Texas Hunting Forum

First time deer hunting help in Texoma area

Posted By: StevenStrong

First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 04:07 PM

My wife is getting me a Marlin Lever Action 30-30 for our anniversary in 2 weeks I have never been deer hunting but really want to. I live in Sherman Tx does anyone know where I can legally go rifle hunting in Texoma area?
Posted By: ChrisB

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 05:07 PM

Grayson County is an archery only county. Gonna need to look else where.
Posted By: Rustler

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 05:13 PM

Start by reading the outdoor annual ---> TPWD. <--- click the link.

Or pick up a paper copy where you buy your hunting license.

Posted By: Null90

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:04 PM

You could always hit the caddo grasslands north east of bonham
Posted By: StevenStrong

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:23 PM

Where is that exactly
Posted By: DoveMaster

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:27 PM

Stevenstrong, go to anywhere licenses are sold and buy the Annual Hunting Permit for $48 i think it is, then they will mail you a booklet showing you all the public hunting land maps and specifically the acres that allow for rifle, of if it's bow only. This is the best route to go for Texas public hunting if you don't have a lease. Simple as that.
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:31 PM

Good luck in Caddo, especially opening weekend with rifle. Even during this bow season I saw quite a bit of people. Going to be packed come gun season I'm sure, and make sure you look up the regulations up there cause some chunks are archery only as well.
Posted By: SenkoSamurai

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:32 PM

Originally Posted By: DoveMaster
Stevenstrong, go to anywhere licenses are sold and buy the Annual Hunting Permit for $48 i think it is, then they will mail you a booklet showing you all the public hunting land maps and specifically the acres that allow for rifle, of if it's bow only. This is the best route to go for Texas public hunting if you don't have a lease. Simple as that.


THIS ^^ so many different rules and regs for each piece of land that you almost have to read through each spots epcifics to make sure your legal through and through
Posted By: maximus_flavius

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:42 PM

As decent as a .30-30 is, it’s the absolute last caliber I would buy. It’s the ballistic equivalent of buying a Model T in 2018.

Get a good bolt action in .308 or .30/06.
Posted By: unclebubba

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:54 PM

If he's gonna hunt the thick woods on Caddo, a 30-30 is just the ticket. It is not an obsolete caliber in any way shape or form when used under the right circumstances.
Posted By: txhunter1010

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 07:55 PM

Originally Posted By: maximus_flavius
As decent as a .30-30 is, it’s the absolute last caliber I would buy. It’s the ballistic equivalent of buying a Model T in 2018.

Get a good bolt action in .308 or .30/06.



Thats the last caliber you would buy... but maybe not him or other folks... to each is own. Since he said his wife is getting it for him, there maybe another meaning behind it too...
Posted By: ctonsmitty

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 09:08 PM

For all who own a .30-30 I would suggest getting the Hornady LeverRevolution 160 grain. These bullets shoot flatter than those old 150 grain flat head bullets AND allow you to kill out to 150 yards!! A great upgrade for a fun shooting rifle!
Posted By: Sparta

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 09:21 PM

I have a safe full of rifles and my 30-30 is the 2nd most used. I've beat the heck out of that rifle over the years but it's as dependable as ever. I love it for hunting hog/deer and as long as I keep it under 120 or so I rarely miss with it.

Kills em just the same
Posted By: Sparta

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 10/31/18 09:23 PM

Originally Posted By: ctonsmitty
For all who own a .30-30 I would suggest getting the Hornady LeverRevolution 160 grain. These bullets shoot flatter than those old 150 grain flat head bullets AND allow you to kill out to 150 yards!! A great upgrade for a fun shooting rifle!


^True Statement^
Posted By: DeleteThisAccount

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 02:33 AM

Originally Posted By: maximus_flavius
As decent as a .30-30 is, it’s the absolute last caliber I would buy. It’s the ballistic equivalent of buying a Model T in 2018.

Get a good bolt action in .308 or .30/06.



That's just crazy talk. I love hunting with a 30-30 and it's an excellent gun for hunting deer. And there is just no beating the cool factor of a lever action. In fact, I plan on hunting deer all season with my .30-30 smile I actually prefer it over every other weapon in my arsenal (which includes 43 other rifles) :P

The other comments in the chain about Hornady Lever Evolution ammo are great. Also give Winchester Ballistic Silvertips a run. Both types of ammo are on the high end of the price range for 30-30 ammo but Winchester right now is doing a $10 per box rebate on the Ballistic Silvertips (max 2 boxes) - so can save $20 while trying the ammo out.
Posted By: KYBLUEFAN

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 03:50 AM

Originally Posted By: SenkoSamurai
Good luck in Caddo, especially opening weekend with rifle. Even during this bow season I saw quite a bit of people. Going to be packed come gun season I'm sure, and make sure you look up the regulations up there cause some chunks are archery only as well.


