I was hoping someone could help me out by telling some good placed to hunt on public or Corp land!! I've always had a lease but had to give them up!! Leases are just getting too ridiculous for me!!

So I'm going the free route!! I have heard good things about lake Whitney and lake Cooper can anyone tell me anything on regards to these places or other spots to hunt not too too far from Ennis..

Not trying to get your honey hole but If u want to tell me I will listen!! Lol

Please pm me any info u think might be helpful and I do appreciate everyone's help in advance!!

Whitney is Ok as long as you get away from the entry points. Lots of land (over 16,000 acres) but you have to go in person to get your permit @ the lake office during the week. It borders two counties so you have multiple opportunities @ bucks. Try Mccowan valley if you want the biggest area.

Ok thanks for the info..

When do they start issuing permits? are they already doing it?

They say there are a few good places to get to only my boat.. Im going to try to go to those areas to get away from everybody.. Lol

They started issuing permits on Friday, August 19th. I have hunted Lake whitney for 5 years and have found it to be good some years and great others. i mostly hunt H9 or B6 compartments, lots of deer and not too many people, plus camping is easy at McCown Valley park. Using your boat will be an issue this year because they currently have only 2 boat ramps open and they will more than likely be closed by season if no rain...

mt-did you get yours @ the office yet b/c I was down there a week ago and they said that permits wouldn't be issued until Sept 1st (first day of dove season) and "yes" they knew it was an inconvenience to hunters who wanted to hunt dove that morning. I've talked to a few people who have tried to get theirs also and were denied until Sep 1st. They said this year they are going to all "in person" registration due to the issues they had last year w/ harvest logs,etc... Let me know.. thanks!

https://whitneylakehunting.tamu.edu/permit/returning

Just went online and it does say Sep 1st and "in person" only. MT; I hope you were able to get it before this date. I sure would like to beat the crowd.

Thanks guys for the help and info.. Do you'll use tree stands or ground blind at whitney?? I've never even been out there but I'm hoping to get out there in a few weeks and spend a couple days scouting the place out ?

I'm a big guy and a tree stand might be out of the question!! Lol

One more question. on the link it says u have to have ur hunters Ed card but I lost mine but the number is on my license is good enough?? I know it's good enough for the game wardens!

I used to drag a ladder stand out there.

Get out there and scout, scout, scout before the season starts. That is what will pay off when hunting public land. You will need lots of luck if you just go out there opening weekend and hope for the best.

You would need to ask the corps office if they would make the exception?

Or you can get a replacement card from TPWD.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/cardform.phtml

Make a ground blind but cutting is prohibited. You're supposed to use loose brush or dead. Ground blinds are OK but unless you can leave it up; the deer seem to key in on a new ground blind or one that you move in and out. Some others may have diff. experiences, but I didn't have a whole lot of luck. Brush blinds worked better for me (more natural). Leaving a portable blind out there is dicey b/c of thieves. It may be against the rules also (not sure). I know leaving a tree stand up is against the rules..

Thanks for the heads up on everything and I will call them and make sure what I need to do before I drive all the way out there!

Thanks again!

Are these WMA's where you need the Annual Public Hunting Permit?

I moved to Decatur this year and thought hey why not go hang a few camera's at LBJ and see if I can come across a doe or two for after work hunt's and I now have several buck's on camera's and am seeing over 30 deer everytime I go to the wood's and getting thousand's of trail cam pic's. Worth a shot just get off the beaten path

Hey Keith which unit were u scouting ?
We hunted 51 couple of years ago
Seen some pretty nice 8 points.. Another out by avoid can't rembember the unit # but it had lots of turkey

some of the places u do need the hunting permit but on whitney u just nned there permit which is free.. but cooper u nee the $48 permit..

sounds like i need to go check out LBJ.. i might have to run up there one weekend..

can u bait deer but just pour it out.. i know u cant put up a feeder but didnt know if u could just go pour a bag out in a few spot while u hunt??

i guessing not but had to ask?

Replacement takes less then two weeks

No baiting on the grassland's just found that out the other day and thankfully the easy way if ya' know what I mean. Atleast he let me go. I'm a pretty nice guy and all but I can't give up the unit number because it's only a 150-200 acre section. Honestly just about everywhere has deer out there right now though. I will also say that there is a stud hangin' at that bed and breakfast where 904 and 2461 meet The only time we saw him we were driving back from hangin a camera and my girlfriend said "dang I wanna shoot one like that" As I looked up I said oh dang " me too baby me too" Awesome 3.5-4.5 yo 130" plus toad crossing the road by that gas well at that creek going onto sec 31. Dropped in later and hung a camera right off the road there at that creek but got 500 pic's of all does adn fawn's. Ton's of fawn's out there which is really surprising due to the number of yote's out there. Where there are that many fawn's there has to be the ones that made them though. I have found a pretty nice buck that I am certain I will arrow given the chance in bow season so I am gonna stick tight in my little hole I have found and keep it a secret until after he hit's the dirt. Then ya'll can go clean some of those does out. Alot of does for that area. Does with bow's are legal all bow season then doe weekend is thanksgiving weekend.

In the past you had to have a doe permit to take a doe at LBJ. That might have changed, but you better check into that if you have not already. Don't think they would let you off as easy on that one...

Ok guys called Whitney today and as long as ur hunters ed# is on ur license ur good to go and also they are already doing the permits!!

That's such BS!!! My buddy drove there from Azle last week and was turned away till Sept 1. Guess they get free gas

I was turned away as of a week ago also (not b/c of any timeline) just b/c they said Sep 1st. was the day. Man, it's getting frustrating out there lately!! Luckily I was down there anyway and didn't make a special trip. I'd still call just to make sure you get someone who actually knows what's going on down there

Well if all else fails when u go tell them u talked to Tiffany. thats who I spoke with and she said they are already doing the permits.. but in going to call again And ask Friday before I go there.. I need to go stay the weekend and do some major scouting.. If any one wants to come out there and show me a few spots I'll buy the beer! Lol

pat mayse lake in paris tx has some corp land just need license also there is thousands of acres of type 2 permit land in lamar and fannin county arcery only in lamar but i hunted trac by lamar point last season and never seen another hunter but shh dont want everyone knowing about this lol