry is booming. Participation in the sport is not.
From the Archives
On the Wings of a Dove
Praise the Lord for gentle creatures and pass the ammunition.
The Least Dangerous Game
Never been squirrel hunting? Here’s what you need to know: It tastes like chicken.
Hunting
Eat, Prey, Love
For decades, a treasured plot of Hill Country land meant one thing to the men in my family: a chance to kill lots of deer. Today, it means something different.
How to Field-Dress a Deer
So you’ve downed your first twelve-point buck of the season. But don’t break out the brewskis just yet: You’ve got some dirty work to do. “The minute the animal dies, it’s starting to decay,” says James C. Kroll, a.k.a. Dr. Deer from the Outdoor Channel (and whose formal job is