Smith County/ Tyler Texas

Me and my dad are going to look at a 150 acre lease in Tyler on Saturday. Does anyone know how good the hunting is around this area. What kind of deer should I expect to see?

Thanks Kory

If you mean "what kind of deer should I expect to see this Saturday," I wouldn't expect to see many (or any), given the ridiculous heat. If you mean what type of deer in general for that area, I'll defer to the East Texas guys.

Yes i mean in general for the area.

Thanks Kory

I've hunted quite a bit in smith county and It's typical east texas hunting. Dont expect to see numbers of deer on the place. Some very nice bucks are killed in smith every year but most people hunt hard to kill them. If your lucky enough to have large patches of oaks on the place you should be in good shape

The deer are in pockets in Smith County. Sure, there are some deer most all over the County but there are higher numbers in some places than others. If you have some river bottom close those areas seem to hold more numbers.

The whole place is supposed to be hardwoods with two small open pastures and a pond. He said a pipeline came through a few years ago so there is a clearing running through the whole place.

The 2 small open pastures sound promising. That's alot of the problem with hunting East Texas, usually not good clearings to hunt and nobody wants their Pine Trees cut. I bet you will have some luck there.

Where at around Tyler are you looking? I grew up here and know most of the area fairly well.

HOGS....

i hunted 1500 acres in rusk county outside of kilgore for 6 years and we never saw one hog, i was really surprised....didnt see any dang deer either

Don't really know yet. He said something about it is off hwy 133

There may be a county road 133 but as far as I know there is no HWY 133. If he actually meant hwy 31 it will be a hit or miss situation.

Ok. Ill update everyone Saturday afternoon.

The lease is between arp and troup

That would be Hwy. 135

I've hunted some in that area. It's hit or miss. The place I went to was a hit every once in a while. I've also hunted with guys who see 2 deer a year on their lease. Ya never know and you probably won't see anything tomorrow with the heat. Not trying to be negative.

That's funny as hell. lol

There are some deer between Arp and Troup but it is not over run by them.

We went and leased the place today. Saw lots of tracks. Lots of pig tracks too. The man said the guy hunting the place last year shot a real nice 8 point with about a 20" spread. The only reason he was getting off is because he was going through a devorce. I think it will be an ok spot for a while until we find something better.

I sent you a PM

last several years Smith county has been 4 deer county. if it has some water on it, thats a plus, could walk the perimmater for sign's usually what i do, not sure if that help's

It is a 4 deer County but you can only shoot your 2 does during the 4 days of Thanksgiving Weekend. Thursday thru Sunday.

pond, lot's of track's, hog track's, some hardwood, pipe line running threw, 2 buck county, & last hunter took nice 8 pointer, 4 days for chance ta take couple of does. not bad. sounds like some good hunting for u & yur dad.

You can shoot does all through bow season. That's usually when I shoot the anyway.

That is correct. Good luck on your new spot!

from TPWD "On USFS, Corps of Engineers, and river authority lands, the take of antlerless deer shall be by permit only, except in Fannin County. On all other tracts of land, antlerless deer may be taken without permits from Thanksgiving Day through the Sunday immediately following Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 2013). At all other times, antlerless deer may be taken by antlerless MLD or LAMPS permits only. If antlerless deer permits have been issued, they must be attached to all antlerless deer harvested from the tract of land."

how do you know if it applies to your lease or not?? or is it the whole county??