Hello all, I moved here about a yr ago fresh out of college and am finally getting settled in enough to start hunting again. I used to hunt Deer and Duck but from what I can tell that can be very expensive around here. So here is my question. What is there to hunt around here that I would not have to make a $5,000+ yearly investment just for the place to go. I dont mind traveling up to a couple hours and am interested in hunting just about anything (recently started thinking about upland bird) If you know anything reasonable or any resources I might be able to utilize please let me know. Also want to add that I love dog sports and have done coon hunting a bit in the past, hence the reason upland bird sounds interesting.

first off welcome to the forum, and second what is it that your wanting to do, are you lokoing for a lease or would you rather day hunt or buy package hunts. Do you gun hunt only or bow or both. There are alot of things go into this but you can find just about any type of hunt with a decent budget around texas. good luck

Beaver

Well like I said I'm open to just about anything. I would rather lease or at least find a hunting club. I have always been part of a hunting club in TN and would like to find something similar here.

As for beaver I have to assume you are joking

Cougar! Lot's and lot's of cougars around here.

Hood rats?

Seriously though, if you have not already looked into it, do some research on the APH, and then check out the public hunting lands. Otherwise, start saving for the $5K investment you will need to make for a lease, and all of the equipment.

There's a lot of duck and goose hunting around Wharton/Elcampo area. Day leases are available in that area. A buddy of mine guides for them in that area.

As for deer, I don't do East Texas so can't offer much advice. Look at LeaseHunter.com or similar sight and find a deer lease. Lots of leases are available for well under $5000/year. That price is more consistent with the S. Tx. trophy leases. You should be able to find something for under $2000/year in Central or East Texas.

Check your PMs

Welcome to the forum and Houston. I moved here from MS many years ago. I've never had the money for a lease so I did the public land thing. Draw hunts for deer are pretty good and I duck and dove hunt through the annual public hunting permit. If your expectations arent too high you can do okay. Some years are a bust but over the long run I've had some great hunts. Good luck.

If you want to hunt public land until you find a lease or club to join up with, the Sam Houston National Forest is right off of I-45. 162,984 acres to wander around on.

You may want to wait till a little later in the season though. Opening weekend, you can't swing a dead cat over your head without hitting someone in an orange hat.

If you hunt the SHNF, you have to have an $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. You ask for it when you buy your license. You may want to go onto the National Forest Service website and apply for a doe permit. I don't know if it's too late for this year or not.
When Huntsville state park has it's deer hunts, you can go and try for a standby position. The drawIng deadline is up.
Good luck!

Welcome to H Town. I have seen hunt clubs listed in East Texas on the Paper companies lands that are reasonable/cheap. You may need to spend a little time looking but start with the newspaper in Beaumont. I think it used to have a classified section online that showed some lease/hunt club opportunities.

Thanks for the responses. I think I'm gonna check out lease hunter and some of the other places stated here.