Texas Hunting Forum

Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight.

Posted By: Dave T

Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/09/14 01:13 AM

Good day folks, great forum by the way.

I am coming to Houston Texas and heading south west to hunt Hogs.

1) Preferred Firearm- Shotgun or Rifle, Note I am from Ontario Canada and AR platforms are a challenge to possess.

2) Snakes do you wear snake boots on a regular basis.

3) Day or night hunting for Hogs- which one gives the better opportunity for bigger animals

4) Hunting Dall Sheep as well, any insight on this type of hunt would be appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance
Posted By: FordEvangelist

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/09/14 02:07 AM

1) Rifle is better I think. Shotgun may offer more of a challenge.
2) I highly recommend snake boots at all times when you are hunting that part of the world. Particularly when it's hot. If you don't see a rattlesnake, you probably just missed stepping on him.
3) Night is far more fun and you'll probably see more hogs. Need a good scope mounted light.
4) No help there unfortunately.
Posted By: passthru

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/09/14 02:29 AM

I'll cover 4). Bring a knife. Most of these places they are feeder whores and will stand there while you stab them. If you go to a place they are a little more skittish then any rifle of .243 or larger will put them down with ease. They are solid boned so a decent bullet is a good idea but anything you would hunt pigs with will put down a sheep.
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/09/14 03:25 AM

welcome ta THF 1) a lot will depend on terrain, rifle is good in close calls & for the reach out & touch em. 2) i wear depends for ithem , oh crap moments, or wear nothing at all. 3) warmer weather, night hunts & early mornings. U on a guided hunt or privit land. don't think public land has night hunts. 4) theirs others that can tell ya bout dull sheep, hog hunts also. best wishes & safe hunting. am sure u may see a few snakes. lots of water. different's in climate can sneak up on ya. flag drink lots of water is what meant ta say for the heat best wishes flag
Posted By: dfwroadkill

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/09/14 03:34 AM

1) Rifle, that covers any size, any distance you are going to reasonably shoot, 2) Whatever, I don't wear them. Just pay attention. 3) Night. 4) Passthru has your answer.

Most of us use night vision/thermal for hogs and hunt at night. They don't come out much during the day in 100+ degree heat.

welcome texas cowboy
Posted By: Pitchfork Predator

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/10/14 01:31 AM

welcome to our great state. texas
Posted By: stxranchman

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/10/14 01:33 AM

welcome
Posted By: Dave T

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/10/14 04:54 AM

Thanks for the insight. Looking forward to visiting.
Posted By: dogcatcher

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/10/14 05:11 AM

welcome
Posted By: Ramsey

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/10/14 11:05 PM

Welcome
Posted By: Seadog

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 01:12 AM

Welcome to Texas!!!
Posted By: Halfadozen

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 03:29 AM

Enjoy your stay in the Lone Star State. It has so much to offer in terms of geography, culture and history. The folks here, especially out in the country, are just great. Don't let the terrain where you will be hunting fool you, it holds a lot of critters as well as other things that can sting, bite, scratch and stab you. You will leave respecting the brush country of South Texas. If you have time, you should visit the mountains in far West Texas, the beautiful and rugged Hill Country in central Texas, the Piney Woods of East Texas, and the Cross Timbers region of North Texas.
Posted By: Pope&Young

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 02:01 PM

welcome to the THF

Be sure and take plenty of water for hydration and some snacks with you on your hunts.
Posted By: landsurveyor

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 02:53 PM

Welcome and bring a sidearm also
Posted By: dkershen

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 03:01 PM

On the hog hunt are you looking for quality or quantity? I suspect you're prime goal is to take one large boar, so your deer hunting rifle will do fine. If you are trying to clean up as many hogs as you can on a ranch... then AR is the only way to go. While you are in Texas, at least try to borrow one for an afternoon. Fun as heck to shoot.

Snake boots in south Texas in the summer is always a good idea. 95% chance you won't need them, but that 5% of the time you walk up on a snake, you're glad to be wearing them. welcome
Posted By: TexasLandAgent

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/11/14 03:50 PM

welcome to texas Have fun.

Yes wear snake boots and I'll x2 wearing a side arm. May come in handy.
Posted By: Dave T

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/15/14 02:14 AM

Thanks again and the only way I will be permitted to use a sidearm is if I go to a range in Houston. Thats one thing our border crossings don't take kindly to us bringing handguns across unless you have a certified shooting competition. Sad.

Upon reading another posters comments about coming into the USA with firearms may be easier for me than you fine folks travelling across to Canada. Very sad that hunting can't be done without all this red tape.

Just to give you a slight hint as to my excitement. I usually hunt Whitetail in Saskatchewan muzzle or rifle but my hunting partner and I decided to go South and try something new. Not to mention warmer. In fact where I was working today it was 37Deg F. This is one cold summer.

These were taken from over the last 4 years in Sask. Freezing weather (-32 deg F)



And again thanks for all the tips and good luck on all your hunts.
Posted By: skeeter22

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/15/14 02:27 AM

I don't think that what is represented as Dall sheep in Texas is the same species as the ones hunted in the far north.
Posted By: jeffbird

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/15/14 02:37 AM

1) Preferred Firearm- Rifle, bolt gun is fine. Shot placement is paramount. The base of the ear is optimal if you can reliably make that shot. Spray and pray is not the right approach.

2) Snakes do you wear snake boots on a regular basis. - Always. They are present and usually you are almost on top of them by the time you notice. You probably will not see any, but you likely will walk by a few.

3) Day or night hunting for Hogs- which one gives the better opportunity for bigger animals - Depends on the place, but as with most wildlife, they are active at dawn and dusk, and especially at night.

4) Hunting Dall Sheep as well, any insight on this type of hunt would be appreciated as well. - Had no idea they are in Texas. Details please.



Posted By: tShawnB

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/15/14 04:03 PM

Originally Posted By: passthru
I'll cover 4). Bring a knife. Most of these places they are feeder whores and will stand there while you stab them. If you go to a place they are a little more skittish then any rifle of .243 or larger will put them down with ease. They are solid boned so a decent bullet is a good idea but anything you would hunt pigs with will put down a sheep.
Lol, this^^^^ It don't even have to be a big knife.
Posted By: oldoak2000

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight. - 08/15/14 04:42 PM

Originally Posted By: Dave T

Re: Coming to texas, first time. Asking for insight.
Good day folks, great forum by the way.
I am coming to Houston Texas and heading south west to hunt Hogs.
1) Preferred Firearm- Shotgun or Rifle, Note I am from Ontario Canada and AR platforms are a challenge to possess.
2) Snakes do you wear snake boots on a regular basis.
3) Day or night hunting for Hogs- which one gives the better opportunity for bigger animals
4) Hunting Dall Sheep as well, any insight on this type of hunt would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance


#5 - THERMACELL - pack/bring/borrow/or buy one, or you will be wishing you did; skeeters are thick this time of year!
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