I am relocating to the Dallas in July. I've lived in Alabama my entire life and love whitetail hunting. I'm looking for advice on everything... Living in Frisco, is there some public land for rifle hunting that will be accessible? for 2018, I would like to get in on a lease, but that is probably not feasible for 2017. I know the hunting will be totally different, but I'm excited for the possibilities of bigger whitetail, plus the other species that are available in Texas.

I'd you hunt public land, you'll quickly realize a private lease is worth every penny.

Most of the public land that allows rifle hunting is by lottery type drawing. The is quite a bit of public hunting in east Texas in the national forests. The closet of those is 3+ hours from where you are. If you are willing to bow hunt it would open up a lot more options. Good luck!!

After a few public hunting trips you will be more than happy to get on a hunting lease.

Welcome
See the public lands sectin for info... I suggest putting in for TPWD public land draw hunts. Might get lucky and score a tag or 2.

If you want to hunt in EAST Texas aka anywhere more than 2 hours south or east of Dallas & below I-30, you probably will not be able to tell the difference from Alabama except for the color of the License Plates.

EX: I am about 2 1/2 hours South East of my son's house just north of McKinney - next town over east of Frisco..an I got a bakers dozen of 130'-140' tall pine trees in the 1/2 acre back yard....and deer bedded most nites in the estate's heavily groomed 8 acre yard behind me. Go anywhere east of the Trinity River that runs thru Dallas and south of I-30 and you will see what I mean. Can be Tough Hunting though...as every body hunts... man woman or child that's big enough to hold a gun....every body hunts.

For leases I'd start to look a couple hours WEST of I-35 couple 3 hours or more west of Ft Worth, or find an Archery Only lease in Grayson County, the next county north of you, and you got a shot at some Pope & Young critters.

For a wildlife treat, go north up Hwy 289 aka Preston Road from Frisco, and just barely after you pass the Airport & before you pass the town of Pottsboro, look for the signage for the Hagarman Federal WMA and turn left. 4-5 miles down the road you'll hit the HQ for a 11,700 acre piece of heaven...and notice the Archery Club Overhead right before you get there. Lease's ain't cheap anywhere up there but the critters they can harvest are worth it.

Grayson is Archery Only, but the next county west, Cooke County, is where I'd try and find something, especially anywhere in the woods along the River and is open to rifle hunting...with the same kinda bloodlines.
Ron

X2

welcome to Texas - greatest state in the union and by far the greatest hunting. You are off on the right foot by getting onto a forum like this and reading and watching. Lots of awesome info here and ways to learn about Texas deer (and other species) hunting. Also Texas Bow Hunting Forum is another great site to learn

My advice.

Bring a nice fat bank account

and good luck..

and, borrow lots of money...

Welcome brother!!!!!!!

I live in collin county also. I hunt out east. Athens area.

Every part is a little or alot different. East Texas is primarly shorter shooting distances. Bucks very smart, rarely come to feeders where im at.

Out west can be wide open, hilly or rocky. Rattlesnakes.

PM me if you have more questions.

Put in for the WMA draws.

Beg to differ...the MOST public land hunting is whatever replaced type II which has maps etc of the public hunting areas...but I've hunted those areas and wouldn't go anywhere near them until the third or fourth weekend of the season.

The best thing you can do is befriend someone with land that needs some does or mgmt bucks taken. Don't go in too aggressive. Volunteer to do work or take does or help shoot pigs and if they like you, they may find yourself getting to shoot culls or mgmt bucks later on down the road. If they really like you, who knows?

I have a couple of buddies that have the green light to take any buck they see off my place. Only rule is that they have to be willing to do a full shoulder mount (a rule I adopted from another friend that put the same rule in place for me on his place).

Good luck and welcome.

I'm the opposite. I moved from Texas to Huntsville, 2 1/2 years ago.

A. You will quickly hate living in Frisco, no way out of town without paying a toll.
B. You will miss our 5% state income tax when you get hit with a 10% increase in property taxes each year.
C. Buy a lifetime Alabama hunting license before you relocate. Much cheaper option than leasing.

to

great advice!!!

thanks for the welcome! I am hoping that I will be able to find some opportunities through my business contacts before hunting season. I will continue to read and monitor this forum. I'm glad I found it.

Im also gonna need some support during football season.


These guys are ruthless.......

WELCOME

ha ha you will have it. Roll Tide!