Season of Safety: Avoid These Common Texas Hunting Mistakes

Spending time in nature with friends or family with a rifle or bow slung over your shoulder are some of the most memorable moments for Texans. As with anything spent with wild animals or projectile weapons, safety should be at the forefront of any planning.

Unfortunately, Texas has seen its fair share of injuries and even deaths when safety measures are not followed during hunting trips.

Recent Injuries and Deaths from Texas Hunting Trips

Fatal Hunting Accident

In November of 2024, a man was out hunting with a partner. He had his rifle slung over his shoulder with the safety OFF. As he bent down to pick something up, the gun fired, striking his partner a ways back. The victim later died from the injury.

Even though the man took a hunter's education course, he was still reckless while handling his firearm around others.

You should always keep the muzzle of your gun pointed in a safe direction, and you always unload when not actively hunting while ensuring the safety is on.

Non-Fatal Hunting Accident

In a non-fatal example from February of 2024, a 31-year-old man was hunting feral hogs with a .22 LR.

The hunter found a clearing with small hogs running around. As he took aim and prepared to shoot, a fully-grown pig attacked him from behind, causing the man to accidentally shoot himself in the foot.

Obviously, nature cannot be controlled, but in this instance, keeping the muzzle directed away from yourself and keeping your fingers away from the trigger when not ready to aim would have saved him a trip to the hospital.

Where to Get Your Hunting License in Texas

If you are interested in taking the proper courses to earn your hunting license, you can visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) website page to apply.

You can also see the full list of hunting season dates as well from TPWD here.