Field Notes

Fall hunting season in Texas brings more than just cooler mornings and changing leaves—it’s a prime opportunity for landowners to earn income, manage wildlife, and share their land with a passionate outdoor community. If you’ve got game on your property, you’ve got something hunters are actively looking for. But even the best hunting land won’t fill up if no one knows it’s available.

Every fall, hunters from across the country flock to Texas to chase doves, deer, hogs, waterfowl, and upland birds. From early opening days to exotic game opportunities, Texas offers one of the most diverse and exciting fall hunting seasons in the U.S. Whether you’re a wingshooter, a whitetail addict, or someone who just wants to pack as much action as possible into a weekend, the Lone Star State has it covered.

There’s nothing quite like a cold Texas morning in the marsh—the sound of wings, the distant chatter of ducks, and the anticipation of a good hunt. Whether you’re just getting started or finally setting up your own lease, understanding how to build an effective waterfowl spread is key to consistent success.

When temperatures rise and summer is in full swing, most people are thinking about beach days and barbecues. But for savvy outdoorsmen and landowners, summer is the perfect time to start planning for fall hunting and fishing. From booking access to preparing gear, the most successful fall seasons begin months in advance.

When it comes to private land hunting in Texas and beyond, access is a privilege—not a right. More hunters are realizing that private property hunts offer the best game quality, land management, and experience available. But as access grows, so does the need for responsible hunting etiquette.Whether you’re heading out on a BirdDog-arranged lease or invited by a private landowner, how you behave in the field can determine whether you’ll be invited back—or not.

When it comes to planning your next hunting season, one of the first big decisions is whether to pursue a hunting lease or book a guided hunt. Both offer incredible opportunities, but the right choice depends on your goals, experience, and budget. At BirdDog, we help hunters and landowners connect to ensure every trip—whether self-guided or fully outfitted—delivers maximum value.

The more a potential guest can picture themselves on your property — resting in a cabin after a long day, cooking a meal over the fire, or parking their RV near the woods — the more confident they feel about booking. Your accommodations tell that story. And the better you showcase them, the faster your bookings grow.

Your BirdDog profile isn’t just a digital listing — it’s your land’s business card.Every section you complete strengthens your credibility, improves visibility, and opens doors to new opportunities.Invest the time to build it right, keep it updated, and let BirdDog do what it does best: connect your acres to income while protecting the values that make your land special.

Optimizing and monetizing private land has never been easy — from scattered data and confusing reports to missed opportunities that require extensive research and work up-front. The BirdDog Landowner Intelligence Platform changes that.

Texas isn’t just big sky country and barbecue—it’s a hunter’s paradise. With over 95% of the state’s land privately owned, Texas offers some of the most diverse hunting opportunities and flexible land access anywhere in the nation. For hunters, this means unmatched variety and quality. For landowners, it’s an open door to transform their property into a profitable and sustainable hunting destination.

When fall arrives, hunters across the state gear up for one of the most anticipated times of the year—the Texas hunting season. For landowners, this season is more than just tradition—it’s a chance to generate income, improve land management, and strengthen community ties. With species like whitetail deer, hogs, and waterfowl in abundance, Texas offers some of the best opportunities for both hunters and property owners. Partnering with BirdDog makes it easier than ever to connect landowners with hunters eager to book guided hunting trips and hunting packages.

Managing land is about more than hunting—it’s about stewardship, financial planning, and maximizing your property’s value. IRS Section 180 provides landowners with powerful tax benefits by allowing immediate deductions for soil fertility improvements. Yet, many ranchers and farmers don’t take full advantage of it. Why? Because execution requires soil testing, documentation, and CPA collaboration. That’s where BirdDog comes in.

For generations, farmers and ranchers have understood that soil is one of their most valuable assets. Its fertility drives productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Yet in the world of tax planning, soil fertility has long been overlooked as an asset with quantifiable value.

If you’ve ever spent much time around farmers or landowners, you know the land carries a story. For John King, a landowner in Tennessee, that story runs deep. He even proposed to his wife on his property — the same land where he now raises hay, enjoys the wildlife, and hosts big dove hunts every opening weekend in the fall.

Meghan Brodnax never planned to run a 10,000-square-foot luxury lodge. “I was just trying to get out of my refinery job,” she says. But when her husband, Capt. Storm, kept hearing clients ask for more than just fishing — lodging, meals, the full experience — Meghan jumped in.She left her 9–5, launched La Pesca, and for three years, hosted guests in a patchwork of Airbnbs. “We realized we were paying out so much money,” she says. “That’s when we thought — let’s buy our own place.”

At BirdDog, we live for crisp mornings on wild rivers and the quiet rhythm of a fly line unfurling. Whether you’re fishing a private lease in the Hill Country or booking a hosted BirdDog trip out West, freshwater fly fishing in rivers during the fall is one of the most rewarding outdoor pursuits. Cooler temperatures bring trout and bass into prime feeding patterns, and a little preparation ensures you’ll make the most of every cast.

If you're ready to chase something special on your next saltwater adventure, BirdDog can help get you there. From redfish on the Texas flats to hosted tarpon trips with seasoned captains, we connect anglers to the species—and stories—they’ll never forget. Here are three saltwater giants every fly angler should have on their bucket list.

If you’re a landowner managing agricultural property, pastureland, or even hunting land, IRS Section 180 can be a powerful tool in your tax strategy. This provision allows landowners engaged in the business of farming to deduct expenses for soil and land conditioning—including fertilizer, lime, marl, or other soil amendments—as immediate expenses in the year they’re incurred.

Across the country, thousands of acres sit idle—fenced off, untouched, and underutilized. For landowners, that can mean missed income, rising tax bills, and untapped opportunity.At BirdDog, we believe your land should work for you—not the other way around. Our land services are built to help you transform unused acreage into productive, low-risk, income-generating assets.

When it comes to Texas hunting, gimmicks won’t get you far. At BirdDog, our guides and landowner partners focus on what actually works—field-tested strategies that deliver success across Texas whitetail hunts, dove season, duck blinds, and exotic game like axis deer. Whether you're running feeders in the Hill Country or glassing canyons in West Texas, these tried-and-true hunting techniques will help you tag out and maximize every trip.