Long story short, stationed in San Antonio, got here a little late in the year to figure out this hunting scene. Spent money trying to get drawn through TPWD and Camp Bullis, no luck. Dwindling hunting budget, can't afford a lease or pretty much anything posted here. Option to do walk-ins but still gotta buy the public permit. Turn to craigslist. Hey! A day trip that just barely breaks my budget! I'm all over it!

Boy was I wrong. Apparently there is a very large difference between a hunting trip and what I've found out now is a day lease. Pick a blind, feeder will go off in the morning and afternoon.

Now I don't need a guide or fancy acomodations if any at all, but I made the fatal mistake of assuming if I'm paying someone and I'm stuck to a blind, they'll be pretty sure there are actually deer on their property. I realize it's nature and you won't always see something, but dang I've never seen a place with multiple feeders apparently running year round so devoid of deer.

Now my hunting budget is depleted and I'm eating Purdue until next year. Lesson learned.

Thanks for your service. Sorry for your bad luck.

I’d be interested (morbid curiosity) as to the details of this place. How many acres? How many feeders? Cost? What kind of condition were the stands?

A good place costs money. Stands, feeders, feed, accommodations, property taxes, everything that goes into a good lease is expensive. I would think that almost anywhere around San Antone would have some deer on it, but guess not.

Check your PMs.

There are no sure bets. Our place has a good population of deer, many deer. But, even though I have pics from my game cam where it’s difficult to count all of them, there have been times when I see nary a one. Only way I would ever do a day hunt would be opening weekend. After that your taking a chance. Only do one with a small access fee with a kill fee. You might pay more if successful but if you get skunked at least you got to spend the day outdoors.

My personal lease is normally crawling with deer and this year has been very very poor due to acorns.

So it’s possible this was the case

A lot of day leases tend to be that way later in the season. They have had a lot of pressure every weekend with God only knows how many deer already killed. They're not all that way, but I would say the majority probably are.

Back in 1998 a co worker wanted me to take him hunting, at the time could not take anyone. So he wanted me to do a day hunt and he would pay for both of us. What a ripoff, on your way to the blind there was trash everywhere also in the blind.
It looked like a refugee camp was just there, it stank and there were no animals of any kind other than a bird or two. I would never do a day hunt again unless it was with a reputable person from this forum or highly recommended by a close friend.

Sorry you were taken advantage of and thank you for your service If I still had a place I would let you take a doe or a spike, unfortunately I don't anymore, maybe someone else on here can?

Good luck!!

Sadly most Craigslist ads are going to be much like this. I'm sorry you got ripped off.

I want to clarify that I'm not saying I was scammed or blame the owner. Just that I've learned this new-to-me term "Day Lease" rather than an outfitter. I just probably picked the wrong day and too late in the season. Maybe the deer come from behind the stand so having the wind in my face didn't mean anything. Any number of factors.

My biggest take-away is to just save up for an actual outfitter. The 2-3 days I would have needed to see something there would cost as much as some reputable outfitters I've seen on here. Not delving into the whole argument of the way Texas operates hunting, I was just under a false impression that paying somehow equaled greater opportunity, which stems from years of truly free public land and open access to any un-posted private property, where blanking an entire season meant you were just out your license fee.

The particular lease produces, as evidenced by multiple pictures. There are about 4 stands to choose from, all overlooking an individual feeder, on roughly 40 acres. Property is much bigger but that's where owner lives. Cost was less than $300.

Thank you for your service and sorry you got shut out but as the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for" and you didn't pay a lot. Day hunts are an excellent source for does, culls, and management bucks but I'm thinking you're still going to have to spend north of $500 . I know a guy that hunts day leases every year in Uvalde. The place he hunts charges $550/day during the week and $650/day on weekends - a minimum of 2 days. I think you might be better served to save your money and go to a better place. Hunting more than one person on 40 acres is not a good idea for a lot of reasons. Best of luck to you and stay safe.

We have 52 acres and after a conversation with Biologist we had come out. The take I got from him was if I remember correctly the recommendation was 1 buck and 2 does. Maybe 2 bucks, but consider that if your paying for a day hunt on 40 acres.

This has been a very poor season for us too. Could have shot a couple of studs early on when bucks were cruising. Now nothing, nada, zilch. Too much food in the pasture.

Next year look around on here more. I and probably others on here could have guaranteed you either 2 does or a 6 point Buck for that $300.

NEtransplant, don k is a good person and true to his word. Look him up next year if you're still here.

Also probably the issue. Not a managed lease at all. Come in and take what you want. Who knows how many came before.


I will definitely keep my eye open. Just checked your posting from November and can't believe I passed it up. Asked about does and never really thought about it after. Like I said, I'm a hunter and have been to camp for a week without seeing a thing, I understand it's not a guarantee. Just felt jaded having to pay for the free chance I'm used to. I appreciate the heads up!


Oh, I'll be here. Thus is the nature of the beast. Texas has me for at least 4 years. Hoping to budget well enough to hit up camp in Maine next year. Can't beat camp life with the guys for a week.

We’re you expecting a guaranteed kill because you paid for a hunt?

Simple fact.....good hunting in Texas is usually expensive and can be hard to find. I personally think your chances of success on a day lease/hunt would be slim. (At lease in this North Texas area.)

Guaranteed kill? No. Better opportunity, at least see/hear something, not be confined to a blind? In my mind yes. Like I said, lesson learned.