Hello fellow hunters!

I hope this message finds you all well. I am excited to join this community and learn more about hunting. My name is Blake, and I'm fairly new to hunting. So far, I've only been out once with my uncle in Arkansas, but we did not see anything.

I currently reside in the DFW area, and I'm seeking advice on where to begin my hunting journey in this region. As a 23-year-old enthusiast, I have acquired some gear, including camo clothing and bowhunting equipment(a bow, release, tree stand, etc.)

I would greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide on the following:

Hunting Areas in the DFW Area: Are there any specific hunting areas or public lands around DFW that you would recommend for a novice hunter like myself? I'm particularly interested in areas that are accessible and welcoming to beginners.

General Hunting Advice: As someone still learning the ropes, I'm open to any and all advice you can share. From safety tips to improving my skills as a bowhunter, any insights, strategies, or lessons you have learned from your own experiences would be invaluable to me.

I'm eager to learn, connect with like-minded individuals, and create unforgettable hunting experiences. I understand that hunting is not just about harvesting game but also about appreciating nature and its wonders.

Thank you in advance for your guidance and assistance. I'm thrilled to be a part of this community and can't wait to embark on this hunting journey with all of you!

Happy hunting!

Blake

The Texas Wildlife Association now has an adult mentoring program for beginning hunters. 'Might be right down your alley.

You'll get lots of advice on here. Just remember, it's worth every penny you've paid for it.

Get proficient in shooting your bow. A bow a great hunting tool but does require some practice to familiarize yourself with it to be effective in the field. That said, it’s one of the most exciting ways to hunt.

Texas has public land in the eastern half of the state as well as draw hunts thru Texas parks and wildlife. Leasing is the most common way to get access. Oklahoma also would be an option if I lived in Dallas.

Good luck and if you have specific questions fire away

Welcome to the forum, I will send you a P.M. with some info to help you.

Welcome Blake, and good luck as you pursue the awesome passion of hunting. I am located in southeast Texas so I am not able to assist you in hunting opportunities in the DFW area. I do know there is public hunting available through TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit, along with some public draw hunts. Keep your eyes out for a good lease opportunity and be prepared to jump on it if it is a good deal. Just keep practicing and hopefully this upcoming hunting season will be a success.

Welcome to our forum. Its a great resource. Curious, are you not considering gun hunting at all? Im not knocking bow hunting cause I do both but just curious what would make a new hunter chose a bow. It is much harder to get a shot and make a shot than with a rifle.

PM sent

If you want to shoot, I'll meet you at a local range. You can shoot my rifles, your ammo. PM if interested.

Welcome to the forum. Lots of good info can be found here. Get familiar with TPWD public venues as well as Lake Grapevine Corp. of Engineers which has permit hunting (check out their web site for application/draw dates).

The one time I did go hunting I did use a gun, I am not opposed to a gun at all. I shot bows in high school so i knew the basics, and I know I enjoy shooting them.

My gun knowledge is very limited so I would not even know where to start in purchasing one, or being able to practice with it consistently.

Great info on here on what gun to purchase. Im sure everyone will agree on exactly what to buy..... Since youre new, Ill tell you that was sarcasm. No one can agree on anything on here but some of them will be right(just go with what I say. :))

That's not true.

Yes it is.

I hunt both bow and gun. Although I love bow hunting, I will say, you're success rate will be exponentially higher with rifle. I would suggest a rifle to a new hunter. As for what rifle to buy, just about any modern bolt action as small as 243 up to 30-06 would be perfectly acceptable. If you've got limited funds, get a budget rifle with a burris fullfield scope. If you have a little more cash, post a question in the rifle section, and you'll get unlimited suggestions for all types of price points. If you need some instruction. I'm local and would be happy to meet you at a local range. Only s&w is a good guy too...although, he's uglier than I am.

What if I had said "everyone cant agree on anything"? And my comment wouldnt be reserved just for this forum and it wasnt intended to be a slight of this forum since society overall wont agree on much.

Nothing wrong with just bow hunting. I rarely pick up a rifle for deer anymore. A lot more opportunities on public land for bow hunting too.

It was dry humor. Unclebubba understands me.

Creek, I was good with your comment, but I wanted to clarify(for whatever reason). 😊

First step is a hunter safety coarse (online trough TPWD) and a license.

Excellent advice.

Lots of public hunting areas within driving distance of D/FW. The Grasslands outside of Decatur, an area by Bowie, Grapevine Lake area and I’ll bet a lot more.

There’s probably a lot more.

Ditch the bow. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Get a good rifle & good scope. That’s a start.

I dont agree that NOBODY has time for a bow. But I will say that it takes much much more time to be proficient with a bow and its takes much more time to learn how to get close enough with a bow. An experienced bow hunter has a chance of wounding a deer but an inexperienced bow hunter is almost guaranteed to wound and have one go unrecovered. Anyone can sling an arrow downrange but, IMO, it takes a dedicated newcomer with lots of time to become an ethical and proficient bow hunter. Some will disagree but I will stand pat.

If you have not done so, you will need to get your Hunters Safety Course certificate in order to get your license.

Also look into TPWD mentored hunts. The deer ones are competitive to get in to but the small game ones can be easily had.