Beginner Help

Hi, I currently live in the DFW area and have close to zero knowledge of hunting. I'm an Eagle Scout and a half-decent fisherman, so I'm somewhat familiar with the outdoors and everything. Can you all offer some advice for a guy in his 20s to get started hunting? If it helps any, I've pictured in my mind going hunting this coming summer while camping/fishing up at LBJ grasslands. But are there other places you can hunt/fishing/camp near DFW? I have a 20 gauge semi auto shotgun, fishing/camping equipment, and a 4x4. If that helps at all?

I guess I'm posting this because I have no idea where to start with getting into hunting. I never knew any friends or family that hunted, and I don't know anyone now either. I've considered just going by myself one weekend after getting a license and taking the safety course, but is there a better way to do it? I'm not even sure what game to hunt or how seasons work really. Can someone point me in the right direction or offer any sort of advice? I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Also I wanted to add this, what type of game should I start out hunting? Is is possible for me to even hunt anything in the summer?

ta HF

There'll be plenty of folks coming along soon to help you out, explain the public hunting areas in your area, etc. Go ahead and get the Hunter Safety course out of the way ASAP. Save for a .22 and a centerfire rifle. You're gonna need them.

Thanks!! I appreciate it. I've looked at .22's a little online. Never bought one before. Any suggestions?

A good place to start is Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Understand the seasons, license requirements, and game limits. There are public lands to hunt if you have the permits. Check out Lone Star Outdoor Podcast when you have a chance. Join a local gun range that offers clays and get proficient with your shotgun. You will meet other hunters there too. There are plenty of opportunities for dove come September. Good luck, stay safe and legal. Welcome to THF.

Ruger 10/22. I'd go stainless and composite these days. It's the Coke of the industry.

Get the hunter safety course behind you when the virus is done. Also get yourself a Texas LTC. That makes everything easier. And yes on the 10/22.

Public lands dove hunting is a great place to begin.
As said earlier......hunter safety course......first
...,...... maybe some sporting clays (too much fun!!)
come fall, early September for north zone......you'll be ready for some bacon/jalepeno dove vittles.

Gun safety is Paramount!!.

Papalote

Subscribe to Texas Fish and Game. Cheap and a wealth of good info. You'll likely enjoy it.

Welcome to our Forum. Its almost certainly the very best place for someone with zero experience to start. You can, and should, ask any question you want to and not feel uncomfortable doing so. Everyone likes to showoff how much they know so when a rookie asks basic questions then almost everybody can answer so you should get alot of feedback. Don't just use this advice as a way to "get started"-extremely experienced guys on here are always continually learning from others on here. Youll have to cut through some of the BS but thats life. Once you get started you should continue asking any question you want. There have been several rookies come on here in the last year or so, I hope they chime in and let you learn from their early experiences. If you continue to stay active on this forum and ask questions then I will chime in more as you go.

I've done some research the past few weeks, looking at game, seeing what licenses I need, etc. I think small game would obviously be a place to start, LBJ looks appealing to me just because you can camp and fish there, and you can hunt squirrels year round. Does anyone have experience up there? Is it real crowded? I don't want to mess other hunters up or annoy them if I'm out walking through their area. Is there a better "beginner" spot?

From what I've gathered, squirrel or rabbit seems like a place to start. Is it better if you use a shotgun or rifle? What would I do about the pellets being left over in the meat after using a shotgun?

Also update: online hunter safety course is in progress

Hard to know where to start with advise so I wont try to prioritize and just offer some here and there. You need to actually "hunt" enough to keep you interested, BUT I would advise spending a lot of time "shooting" before you put too much into hunting. You really want to have the proper weapon and know how to use it effectively and safely. Personally, I am much more of a hunter than a shooter but for a beginner you have a real responsibility when you pick up a firearm. Also, ive never met an Eagle Scout I didn't like-congrats on that.
Another piece of advice is that even if this thread loses some steam later on you should keep trying to post. That is if you haven't lost interest. Otherwise you will likely be forgotten about on here but if you stay engaged the advice will keep flowing. Im not saying you have to post daily or weekly or any set amount but just keep us updated on your new adventure cause I guarantee you a lot of good guys on here will want to know whats up with you.

OP, check your PMs.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your Eagle Scout
My son is an Eagle Scout also, what troop do you belong to and where is it located?

I'm from Oklahoma, Troop 1. In college at TCU now, recently trying to get reacquainted with the outdoors after a few years of not doing anything.

