I'm thinking of buying some property in and around Hico / Stephenville / Bluff Dale / Hamilton...

How is the deer population in this area? Good numbers? Tough hunting?

Thanks!

It's pretty good west of Stephenville where we are.

I hunt around Hico and the population is not super high but you will see deer. There are some really nice bucks out there. Last year we took a 153 and 142

Had a ranch North of Hico, there aren't a lot of deer, like you will see West of Evant, but there are some real nice bucks, a few turkey. We didn't have a hog problem then, but I hear that is changing fast.

North side of Stephenville used to have the highest deer numbers. Northwest of Chalk mountain had quite a few as well. Will depend on how big a place you buy, some places get hunted pretty hard and many have been leased for a long time since it is close to the metro.

Been some time since we had the place, but I have a few friends still there and the hunting is pretty much the same.

May contact Erathkid on here and get his thoughts since he is still a resident type old guy in Erath county LOL

Tough hunting a lot of pressure, there are some good deer mostly nocturnal, AR counties as well.

Good hunting. Can be really good. A mature buck will dress out at 125-135 lbs. Not as many deer in Erath as in Hamilton, at least where we are. Chalk mountain area is HOT. Hico has good numbers but more as you get towards Evant. I see deer steady during the rut. After that it gets harder. Places are tough to find around here. They bring top dollar too. Close to the metro-mess. Lots of hogs. It is gorgeous country, not a bunch of junk everywhere. Good luck. If there's anything I can help you with, PM me.

Thanks for the info guys... sounds like it can kinda be hit or miss... I wouldn't be buying strictly for hunting.. thinking of moving out that way.. so for me as long as there is SOME hunting on the property and I don't have to go lease more land and can hunt from home.. I will be good to go. right now looking at a place between bluff dale and stephenville..

Chase, that's a nice area. You'll love it I promise. We were looking at land up in Palo pinto when we found our place. I'm so glad we bought here. Lots of stuff to do around Stephenville-Bluff Dale. If you're married, the Wife will LOVE Granbury, mine does. Kenny Freds deer processing in Bluff Dale is a fun place especially during deer season. Wilfongs Cajun shack next door has fantastic Cajun food. BYOB. I've never looked back. This place is home. If you're looking for a small place check out 'Mountain lakes' near Bluff Dale. Bowhunting is allowed too.

Look south of Bluff dale on 2481 that runs down to 3way, good country right there and decent deer. More hilly and a lot of ceder s and mesquit mixed in.

Yep. Although lots of good elevation change near Bluff Dale. Closer to Stephenville is more sandy soil with postoaks and blackjack with mesquite mixed in. Good deer though even close to town. Larger ranches are south of the 'ville, generally speaking.

When you say larger ranches south of stephenville... Meaning more undeveloped areas etc?

Yeah I'm sure my wife would love the area. She is game to move out there... So am I!

my land is at the corner of Comanche Eastland Erath, I have good deer #,
decent size bucks (large 8 points, have not seen 10 pts ), turkeys, ducks, hogs, lots of dove
foxes, bobcats, coyotes

I also have a lease at Eastland Erath line, lots of hogs, some deer/ some 10 pts, some large 8pt;
mostly nocturnal deer, turkeys, ducks, doves, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lion, aoudad

I don't think you'll go wrong with Erath Co.

Aoudad? I didn't know there were any that close... Hmmm.. Good deal!

We're about 5 miles south of Bluff Dale and have a 12k acre ranch close, within 2 miles, another that's 4k acres just to our north (Mountain Lakes), a 3k acre place that we share a fence with on our west side. Closer to the 'ville they get cut up into smaller places. Look up 'Same stars ranch'. They're close to us. I think they have a 100 acre tract, a 37 acre tract and a couple of 20-25 acre tracts available. Good hunting with some nice bucks. I also know of some tracts near Chalk mountain for sale. 'Panther cave ranch' 20-50 acre tracts. We might end up being neighbors

Chase, check out 'Bluff Dale getaway ranch', they're close to us and have quite a few beautiful tracts available.

That's the one I am looking at!! (the larger tract)

I assume this is a good area?

I have to have a fair amount of acres cause im dang sure gonna have my own 1k yard range...

The hunting in erath is hit or miss. I have lived here all of my life and hunted all over the county. Lots of deer in some places and some that look good only to have been hunted out by previous people or neighbors. There is lots of hunting pressure for sure. The deer are extremely nocturnal. The northern and north west part of the county has the most deer and the hogs to go with it. Great place to live and raise a family. Mine and my wife`s families have been in erath county since the early 1900`s and don`t plan on leaving. A lot of the land within 10 miles of stephenville has been chopped up and sold off into smaller tracts in the last 20 years. I personally would not lease anything unless it were farther out due to that fact. Good luck.

We hunt in between Goldwaith and Hamilton for 5 years, good deer and good numbers. Got a couple of bucks in the 140 range. No problem limiting out if you wanted to.

I have to echo what has been said about life down there, get out of town and it is a great place to live with a great sense of community for the most part. Big city is only 70 miles away if you forget why you left to the rural lifestyle, but most anything you need you can buy in the area, or order and wait for the brown truck. The S and SW side of the county was less developed when we where there, so that is the area I would prefer, even with few deer numbers. Get 3-500 acres and you will have a great place.

Born and raised in southern Erath and went to college in "the ville". I always found bigger/more deer west of Stephenville/Dublin. Lingleville, Huckabay, Desdemona, Hannibal area.

Great area. It backs up to Richardson creek, I've seen some dandies in the fall. Just don't be shootin' 'MY' deer...Just kidding. We don't shoot does though.

I should have told you, that 12k acre ranch is just to your west and I know the owner. First thing he did when he bought it was to stop ALL hunting. That was 11-12 years ago. It has some deer that would make any hunter swoon

There's a small herd of Aoudad that runs those rougher hills. I've had them on game cam and found one hit by a car near our HWY gate.