Also, the people of the area are another factor to consider. Many beautiful areas of East TX have been ruined for me due to the large populations of meth heads and just all around undesirables that reside there. They really seem to like East TX.

I'm located in Grapeland in Houston county. It's a beautiful area and hunting deer and pigs around here is no problem at all. The birds are few and far between and no turkey season here at all. Wood ducks are plentiful. One thing you're going to run into in east Texas is land maintenance. If it's a property you're not going to be on in the summer you'll need someone to keep the brush under control in areas that you want to stay open.

ETX is tough for turkeys, and you better enjoy the humidity in the summer.

I know someone from that area and he said the exact same thing

Ha cool, I live in Latexo.

You’ll find pockets that have all of that. Including turkeys and meth heads. Hard to go anywhere without finding that last one though...it’s the rural good fer nuthin po’ mans drug of choice.

Avoid east Texas at all costs unless your a fan of trespassers, theivery, and poaching

Remember, " NO DEER IN EAST TEXAS " !

Nice photos and I believe that for the most part you are correct.

These things can (and do) happen anywhere in the State. I have lived and hunted in Deep East Texas for the last 30 years. I grew up in Central Texas (Hill Country) before moving here. So...I have something to compare it against.

My observations have been:

1. IF you live on your property you will have far fewer problems than if you don't.
2. The notion of property lines and land ownership being 'barriers' is a very new and largely ignored concept for many. 'Hog Doggers' chief among them.
3. No matter how long you have lived here...you will always be that guy 'that moved here from....."
4. Hunting and fishing can be excellent depending upon your location and how much you cultivate the land for it.
5. For the most part...East Texas is fairly quiet and peaceful. Always 4-5 years behind the rest of the State in most things.

There is no question that East Texas (especially Deep East Texas) is 'different' than other regions, some of it good, some bad.

In the same way Austin is the Liberal Bastion of the State.......East Texas is the Appalachia. You just need to know that before moving here. It is slowly changing, but the 'old ways' die hard it seems.

Shocking

Real east tx is woods, rollin hills, lakes, creeks, streams, ponds, and very little flats. If you can find that, there are animals lurkin. Simple

Oh yeah, and rivers

Tread litely and cherish it. It's our little heaven.

I bought acreage surrounded on three sides by the Davy Crockett National Forrest in Houston County in December and every time I go there it seems more beautiful. It's not huge but it certainly is going to hunt bigger than it is. I was too late for this past deer season but I have seen camera footage from the previous owner and there are plenty of deer including decent bucks, coyotes, bobcats, foxes and of course hogs. I set my own camera up the other day at just one location and have seen wildlife including one not too shabby buck so far. So east TX doesn't seem as bad for hunting as some posters are making it out to be. Have a couple of large ponds stocked with fish. I caught some bass and large perch in the few minutes I have tried fishing. There are two creeks that intersect as parts of the property borders. Found an arrow head. Can't believe how unbelievably quite it is in the evenings.


I also met some locals who showed me pictures of game such as a nice 11 point buck arrowed on a property across the creek and a pile of about 10 hogs shot in one night. Two guys from nearby who worked on my well also had pictures of nice bucks they shot in the area this season. I do feel it will be harder hunting than Victoria county where I hunted for years, but I may have a chance at a better quality buck that comes out of the National Forrest. The land is also much less expensive for what you get than it was in Victoria, Goliad, Jackson, and Dewitt counties near where I live.

East Texas has to either be in your blood or you have to love the challenge of woods hunting with some pasture. If you do your part, the rewards are there. Choosing the right land is critical because the landscape is not uniform.

If someone wants to put up some feeders and watch a bunch of deer each time they go out, it’s probably not the place for them.

It’s all there in abundance except the turkeys - which are few and far between if there is even a season in the county you choose.