Hello,
Im thinking of getting into some public hunting this season in the Sam Houston National Forest. I've never done it before so I will probably start with some squirrel hunting to learn the area. Does anyone have any tips to hunting public land? Also has anyone had experience with this national forest in particular?

Go to the park office and get yourself a map. The OnX Hunt Map phone app can be good. Talk to the Park Wardens...they often have good advice on areas with lots of game.

Success on public land comes from your willingness to go where other people don't. Get far away from the parking lots, roads, and other people and you will usually have more success.

ta HF.

Bigfoot

When you buy your Annual Public Hunting permit, you will be issued a map booklet. In the booklet, there are rules and regulations along with a map of the SHNF showing where you can hunt and where you can't hunt. Study that book! The game warden will be happy to provide you with a financial incentive to read it more carefully if he catches you breaking one of the many rules that only apply to Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests.

To help get you started, here is a FAQ page that goes over most of the rules.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5426745.pdf

Good luck compadre and welcome to the forum!

Got any results report?

Thanks

I'm interested in this too.
Will look into getting there next year with the kids. Are the dates different? specified in the booklet?

ta HF Sponxx...
Thinken dates pretty much same from year ta year.
edit, try the hog hunts after the deer season over, learn the territory, sign will still be fresh. The permit lasts till end of August. Usta any ways.

Thanks for the info.
I will start another thread to avoid hijacking this one