Teen Poaching Coverage

I JUST READ THE ARTICLE on the teen poaching crisis (Jan/Feb 2025 Issue), and it really opened my eyes. I knew poaching was an issue, but I had no idea it was this bad among young hunters.

I appreciate how Texas Fish & Game laid it out straight—this isn’t just kids being reckless, it’s a real problem that’s only getting worse. We need to do more to educate young hunters about ethics and conservation before they get the idea that breaking the law is no big deal.

Maybe stricter penalties or better outreach programs could help.

Jim Rodgers

I SAW THE PIECE you did on teen poaching, and while I agree it’s a problem, I wish more was said about how some kids don’t even know they’re breaking the law. A lot of these young hunters don’t have the right mentors, and I think we need more focus on education before we just blame them.

Some of these so-called “poachers” might not even know the rules because no one ever taught them. Maybe the state should focus more on outreach and making sure hunting laws are explained in ways kids can understand. Just my two cents.

Mark Wallace

Editor: It’s great to see people taking notice of this issue. Roy Neves, our publisher, has to take some credit because I have tried publishing the same investigations about issues in other states in other publications and no one would take it. I agree mentorship is paramount.

Hog Access Frustration

I LOVE HOG HUNTING, but finding a decent public spot in Texas is getting tougher by the year. I read all the time about how we have a hog problem, yet when I try to hunt them legally, it feels like jumping through hoops. Either the land is locked up by private owners, or the public land has too many restrictions.

If we really want to control these hogs, why not open up more land or make it easier to hunt them year-round? Something’s gotta give, because right now it feels like the only people winning are the hogs.

Travis M.

Houston Fishing Show & Gulf Great Whites

JUST WANTED TO SAY how much I enjoyed Chester Moore’s Great White Shark seminar at the Houston Fishing Show. I learned a ton about these amazing fish and really liked hearing about the Gulf sightings. It was awesome meeting Chester and the TF&G crew at your booth, too. Y’all always put on a great event, and it’s nice to see real outdoors folks who care about Texas wildlife. Keep up the good work, and I’ll be back next year!

Emily Davis

Editor: Thanks for coming out to see us!

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