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I haven't darkened the door of an Academy in quite a while and went today to get my Texas Senior Combo Hunting/Fishing license. I used to get it at my credit union, but they ceased offering that service. I did a little knuckle dragging in several departments after getting the license, spending a lot pf time looking at the ammo. I am always annoyed how they arrange the calibers. Actually arrange is a misnomer, since it's a mish mash with no consistency. A lot of the ammo didn't even have price labels on the shelves. I then went to the firearms counter to look at pistol and revolver prices. I finished looking at the showcases with handguns and was looking at the long gun racks to see if they had the Yildiz pump shotgun that I'd seen in an online auction. I couldn't find the model on the Yildiz website. Academy only carries the O/U's and I was about to walk away when I realized there were no "black rifles" in the racks, no AR, AK, FN or any others. I didn't know KKR got woke. One more reason to avoid Academy.

puma guy wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 5:53 pm I didn't know KKR got woke. One more reason to avoid Academy.

A friend works for a KKR company... No guns in company vehicles, including rental cars. 401k is managed by Blackrock (woke DEI BDS) .

She's reached out to her state rep to ask them to sponsor a bill like the hotel law that would prohibit employers from disarming employees while on company travel.

I agree with you about Academy making it difficult to find/buy ammo.
Never noticed the absence of AR's... never considered shopping for one there.

No need to visit Academy for your licenses.

You can renew your licenses online on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Very convenient and the credentials are carried on your cellphone.

Excaliber wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:29 am No need to visit Academy for your licenses.

You can renew your licenses online on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Very convenient and the credentials are carried on your cellphone.

I've never done an online version. I assume you have to print out paper tags for deer and fish that would be fragile and affected by moisture ie ink smears and bleed. It seems more convenient to have a physical license that has water proof and tear resistant tags. I get a notification from TPWD with the purchase info, but of course it states it's not useful for tagging purposes.

I used my phone on August 15 while in Oklahoma to order super combo license from TPWD. When I returned to Texas a week later, it was in my mailbox. It also included (without my asking for it) the free Sandhill Crane endorsement that I ordered later last year.

Pretty sure Academy pulled AR's off their shelf a couple of years back. I have no need to step into an Academy unless it's an emergency like when I'm traveling and need something I forgot. Like last year when I was in San Antonio for a training class and it was raining and I forgot my waterproof boots. Before that, it had been at least 3 years since I stepped inside of one just to see what ammo they had in stock.

I stopped shopping when they started pushing proprietary branded junk merchandise. Specifically when the shafted a deer feeder company based in Stafford. The company gave them a sweetheart deal with free shipping to their Katy warehouse then switched the deliveries to a new warehouse in Georgia. I also learned long ago that Academy would advertise a sale price, but the registers would not be programmed and you would be charged full price. I think they got slapped by the AG Consumer division.

I've seen a lot of decent priced bulk ammo at my local one. $130 for 500 PACK of 115gr FMJ 9mm brass case Blazer. Lot's of ammo in stock too.

The only firearms related things I think I've gotten at Academy in recent years were shotgun shells. I was trying out some of the Aguila stuff earlier this year. Otherwise I'm there for other things.

I've only bought shirts there, and not for a few years. Guess I'll have to look elsewhere when I eventually need more.

puma guy wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 8:43 am

Excaliber wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:29 am No need to visit Academy for your licenses.

You can renew your licenses online on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Very convenient and the credentials are carried on your cellphone.

I've never done an online version. I assume you have to print out paper tags for deer and fish that would be fragile and affected by moisture ie ink smears and bleed. It seems more convenient to have a physical license that has water proof and tear resistant tags. I get a notification from TPWD with the purchase info, but of course it states it's not useful for tagging purposes.

I always renew online, they mail you the license so you have the same thing you would ge tin person. I always get the WMA endorsement so they mail the catalog too after renewal. I cannot remember the last time I got it in person.

You can renew your license online and carry an digital version. You go on the Texas Hunt and Fish app to do you tags on the app. If you harvest an animal that requires a tag you fill out the information on the app and they send you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass (Duct tape and permanent marker is a good way.) If no service is available you attach the information they require (name, date, county, property, etc.). When you get service you fill it in online and get the confirmation number. Sounds more complicated than it is.

It also has your history of Hunter's Ed (if applicable), you license history, and all your tags. It also has links to TPWD Public Hunter Area maps, and TWPD webpages for several different categories. Pretty convenient.

troglodyte wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 11:42 am You can renew your license online and carry an digital version. You go on the Texas Hunt and Fish app to do you tags on the app. If you harvest an animal that requires a tag you fill out the information on the app and they send you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass (Duct tape and permanent marker is a good way.) If no service is available you attach the information they require (name, date, county, property, etc.). When you get service you fill it in online and get the confirmation number. Sounds more complicated than it is.

