Here's How to Get Ready For Another Successful Hunting Season in our Great State

Courtesy of Texas Fish and Game magazine.

Story courtesy of Texas Fish and Game magazine.

As the Texas sun beats down in mid-summer, serious hunters know this is the time to start getting ready for fall hunting season. Whether you’re chasing whitetail deer in the Hill Country, doves in South Texas, or feral hogs across East Texas, the key to a successful season is groundwork laid months in advance. Here’s a practical, Texas-focused guide to getting ready.

Inspect and Repair Hunting Blinds

The brutal Texas summer can take a toll on even the sturdiest hunting blinds. July and August are the perfect time to get out to your lease or land and do a full inspection.

Start by checking structural integrity—look for cracked wood, rusted hinges, and wasp nests. Patch holes, reseal edges, and repaint if needed, especially if your blind is exposed to the elements. Replace worn-out chairs or shooting rests and make sure windows still open quietly.

If you use pop-up or mobile blinds, air them out and check for tears or broken poles. Mice and mold are common problems if gear has been stored since last season.

Service Feeders and Fill with Corn

In Texas, where supplemental feeding is legal and common on private land, mid-summer is your window for feeder maintenance. Start by clearing brush and debris around the base of your feeders to reduce fire risk and rodent access.

Open up the control box and clean out insects or old corn dust. Check battery voltage, test timers, and run the spinner plate to ensure it’s tossing corn evenly. If your area gets visited by raccoons or hogs, consider upgrading to varmint-proof cages or solar panels to keep your feeders running reliably through fall.

Now’s also a good time to stock up on corn. Prices can spike later in the year, and having it on hand saves trips during the busy weeks leading up to opening day.

Refresh Game Cameras

Texas hunters rely heavily on trail cameras to pattern deer and monitor activity around feeders and water sources. Mid-summer is the perfect time to swap batteries, clear memory cards, and relocate or add cameras.

Focus cameras on trails, feeders, and water sources. Use fresh batteries or solar-powered options to avoid losing footage when it counts. Naming your cameras and logging GPS coordinates is smart if you manage multiple setups.

Clear Trails and Stand Access

If you’ve ever busted a big buck walking into your stand through knee-high brush, you know why this step matters. Take a weed eater or brush cutter and clear paths to your stands. Quiet entry and exit routes pay off during peak season.

Also consider trimming shooting lanes from your blinds or tree stands, especially if mesquite or yaupon has grown in since spring.

In a dry Texas summer, water becomes a magnet for wildlife. Walk creeks, tanks (ponds), and seeps to look for signs—tracks, droppings, and game trails. Setting up a blind or camera near a reliable summer water source can lead to great early-season opportunities.

Getting ready for hunting season in Texas doesn’t start in October—it starts now. By mid-summer, every hour you invest in maintaining equipment, filling feeders, and scouting habitat puts you closer to a successful and stress-free fall. The hunt begins long before opening day.

Visit Texas Fish and Game magazine for all the latest hunting and fishing news in Texas.