Top SPOTS for Bow Hunting in Texas
Hunting with a bow adds an extra dynamic and challenge that makes hunting so invigorating. The Average Outdoorsman outlines this in an article reviewing the pros and cons of bow hunting.
The author explains, “Bow hunting demands a lot from the hunter. It means having the right patience and skills to carefully understand the lay of the land, observe how the prey moves in its environment, being careful with your every movement, mastering the bow, and shooting when the right moment comes.”
Avid bow hunters are passionate about their craft, and most are always looking for that next best bow hunting experience. What better place to find such an experience than the Lone Star State?
The vast landscape of the great state of Texas offers a diverse array of hunting options. You have multiple terrains and several animals to choose from, such as deer, turkey, and hogs. Once you’ve renewed your hunting license, it’s time to plan your trip.
Bow Hunting Destinations in Texas
Texas Hill Country
The Hill Country tops our list as it has an abundance of game, including deer, turkey, and wild hogs. You’ll only see white-tailed deer while deer hunting in this region, but it also offers many exotics that roam free, such as Axis, Fallow, and Blackbuck Antelope.
You never know what you’re going to see, which makes the trip all the more exciting. You can hunt exotics year-round as the state only regulates native animals.
South Texas
If you want to see the bigger, trophy-sized deer, head down to South Texas. South Texas boasts some of the largest deer in Texas, but it is also home to a handful of exotics such as Nilgai Antelope from India. Turkey and hogs are still a hunting option as they are in much of the state. South Texas is flatter compared to the Hill Country, but you’ll find hunting on Sendero Roads allows you to bait and pull the deer out from the mesquite trees.
Speaking of Mesquite, the only downside to South Texas might be the abundance of cacti, Mesquite Trees, and other thorny vegetation that can be a pain if you don’t know how to navigate the terrain.
West Texas
Finally, if you like incredible scenery as far as the eye can see, then West Texas should be on your bow hunting bucket list. Here, you’ll find Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, and Turkey.
Elk have moved back into the area, and you can hunt them year-round, unlike the native Pronghorn Antelope. Note that the Pronghorn have a relatively short season and require a permit to be harvested.
While you’re in West Texas, you can also enjoy some of the state’s best camping at Big Bend National Park.
Time to Book Your Trip
There are plenty more options for bow hunters in Texas, but these three are the best starting points with a large variety of animals. Look for ranches that offer a day lease or even long-term leases in these areas, and enjoy your Texas bow hunting adventure!