You wanna share what part of Oklahoma? One of my leases is up there.

First I would ask your friends who hunts, find one that you trust not to steer you wrong. Ask them to mentor you. Like stated above, you have to take safety hunter's course, get signed up for it.

Next look for a 22 to get some shooting practice. The 10-22 is fine, about $240 out the door. Look at pawn shops, but know your prices, they can stick it to you. I would also look at 22 bolt actions with a inexpensive scope. A shotgun for bird season, Remington 870,fool proof, the Army used to issue them.

Sounds to me like you have got everything you need except the license and hunter's ed. A .22 and a deer rifle will broaden your horizons, get them in the future but for now I think you just need to get out there and do it.

Eagle Scout, I assume you are pretty good at orienteering/land nav- if so then you have an advantage over a lot of experienced hunters believe it or not.

Best recommendation I can give you is look at the corps lakes. Pretty much all of them shotgun only anyway. I very strongly recommend bardwell and very specifically mustang creek. Access the area from highway 287, bring the shotgun and a zebco 33 and some beetle spins and you will have a great time. Cottontails and pigs down there, wallers all around by the creek, a lot of ducks in that creek too. I have caught a ton of largemouths and crapie down there, only game I have taken is cottontails but if you bring slugs you could very well get a pig.

Get as far away from the highway as you can get, I usually go south towards the lake. Be prepared to get your feet wet. If you do happen to get lost, just walk toward the sound of traffic. 287 is busy enough to get you home by the sound. Not ashamed to admit I have used the sound of traffic to get myself back on track in many different places and situations!

If you come in on the east bank of the creek you will be cut off by a big branch of it. Come in on the weat side you'll have more access but you'll be blazing your own trails.

Good luck!

Corps hunting regs 2020:

https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Port...reations/SWF_2019-2020_Hunting_Guide.pdf

Bardwell hunting map:

https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/bardwell/Hunting%20Map%20for%20Bardwell%20Lake.pdf

I should add, huntng season literally just ended down there at Bardwell the end of March. But it opens back up September 1

As for your question whether a shotgun or rimfire is better for squirrels, that depends on where/when you're hunting and your own preferences. When there's lots of leaves still on the trees and stuff for the limb chickens to eat up in the branches, you'll probably have more luck with a shotgun. Picking shot out of squirrels isn't too hard. If you're worried about lead, you can find non toxic shot... it's just more expensive. They're pretty easy to skin of you look up the tail trick on youtube or some such. You can learn a lot from squirrel hunting.

My best advice is to approach hunting as consisting of three separate areas and learn as much as you can about each one - Animal Behavior, Firearms and Shooting (or Archery if that's your choice), and Basic Woodsmanship. Knowing the behavior of your prey will help you create and implement a plan that will give you the greatest chance of success. Knowing what firearm or bow is best to ethically take down the animal you plan to hunt and how to use it safely will demand a lot of time at the practice range. And finally, carrying the skills of Basic Woodsmanship will help you navigate safely in areas that may be unfamiliar to you in even the worst of conditions. I would suggest trying to find a mentor in each of these areas, keeping in mind that it could be multiple people who carry a lot of knowledge and experience in just one of them. For example, those old timers who shoot at the range but never hunt can be one of your best sources for learning about firearms and marksmanship.

My favorite hunting magazine is Deer and Deer Hunting because it covers two of the three topics I noted earlier quite well. And you already know the Internet has an almost endless number of information resources available for those who wish to take up the sport.

Oh yes, a final thought. I would strongly suggest taking the Hunter Education Classroom Course so that you can get a hard copy version of the book that comes with the course. You won't find a better "start up" reading resource to help you get going in each of the three areas I mentioned earlier.

Good luck.

Some good advice on here already. Try looking up some of the past threads of people in the same position as you. Others have touched on a .22 and a centerfire rifle, with those two plus your shotgun you'll be able to chase anything you want.

I'm in FTW too if you want to go shooting sometime PM me.

