its been a while since I posted. I hope fellow public land hunters have been having a good season.

Ive gone on about 5 trips so far, but nothing to bring home. All trips were at Somerville PHL
When bow season first started, I wouldnt see a single deer nor hog as its been very very dry.
All the ponds are bone dry and still remain much so.

On one trip, I had a 100 lb hog walk by me just 20 yards but only to take off after 3 seconds because i was fumbling trying to load and knock an arrow.
On the following trip, I had 2 does walk by just 10 yards while I was full draw. Needed the first one to take 1 more step for a clear shot since there was a tree and shrub in the way.
Then the wind changed direction and they caught my scent and fled.

On my last trip, buck season started.
I found some scrapes and rubs, only to find a makeshift PVC feeder nearby....

Ive been marking all activity on Onx maps and remaining hopeful.

Awesome report...
Best wish's ...
Keep your head held high & your powder dry...

3 trips for me this year so far. All to San Angelo. Best opportunity for deer there was blown by some yahoos driving around on an atv just before sunset as 3 deer were working their way toward us. They got spooked by the atv and never came back.

Could have taken a turkey the next day at the same spot but I didn’t want a turkey, I wanted a deer.

Going out Saturday, hoping for better luck. Trying N TX for the first time.

I’m 0 for 3 on my hunts. Shortest trip was 450 miles to An area north of Silver City, NM. Blanked in Colorado for bear and Wyoming for elk as well. First time in 5 years or so that I haven’t taken a big game animal. I have 5 Mearn’s quail and a coyote to my name this year, all from New Mexico.

1 hog in the Sam Houston NF, got skunked at Big Lake Bottom, got skunked turkey hunting at twin buttes and san angelo 2 weekends ago. Could've killed about 5 deer at twin buttes but was lookin for turkeys. Luckily I own some land where me and the wife each harvested a buck or our freezer would be runnin on E

I haven't hunted much this season. New boss that t screws stuff up when I leave for a couple of days. I shot a couple of slickheads for meat and I'm looking forward to our Powderhorn WMA hunt in January.

Got 2 doe in the freezer as of last week doing public hunting. Struck out at Sam Houston NF and became real sick around day 4 and had to leave by day 5.

Sucks to hear about the ponds at Somerville. I made ome trip there the evening of the teal opener. The ponds were super low with some already just being mud. That was my first time trying duck hunting. Saw 2 that zoomed through like low flying attack aircraft. They were gone before I realized what I was seeing. Since then I've made 2 other solo duck attempts on public land. Learned a lot, saw some bald eagles and a river otter up close. Waffled on a couple ducks, but learned a ton. Other than that, I've made a couple squirrel trips but it's been generally too warm on the days I've been off. I don't really like to creep through the woods when its above 70 degrees. Looking forward to woodcock season tremendously.

Where do you hunt woodcock? I have always heard that they are fun to hunt. Seen them, and it looks challenging.

Any of the NFs and WMAs in East TX will probably hold some. Davy Crockett near the Neches is a good spot to start!

You should definitely give it a go, ripgere. They're cool birds and I think they're delicious.