Found out who owns the property behind my work in Smith County, and met with her yesterday. Widowed lady that owns 4 other properties, and having troubles with people dumping trash in them. I offered to put a gate up for her, and clean up the trash, and I have full access to hunt in it.

It is a 43 acre tract in the middle of a 400 acre tract right on the edge of Tyler, Texas. People see does all of the time in the pasture on the front side of it. There is a large creek that runs down through it, and just from the look on a map a large hardwood bottom! I am super excited to get out and slap some cameras on it.
Anybody have a strategy they use to scout out land on a new property?

Congrats.

Congrats!!! Keep her happy and keep on hunting

I would just find your biggest trails and put cams on them.

If water is any kind of oddity for the area focus on watering areas of the creek or a tank.

Good luck, sounds like you will both benefit from it.

Elevate your cams in that part of the state. Hopefully no one is also in there illegally.
Good luck

Congrats! Here's to a long life for the widow.

Where this area is, I really doubt anyone is hunting it! and if they are, they arent hunting it hard at all.

Went to put another camera out,and just checked the one camera I put out yesterdays pictures... and just sprinkling a little bit of corn on the ground yesterday, for one day, i had 2 does, and a decent little 8 point, and that was just a shot in the dark placing of the camera with a little bit of corn on the edge of a clearcut! Not a bad sign.

Sounds like a good deal!!!

that sounds like a good lease and its cheap.only out the price of a gate and some manuel labor.heck of a deal, congrats and good hunting keep us informed on your results.

Hey that's a great idea. I wouldn't tell many local folks, next thing you know somebody will be over there talking to your nice lady about hunting too...

Nice job better take care of her

Thanks Everybody!

We are going too! My dad and I are going to fry her a turkey for Christmas and take it over to her house, and even though I am not hunting the other 4 properties most likely, I am going to go put gates up over there for her at those places. She was such a nice lady, reminded me a lot of my grandma to be honest. I hate to see people taking advantage of her and dumping trash on her land.

I'd blanket the properties in no trespassing/no hunting signs as soon as youre done with the gates and the trash

That's what I would do too. And like was stated above, MUMS the word.

You said the 43 acres is part of a 400 acre tract. Does the same lady own the 400 acres too? If so, she, or you through her, can apply for LAMPS tags. If not good luck. You are in a Doe and Antler restricted County.
Also, are timber or mineral rights an issue?
If nothing else it might be a good place to do some squirrel hunting.

I have already went and picked up some signs, and going to put them up today! and yes nobody knows about it locally except for my Father and I.

here is an aerial of the property, but of course I took off the location, and blanked out nearby landmarks.

the Green line is area that I have access too, blue line is a creek line that I am aware of. Pink line is just area that can be very easily access by an atv. Looking at this, how would you scout it? I am guessing the funnel at the top right corner going into a very large section of woods might be good?

The crop circles in the top right corner is a dead give away.

lol huh? are you talking about the google earth tools deal on the top right side?

I'd start at the property line near that big pond and look for game trails through that patch of woods to them. I'd almost guarantee the deer travel those thin woods lines between patches of woods. That opening towards the upper left looks like an ideal spot for a stand/feeder.

Honestly, that property looks ideal from an aerial perspective.

No the 43 acres is all she owns within this area. One side is owned by a local business, and the other is owned by a timber company. and by Antler Restricted you mean the usual 13" inside rule? That would be fine!

also I am not sure on the Timber or Mineral rights? She has owned this property for over 40 years she said, so I am guessing she likely has the mineral rights?

You can shoot does during bowseason in most doe restricted counties. FYI, that includes crossbows if you're lazy.

haha, I don't cheat, I shoot a Mathews Heli-M Compound Bow