Then by all means beat a hasty path to those other states. And hunt those public lands. I think it's a travesty that those states are mostly govt owned.

Ahh, hell.

How 'bout them Spurs!

Y'all go fix a Bloody Mary. I'm beggin' ya.

you don't have to jump so quick on the ahole bandwagon like a few here. I wouldn't be surprised if the state and federally owned land in Texas is similar % to the other states, yet why does Texas provide less access? In Kansas for example I don't think there is a huge % of public hunting land, but it seems like a bunch because they turn all the land around lakes and even roads/railroads into public access hunting. They also came up with a great program about 20 years ago where private land owners could get tax and other benefits by allowing public hunting access.

I'm a land owner plus willing to pay big money for other leases and outfitters, I'm honestly part of the problem there is less hunting opportunities for the working class. I see a solution if Texas would follow the lead of states like Kansas to make more existing government land accessible and then create a program for private land owners to offer public hunting.

private > state > government

i agree with this 100% and I think most Texans do too, but I think Texas can do a better job providing public access to public lands.

This is a excellent but contentious topic!

How many private land permits should be issued to the LO and to the public?
In Texas the current answer is 100% and 0% but I understand the complaint that wildlife, like Bighorns, are basically state property and were reintroduced with both state and private resources. I think in Colorado the LO/public split for private land bighorn permits is 50/50 but there are new bills to move to 75/25. Here's a link: http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?p=2432930#post2432930

This is a excellent but contentious topic!

How many private land permits should be issued to the LO and to the public?
In Texas the current answer is 100% and 0% but I understand the complaint that wildlife, like Bighorns, are basically state property and were reintroduced with both state and private resources. I think in Colorado the LO/public split for private land bighorn permits is 50/50 but there are new bills to move to 75/25. Here's a link: http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?p=2432930#post2432930

This is a excellent but contentious topic!

How many private land permits should be issued to the LO and to the public?
In Texas the current answer is 100% and 0% but I understand the complaint that wildlife, like Bighorns, are basically state property and were reintroduced with both state and private resources. I think in Colorado the LO/public split for private land bighorn permits is 50/50 but there are new bills to move to 75/25. Here's a link: http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?p=2432930#post2432930

I don't think a private land owner should be forced to allow public hunts at all! I couldn't believe when I hunted Pronghorn in New Mexico that the ranch owners are forced to allow public hunting on their land.

I don't think a private land owner should be forced to allow public hunts at all! I couldn't believe when I hunted Pronghorn in New Mexico that the ranch owners are forced to allow public hunting on their land.

No not forced. If they want to participate in the landowner tag program and reap the finacial rewards they have to allow access for a certian number of draw tag holders. Sounds pretty fair to me. No one is making them, theres just a a big incintive if they allow access

50/50,or 60/40 would both be a good plan. I dont want to take the LO tags or the finacial incentive provided to land owners away completely, just make the system a little more fair

There are usually 8-12 LO tags per year. They fluctuate in price with the economy but have been running about $80-85K the past few years.

Seems kind of silly to say but in the world of Desert Bighorn hunting that is the best bang for your buck going today considering the quality of rams Texas consistently produces. You can get some Mexico hunts in the 50-60K range but the quality overall on those hunts cannot match Texas'. There are big rams in Mexico (Tiburon Island, Carmen Island, etc) but those hunts are well into the six figures.

The man to call if you want access to a prime LO tag and guide who knows his stuff on TX Desert Bighorn hunting is Larry Altimus. Just Google Altimus Adventures. Pretty sure there is a 3-4 year backlog on tag availability.

They aren't forced they opted for that via entering unit wide tag drawning.

same thing, if you want to privately take Pronghorn you have to allow public to take some too.

From my understanding it two separate systems. Large ranch- Ranch specific tag vs Small ranch Unit wide tag. Unit wide tag drawing makes your ranch open to public access if you enter the drawing.

when I hunted there with Wildlife Systems all the clients hunted on single ranch that was leased from owner. we had to deal with public hunters and the public hunters got first opportunity. maybe land owner can get a minimum amount of tags without allowing public, only when you want more for an outfitter it requires you also do public.

It took 3 pages before "exotics" were injected into this post which had nothing to due with "exotics". Next time let's go for 4,5,6

I don't even get your point unless you are trying to start a debate on some other subject. There's no "spin". The U.S. and state conservation agencies are charged with re-populating and managing native animals. They don't have anything to do with exotics.