Malcolm Thompson III's Outdoors: Hunting season less than month away Posted On: Sunday, Oct. 5 2008 03:25 AM

Fall in Texas is a time of change. As the temperatures begin to slowly cool down and the days become shorter, it signals the start of the rut in whitetail deer and the start of deer hunting season.

If you have been in the state for anytime at all, you probably know that Texans take their hunting very seriously. Hunting is big business. The economic impact on many of the rural economies is enormous. Just drive through Lampasas on opening weekend and you'll see what I mean.

I'm not really what you would call a hunter.

I have nothing against hunting, especially when it's done in an ethical and legal manner. I'm not exactly accurate with a rifle, so most deer would have nothing to fear even if I did hunt.

I prefer to do my hunting with a camera. I am always on the lookout to get a picture of the big buck, or the new fawn in spring. I always enjoy talking to my friends and extended family members who hunt and hearing their perspective on the coming season and watching as their anticipation grows as opening day nears.

For all but six counties, the general deer season begins on Nov. 1. Texas offers a special youth-only season that occurs on the weekend before the start of the general season. This gives young hunters a chance to get out and experience hunting before the general hunting population takes to the field. There is also an archery-only season that is currently under way.

Most hunting in Texas takes place on private property. Many ranchers and large property owners decide to lease their property to hunters to provide another source of income. One thing that most of these property owners have in common is that they are passionate about their wildlife.

In recent decades, there has been a growing groundswell toward the conservation and improvement of wildlife habitat through sound management practices. More resources are available now than ever before as Texas Parks and Wildlife and other governmental and nonprofit entities help landowners achieve their goals of healthy, sustainable populations of deer and other game and non-game species.

I recently had an opportunity to visit with some landowners in Lampasas County who were gracious enough to give me a firsthand look at how the deer have benefitted from some of these management measures.

It was a truly enjoyable experience to sit and talk with them about the behavioral observations they had made of the deer and other wildlife on their property. It was really exciting to wait for the big bucks to come out of the brush to browse. It was good to see some big deer and to hear the landowners speak about how the bucks have progressed in development through the year.

The attachment with the land and the sense of accomplishment that successful stewardship brings was really evident as we talked. I left with the feeling that the land and wildlife there are in good hands.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us is an excellent resource for additional information on hunting, including general hunting regulations and access to hunting areas on public lands. Most county chambers of commerce in Texas have information on available deer leases in their area.

You can also do a web search for 'hunting leases in Texas,' and it will bring up several Web sites that specialize in bringing hunters and landowners together. For information about hunting on Fort Hood, be sure to log on to www.hoodmwr.com and click on the tab for hunting and fishing. There are some additional permits and requirements that you will need to hunt on the military reservation.

Hunting is another way to be part of the great outdoors in Texas.

Be safe and enjoy.