never duck hunted public land, how does it work? do you go build a blind out there and hope nobody moves/uses it? i live in college station and would like to duck hunt some public land if theres any around me. only problem is i dont have a boat, or a dog...

Your best bet is to find somewhere public to walk in. Id start by going at least 100 miles South or East.

You don't have to build a blind, most places don't let you anyway. Go buy your tpwd public hunting permit and they will mail you a book with all of your options. Then you go out and scout scout scout until you find a spot you can walk to and hunt. Best of luck! Holler if I can help ya.

I wouldn't build a blind but you could use stuff in the area to make one once you get there. Besides you will need something to pass all the time with that you are going to be sitting in the dark waiting for sunup and flashing people off your spot.

Good luck.

i have a buddy that guides in the area, its $150 a trip. thats a bit pricey for me personally, seeing that i am a full time student (=broke) and he is my friend, but he claims that price will be hard to beat. should i go with him?

$150 a trip isn't bad if he puts you on birds. I wouldn't pay that but I have places I can go hunt public and private that I can shoot birds. It all depends on what you are wanting to get out of the deal. If you go with him you will have to pay that amount every time. You may very well spend $150 scouting public places but you will at least have more places to go in the future and they will be free in the future minus your license costs and permits.

IMO I would rather scout on public land and take my chances but that is just me. Plus if you are student you have time on your hands to put in a little time and effort and scout.

I agree with lance the pants, Spend that $150 scouting your own spots and getting some start up equipment. Then you can go multiple times and learn more as you go. Otherwise you will get one good hunt and dream of going out again everyday after that.

Sent you a PM

What kind of freind won t take you out and show you the ropes????? If he is truly your freind he will say buy lunch and some beer for after and take you out....charge a freind to hunt I never heard of that

I agree, he charges you 150 for a trip he's not your friend, I'd pay for gas and lunch

Tell him to "KMAss."! Jeeeez... I don't even know ya but I would take you out for ...let's say a boat fee of a case of Beer or something.

I'm booked up for awhile but give me a PM. and we can go from there if ya want to hunt local.

BTW, don't try and build a blind in these public areas. The public areas allow you access, temp. blinds ( for the day ), and a chance to shoot ducks , and sometimes in our area...a chance to watch a circus of events that will live with you forever.

Wow.. you got luck man, when I asked on here a year ago about public hunting around College Station I got murdered... None the less, I have learned to keep my mouth shut about hunting places. I go to A&M, I got a boat and all the deks, but I mainly hunt the coast, also looking to learn the area. If you ever wanna go scout,I might be interested.

We grew up a little since you asked.

most of 'em anyways....

well he is a friend but he works for a guiding business. if i were in his situation i might do the same thing. hes trying to hold a job and hes not gonna do that by taking buddies out for free every wknd. plus hes not all that close of a friend... if he wasn't working for an actual guiding business and just taking ppl out for a small charge, i would definitely expect him as a friend to take me out for free.

fishcatchr- why did you get "murdered" for asking that?

no choke- pm sent

I would say pay for the trip and kill some birds, but after my buddy told me about the guided trip he went on this past weekend where they didn't kill a single duck I'd say do your own scouting. It's more satisfying anyway when you reap the rewards of your own hard work.

The public hunting permit and the book they send you is a good start on locating the property and season dates and times, Public land is often dofferent than private, allowing hunting only on certian days and times.

For scouting checkout Google Earth of the area. I haven;t hunted a couple locations in 3 years that I used to hunt on public land. The potholes, shallow tanks and sloughs I found scouting are visible with that program. Looking at it brings back memories of some limit filled mornings and good times with friends. I might have to visit those locations again this year.

My friends never charged me for a hunt and even bought my lunch a few times back when I was in school. Times can't have changed that much! I am sure am thankful for good friends!