It is unlawful to be in possession of a firearm while hunting with a broadhead HUNTING point during the Archery-Only season, except a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun in Texas may carry a concealed handgun.

NOTE: A firearm may be possessed in camp, in a motor vehicle, or while hunting lawful game other than whitetail or mule deer and turkey (e.g., exotics, feral hogs, squirrels).

Archery and crossbow equipment may NOT be used to hunt deer during the Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season.

Page 56 of your Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations handbook. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/means/

I don't know that area, sorry

Two very interesting points you bring up.

1. Unethical is a complex word.

Is it more ethical to harvest a deer with a long bow or shoot it in the ear with a rifle? Assuming equally good shot placement, it is hard to argue that the long bow is NOT more painful to the animal and a bloodier, slower death. If I were choosing how I was going to die in battle, I vote for the bullet in my left ear rather than an arrow through my lungs.

For the niche of people who hunt with spears (I have only met one person who has actually harvested a whitetail with a spear), how would you react to him telling you that you are unethical because you use a mechanical instrument to launch a projectile instead of your own body strength? Where is the line of what you call unethical?

Or, is it unethical to hunt for sport in general? Should you only be allowed to "harvest" a deer if you are in NEED of food? The word "harvest" does sound a lot like farming.

If you are hunting for food, young does taste better than old bucks. So we should harvest yearlings, like we butcher cattle at a young age. Which is more unethical, to kill yearling does for the best meat or old bucks for the best trophy antlers?

My grandmother shot the first whitetail she saw – male or female – because was not hunting for sport. She was “harvesting” meat. There were no early mornings, deer stands or deer blinds. In fact, you could argue that her vegetable garden doubled as a “food plot.” Was she unethical with her open sight 30-30 shooting from the door of her mobile home?

Why is hunting the mott of oak trees ok, but hunting the waterhole unethical as I mentioned above?

2. Private Property Rights vs. Public Property Rights

I don't think you mean that you would trespass on someone's land to shoot a wild animal? If you do, then how do you rationalize the ethics of that action? PS: You do realize that if you trespass on private land with a weapon you will either go to jail, get a big fine, or be killed by the landowner.

Texas, unlike many other states, is 95%+ private lands. However, the sun, wind, water (not always), and wildlife (not always) are property of the State.

If I choose to raise cows, can you come and harvest my cow - of course not. If I choose to raise quail, turkey, whitetail, pigs, or any other animal - just because that animal also exists in the wild somewhere - does that mean you have a right to harvest it on my land? Of course not. What if I have a natural grove of apple trees and wild berries, are you allowed to trespass and "harvest" the wild fruit on my land? No.

Your comments should serve as a wake up call for those who do not realize the perils facing the future of hunting as a sport, as a food source, and as a symbol of the rugged individualism that has defined America's past. Whether you believe your comments, or are just enjoying stirring the pot, I for one appreciate your posts (as long as there are not personal attacks involved.)

Duckwhacker,

My wife carries a .38 like what you are thinking about for the same reason of not wanting to deal with a semi-auto.

I carry a .40 Sig P226 in my bag, but it is really bulky for concealed carry in Texas except in winter. The .45 of course is way to big.

When in Houston in the summer, I carry a double-barrel derringer with .410 buck shot. Small, only two shots, but it is so small and easy to carry that I can have it on me comfortably. It is a great snake gun with dove shot while dove, quail or turkey hunting.

Great post! I totally agree!!!!

just so sad and painful, and unnecessary, and all any of us can do is promise ourselves to teach those we love to be responsible