Fishing vs Hunting: Which Is Growing Faster in Texas?

Texas is one of the few states where both fishing and hunting participation are measured rigorously and publicly, making it a useful lens for understanding broader trends in the outdoor recreation market. The short answer: both sports are growing. The longer answer reveals which audiences are growing fastest, and why it matters to outdoor brands, content creators, and anyone trying to reach Texas outdoor enthusiasts.

The Numbers

Texas issues more fishing licenses and hunting licenses annually than almost any other state. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department tracks license sales, survey data on participation, and economic impact data each year. Both fishing and hunting saw participation increases following 2020, when outdoor recreation broadly surged as indoor activities became restricted. What is notable is that the post-pandemic baseline for both sports remains higher than the pre-2020 average, suggesting the new participants were not just temporary.

Why Fishing Is Growing

Fishing has a lower barrier to entry than hunting. A fishing license, a basic rod and reel, and access to a public body of water is all it takes to get started. Urban and suburban Texans who live near lakes, rivers, or reservoirs can fish without land access, without a truck, and without expensive gear. This accessibility has made fishing the faster-growing activity by raw participant count.

Youth participation in fishing has increased significantly over the past five years. TPWD runs youth fishing programs statewide, and the free fishing weekend (held each summer without a required license) consistently draws new participants. Once people start fishing, retention rates are strong.

Why Hunting Is Growing

Hunting's growth story is different from fishing's. Rather than an influx of casual new participants, hunting is seeing growth in two specific segments: first-time adult hunters who came to the sport seeking food independence and a connection to the land, and youth participants introduced through school programs and family traditions.

South Texas in particular has experienced growth in out-of-state hunters coming specifically for whitetail deer and exotics on private ranches. The guided hunting industry in the region generates significant revenue and continues to attract new hunters from high-population states where hunting access is limited.

What This Means for Outdoor Brands

For brands targeting Texas outdoor consumers, the growth data supports investment in both categories. Fishing audiences tend to be broader and easier to reach through digital channels. Hunting audiences tend to be more concentrated, more brand-loyal once trust is established, and higher in average transaction value per purchase.

Brands that cover both fishing and hunting through their marketing and sponsorship activities are positioned to capture the largest share of the Texas outdoor market. Shows like FishingHuntingTV that produce content in both categories provide the broadest cross-audience reach for a single sponsorship relationship.

The South Texas Specific Picture

South Texas is one of the few regions in the country where trophy-quality versions of both sports coexist in a small geographic area. Falcon Lake for bass, the Laguna Madre for redfish and speckled trout, the brush country for whitetail deer, and the coastal bays for flounder and drum all sit within a few hours of each other. This concentration makes the region disproportionately valuable for outdoor media and brands serving this market.