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East Texas public land hunting #7885446 06/30/20 12:18 AM
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Coolarrow2 Offline OP
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Hey guys. I’m thinking about getting back into deer hunting. I live on Sam Rayburn. I’ve been looking around. Seams to be a lot of Corp land and also some units around to hunt. Anyone got any input from experience hunting this area? Places to avoid. Places to try? Just wondering if it’s worth messing with. I’ve hunted public land in the past and had great luck. But that was a long time ago. Thanks

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7885637 06/30/20 06:46 AM
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Sniper John Offline
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Welcome to the THF. Lots of annual public hunting permit lands and national forest as well in your area. Pick up maps to Sabine and Angelina National Forests and an APHP permit from TPWD when they become available. You will be mailed a book with the hunting area maps in it. My best advise since you live near where you would be hunting is to scout often. Keep hunting pressure in mind when your scouting and find alternate places to hunt be it locations on an individual area to completely different hunting areas near you. If access seems really easy, it means it is really easy for everyone and you will encounter other hunters. During season if the hunting pressure is bad in one place, move to another. I like to look for pinch points where game naturally gets funneled and escape routes where game pushed by other hunters get's funneled. This goes back to keeping hunting pressure in mind. Where are hunters entering from and going to and where is the game get's pushed to. Look for saddles between hills, fingers of cover between fields or next to water, etc. Of course the ideal is to find places that are hard for other hunters to get to or farther than most are willing to walk and find those scrape and rub lines, food sources and trails to and from them. Weekdays if possible. Old school hunting. If you just show up somewhere opening day and weekends and wonder around like many do, you probably will not be very successful. Do your homework and it is definitely worth messing with. Either way, you would still have a good time IMHO. I enjoy the scouting walking the woods as much as I do the hunting.
Good luck!

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7885654 06/30/20 10:11 AM
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Coolarrow2 Offline OP
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Hey John, thanks. Yes sir I hunted public land in the past. If you willing to walk a 1/2 mile you see way less people! Lol I’m going to get a map of the area and start looking. Thinking I might use the boat and access some places walking is not an option. Google Earth is awesome! I bow hunted for years, between work and life just had to quit. Time was just not there. Getting close to retirement age. Getting a little more time and wanting to enjoy the outdoors more. Plus a little back strap sounds awesome!
smile

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7896081 07/10/20 12:50 AM
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I've never used a boat but off hand that would seem a really good way to get into less crowded areas and a good way to haul out a deer.

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7896905 07/10/20 11:44 PM
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Deer stand, 6' 12' 18' I have a choice. Also an easy way to get a deer out. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: White Falcon] #7897355 07/11/20 03:08 PM
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White Falcon thats a pretty slick rig.


God Bless Texas!!! Godspeed our Military!
Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Brian C.] #7897436 07/11/20 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Brian C.
White Falcon thats a pretty slick rig.


X2

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7897646 07/11/20 09:32 PM
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Wheels,axle and u bolts from amazon!

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7902467 07/16/20 11:28 AM
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White Falcon I got out my old aluminum deer cart, had to buy new tires and tubes, got it all ready to go. That’s a nice set up you got! I used a cart and API climbing stand back when I was hunting. I think I’ll be hunting the ground this year. So many downed old oak trees in the woods. I think a make shift ground blind will work good enough till I get a good feel of the hunting these areas. It all looks awesome where I’ve looked. But I need to hunt it one year to see what areas get hunted the hardest. Then I can focus my attention to the areas others over look! Lol

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7902527 07/16/20 12:33 PM
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Flat free wheels, Amazon. [Linked Image]

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7903157 07/16/20 09:31 PM
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Sir what side of the lake are you?


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Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7903293 07/16/20 10:43 PM
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Across the lake from Shirley creek ramp. Right between the 103 and Harvey creek park. Where you located Hillbilly?

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7903322 07/16/20 10:59 PM
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I’m going to the Ranger station in Zavalla tomorrow. Get a good map and good info on where and what.. I’ve have read the rules but I want to hear it all from a Ranger. Access stuff rules.

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7903330 07/16/20 11:05 PM
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White Falcon this is my little cart. Hauled a many deer and hogs out of the wood in it. Ever a buddy who twisted a knee. [Linked Image]

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7903335 07/16/20 11:09 PM
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[Linked Image]
My best ever Texas buck 2006 public land.

Last edited by Coolarrow2; 07/16/20 11:09 PM.
Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7911915 07/24/20 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Coolarrow2
Hey guys. I’m thinking about getting back into deer hunting. I live on Sam Rayburn. I’ve been looking around. Seams to be a lot of Corp land and also some units around to hunt. Anyone got any input from experience hunting this area? Places to avoid. Places to try? Just wondering if it’s worth messing with. I’ve hunted public land in the past and had great luck. But that was a long time ago. Thanks

I don’t know how long you’ve been OUT of deer hunting in east Texas but I’ll hit some high points, some you probably know, some you may not.
- Nac and SA counties are now antler restricted counties
- Does ok on NF (in archery season only). No does on NF in general season
- I’m almost certain centerfires are not allowed now on Corps land around Rayburn
- Bannister gets pretty busy the first two weeks of season

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7912085 07/24/20 09:35 PM
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Nice cart! I just added a bow-gun rack to mime.

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7912796 07/25/20 04:59 PM
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I’ve been reading up on the rules.. no doe’s allowed in gun season. Shot gun slugs only. Not sure how much I’ll be hunting this year but for sure plan on looking around and find out where the crowds are. This year will be my learning year. See what I can do. Thanks guys!

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7912831 07/25/20 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Coolarrow2
I’ve been reading up on the rules.. no doe’s allowed in gun season. Shot gun slugs only. Not sure how much I’ll be hunting this year but for sure plan on looking around and find out where the crowds are. This year will be my learning year. See what I can do. Thanks guys!


Be sure to go to the TPWD drawn hunts website and put in for the USFS ANTLERLESS DEER PERMIT. I think the doe permit for Bannister WMA would be the closest to Sam Rayburn.

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7913468 07/26/20 12:26 PM
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Added an old set of gun-bow racks to my ladder-cart, for my bow. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
y stand.

Last edited by White Falcon; 07/26/20 12:27 PM.
Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7913885 07/26/20 06:34 PM
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Nice!! Great idea

Re: East Texas public land hunting [Re: Coolarrow2] #7914052 07/26/20 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Coolarrow2
[Linked Image]
My best ever Texas buck 2006 public land.


That’s a great deer anywhere

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