It's not a "stupid rule". I've known folks who got busted for rifle shooting a deer and sticking and arrow in the bullet hole during archery season. It's "archery" season. This goes down the same road as all the other concessions we are being forced to accept in this country. Like forcing the BSA to accept homosexuals, forcing states to remove certain flags only a few find offensive and not allowing constitutional carry because of the unreasonable cries of a few loud objectors. Soon there won't be a separate archery season because we keep conceding to the vocal minority.
I hunt exotics, pigs and varmints year round. But I had to leave my rifle at the truck or house if I have my bow. The silly part is that I could still legally take my rifle only, as long as I did not take my bow. And I could still illegally shoot a whitetail. Then go to the truck and grab an arrow and stick it in the bullet hole. The problem still existed either way, it would just take a minute to run get an arrow.
What is really irritating is that TPWD would not let LEOs carry their service weapon during archery. We had a few federal officers and local police officers at the ranch during archery. They laughed at TPWDs response to my email about whether or not they could have their service weapons. TPWD said "NO." I wish I had saved the email. Now that was really stupid.