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New to East Texas Hunting
#6232581
03/22/16 03:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45
KP85
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45 |
Just got on a lease in Rusk county, I have hunted most of my life in South Texas. Two different worlds lol, any pointers to help me be a little more successful would be great. The guys on the lease before me protein fed year round, so that always a plus. I will be setting my stuff up in the next couple weeks.
"The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem." -Milton Friedman-
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6232591
03/22/16 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,535
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,535 |
Pen your feeders, have good varmint cages, expect most of your deer activity to be at night. Food plots help a lot if you have the resources, fence the food plots also.
I also live in the Houston area, I hunt north of you in Cass county
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6232593
03/22/16 04:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Your gona hate Nov-Dec lol
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: Navasot]
#6232604
03/22/16 04:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,535
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,535 |
Your gona hate Nov-Dec lol Yup. You should also be aware that east Texas turns into a war zone on opening weekend
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6232660
03/22/16 04:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45
KP85
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45 |
Thanks fellas..
I've gone and hunted in Pennsylvania on opening weekend for shot gun season, that was a war zone!! I imagine it will be the same where I'm at.
"The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem." -Milton Friedman-
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: rickym]
#6233610
03/23/16 12:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136
EddieWalker
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136 |
Pen your feeders, have good varmint cages, expect most of your deer activity to be at night. Food plots help a lot if you have the resources, fence the food plots also. I made the mistake of leaving my feeder open to the hogs and it didn't take long until I wasn't seeing any deer at all. Just hogs. I shot plenty of hogs, but wanted more deer, any deer to show up. After putting a fence around my feeder, the hogs went away and the deer came back.
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6233674
03/23/16 01:27 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Sq2 hunter
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833 |
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6233709
03/23/16 02:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45
KP85
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45 |
We put pens around most of our feeders in south Texas..well I did, I was the oldest of all the boys so I got to work year round, dont mind though. I will be penning any feeders/food plots I put out.
"The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem." -Milton Friedman-
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6234944
03/24/16 12:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260 |
90% of the harvest happens during the first two weeks of the season. If you can, take time off and hunt during the middle of the week during the later half of the season. Walk more and ride the ATV less because it doesn't take the deer long to learn that everyone's after them.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235075
03/24/16 02:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45
KP85
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45 |
Thanks Dan, will be walking a lot, only 88 acres, walked the property last week when I was looking at it.
"The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem." -Milton Friedman-
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235213
03/24/16 03:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
The stuff that works in central and south TX by and large does not apply nearly as well to east TX. Deer have plenty to eat most years in east TX. Mature bucks won't waltz into a feeder pen like they do elsewhere. Deer in general don't readily jump into feeder pens like they do elsewhere. Some will, but many won't. Some bucks (even mature bucks) will check feeders during the rut for does or even follow a hot doe to a feeder - but those are the exceptions. I can't get my deer on protein. I know many might disagree and even post up pics of big bucks eating from under a feeder, but it just doesn't happen on my place. And IMO for every nice buck that might eat under a feeder there are three avoiding the area entirely because it tells them hunters are there. Food plots and corn on the ground are far and away the better approach in east TX. I agree with Dan 100% on the 4 wheeler and midweek hunting. I see 3-4x more deer by walking everywhere and hunting midweek than on the weekends when my buddies are riding and hunting. Especially mature deer. Most of the mature bucks I have taken on my place are taken: 1)without a 4 wheeler ever cranking up, 2)during the week, and 3)nowhere near a feeder. Learn your place. Learn your deer. Hunt travel areas, locate foodplots and hand corn accordingly.
Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 03/24/16 04:24 PM.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235245
03/24/16 04:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,316
White Falcon
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,316 |
Don't put out high dollar camera's till you know the people around you. Most of all, NO BIG DEER in East TX!!:)
Last edited by White Falcon; 03/24/16 04:17 PM.
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235258
03/24/16 04:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287 |
Rusk is the best area for deer hunting in east Texas in my opinion. I always saw plenty of deer in that area compared to anywhere else in the pine trees. That's just from running around every day calling on compressor stations.
I wouldn't however drive all the way from Houston to hunt there if it were free.
Last edited by scalebuster; 03/24/16 04:29 PM.
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235443
03/24/16 07:29 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,167
Fat Tire
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,167 |
Don't leave anything out there that you don't want stolen.
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6235461
03/24/16 07:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 482
Flatcreek
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 482 |
Get you a Thermacell or 2. You'll need 'em!
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6259600
04/14/16 02:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 402
DudleyDoRight76
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 402 |
I have hunted East Texas for 7-8 years now, and I love it. All these guys are gonna tell you that it sucks, all your stuff will get stolen, no deer, small deer, etc. The fact is you actually have to hunt in East Texas. Your not going to have 40 deer walk out when your feeder goes off! But if you get in the stand and hunt enough like we do. You will get your 2-3 deer a year no problem. As far as pointers... Put out a protein/corn mix at first, and then you can move to more protein after they get use to it. I wouldn't waste time on a feed pen. If the hogs come out (and they will), after you shoot at them once they usually won't come back.
East Texas is not easy hunting. You have to put in your chair time, but sit back and enjoy the woods... And your 2-3 hour drive!
Alvin Lodge 762
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6259633
04/14/16 02:22 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698
Hoytman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698 |
I only have 47 acres but agree with some of the guys on here.The 4 wheeler stays put and the bucks will hardley ever come to a feeder unless its after a hot doe. I dont put up feeder pens cause i like to kill a pig or two every chance i get. Killed my best buck ever this year but see fewer deer every year. Have owned the land for 30yrs and kill a deer every year so dont let anybody tell u there aint any.
(Sig Pic to be no more than 125 pixels tall)
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6259871
04/14/16 04:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45
KP85
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 45 |
Will be walking for sure unless I'me filling feeders are picking up a dead animal..I will be putting plenty of time in the stand, I've been deprived of my right to hunt thanks to the military lol. I have a lot of time to make up!!
"The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem." -Milton Friedman-
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Re: New to East Texas Hunting
[Re: KP85]
#6260205
04/14/16 07:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
I tend to not put feeders where I expect to see deer.
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