From Survival to Sport: Tracking the Tradition of Hunting

by Linda A. Thornton

Long before brisket and Friday night lights, hunting defined the way Texans lived, worked, and passed down traditions. From bison on the open plains to white-tailed deer in the Hill Country, the pursuit of game has shaped not only survival but also culture, conservation, and even the state’s economy. Today, hunting remains a thread that ties generations together—part heritage, part sport, and all Texas.

Bison

Once upon a time, the American buffalo was Texas’ all-inone resource—meat, hides, and bones for tools. On the open plains, Paleoindians hunted them with stone-tipped spears, and later, Native tribes perfected communal methods like the buffalo jump. Early settlers declared Texas “a hunting paradise,” and professional hunters supplied booming markets until bison were nearly wiped out. Today, their story is less about harvest and more about heritage—reminding Texans of the deep ties between survival and stewardship.

Deer

White-tailed deer are practically woven into Texas identity. Native peoples hunted them with patience and ritual; settlers relied on them for food and hides. By the early 20th century, however, unregulated hunting drove deer numbers to dangerously low levels. Enter conservation: the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (now Texas Parks and Wildlife) rebuilt populations with laws, stocking programs, and habitat management. The result? Texas is now home to more white-tails than any other state—about 3-4 million animals—and deer season is a rite of passage for countless families.

FERAL HOGS & DOVE

Not all game is a success story. Feral hogs, descendants of domestic pigs gone wild, are destructive invaders. They tear up fields, spread disease, and multiply at staggering rates. Because of that, hunters are allowed to pursue them year-round, even by helicopter, in a uniquely Texan blend of necessity and adventure.

By contrast, mourning and white-winged doves bring another tradition—Texas leads the nation in dove harvests, with opening weekend often resembling a statewide holiday.

TALK THE TALK

Some Hunting Terminology

• Bag limit: The maximum number of animals you may legally harvest in a day or season.

• Blind: Camouflaged shelter used to conceal hunters.

• Button buck: A young buck with small antler nubs.

• Glassing: Scanning the landscape with binoculars or a spotting scope to locate game.

• Harvest: Ethical term for successfully taking game.

• Rutting: Breeding season for deer when bucks are most active.

• Skunked: Returning from a hunt without harvesting any game.

A LICENSE TO LONGEVITY

If hunting sounds like “old Texas,” here’s the modern twist: it still shapes the future. Texas leads the country in hunting licenses sold, and 100 percent of those dollars are reinvested in conservation through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. That provides funding for:

• Wildlife management that keeps game herds healthy

• Land and habitat conservation across millions of acres

• Texas Game Wardens enforcing laws and keeping the outdoors safe.

Every license purchased is an investment in tomorrow’s Texas.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Deer Country: Texas has more white-tailed deer than any other state—over 3–4 million animals.

• License Leader: Texas sells more hunting licenses than any other state.

• Opening Day Energy: On the first weekend of dove season, more than 250,000 hunters head to Texas fields.

• Hog Wild: Feral hogs cause an estimated $500 million in damage to Texas farms and ranches each year.

• Big Land, Big Hunts: The legendary King Ranch covers 825,000 acres—bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

TRACKING TEXAS CULTURE & RITUALS

Hunting here isn’t just for landowners or big spenders. It is an inexpensive and family-oriented opportunity. The annual public hunting permit ($48) opens more than one million acres for family-friendly hunting.

But, hunting in Texas is more than a pastime—it’s a cultural marker. From family deer leases to wild game dinners, from youth hunter education to conservation funding, the tradition reflects what makes Texas, Texas: wide-open land, respect for natural resources, and the understanding that something as old as survival still has the power to bring people together.

For most hunters, the sole purpose isn’t the kill— it’s the chase, the camaraderie, and the camp. The real reward comes in the packing, the traveling, and the time away with friends and family. In the woods, skills are sharpened: eyesight fine-tuned, hearing honed, patience tested. Passing those lessons to the next generation becomes a rite of passage, sometimes complete with a family’s own version of hand signals or whispered “sign language” to communicate quietly during the hunt.

Tradition also finds its way into the gear. A blaze-orange hat, vest, or jacket—required by law to be worn for safety—is often passed down to a young hunter, with the explanation that while the fluorescent color is highly visible to people, deer see it only as shades of brown or gray. Along with the gear comes a deeper lesson: the responsibility of a hunter is not only in the taking of an animal but in the respectful practice of field dressing and preparation.

And for some, even ancient customs live on. Dating back centuries, the “blooding” ritual is still observed, where the blood of a first harvest is smeared on a hunter’s face as a mark of respect, celebration, and initiation into a tradition that binds generations together.