Howdy! There are a number of Eastern Texas counties with a Spring Turkey season on public hunting land. You would need to get an Annual Public Hunt permit to hunt on these WMAs. If you do, call the wildlife biologist for that area before hunting to see what the turkey population looks like. Some counties have a turkey season, but you would be hard pressed to find a turkey in those counties. Otherwise, there are plenty of places to hunt Rio Grande turkeys, just do a web search. Take care and good luck!  Always, Gene

There are plenty of free opertunities on public land. I am also from LA and hunt in TX on public land and I have killed some big birds! Biggest was a 21lbs 11 3/8 in beard and 1 1/4 in spurs. And numerous others. Be ready to do the foot work and homework to find them. Texas Forest Service is a big help if you get a good repore with them. And the local biologist is also a big help. And just to all the other turkey hunters out there lets do our part to take care of the preditor population on our lands to help the turkey and deer out. I have seen the results of managed lands and it is night and day different. And it gives you something to hunt in the off season.