Not aware of any chunks that are archery only. Doesn't say it on the area map.
Posted By: DeleteThisAccount

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 04:04 AM

Originally Posted By: KYBLUEFAN
Originally Posted By: SenkoSamurai
Good luck in Caddo, especially opening weekend with rifle. Even during this bow season I saw quite a bit of people. Going to be packed come gun season I'm sure, and make sure you look up the regulations up there cause some chunks are archery only as well.


Not aware of any chunks that are archery only. Doesn't say it on the area map.


Look at the map down towards the state park - it's marked as archery only. It's a small section.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/annual_public_hunting/resources/730.pdf
Posted By: ChrisB

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 11:37 AM

Originally Posted By: Binary
Originally Posted By: KYBLUEFAN
Originally Posted By: SenkoSamurai
Good luck in Caddo, especially opening weekend with rifle. Even during this bow season I saw quite a bit of people. Going to be packed come gun season I'm sure, and make sure you look up the regulations up there cause some chunks are archery only as well.


Not aware of any chunks that are archery only. Doesn't say it on the area map.


Look at the map down towards the state park - it's marked as archery only. It's a small section.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/annual_public_hunting/resources/730.pdf

That's Caddo lake, not Caddo Grasslands. They are a long ways apart.
Posted By: WileyCoyote

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 12:21 PM

Any of the COE Lk Property in Cooke County as I remember can be hunted with a rifle & the $48 Permit. I'd also look at the areas around Cooper Lake that are open to the public. Only Grayson County, and the areas closer to Dallas and Collin County's are resticted to Archery only. You also need to look hard at the opportunities in Oklahoma.

After living 1/2 way up Preston Peninsula for 11 years I never hunted Grayson County for anything other than a way to find a place not too far away within a 100 miles to hunt. Grayson County is too close to the DFW Metro Mess to escape the crowds...who don't think about going to ...horrors...Oklahoma....and they got some real honker WT's up there.

IMO A 30-30 lever action rifle is an ideal under 150 yards deer/hog shooter, especialy in heavy cover. I'd put a low power 1x5 or 2x7 scope on it to help see in heavy brush with a single sighting plane, and at one time not too long ago according to TPW surveys at the time was the most successful deer rifle caliber used in Texas. Shot placement is still the most important issue to harvesting game animals....strokes and folks, and not everybody needs to shoot horizon to horizon to make meat...but "hunting skills" still trump sitting in a box blind staring at the corn feeder, like most of us do today, myself included.
Ron
Posted By: DeleteThisAccount

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 01:50 PM

Originally Posted By: ChrisB
Originally Posted By: Binary
Originally Posted By: KYBLUEFAN
Originally Posted By: SenkoSamurai
Good luck in Caddo, especially opening weekend with rifle. Even during this bow season I saw quite a bit of people. Going to be packed come gun season I'm sure, and make sure you look up the regulations up there cause some chunks are archery only as well.


Not aware of any chunks that are archery only. Doesn't say it on the area map.


Look at the map down towards the state park - it's marked as archery only. It's a small section.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/annual_public_hunting/resources/730.pdf

That's Caddo lake, not Caddo Grasslands. They are a long ways apart.


Ahh my bad - I always think Caddo Lake when I hear Caddo, I should probably read closer :P
Posted By: Buccaneer

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 02:20 PM

OP said he's never been deer hunting. So a 30-30 should make a great deer rifle for him. Low recoil, versatile (easy to carry in the woods, good in brush, good at modest distance). Probably won't be trying to nail a 250 yard shot, especially on public land. Plus as Binary posted, definitely has a cool factor to it! Enjoy and good luck!
Posted By: KYBLUEFAN

Re: First time deer hunting help in Texoma area - 11/01/18 11:57 PM

Originally Posted By: WileyCoyote
Any of the COE Lk Property in Cooke County as I remember can be hunted with a rifle & the $48 Permit. I'd also look at the areas around Cooper Lake that are open to the public. Only Grayson County, and the areas closer to Dallas and Collin County's are resticted to Archery only. You also need to look hard at the opportunities in Oklahoma.

After living 1/2 way up Preston Peninsula for 11 years I never hunted Grayson County for anything other than a way to find a place not too far away within a 100 miles to hunt. Grayson County is too close to the DFW Metro Mess to escape the crowds...who don't think about going to ...horrors...Oklahoma....and they got some real honker WT's up there.

IMO A 30-30 lever action rifle is an ideal under 150 yards deer/hog shooter, especialy in heavy cover. I'd put a low power 1x5 or 2x7 scope on it to help see in heavy brush with a single sighting plane, and at one time not too long ago according to TPW surveys at the time was the most successful deer rifle caliber used in Texas. Shot placement is still the most important issue to harvesting game animals....strokes and folks, and not everybody needs to shoot horizon to horizon to make meat...but "hunting skills" still trump sitting in a box blind staring at the corn feeder, like most of us do today, myself included.
Ron


$48 permit not needed to hunt COE land on texoma.
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