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New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
#7962364
09/05/20 03:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
NevadaMulely
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
I moved to Dallas about a year and half ago, i grew up hunting public land mule deer with a rifle in Northern Nevada. Anyways I discovered quickly that the hunting in Texas seems to be completely different, from the terrain to the laws and in particular the amount of public land even available for hunting, i do not have the financial means to justify spending the amount of money required to hunt private land. I'm not asking for anybody to give up their honey holes or anything. I just would like to know what areas in large have good deer/ hog populations. I bought the Annual Hunting permit and have been using ONX in combination with the Texas Public Land Hunting Map to E scout. I'm would like to do some whitetail and hog hunting with a rifle this season so any tips on areas, strategies, rookie mistakes to avoid, etc... would be awesome. I know all you bow hunters are going to give me grief but my dad said bow hunting was the most depressing thing he ever did, said you get closer to some of the biggest deer you have ever seen, but never close enough. Anyways thanks for anything you guys can help me with i appreciate it.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7962369
09/05/20 03:41 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 38
cm7727
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 38 |
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: cm7727]
#7962374
09/05/20 03:45 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
NevadaMulely
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
Hey thanks, do you have any experience with the Texas draw system, how are the odds? I looked at one of them a while back (can't remember which) but it said it had 6,500 applicants and only accepted 12 hunters are there others that have better odds or is that pretty standard?
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7962375
09/05/20 03:45 PM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 650
booskay
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 650 |
Not to discourage you, but I"d be shocked if anyone has a honey hole to kill deer and pigs on public land. Plan B might be to find a doe hunt, mabe for a couple hundred dollars on some ranch that is thinning the herd.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: booskay]
#7962378
09/05/20 03:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
NevadaMulely
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
Appreciate the honesty, i'm not expecting to shoot a monster public land buck or anything like that! i'm also new to whitetail deer hunting in general. I heard that in order to escape some "not all" of the hunting pressure you have to be willing to really walk far in on public lands to get away from the majority of hunters. Any truth to that?
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7962425
09/05/20 04:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795 |
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: cm7727]
#7962446
09/05/20 05:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
NevadaMulely
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
I threw my hat in the ring and applied for some of these draw hunts.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7962462
09/05/20 05:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Dave Scott
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331 |
I think you'll need to drive to east Texas to the "Piney Woods". That's about the only place I can think of. There are a few spots east of Dallas. One other thing. I would strongly think about getting a compound bow and get into archery as it opens up a lot more areas.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7964129
09/07/20 03:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659
Hopedale
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659 |
OP, take the APH book and look on the Region Index page for Deer. You'll see what WMAs have a deer season open to walk in.
Also, look at Army Corp lands and other federal properties. North of you in Dallas LBJ Grasslands.
And lastly, Oklahoma isn't that to far away if you make a weekend out of it.
Lastly, I think in Texas we have more places to bow hunt on public than deer hunt. Down here in Austin and there are multiple places I can hunt deer with a bow vs rifle.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: booskay]
#7964135
09/07/20 03:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251 |
Not to discourage you, but I"d be shocked if anyone has a honey hole to kill deer and pigs on public land. Plan B might be to find a doe hunt, mabe for a couple hundred dollars on some ranch that is thinning the herd. You're half right. It would be hard to share the spot in the Davy Crockett National Forest where this buck was taken. IMHO, the big deer that live in the "DC" are one of the best kept secrets in East Texas.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7964751
09/08/20 01:18 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,650
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,650 |
Hunt on Ft. Hood. Big mature bucks. Kind of funky rules, but the price is right.......
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: Pitchfork Predator]
#7964770
09/08/20 01:26 AM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
NevadaMulely
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
Hunt on Ft. Hood. Big mature bucks. Kind of funky rules, but the price is right....... it that part of the annual hunting permit or a separate deal?
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7964937
09/08/20 03:38 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326
sqiggy
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,326 |
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7964992
09/08/20 08:56 AM
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110
Ftttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 110 |
The deer are there on public lands. I didn’t take any last year, but I saw Mr Big the three days I hunted in the National Forest. If it wasn’t for the antler restriction, I could have had at least one decent buck each of those three days. Growing up hunting there, I would go forever without seeing a buck, and 30 years later, I saw more in 3 days than in 3 years back in the ‘70s/early ‘80s. However, I took my largest buck there in the early 80s.
I say scour the maps and then do some preseason scouting trips. You can’t lose.
Retired!
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: Ftttu]
#7965129
09/08/20 01:52 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251 |
I say scour the maps and then do some preseason scouting trips. You can’t lose. Yes, it takes boots on the ground and a plan of attack if you want to be successful on public land.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7965517
09/08/20 06:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,414
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,414 |
I moved to Dallas about a year and half ago, i grew up hunting public land mule deer with a rifle in Northern Nevada. Anyways I discovered quickly that the hunting in Texas seems to be completely different, from the terrain to the laws and in particular the amount of public land even available for hunting, i do not have the financial means to justify spending the amount of money required to hunt private land. I'm not asking for anybody to give up their honey holes or anything. I just would like to know what areas in large have good deer/ hog populations. I bought the Annual Hunting permit and have been using ONX in combination with the Texas Public Land Hunting Map to E scout. I'm would like to do some whitetail and hog hunting with a rifle this season so any tips on areas, strategies, rookie mistakes to avoid, etc... would be awesome. I know all you bow hunters are going to give me grief but my dad said bow hunting was the most depressing thing he ever did, said you get closer to some of the biggest deer you have ever seen, but never close enough. Anyways thanks for anything you guys can help me with i appreciate it. First, get in on some of the Texas Draw hunts today!!!! You missed a few of the draws and WMA’s already but still a bunch of COE left,
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7965751
09/08/20 08:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
TX draw hunts is good chance for rifle hunter. If you decide to go ahead and get in the archery/crossbow arena it will open lots opportunities for you closer to Dallas. Grayson/Collin county are archery only you just might luck into one day of meeting a local landowner and gaining permission/access. Lake Grapevine has some really nice bucks (archery only) and for the most part yes you have got to get way off the beaten path. Most difficult thing is entry access points and then long walks or kayak/canoe. Look at LBJ Grasslands also.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7966591
09/09/20 01:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,609
1860.colt
emoji colt.45
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emoji colt.45
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,609 |
ta HF... Lots of good info already... Hunted several WMA's SE of the big D WhiteOakWMA if remember right its archery deer. Lived just down the road of OSBWMA, archery only... Did the hog only any legal means hunts, Jan-end March hunt & scout.. Got familiar with area... Their the two bigger WMA's thar be a few smaller ones... Did the archery deer/hog hunts... Both have nice deer & have gun draw hunts.. Theirs a section (Public Hunting) lower in the forum... Best wish's on up coming hunts...
