White tail deer hunting season opens November 7
By MIKE CEDENO
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Features
White-tailed deer rifle hunting season opens for north Texas on Nov. 7 and lasts until Jan. 3, 2010. Hunters from all over are gearing up to head to their respective areas, trying to harvest the deer of their liking.
According to wildtexas.com, the white tail population is largest in Texas, where an estimated three to four million deer reside. Adult males can reach lengths of over six feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Females tend to be smaller than mature bucks. Fawns less than six months of age have white spots scattered across their coats.
Texas hunters enjoy the sport for different reasons. Randy Newbury, a senior kinesiology major who hunts in southern Texas, enjoys being outdoors and away from the city.
"[I love] the freedom, you can get up and sit in your stand for several hours, or you can go scout, or if you wanted to, you could just sit in your deer blind all day and just see what you can see," Newbury said. "I like the feeling of being one with the wilderness."
Some hunters have participated in deer hunting since early childhood. Sophomore Dane Harbour hunts around the Panhandle and has been doing so since he was five-years-old.
"My grandfather hunts a lot, so he got me into it at a young age," he said.
There is no specific reason that hunters go out and brave the cold winter every year. Some enjoy the camaraderie; some do it because they want to find "the big one."
"I'm lured by the sensation of your heart pumping when you see a big 10-point [buck] walk out," Newbury said. "It's the excitement that gets me out of bed every morning. There's a possibility that I might bring home a trophy white tail."
One key to deer hunting is being up before the deer. This usually means waking before the sun rises and staying quiet as not to disturb the prey.
"You have to be there before it's light," Harbour said. "Otherwise, they will know you are around."
The winter cold can also play into a hunter's routine. Newbury does not let Mother Nature ruin his plans, however.
"[The cold] makes you feel alive, except just a little more miserable," he said.
For information on white-tailed deer hunting and safety guidelines, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
According to wildtexas.com, the white tail population is largest in Texas, where an estimated three to four million deer reside. Adult males can reach lengths of over six feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Females tend to be smaller than mature bucks. Fawns less than six months of age have white spots scattered across their coats.
Texas hunters enjoy the sport for different reasons. Randy Newbury, a senior kinesiology major who hunts in southern Texas, enjoys being outdoors and away from the city.
"[I love] the freedom, you can get up and sit in your stand for several hours, or you can go scout, or if you wanted to, you could just sit in your deer blind all day and just see what you can see," Newbury said. "I like the feeling of being one with the wilderness."
Some hunters have participated in deer hunting since early childhood. Sophomore Dane Harbour hunts around the Panhandle and has been doing so since he was five-years-old.
"My grandfather hunts a lot, so he got me into it at a young age," he said.
There is no specific reason that hunters go out and brave the cold winter every year. Some enjoy the camaraderie; some do it because they want to find "the big one."
"I'm lured by the sensation of your heart pumping when you see a big 10-point [buck] walk out," Newbury said. "It's the excitement that gets me out of bed every morning. There's a possibility that I might bring home a trophy white tail."
One key to deer hunting is being up before the deer. This usually means waking before the sun rises and staying quiet as not to disturb the prey.
"You have to be there before it's light," Harbour said. "Otherwise, they will know you are around."
The winter cold can also play into a hunter's routine. Newbury does not let Mother Nature ruin his plans, however.
"[The cold] makes you feel alive, except just a little more miserable," he said.
For information on white-tailed deer hunting and safety guidelines, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Be the first to comment on this story