We are lucky to live in a state that is urban and urbane, but still celebrates the rural traditions that make Texas what it is.
In this issue of Fiscal Notes, you will learn that hunting is big bucks to the state’s economy – $2.2 billion annually. And deer are the most popular quarry. But to me, deer hunting has a more personal connection.
When I was a young girl, Thanksgiving meant going to my grandparents’ East Texas farm near Magnolia. Early on Thanksgiving morning, the men would go hunting. Invariably, my grandfather would return with a deer, dressed and freezer-bound. To my child’s mind, deer hunting and the holiday were synonymous. I thought families everywhere were hunting!
I know better now. But it’s hard to live in Texas and not be touched by hunting. It is not just a sport for rural Texans. Six in 10 hunters live in urban areas. Eight percent are women. I didn’t grow up to be a hunter. I prefer to bait a hook and try my luck. But Texas is a better place because of our great outdoors and the hunting it affords.
Enjoy this issue and please share with others.
Delane Caesar
Director
Public Outreach & Strategies
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