Hello Folks, new guy to the forum, been lurking around for a little while and decided to go ahead join because there is some great info on here and lots of very knowledgeable folks to communicate with about a large variety of topics. I'm getting back into hunting after 26 years of being shuffled all around the country with my job, the last time I went hunting was in 2005. My last hunt was for elk in Glenwood Springs, CO with some buddies of mine, didn't harvest anything but sure had a great time with friends. I finally got my job to move me back to Fort Worth, Texas and I am picking up up my desire for hunting again. Got most of my gear ready, my Remington 700 .308 has been sighted in and is ready to go, got plenty of ammo (so expensive nowadays!) so it is a good thing I reload my own ammo. I have been scouring the TPWD website looking at the public lands for a hunting trip and it just doesn't seem like there very many places to go, most of the really good hunting land is privately owned and it costs an arm and a leg for a lease. Sorry if I'm bitching too much or touching a nerve with some folks, I just don't think I should have to pay so much money to go harvest a wild animal for food, but that's just me and kind of a pet peeve of mine. Regardless, I'll keep looking and trying to find the right place to hopefully find something to harvest. If anyone has any suggestions about where to start, please let me know, I would appreciate it very much. Looking forward to spending time on this site and maybe making some new friends and learn about hunting in Texas!

Link >> Drawn hunts

Start building up points.

... and you might have to buy non-resident license depending on how long you have been back in Texas as a resident, just an FYI.

as far as public hunts, I had a co-worker that went to numerous hunts in a "stand by" status in hopes there was a no-show ... he had about 95% luck on getting to hunt all over the state like that.

You are in a good place here. TX Public can be challenging but getting out and experiencing the challenge is part of it. I suggest that you be active on this forum, talk with co-workers and people you meet about hunting and just maybe an invite opportunity will pop up. TX has hunting year around with hogs and predators to look/listen for those after deer season opportunities too.

These wild animals you want to harvest for food are on private land and as long as people will pay to hunt them, land owners will charge a price the market will bear. It sounds like you really want to hunt, so establish an upper limit you'd pay to be on a lease and don't give up looking. Talk to EVERYONE you know and meet about hunting. Ask new people you meet what their hobbies are. Anyone that knows me 5 minutes knows that I hunt. You'll find a place. Pay the man, it's worth it.

Hunting anywhere ain't free public land or not you still have to pay to play this game. The higher your budget is just opens your options. If I was running an economic analysis a side of beef would be a heck of a lot cheaper to keep me fat, but I may not be happy. Good luck!

Creekrunner, I bought into 4 hunts this evening, so i'm off to an okay start.

PMK, I have my Texas license now, and I will check into the stand by thing, thanks!

Only Smithand Wesson, you are right about the market demand and how much one will pay. I will take your suggestion and work out a plan, thanks!

Blancobuster, you make a very good point there, I will certainly take it into consideration.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I've got a lot of catch up learning to do.

the real joy in hunting is the process - planning, practicing, etc. I imagine you will get back into the groove pretty quickly - Good luck to you!

Best money I ever spent hunting was on leasing. I've had the opportunity to hunt on a few different 2000 acre ranches. The kind of land I'll never be able to afford. Pick up a little side job if that's what it takes.

I have gone to some stand by hunts, and been drawn before. You could also get the AHP and try the places listed. Good luck.

I have to admit, I am enjoying the planning and preparing, however it is kind of frustrating trying to figure everything out. Once I think I have one thing down, there is another part of it that I missed altogether. But I guess over time I get a handle on it and really start being proficient with most things.

Paul Welcome!!! Unfortunately folks are more than willing to pay to hunt, and some layout big bucks, I'm sure if you have something of value and you sell it you want as much as you can get, You can hunt National forest. Before I bought my own place this was a good bet. Not too much pressure if you do some scouting you can camp there as well. I was successful in harvesting meat on 4 separate occasions, At the time you needed to stop in at park office to get a doe permit but they were over the counter and readily available Good luck.

My grandfather quit hunting when leases got to $50. That was in the early 1950s.

Welcome!

There is some public land in the SouthEast part of the state. The Sam Houston, Angelina, Davy Crockett, and Big Thicket National Forests.