Coleman or Eastland...

^That's the magic question...

I'm sure most of you saw my sob story a while back about our deer lease in Brown County. We tried to figure it out with the landowner with no luck so we have come to the realization that it's time to go. We have been looking and have found a couple so far that we like. Look at these and see what you would choose...

Option A: 600 acres in Eastland County with water and electricity. 5 guys at $1,200 a peice. Guests are allowed anytime. Has several tanks with a couple planted fields...

Option B: 290 acres in Coleman County with only water, no electricity. 3 guys at $1,000 a head. Guests anytime. Only one tank but AWESOME landowners, have leased from them before.

Which do you like? I'm kind of leaning towards the one in Eastland because we have never hunted there and I want to try something new. Bu then again I want to go back to Coleman just because we know the owners.
WHAT TO DO WHAT TO DO...

is Coleman an AR county?
I like the larger tract but really do not like the AR program
For what it is worth

Only you know the answer to that. Both sound like good places. Me personally I'd get both and try them and choose one next year to stay on. I would be interested in maybe filling a spot or two if that might help you. Pm me if your interested.

I've hunted both counties... I prefer Coleman county

Coleman County does not have ARs in place, yet.

Eastland is AR.

Both leases sound pretty close. Eastland brings a bunch of hunters and is an AR county...... Eastland county varies greatly: to the west and north, lots of mesquite/brush country, the south and southeast is very sandy and the east has a lot of cedars and some a little mor rough topography. I am a little partial as I live and hunt here.

I would go with eastland only dove hunt there but see lots more deer coming out of eastland on post then coleman

I'm stuck.
Yes, Eastland is an AR county but we talked to a Game Warden not to long ago and he said it would be in Coleman in no time. Along with most all counties.
I want to lean towards Coleman just because of the owners but at the same time I want something new...
This Eastland place is in the eastern part of the county, has a lot of thick cover which makes it stand out against the Coleman place which is a lot of scrubby typical west Texas mesquite and cactus.
I don't know, time will tell...

I would prefer 600 acres over 290, however deer in Coleman come to feeders more readily than in Eastland. Eastland has more Oak-country, more Acorns,greenbriar,etc. That used to be peanut country and grew some very large deer.

Dad's from Hico which isn't to incredibly far from Eastland and has the same kind of vegetation so that's the one he is pushing for...

I would say neither, JMO, keep looking.

Why is that? No being rude, just wondering...

Coleman.....

Not being rude at all, because both counties are pretty much shot out and are or going to be under AR's for that reason, most of deer going to be nocterol from hunt pressure, you be luck if you see a decent buck. look a further west and I think you will happy, JMO. But hey I'm not hunting it, so you do what you think is right and suits you.

Thanks for the info! We talked to a friend today with land for lease in Archer county so that one is in the race now. A little farther north, we have never hunted up there!

To those from the DFW area, There are no deer in West Texas, unless you want to come hunt with me next year, in that case, I found them all!! Archer can be hunted heavy in certain areas so be sure to check that out as well, but I think that of the three you may be better off up there.

My brother-in-law hunted a place near Hico for the last 2 seasons. I think he saw 1, maybe 2, deer. He did not have to pay to hunt there and was mighty glad about it.

I hope whatever you decide gives you exactly what you're looking for.

Starting to see more mature deer eastland since the ARs were started. The deer there aren't huge(140" buck is a great deer). Some places have a good amount of turkeys and hogs as well. Is it north or south of I 20?

Be sure to check out the archer co, it's AR as well, with alot of open country, make sure their is some good cover for the deer. Alot of county roads that surround some smaller property which equals to easy poaching. You might check with vern(sig) I think he is still in that part of the woods. It's been several years since I scouted that area and hunted it. Good luck.

It's south of I20 near Rising Star...
And thanks for the input dgilbert! Really appreciate it and will look for him!

Eastland was very slow for me this year.

5 guys is to many for 600 acres in eastland, IMO. You may kill one maybe two decent bucks a year if the place is well above average. I wish instead of AR's the state could impose over crowding and make the landowners take some ownership in the deer herd. My2 cents!

The area your speaking of is pretty sandy, with oaks. There are a few pretty good creeks that roll through there too. As mentioned above, Eastland has a lot of pressure.....I used to think that everybody from the metroplex hunted Eastlamd county. You might run across a badger or a big cat out there. Hogs are a problem as well.

WHichever one you don't take I would be interested it.

i have a buddy that is from eastland and has hunted up there for years. every year he, his dad, and his brother take nice bucks on a small 50 acre farm. I'd say every year one gets a 130-140" and the other bucks are close to or just over 130" most of them 8's. I've hunted both areas and personally like Eastland better. but I got on a shot out place and had a weird landowner. IF ANYONE see's a lease with the landowner being Kelley Jordan I'd stay away.

The area around Rising star is sandyland.Postoak,blackjack,greenbriar etc. Some good deer BUT when acorns are dropping it gets really slow watching feeders. Archer cty has some really BIG deer killed every year. Lots of open range however. The western parts of the county are a little brushier and have higher population densities.

I've been hunting in Eastland the last 2 seasons. My cameras confirm that the bucks (and most does) feed at night.

Plenty of deer, but not during shooting hours.

A couple of guys on the same lease got pretty good bucks (don't know the measurements - but sure met AR) both years. I got a spike last year and my grandsons each got a doe this time. I passed on a lot of does, but didn't see any during the extended doe season.

I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

You got that right but it is like that all over. Think about how many posts on THF mention their 20-50 acre tract. I am lucky in that, other one year around hunting neighbor, all my Eastland County neighbors are very conservation minded.

Heck if you don't decide to take the eastland county lease, let me know. I am currently on a lease in coleman but the price might go up so I am not sure we can afford it. Very interested.