Hey all,

I'm new to the forum, freshly approved to post as of yesterday. Thanks for having me!
Lurking through the forum has proven to be some good and fun reading. I love learning from people who know infinitely more than I do, even though it constantly reminds me I have a long way to go.

A little about me:
I'm a native Houstonian. My family does not fish, hunt, nor do they hike. My parents are first generation Americans (Czech and Argentinean lineage) and came to the USA for many reasons other immigrants have. Considering this, it wasn't until two years ago a deep urge to explore started to boil over inside of me.
It started with fishing. Lake Conroe served as bass, crappie, and catfish training. I didn't even know how to tie on a hook, let alone the various types, brands, and sizes of hooks and weights. I spent about a year fishing lakes in Texas then ventured to Minnesota, Arkansas, and Missouri to fish for trout, my God it was an amazing experience. Fishing quickly led to hunting.
Over the last year I've spent hours and hours stomping around public land-mostly scouting, loving it. When I blink the elevation lines of topographical maps are seared onto the backs of my eyelids. The call to go out this season has centered my focus on research and physical training, just waiting for opening day is almost unbearable.

To make a long story longer, I've been on my own. Occasionally and infrequently a friend will come with me into the woods. After an hour, most of the time, my company is too tired, too bored, or too irritated to continue. I'm not frustrated with the company I keep, hell, there are a thousand things I would be too tired, too bored, or too irritated to endure. I just need to find the right people.

I wouldn't be posting if there wasn't an answer or question in mind, so here we go:
Do you all know of any hunting groups in Texas? Closer to Houston the better, but I won't mind the travel at all.
Not a hunting club where I would pay to be a member on a private ranch. I'm looking for a group to meet like minded people and build relationships, a way to start finding people to hunt with. I'm not desperate enough to start posting in classified ads or design my own app for meeting other hunters, but I'm not far. How would you guys suggest I go about doing this?

Thanks to those of you who made it through this post!

JBR

Welcome. You are into hunting for the same reason the rest of us are.....love of the outdoors and love of the wildlife.

Ask around where you work and in your neighborhood....there will be people around you that you can talk hunting. Perhaps someone here will go with you on a hog hunt.

I am no help with the Houston area. I would suggest asking at work if anyone is hunter, or checking in the guides and outfitters section and lining up a hunt.

Pm sent

There are groups like Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation, Quail Unlimited and such that have chapters that meet. I am sure there are some in Houston. They might be a way to meet folks of similar interests and forge some friendships as well as gain a bit of knowledge. Just a thought.

Bienvenidos.....

and good luck with your hunting adventures

welcome, my suggestion, get to know the person that you think might be interested in what you are, been there, I posted on a local fishing forum for a back seater, the guy was a total jerk

Maybe carry an empty rifle case to work. At least someone would know you had an interest in shooting. Tell fellow workers a friend wants to borrow it. At least people would know you should enjoy shooting. Maybe there is another person in your position...???

Good luck and welcome.

Welcome!

First Welcome. Blackcoal may have an idea here, but depending on where you work. You might get to meet some local LEO with this plan though. People are very nervous now days. Like most have suggested ask around at work or other social events and you may find somebody.

Thanks you all for replying!
I appreciate the warm welcomes and words of advice.

I guess it's time for me to start getting out there and dropping hints to people I think may be fellow hunters.

Thank you all again!

Welcome to the forum and a new way of looking at life

I'd say talking and listening to others close to you is the best route (as mentioned co-workers, church work friends), most people feel more comfortable hunting with people they are at least familier with. You can almost bet that if they are a native, or long time Texan, they hunt, or know someone that does.

One piece of advice for when you do get an invite, or get on a lease. Hunting partners generally don;
't like drama, not always the case, but....And always do more than your part as far as camp work, in other words, be part of the solution and not the problem.

I have a piece of advice for you. Go look through my old posts and read all of my reports from the shnf. I write quite a bit of info on there so just let me know if u have any questions. I will tell u everything except my exact location

I hunt because a herd of whitetail does killed and ate my grandfather. I will never forget. They will never escape.