It also has your history of Hunter's Ed (if applicable), you license history, and all your tags. It also has links to TPWD Public Hunter Area maps, and TWPD webpages for several different categories. Pretty convenient.

I don't know that I trust getting a copy by mail. Case in point: my son-in-law had an issue this past season. He got his license online. When he shot his deer he realized he never got the paper version. His wife never got her online license mailed either. We called the game warden who looked it up and found that it was supposed to be mailed, but said he'd have to drive to town to get replacement. My son-in-law did that and then the warden came to the lease to check everything and when we told him we'd moved the deer to the camp to keep the dogs and coyotes of it the warden issued a warning for moving the deer. He said the only reason he didn't give him a citation is because he knew my daughter and son-in-law. His wife is a nurse at the same hospital ER as my other daughter and her husband is a captain in Canyon Lake Fire/ESD.

puma guy wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 7:57 pm

troglodyte wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 11:42 am You can renew your license online and carry an digital version. You go on the Texas Hunt and Fish app to do you tags on the app. If you harvest an animal that requires a tag you fill out the information on the app and they send you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass (Duct tape and permanent marker is a good way.) If no service is available you attach the information they require (name, date, county, property, etc.). When you get service you fill it in online and get the confirmation number. Sounds more complicated than it is.

It also has your history of Hunter's Ed (if applicable), you license history, and all your tags. It also has links to TPWD Public Hunter Area maps, and TWPD webpages for several different categories. Pretty convenient.

I don't know that I trust getting a copy by mail. Case in point: my son-in-law had an issue this past season. He got his license online. When he shot his deer he realized he never got the paper version. His wife never got her online license mailed either. We called the game warden who looked it up and found that it was supposed to be mailed, but said he'd have to drive to town to get replacement. My son-in-law did that and then the warden came to the lease to check everything and when we told him we'd moved the deer to the camp to keep the dogs and coyotes of it the warden issued a warning for moving the deer. He said the only reason he didn't give him a citation is because he knew my daughter and son-in-law. His wife is a nurse at the same hospital ER as my other daughter and her husband is a captain in Canyon Lake Fire/ESD.

Sorry, I wasn't as clear as I thought I was being. This isn't mail. It is the Texas Hunt and Fish App. When you download the app you can renew your hunting/fishing license on it. It goes through almost immediately so you know, by looking on the app, that all information is in the system. Now all your information is on the app. If a warden asks for your license you show them the information on the app. If you need a tag, you fill out the information on the app and it gives you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass. It's pretty easy and convenient.

troglodyte wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 7:07 am

puma guy wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 7:57 pm

troglodyte wrote: Sat May 03, 2025 11:42 am You can renew your license online and carry an digital version. You go on the Texas Hunt and Fish app to do you tags on the app. If you harvest an animal that requires a tag you fill out the information on the app and they send you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass (Duct tape and permanent marker is a good way.) If no service is available you attach the information they require (name, date, county, property, etc.). When you get service you fill it in online and get the confirmation number. Sounds more complicated than it is.

It also has your history of Hunter's Ed (if applicable), you license history, and all your tags. It also has links to TPWD Public Hunter Area maps, and TWPD webpages for several different categories. Pretty convenient.

I don't know that I trust getting a copy by mail. Case in point: my son-in-law had an issue this past season. He got his license online. When he shot his deer he realized he never got the paper version. His wife never got her online license mailed either. We called the game warden who looked it up and found that it was supposed to be mailed, but said he'd have to drive to town to get replacement. My son-in-law did that and then the warden came to the lease to check everything and when we told him we'd moved the deer to the camp to keep the dogs and coyotes of it the warden issued a warning for moving the deer. He said the only reason he didn't give him a citation is because he knew my daughter and son-in-law. His wife is a nurse at the same hospital ER as my other daughter and her husband is a captain in Canyon Lake Fire/ESD.

Sorry, I wasn't as clear as I thought I was being. This isn't mail. It is the Texas Hunt and Fish App. When you download the app you can renew your hunting/fishing license on it. It goes through almost immediately so you know, by looking on the app, that all information is in the system. Now all your information is on the app. If a warden asks for your license you show them the information on the app. If you need a tag, you fill out the information on the app and it gives you a confirmation number that you attach to the carcass. It's pretty easy and convenient.

Thanks. The problem was since my son-in-law requested a paper copy to be mailed that never arrive he couldn't use the app to print a tag.