Compared to Texas, our hunting is mild

Let's face it, recreational hunting in my home state, Maryland, or in neighboring Virginia, is pretty tame when you compare it to Texas.

For example, I'm sure you'll want to know that the Lone Star State's alligator hunting season ended Sept. 30. And don't forget, the javelina season started Oct. 1.

It's a given that an alligator can be a tough character, but if you hunt the little wild cousins of pigs, the javelinas, try to make a killing shot while sitting up on a deer stand. If you're on the ground, be sure you can outrun a whole pack of the porkers because all of them might decide to come after you.

While you contemplate that for a moment or two, somewhere in Texas a week or so ago there was a "Tactical Flashlight Seminar," whatever that means. It sounds intriguing.

Then on Oct. 3 the Rio Grande turkey archery hunting season began. That and the mule deer and whitetailed deer archery hunt. Yes, they have muleys and whitetails. Neat.

Oh, before I forget, the pronghorn antelope season is open for permit holders. Actually, my friends in Texas didn't need to say that it was for permit holders only. I didn't think you could hunt those sagebrush-eating, sharp-eyed critters without a permit. Or were they talking about a very limited number of special licenses?

Either way, the Texans have mule deer, whitetailed deer, javelinas, alligators, Rio Grande turkeys (a relative of the eastern turkeys we go after), pronghorn antelopes, not to mention a bunch of snow and Canada geese, ducks and doves, squirrels, also feral hogs that grow as big as a Volkswagen.

So if you ever run into a Texan who complains about a lack of hunting opportunities in his state, smack him.