First thing you need to get behind you is your hunter safety course- never had to take it (I'm an old geezer) but I have been told you can take it on line. Next, decide what game you are interested in hunting, which will then determine what weapon you will need to purchase. If you aren't that familiar with handling firearms then what you don't learn from the HSC then find someone or someplace that has a training program. Nobody want to have a rookie around them if they don't know how to safely handle a firearm. Now it is time to start learning the art of hunting and the best thing for that is hunting something that is plentiful that give you plenty of shot opportunities where you can learn and gain confidence. I realize that going to college may limit the finances, but do what you can when you can. Once we get past the frenzy of COVID-19 and you want a chance at something bigger than a squirrel you let me know and you can come down to one of my leases and I will see if we can't put you on a pig. I have been where you are- dad didn't hunt so I had to kind of learn on my own. I did have a lot of friends, starting mainly when I hit my 30's, that hunted so I got a chance to learn a lot from them. I have no children so pass down some of this "wisdom" so when you are ready you let me know and come see me. Remember, there are no stupid questions and if someone makes you feel dumb by how they answer then you are talking to the wrong person.

Real good stuff from Russ79 as well as many others on here. I echo what many have said on getting a 22 and shooting a lot. Easy and cheap to shoot. Guns generally hold their value very well so get a cheap one at first and you can always sell it later and upgrade if you want. I suggest a bolt action. You could even get a bb gun, air rifle. As I said before and others have said, you need to know how to shoot before you hunt. Especially if you are around others. Gun safety is huge. I figured you would get offers to mentor you, lots of good guys on here. I may do the same but ill wait till the smoke clears a little.

Wow thank y'all so much! This blew up like I couldn't believe. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give me all this advice and even offers of mentoring me! From what I've gathered, I'm going to finish my hunters safety course and go to a range (probably this weekend if weather allows), and shoot some trap. I used to do that when I was younger, it's been a few years though.

Also, has anyone been to Alpine Shooting Range in Fort Worth? Thought about going there with my 20 gauge and renting a .22LR to shoot as well. If that place sucks and there's a better range, let me know!!!

Again, y'all are awesome and such a welcoming community. I'm real happy that my first experience in the hunting world has been in Texas!

I'm originally from Tulsa, moved down to Fort Worth to go to TCU.

I don't think this is true with regards to squirrels. Check the regulations for this county. I believe there is a set season. Yes on rabbit for year round hunting. Dove will open the first day of September.

never heard of squirrel season ... but evidently some counties or areas actually do have a squirrel season, learned something new today.

TPWD Squirrel

...

At least in my county squirrel season generally opens up around the beginning of bow season. I remember some years ago trying to bow hunt some TP&W Type II land and had folks in the same woods squirrel hunting with .22's. Kind of scary being up in a tree during that time. Got to where I would keep my orange cap on my head and hang my orange vest on a limb on the other side of the tree.

Think May tis squirrel season.

While never hunted LBJ, OSBWMA has squirrel/hog & think rabbit in May...
i used a .410 .. Not vfc sure if distance, thars White Oak, Kawakami, Lake copper...
Check out the Public Hunting section.. $48.00 permit...
With smooth bore shotgun, effective range varries, used slug...
Did the archery deer/hog hunts, some co-ensided with the squirrel/hog hunts..
Hunter orange tis for safety... Squirrel hunters got things moving...
Like some one mentioned, had a climbing stand, alway went up a bit higher, put my safety orange around tree, then went down a tad, orange would let other hunters know possission from distance...
Majority respected it...
Stay Safe, enjoy the time spent..
& Dont preassure ones self, just enjoy..
Best wish's...

edit : the cooler months have always been more enjoyable for me, less moskeetoes, knats, chiggers & such, & born raised in MN, like the cool weather, each tis differant..

So is there a better place to go other than LBJ? The reason it attracted me is because of the isolation and overall freedom. I liked the idea of going out there to hunt/fish during the day, and then camping/campfire at night.
Are there other places better suited to this?
Thank you all for answering my questions and remaining active in this thread. I feel very motivated.

Welcome to the THF. The public hunting forum would be a good resource for you. https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/348583/

I would not worry too much about the .22 yet as it sounds like most of your hunting is limited to public hunting right now. Not all, but most of the public hunting areas near you do not allow .22s. LBJ being so close to Ft Worth gets a lot of recreation traffic in the warm months. You will likely see more rabbits than squirrels. I recommend the Caddo Grasslands area up around Honey Grove as one place for what your wanting to do. Squirrels are cyclical, so it can be hit or miss, but there are some good years up there for the spring season. Fishing in the two lakes at Caddo will be much better than LBJ. You would need to check on the camping part in advance as a lot of areas are closed to camping due to the china virus. A lot of the Corps lakes around you have hunting, but since none are managed for hunting, the non migratory small game hunting is generally pretty bad and hard to access, but you can find some pockets of good small game and some decent migratory game hunting if you put the time and miles in scouting for it. My single best public hunting weapon is a canoe or kayak to access places both land and water that is not getting hammered with hunting pressure because it is difficult for other's to access those parts of hunting areas by foot, vehicle, or motored boats.

