Texas Hunting Forum

New hunter trying to feed the family

Posted By: SeanB

New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 08:40 PM

Hello to you all. I'm new to hunting but not shooting a weapon. Buying a firearm is getting harder and harder so I've opted for a crossbow. I'm looking for any kind of advise/pointers/do's and don'ts that you all can give me. I live outside the Houston area toward the coast. Thanks in advance!
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 08:56 PM

welcome ta texasHF...
food ta grill & chill..
bang it can get pricey...
Unless ya have family or friends with property...
public hunting land tis cheapest...
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Posted By: PMK

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 09:24 PM

welcome
there is another thread of a new to hunting that gives a lot of advise ... likely public land is your best option
Posted By: Halfadozen

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 09:26 PM

Welcome Sean - first check our classifieds for firearms. Get out to the smaller towns near you and go into the local feed store. They know the ranchers and if you want to start with pig hunting they might appreciate it.
Posted By: Hunt Dog

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 09:34 PM

Find a way to get the money together for a firearm it will vastly expand your options.
Posted By: SeanB

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Halfadozen
Welcome Sean - first check our classifieds for firearms. Get out to the smaller towns near you and go into the local feed store. They know the ranchers and if you want to start with pig hunting they might appreciate it.


That's a great idea. I've been woken up on the weekends by what sounded like a nail gun roofing a house...turns out it was a hog hunt. Thanks for the good advise.
Posted By: SeanB

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Hunt Dog
Find a way to get the money together for a firearm it will vastly expand your options.


I agree with you for the most part. One of the deciding factors of going with a crossbow is the availability of ammo. A co-worker just got an AR and he's having trouble finding ammo for it. A lot of the stores are sold out of the common caliber shells. I figure realistically I'll be shooting in the 40 to 60 yard range. Beyond that, I'm not sure I'll even see the game. And paying very close attention to what's beyond my target, a crossbow bolt won't travel near as far. I'm trying to be set up for several different hunting situations, may be flatland, or a stand or a blind... But like I said, I'm open for suggestions and I appreciate them all.
Posted By: TXGH

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 10:00 PM

40-60 yard range I would suggest a shotgun... Abundance of ammo for it including slugs ect... If you dont want to go with a rifle that is... But rifle go with a common cartage like a .308 - you will be able to find it even now with people freaking out.

but crossbow check out the bearx line of crossbows under 500 and 415 fps..
Posted By: dogcatcher

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 10:05 PM

welcome
Posted By: DLALLDER

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 10:24 PM

If it is an actual need for food in the house. Talk to ranchers around you & let them know about your situation. Let them know you would take hogs that other hunters have killed. A LOT of hunters will even help you get them in the freezer or fridge. It does not take long to take the hams, loins, & shoulders off a hog and there ain't much left. I wish you the very best in your situation. Daniel
Posted By: Old Rabbit

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 10:24 PM

Sean, I have guns, bows and crossbows and would recommend a rifle or shotgun. The cost of cross bow BOLTS can get expensive not counting the broadheads. Shooting pigs I ruin several each year even if I get a full pass thru they sometimes get damaged. For good bolts you are looking a $6 each or more.A good broadhead, anywhere from $6 to $16 each for a decent one. Any bolt that has visible damage should not be used again, as they can shatter and cause great physical harm to the shooter. Just my 2 cents.
Posted By: Double Naught Spy

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/13/20 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by SeanB
Originally Posted by Hunt Dog
Find a way to get the money together for a firearm it will vastly expand your options.


I agree with you for the most part. One of the deciding factors of going with a crossbow is the availability of ammo. A co-worker just got an AR and he's having trouble finding ammo for it. A lot of the stores are sold out of the common caliber shells.


ammoseek.com

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/223-remington
Posted By: dogcatcher

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 04:14 AM

Saving money on the food bill by hunting is a pipe dream
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by dogcatcher
Saving money on the food bill by hunting is a pipe dream


No kidding.

OP, your living in a fools paradise, especially with a crossbow.

WTH do you mean “buying a firearm is getting harder & harder”? A couple of hundred bucks will get you what you need.
Posted By: TKandMike

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 12:57 PM

Ammo shouldn't be too big of a concern anymore, a lot of places are stocking back up and it's available online again.
Posted By: unclebubba

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 01:06 PM

Pigs are tough. The tend to soak up my arrows and take them with them to die wherever the hell the go to die. That can get very expensive. IMO a bow or crossbow is what a hunter should graduate to, not what he or she should start with. The ammo shortage is temporary. Get a firearm to suit your purposes. You will be able to find ammo, you just may need to search right now. Once ammo comes back, buy a supply that will last you a few years. That way, when the ammo run happens again, you won't have to worry.
For your scenario, There are a ton of good firearm selections. 30-30,45-70,35 remington, Pistol carbine (.357 is my favorite), etc in a lever action is great out to 100 yards, and should be easier to find ammo for.
Posted By: QMC SW/EXW

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 02:14 PM

If you want to hunt to feed your family then forget about hunting bucks. Focus on does and hogs. If you spend some time cultivating some relationships with some landowners you may be able to get them to let you shoot your meat. But it takes time to cultivate that sort of thing.
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by maximus_flavius
Originally Posted by dogcatcher
Saving money on the food bill by hunting is a pipe dream


No kidding.

