East Texas Deer

I have always hunted in west texas, but a friend of mine is wanting me to get on a lease in east Texas near Clarksville. Any deer, what size bucks?

That aint E Tx that's OK.

Would be a whole lot nicer drive for you though than west Tx.

I agree that the view while driving would be nicer than what you see while heading to the lease in West Texas, and yes maybe it is almost in Ok, but still got to buy a Texas licence, but what about the number of deer and horn size. Can I see at least 10 deer a day?

Not sure... do you see 10 deer a day in west tx? I see 2 some days and 20 on another here... its all about quality... red river usually has that

I agree that some days you see 10 and some days you see 2, but at least you know they are there. I've talked to others who said they see 4 or 5 all season. That is not what I am looking for and why I am checking. Also, I have heard about a lot of poaching going on in east Texas. I'm just trying to get some unbiased information about that part of the state.

I wouldn't give up a lease in West Texas that I was happy with to try East Texas.
There are some quality deer in NE Texas, but you don't typically see the numbers that you do out west.
There's poaching everywhere, but I do know that when I was hunting in Cass and Morris counties, I would here a lot of night shooting. Pig hunting? Maybe.
Also, the deer really seemed nocturnal out that way.
Has your buddy been hunting this lease the past year or two? Was he successful?

No, he has never hunted it. It's one of those friend of a friend things.

The real good deer usually go nocturnal over night it seems alot of pressure. But they are some very.good deer in e tex more than others think.

I'm not sure if there are any less deer, but often times you see fewere deer. There is more cover, more food sources closer to their bedding areas, so they don't have to travel as far. There's also more people and the ranches are often smaller. Add all that up and you can predict the result.

But as the case everywhere, the deer population depends on the individual place and how it's managed. See if they'll let you put up a couple of cameras before you decide.

Nocturnal deer will slip up during the right time of the year.... not a lot but it will happen. Id much rather be within an hour drive and put that extra time and money id save to the deer... think long term

You will not see near the quantity of deer but there are some nice ones. These pictures were taken 12 ish miles west of Clarksville. We will never compete with panhandle deer either. Nice body size compared to most of Texas.

This old guy is one of my favorites.

Good deer north of Clarksville. A friend of mine has a little over 100 acres in the blackland, before you hit the sand near the river. He has killed deer every year since owning it. One really nice 8 point that scored around 130. Bigger deer are out there though. Pressure on surrounding properties is what you need to be concerned with, and yes, there is theft and poaching around. Not many places where you can escape that though. Having said that, west Texas is hard to beat. Where was your lease?

I would not hunt there over West Texas. Unless you are hunting a small property in WT. If so, you could have a better chance at a big buck in NE Texas. You will generally see less deer and have to stay more alert because the chance for a shot usually will come and go much more quickly.

I hunt there and would not give up a lease in west Texas for it. Hunted south Texas for 10 years never had a problem with poachers or thieves. Every year in Red River County something is stolen from someone on our lease. Lots of local year round hunters. Seems this last year have lots more dog with color pics on the cameras. 2 bucks were killed off the lease last year. 8 hunters.

I know there are nice deer from the pics but that is before season. Nocturnal is an understatement

Thanks, to everyone who gave advice. I believe that even though it is closer to home, I would enjoy hunting in west Texas more.

A long term lease close to home is hard to beat. I'm a firm believer that quality can be developed and quantity can be accumulated based on being extremely selective (even if certain neighbors aren't).

here are a few that were taken off my place in Anderson county in the past few years.

And to elaborate, it's hard to go by what's previously shot. I could try to sell you on a place that hasn't had a deer of any kind shot on it since 2009.....would seem like a terrible place to hunt, right?

If that's the club I think it is I keep up with you guys on Facebook. Y'all kill some great deer every season.

I love east TX hunting. But it isn't for everyone. Many prefer more open country and want to see a lot of deer every time they go out.

You can have that in ETX (more so if you don't lease and can set up stands to your liking.). Pulling the trigger and filling tags just to kill something shouldn't be a priority though.

Shhh......get with the program Watson.

Ohh, thought you were just talking about seeing a long ways.

Just messing with you.

Not the one. This is just a piece of land my family has owned forever. All the hunters are family.

Okay, what do I have to do to become part of your family?

You aint gonna see 10 deer a day in east Texas.

Pulled this from a cpl years ago. Just to show what can be done given time.

Hmmm....

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...d..#Post5531002

Not 10 "Quality" deer

and of course if you give time they are gonna mature

Kinda a given that's been preached for 30 years

Not unusual to see 50-100 deer on that little round. My buddy with a place in Rocksprings had never seen anything like it in his life. As far as letting them age, that small tract would lease out at 2250 for 1 gun....how many folks would tie up over $11k just for the lease (excludes mowing, plots,etc) with no intention of pulling the trigger? Good chance I won't want to hunt it this year either considering my 1 13" tag for the county has its eye on a different group of bucks. Going to be a place for the kids to hunt.

You'll also notice there are more bucks in the older age classes from the survey than I could even scrounge up initially. It's what taking all pressure off of a place will do for it.

It all depend on where you are, what kind of folks are hunting on the same property and how its managed. I know lots of people that kill great deer in my area. I also no a lot that don't see much at all because they have been shooting everything they see for years.

I am fortunate that where I hunt is family owned and has been that way for over 50 years.

I have a lot of hunting pressure around our main place and lose deer every year from it. It happens when majority of the surrounding area is open pasture with creeks running through them to hold some does and bucks not thinking straight during the rut. 10s in the 3-5yo range seem to be the ones in trouble if they're seen. Doesn't affect me rolling the dice on deer though and if I can get them through Thanksgiving it's usually smooth sailing. The late youth season worries me some bc there's always fawns being bred then after the Ickes have grouped back up.

Don't see many on our lease normally. Very wooded

I have hunted (leases and owned property) over the past few years in Sterling (West Texas), Baylor (North Central Texas) and Rusk, Gregg, and Marion Counties (East Texas).

Hunting is much easier (more deer at least) in Sterling and Baylor Counties. "Easier" in that if you like to sit in a stand and wait for a feeder to go off and deer pop out of the brush and come to the feeder like cattle. If you don't have much time to hunt (weekends only) and you just want to shoot something (and maybe sometimes a very nice buck) then West Texas is where you need to be.

I like East Texas because I mostly bow hunt, and I prefer being in a tree rather than in a ground blind. Feeders are not as effective in East Texas. Food plots work well and also setting up in staging areas off of feeders. Also - find acorns. If you set up on acorns you have a better chance at a good buck. There are HUGE bucks in East Texas, but you do need to put the hours in in the stand to have a good opportunity to harvest one. East Texas is typical of the type of "hunting" that most midwest and southeast hunters do. I live in East Texas so I can put in the hours. Also, all of East Texas is AR restriction country, so there are definitely some large bucks in the woods.

Hope the above helps. It really comes down to what type of hunting you prefer and how much time you have.

I suppose you'd have to marry one of my brothers...not sure that they'd have any of it though