Sell one of those guns you got and sign up for a cheap guided hog hunt, but get your license first.

I would also recommend taking a hunter's education course. If you're young enough you're required by law, but even if you're not it's a good start IMO. Definitely get a license...I don't buy just a hunting license by itself but I think they're about...28 bucks maybe?

Start out with pigs because they'll be your cheapest large animal to hunt and not as big a deal if you mess up in the cleaning process (there's a lot of guys who leave 'em laying...they're a big problem here in Texas)...so they'll be good to learn on. Plus they can be a challenge to hunt SOMETIMES

Thanks guys, very useful info, I am glad I came here and asked. I will try to do everything listed here, even squirrel if possible, haha.

Trying to find a place to hunt is just like trying to find a job. It's not what you know but who you know that counts most. That means you've got to "network" and meet new people who can become potential links to places and people who hunt. Ask around at work, church, and anywhere else where you can strike up a conversation with someone.

Someone may have already mentioned this, but I would suggest taking the TPWD Hunter Education course. And wait until September or October when the class is sure to be full of people. Heck, you might even consider taking it twice just to get the chance to meet another large group of people. As an instructor myself, I would let you sit-in on a second class for free, if I knew you needed to find someone who could help you find a place to hunt.

Your best bet is to find someone to show you the ropes. But there are some fine public hunting opportunities. Every year I see some fine animals taken from public lands. Two of the nicest bucks I have seen were taken right here in San Angelo at Twin Buttes Res. It is shotgun only but each area has different rules. A 40.00 pass gets you acess to many areas. OC Fisher State Park has 1400 hunts per year. Research some of these areas and put in for draw hunts. You can hunt in Texas without breaking the bank, but it requires research and scouting time.

you can find doe hunts from $100 - $350. you live in an area where hunting is close to home - so travel should be inexpensive. hogs are also a cheaper way to hunt - also year round.

Thanks again, I will ask around and look into taking the Hunting course mentioned as well.

Here's the do-it-yourself course. If you find somebody to teach you, you'll shave some time. If not you can learn it all yourself.

Step 1: Learn how to shoot a rifle well. Sell one of your pistols and get a good .22 rifle. Practice, alot. Learn how to master your breathing and trigger control. Then, when you can pick off small objects far away, start practicing with that .30-30 of yours. At a minimum, learn to put 3 shots into a 3" circle at a 100 yards before you worry about trying to kill something. If you've got a scope on your rifle that circle should be smaller. And practice from more than just the bench. On public land you won't have a nice rest. Learn what a deer looks like at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 yards.

Step 2: Study deer and hog anatomy. Read up on shot placement so that you can effectively kill an animal when the time comes.

Step 3: Buy a license and attend Hunter's safety.

Step 4: Study up on field dressing and quartering so you can make a dead animal into usable meat. Learn how to sharpen a knife well if you don't know yet.

Step 5: Find a reasonable cull or hog hunt as previously mentioned. You'll be able to score 1 for $150 or so when the season rolls around. If you succeed in killing something, field dress it. Then, at the "skinning shack" humbly admit that you could use a little instruction in quartering. A couple free beers will get you some instruction. A processor can take care of the de-boning, grinding, etc if you so choose.

Step 6: Now that you can shoot, kill, and clean explore the public hunting areas (National Forests, etc.) Put in for the drawn hunts each year in our state parks and WMAs. That will get you some good opportunities at "meat" hunting.

Good luck. Remember, being respectful and offering to work for it can get you hunting opportunities form people you meet.

VERY WELL PUT. I THINK THERE'S ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO MEMORIZE THIS. GREAT ADVICE.

Not 100% on what you are saying here, but borrowing against your 401k to buy some hunting land would be a horrible idea. If something bad happens and you can't pay it back, you'll owe the IRS penalties on early withdrawal and you won't have a retirement fund (or you'll have less of one).

If only every hunter would follow such advice. The truth, endless hours will be spent this, and every season thereafter, trying to find deer wounded by someone who firmly believes they need only fire two or three test or "check my zero" shots to prepare for the season opener.

Of course, it also explains why the woods are always full of the sound of practice shots around mid to late morning on Opening Day. Having missed an hour or two earlier, how else can they confirm that someone must have "bumped their scope."

But then, a firm denial that a shot was ever made is always a good ploy to deflect any thoughts of what really happened.

i have been in texas for almost 3 years now and i finally got to get on the lease my brothers were on it took a couple of guys to bail out because of divorce or lack of funds or both but i finally got on one i learned all my hunting skills(ha ha )from my brothers so i was fortunate to be mentored i watch hunting shows read magazines and talk to other hunters i learn more from the people i talk to than anything else good luck with the hunting and hope you find what you are looking for ...God bless everyone

Oh no, it was not really for hunting, well, if something ventured on it yeah, but mainly for a homestead outside the city limits, get away from the bad neighbors and such. Build a berm and do some target shooting on it. Not a lot of land but enough to satisfy the codes for firing a gun on your property. 401k would have been a good down payment along with selling my current house. Loosing my job though, I can't figure to go buying a new house and property other than what I got. Will probably have to pay some current bills off and buy another car so my wife can get a job so the both of us can earn together what I was earning before.

But anyways, that is all besides the point now.

TxAg, good advice and I have been and will be looking into doing the things you mentioned once I get back on track.

At some point I am planning to get a 22 rifle as has been suggested by many, make sure I get really good with it, as suggested and do some hunting after getting a license and getting the hunter education. Then move into hunter the bigger stuff with the Marlin.

I have, or had, been doing a lot of shooting at the range with the Marlin, just so I know I can hit what I am aiming at. So far just using it at 50 yards and am starting to get pretty good. I will move up to 100 but feel like I will need a scope for that as I don't know that I could see the bullet holes at 100 yards without it. I do love shooting it though, even if it is just at a target.

But no, I won't go chasing deer with it without doing all the other stuff already mentioned first. I would hate to make an animal suffer for not being a proficient hunter.

Thanks to all again, I think I am really learning a lot of good stuff and have been put in the right direction on many things.