OP, your living in a fools paradise, especially with a crossbow.

WTH do you mean “buying a firearm is getting harder & harder”? A couple of hundred bucks will get you what you need.


rofl he's living in texas When got thar, every one leasing... Back home its always been just price of Gov. food stamps... Had aplied for some of the draw hunts on what was type11 , scratch think what it was called... & was checking inta public land hunts..
Then heard about the 1,100 lease with the 24-7-365 hog hunts for $200.00 year round... So jumped on it...
We bought a small shasta camper, we had already been doing the camping with tent since kids in diapers...
& we made it a family outing with chance ta put food on the grill & chillen...
Seen the games played on some of the other leases, prices of leases going ta highest bidders... & Truely was a Blessing whin WMA opened up just down the road...
Price of $40.00 permit with plenty of hunting...
Their still is afordable hunts for even low-income workers...
Keep your head held high & your powder dry...
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Posted By: jhunter77

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 04:00 PM

Welcome Sean

These guys are right. You can pick up a Savage, a Mossberg, or Thompson Center Compass rifle with a ok scope already mounted for about $300. These aren't top of the line guns but they get the job done. I've always been told if you buy a $300 rifle buy a scope in the same price range now to each his own, but if you're just getting started I'd go by that rule of thumb. I've shot pigs with my crossbow and typically it's been a wasted bolt and head because of the damage.
Posted By: freerange

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by dogcatcher
Saving money on the food bill by hunting is a pipe dream

^^^Agree with this. I guess it could be done if you play your cards right but ive never done the math. I agree with others that rifle is likely way to go.
Posted By: BOBO the Clown

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 05:24 PM

A lot of good WMA’s like Aransas that offer good hunts. You are in a good area for public hunting. Most expensive thing about hunting is time, but who cares how many days it does ir doesn’t take to connect, you are out side enjoying nature.
Posted By: DQ Kid

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 06:14 PM

Not sure I'd advertise to landowners trying to feed your family off wild game. You would probably create more trepadation than interest from them
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/14/20 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by DQ Kid
Not sure I'd advertise to landowners trying to feed your family off wild game. You would probably create more trepadation than interest from them


Most landowners would tell you to get a job
Posted By: 10 Gauge

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/18/20 12:05 AM

You want to feed your family a diet of game- maybe you should switch to a diet of fish, lol.

You want to be a meat hunter, stick to small game hunting with a shotgun on the corps lakes. Some waterfowl too. Get a 12 gauge instead of a crossbow.

Deer hunting on public land- hey friend that is great but after a lot of careful consideration I just don't think it's cool trying to feed your family on a diet of whitetail deer taken off our public lands. They have done a decent job of managing our deer, if a quarter of hunters start meat hunting whitetails there wouldn't be many before too long.

Lots of pigs around lake bardwell though and many of the corps lakes. 12 gauge, corps lakes, pigs small game waterfowl. That is how you are gonna fill your freezer legally AND ethically, on a budget.
Posted By: jacinda

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/18/20 05:25 PM

welcome[Linked Image]
Posted By: 1860.colt

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/18/20 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by DQ Kid
Not sure I'd advertise to landowners trying to feed your family off wild game. You would probably create more trepadation than interest from them

bang confused2 tre pa da tion bang can ya use a smaller word... rofl
That one given me a head ache..

Have known & still do known
many land owners that would NOT look down on hunter trying ta feed family...
scratch HF tis exception...

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Posted By: SherpaPhil

Re: New hunter trying to feed the family - 04/18/20 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by laid over

Deer hunting on public land- hey friend that is great but after a lot of careful consideration I just don't think it's cool trying to feed your family on a diet of whitetail deer taken off our public lands. They have done a decent job of managing our deer, if a quarter of hunters start meat hunting whitetails there wouldn't be many before too long.


I completely disagree. I think there are a ton of reasons not to try it, but it is completely cool to feed ones family off of deer taken from public lands. Texas has way more deer than it needs and wildlife managers know how few people will actually fill all their tags. It may be very difficult or not financially feasible, but there is nothing at all with taking the deer off public land that you are legally allowed.
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