You do know that 93% of Texas is privately owned….right?

That means private land….equals the most potential for success(depending on your definition)

So $$$$ means access which means success.

I can guarantee you if I had the spare change to afford a $20,000/yr lease that my “success” would increase slightly

You know there’s over a 1,000,000 acres of hunt able public land not counting tidal flats…

Options are just that options….. dependency on something is a choice.

[quote=BOBO the Clown]
You know there’s over a 1,000,000 acres of hunt able public land not counting tidal flats…

Options are just that options….. dependency on something is a choice.

That leaves about 170.9 million acres that are not public hunting lands.

But maybe blind stupidity of reality is not a choice.

You got more excuses than a child.

Why do you even hunt then?

Not sure on “many” true 170” …B&C deer being taken in Texas every year. Especially if you limit to a submitted deer from Public Land. At least I don’t see bunches/large numbers being submitted. I may be looking in the wrong place. Now if a person wants to shoot a 200+ in a high fence(which cannot be in B&C) we know we can load his truck up. $$

I never indicated that I was not successful. I do spend money on my lease but I am not stupid enough to think being able to spend money does not increase my odds of success.

You might want to loosen the shoe strings on your New Balance shoes. Might free up some blood for the few brain cells that remain.

I never indicated that I was not successful. I do spend money on my lease but I am not stupid enough to think being able to spend money does not increase my odds of success.

You might want to loosen the shoe strings on your New Balance shoes. Might free up some blood for the few brain cells that remain.

I looked and don’t see those numbers in their records? I don’t know many hunters, that would be hunting Public Land, and get a chance of a lifetime, that shoot a 170” Typical, that would not present it to be in the Book. Sounds to me like the guys who bench 400 in high school. But, maybe there’s thousands of them on public land. This forum has many numbers; I wonder how many have killed a 170 B&C on public land?

And that’s exactly why there will always be guys like you and red.

If it’s not posted or in a book it doesn’t exist

For maybe the 4th or 5th time, more $$$$$ on private land usually provides more opportunity and chance at bigger, higher scoring animals; doesn't guarantee success but provides greater chance at successes on private land, without a shadow of a doubt.

I did a google search and found that in 2024 63,316 public lands permits were sold. At $48 each plus $25 for a hunting license it comes to $4,622,068. I'm not sure how much is made on draw hunts but I'm sure it's up there. There's no way to get a good estimate on what is harvested every year but I'm starting to think TPWD is making pretty good money for what they are providing.

I looked and don’t see those numbers in their records? I don’t know many hunters, that would be hunting Public Land, and get a chance of a lifetime, that shoot a 170” Typical, that would not present it to be in the Book. Sounds to me like the guys who bench 400 in high school. But, maybe there’s thousands of them on public land. This forum has many numbers; I wonder how many have killed a 170 B&C on public land?

Steroids weren’t too expensive back in your day. But, with Money your buddies could be average Joes and then increase their opportunities. Just like deer.

Show me different.....

For maybe the 4th or 5th time, more $$$$$ on private land usually provides more opportunity and chance at bigger, higher scoring animals; doesn't guarantee success but provides greater chance at successes on private land, without a shadow of a doubt.

Success is what happens when and where you are. Success in Comal County can have quite different measurements than in Frio County. Success in a ten foot john boat going down the Nueces is likely much different than a guided trip at Lake Fork.

I stretched my budget one year, maybe 21 years ago, to go on a mule deer hunt in some Hard Scrabble area of Utah. Went with some of the finest people I get to be around, met some really good people, witnessed some glorious country and saw no mule deer (zero). Out of the six paid hunters on our trip, one chambered a round, albeit not for what they were looking for, and the others saw nothing - nada. To a T, every dad gum one of us had a great time and still often tender fond recollections of the extended outing. The tent collapsing with the foot of snow in the middle of the night also provided for a great memory. When we got snowed in, the camp fire on the mountain with recitations of cowboy poetry was absolutely memorable. My feeding my breakfast apple to a buddy's horse (I thought it was my horse) was memorable. My losing the stirrups on the slippery trek down is still spoken about. I could go and on and on. Paid bigley to see mule deer, didn't see any mule deer and made the most of it.

My thoughts on hunting is it puts man back were man evolved - out in the country doing more primitive things in the pursuit of bringing him back to his roots. If you've got to shoot the biggest, noteworthy animal to bring you back to your roots, then maybe a little introspection is in in order. If your success is dependent on money, then spend it. If you don't have it, then make more of it so you can be happy. if you can't achieve hunting success without more money, I doubt you will be successful at other endeavours, which typically all involve money. Don't put yourselves in positions where you cannot succeed. Maybe somes of you aren't really hunters - find contentment.