I am looking to do some public hunting for small game with my father and was wondering if anyone had some opinions on decent places to consider. I live in DFW and this would be the first time I ever hunted on public lands.

ttt

Would really appreciate any feed back.

You can check out TPWD's website. There is an Annual Public Hunting permit for around $48 bucks and a map/book that you can get that details a bunch of public places around Texas. They've even set-up this interactive page with all the spots marked on a map. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/annual_public_hunting/
Check out some of the Corps of Engineers lakes too. Some of them have free public hunting, but it's done by a drawing system or some are just a check in at the office kind of deal. Look for one near you.
You're probably not going to get a lot of responses with specific places because it's just not right to ask people who have put work, sweat, gas and mileage into scouting and planning for the season to give you the exact coordinates to their best spot. Do the research on Google maps, the Internet, scout, plan and hopefully you'll get into some critters. And be careful out there; public hunting can be rewarding but also a little dangerous if you don't know who is hunting around you.

You can get some good spots from the TPWD hunting permit ACov is talking about. I used to hunt at Cooper Lake WMA and you have the run of 14,000 acres. Takes a lot of scouting / planning which I thought was half the fun.

What are you hunting?

Acov thanks for the info, I have checked out the web ste and started doing research. I definatley do not ecpect others to give up their spots as I am very excited about being able to scout and plan, it just makes a great hunt even that much more rewarding in my opinion. I never really considered the Core of Engineers lakes i am going to check that out for sure. Coon Hunter I think just to see what it is like we are hinking of going for squirrel and rabbits first and maybe some hog. Since neither of us have ever hunted public land before this will be a good way to see what it is like and to get some good foot time in on the area. We are also thinking of trying dove but i have heard some bad stories about dove hunting on public lands. Hopefully i will be able to go out some time this week to do some walking, I am going to check out lake Ray Roberts to see how it looks.

Couple of handy links for you. They are stickied to the top of the land and leases forum and migratory forum.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...S_AN#Post348583

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...Hun#Post1888119

The AHP is a great way to get out and hunt. The time together will be the reward. Hunt safe and enjoy.

Try LBJ Grasslands. Thousands of acres open to the public just north of Decatur. Federal land, no public hunting permit required, just a hunting license.

Hunting public land for ANYTHING is pretty tough. Actually, I should clarify ´tough´. It requires a lot of scouting and a lot of walking. I´ve found pigs to be pretty tough on public land..they are usually nocturnal and public land hunting is sunrise ´till sunset. I know some people who hunt pigs successfully on public land, but it´s never consistent. (if you are willing to come to the coast, pm me and I can give you a decent public spot for hogs). Squirrel and rabbit are definitely doable, but you´re going to have to put in some walking...get at least a mile from the nearest road or trail. I´ve had decent luck with the public dove fields available through the public hunting permit. Don´t expect to limit out on those fields, but I usually come home with a few birds. Good luck.

mwafford I thought it was shotguns and black powder only at the Grasslands?

Thanks for the info

I bow hunted LBJ last oct. and there were a ton of squirrel's. PM and I will get ya' pointed in the right spot. My uncle is from NC where squirrel hunting is big and he made a joke that it couldn't be hunted with a good squirrel dog cause he couldn't tree one from chasin another.lol

Thanks to everyone for the great advice, I am stopping by the core of engineers office today for grapevine lake to see if there are any permits left, I have been looking on the website for LBJ but have not seen any info on hunting (maybe I am lookng in the wrong place). I have seen that last year they did not release any info until late August so it might just be too early.

PM sent

Got my permit for the COE land in Grapevine, went today to do some scouting and saw alot of hopeful signs. Has anyone ever hunted out there, any good advice for a new guy.