Last edited by colt.45; 09/09/20 02:03 PM.
i'm postaddic
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#7966679
09/09/20 02:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,414
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,414 |
I moved to Dallas about a year and half ago, i grew up hunting public land mule deer with a rifle in Northern Nevada. Anyways I discovered quickly that the hunting in Texas seems to be completely different, from the terrain to the laws and in particular the amount of public land even available for hunting, i do not have the financial means to justify spending the amount of money required to hunt private land. I'm not asking for anybody to give up their honey holes or anything. I just would like to know what areas in large have good deer/ hog populations. I bought the Annual Hunting permit and have been using ONX in combination with the Texas Public Land Hunting Map to E scout. I'm would like to do some whitetail and hog hunting with a rifle this season so any tips on areas, strategies, rookie mistakes to avoid, etc... would be awesome. I know all you bow hunters are going to give me grief but my dad said bow hunting was the most depressing thing he ever did, said you get closer to some of the biggest deer you have ever seen, but never close enough. Anyways thanks for anything you guys can help me with i appreciate it. First, get in on some of the Texas Draw hunts today!!!! You missed a few of the draws and WMA’s already but still a bunch of COE left, PM me if you have questions more then happy to talk you through it and share my Public hunt strategies
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7967407
09/09/20 10:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,650
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,650 |
Hunt on Ft. Hood. Big mature bucks. Kind of funky rules, but the price is right....... it that part of the annual hunting permit or a separate deal? PM SapperTitan. He guides out there and can tell you all you need to know.......
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7967639
09/10/20 12:12 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Dave Scott
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331 |
The other option are some of these cull hunts. You get started hunting and the cost is offset by the meat. In many cases probably better eating than a rutting buck. In any event if you do the research there are actually quite a few public places. You really expand your horizons with the archery. This pal of mine is dead on out 70 yards- me, 40 is tops but a bow is a good weapon. And a lot of areas are allowing crossbows- I haven't got into crossbows but it something I'd like to try. I've heard of incredible accuracy, 2" "ish" groups way far out there 70-100 yards.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7967676
09/10/20 12:32 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,814
Bigfoot
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,814 |
Definitely sign up for some drawn hunts!!
You can definitley hunt pubic land and be successful. Im in Houston so the Sam Houston Natl Forest is where I hunt. I like hogs but have shot several deer also when I hunted for them. Now I just hunt hogs because they are just plain fun to hunt.
Find the areas to target on the internet and go scout it out. Thats the only way. Once I figured out how to find them here I have been semi successful. They move around a lot so I may go a few trips at times without seeing them but typically every season ( i only hunt in cool weather) I will bag one or 2 and only go a few times at best.
Yes you are right about our poor selection of public hunting lands here in our state. But you just have to make the most of it and there are some good deer out there for sure.
good luck!!!
Last edited by Bigfoot; 09/10/20 12:33 AM.
GO TRUMP!
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: dogcatcher]
#7967682
09/10/20 12:33 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: NevadaMulely]
#7969150
09/11/20 01:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,180
Ringtail
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,180 |
This past weekend, I noticed multiple trucks parked on the side of the road in Davy Crockett National Forest. I guess the guys/gals are scouting out their places to ambush a deer with the season fast approaching.
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Re: New to Texas Public land hunting Advice?
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#7975851
09/16/20 08:13 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,708
pigplinker
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,708 |
I moved to Dallas about a year and half ago, i grew up hunting public land mule deer with a rifle in Northern Nevada. Anyways I discovered quickly that the hunting in Texas seems to be completely different, from the terrain to the laws and in particular the amount of public land even available for hunting, i do not have the financial means to justify spending the amount of money required to hunt private land. I'm not asking for anybody to give up their honey holes or anything. I just would like to know what areas in large have good deer/ hog populations. I bought the Annual Hunting permit and have been using ONX in combination with the Texas Public Land Hunting Map to E scout. I'm would like to do some whitetail and hog hunting with a rifle this season so any tips on areas, strategies, rookie mistakes to avoid, etc... would be awesome. I know all you bow hunters are going to give me grief but my dad said bow hunting was the most depressing thing he ever did, said you get closer to some of the biggest deer you have ever seen, but never close enough. Anyways thanks for anything you guys can help me with i appreciate it. First, get in on some of the Texas Draw hunts today!!!! You missed a few of the draws and WMA’s already but still a bunch of COE left, What BOBO said. Also look at the E-Postcard drawings in the Draw hunts they are free.
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