Agree with Sniper John
Have used my canoe on several of the WMA's
Can put out throw lines...

Or YoYos if your in Oklahoma. I have dropped out jugline noodles or put out a short trotline on my way out dove and duck hunting more than a few times for a fish and feather hunt with great success.

BTW Andrew, I was SPL with Troop 121 way back in the day. Was in Order of the Arrow. Went to the 1978 National Scout Jamboree, used to teach orienteering at a scoutmasters camp, and more.

Hey, my name is Blake and I am also a college student in a similar situation. Although I am not an Eagle scout, I fish all the time and have taken some outdoor education classes. I already have my hunters education completed, so what would be the advice for the next step. I live in North Dallas in the collin county area.

What would yall recommend be a good starter animal to hunt?

I appreciate all of the advice that you guys have gave already, it has helped me a lot and put me in the right direction.

If you guys have any specific advice just PM me.

Welcome Blake. My advice would be to become an Eagle Scout. Just kidding-lots of that on here and hard to discern sometimes. I would think you could piggy back on the rest of the advice on this thread except where your situation differs.

Dove and Squirrel would be good, practice shooting at moving targets (always remember what's beyond the target)
Dove season generally doesn't start until September 1st.
Squirrel, Year-round Season - No bag limit
General Season
Sept. 1, 2019 - Aug. 31, 2020
Rabbits ,,Statewide
Regular Season
No closed season

Bag Limit None
---

Whitetail season doesn't start until November.

If you have enough property and local authority allows for it, go predator hunting, call in Fox and Coyotes.
Keep in mind you do need a huntin license.

What kind of firearms do you have?

Know that several Counties in Texas have a Fall and Spring Squirrel season. Not a year round season. Most of those Counties are in far East Texas, but for example the part of Caddo Grasslands I mentioned is one of them. Only open Oct 1 to sometime in Feb and the month of May.

For you guys new to hunting with no private access, you should be looking at the TPWD drawn hunts when they get posted for next season. https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/hunt-categories.phtml
Some real great opportunities there. The first ones open up for applications in July.

For right now, I would focus a lot more on learning skills than on getting a new gun, like many have suggested. You happen to have one of the most versatile guns ever made. Many public lands only allow shotguns with slugs for deer and hogs (buckshot might be allowed for hogs, but slugs work much better). I would go buy some slugs and head to the range to see how they shoot out of your shotgun. For a beginner with a smooth bore (not rifled) barrel, 50-60 yards is a good limit to set for yourself. Ideally, you would buy several boxes of different shells and see what shoots the best, but I remember what a college budget is like, so I would start with a middle of the road variety and hope they shoot accurately, only buying others if you can't get a decent group out of the first box. For your smooth bore, you want to buy rifled slugs, not sabot slugs, which are designed for a rifled barrel.

My advice, which is probably worth about what you are paying for it, would be spend a ton of time hunting squirrels while getting to know one area. Squirrel hunting teaches you the same skills you need to be a successful big game hunter, but with a much faster learning curve. You need to learn how to move through the woods quietly, spot game quickly before it spots you, identify food sources, learn animal habits in your local area, sit still, move when the game isn't looking, use the terrain to your advantage, and I'm sure a ton of other skills I am forgetting. The benefit to squirrels is, if you blow a "stalk" on one, its not like your trip is ruined. You simply walk another 50 yards and start again. You can have as many encounters with your target animal in a weekend as most casual deer hunters get in several years.

I've been to Alpine several times. It's a fine shooting range, with a variety of options for shotguns skeet, trap, sporting clays. Other ones near you are Defender Outdoors they have one near downtown and a shotgun range further west.

some solid info on this thread. Y'all doing a nice job steering him in the right direction.

Andrew, how is your search for hunting knowledge going? Im always curious about our up and coming hunters and i hope you will stay plugged in.

It's going pretty great! I completed my hunter safety and I've learned some things. Only thing left is finding somewhere to actually go hunting. Since it's summer and I'm out of school, I've been looking to go somewhere sometime. Only thing in season it looks like is squirrels. I'd really like to be able to camp and fish wherever I do go hunting, so that's where I've hit a brick wall in terms of progressing my hunting knowledge.

Ill send you a pm, maybe I can help you out.

what about Hagerman? never been there but have been around it