Search Texas Hunting Leases FREE
Our Sponsors and Partners:
  • GSC Visitor Engagement Path
  • Google Adsense 120x600
Monthly Points Leaders
  1. brownbuck (200)
  2. bonecollector (200)
  3. scott dye (128)
  4. Strike King (127)
  5. ooj32 (125)
  6. wohalliburton (116)
  7. Hogboy12 (78)
  8. Buckscore (78)
  9. electronicslin... (71)
  10. mdatwo (71)
Yearly Points Leaders
  1. barnharthunter (2495)
  2. boxroutfitters (1132)
  3. scott dye (1071)
  4. SDOPOC (245)
  5. LSmith6749 (225)
  6. rperezjr (222)
  7. tthorp (220)
  8. hornhunter (216)
  9. brownbuck (200)
  10. hillcountryotf... (200)

Forums >> Texas Hunting >> Texas Deer Hunting >> How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

KLThreeSeven

KLThreeSeven writes about How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

ANTLERS_2

 

I'm looking to go after my first whitetail this November. I had a trip planned with a buddy of mine on his family's land in East Texas, but long story short, the old lady put the brakes on it. Now I'm stuck trying to find a place to hunt that's close enough to Dallas so that I can do a one-day (Saturday) hunt. 

I'm too poor to afford a fancy lease and so I started looking at the public permit TPWD offers. Have you guys had any success/experiences good or bad with public hunts for deer? I imagine it's gotta get pretty crowded but having never been, I don't know. Any day hunting is a good day, but I would love to be able to bring home some meat for Thanksgiving this year! 

Any experiences shared would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Google Adsense 728x90 Leaderboard

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

GeneRector

GeneRector writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

HAPPY

Howdy! The Annual Public Hunt permit offers many WMA allowing deer hunting, archery and firearms. Go to Texas Parks and Wildlife website and checkout some of the Wildlife Management Areas that you might want to hunt. Call the wildlife biologist for those WMAs and get advice on the deer population and where might be good places to hunt within the WMA. Your chances of finding deer usually increases if you hike into the WMA far away from roads. Good Luck!

Always,

Gene

 

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

KLThreeSeven

KLThreeSeven writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

Thanks for the reply Gene. I've reached out the the wildlife biologists in my area. Great idea!

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

KLThreeSeven

KLThreeSeven writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

Looks like Caddo National Grasslands is the closest to me. Would love to hear experiences others have had there. Thanks!

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

twitch2146
twitch2146
twitch2146 writes about
Points: Y (2) / M (0)
Cass county

I hunted Caddo last year and we had pretty good luck. We took 3 does and a spike. We saw alot of small bucks but nothing big enough to shoot. There were about 12 people in our hunting area but never saw them during the hunt. Go early and stay late and off the beaten path. You may get lucky and the other hunters will actually push the deer to you.

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

KLThreeSeven

KLThreeSeven writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

Wow. Congrats on the great hunt Eric. Thanks for the solid info. I think I'll try to make it out there. 

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

PsychoJester

PsychoJester writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

I hunted Unit 903  Bannister (in the book) for years, and pulled deer out of there almost everytime we went. Here's some pointers that might help you have success on public land.

Pre-scout in the summer if you can - Watch your scent - Use a GPS so you can go really deep in the woods far away from all roads and other people & you can also set waypoints everytime you spot a deer or a scrape or rub - use a climber & go as far up the tree as possible - bring a snack & hunt as long as you can stand it with all of the activity from other hunters the deer move a lot more than normal - get a doe tag I forgot where to call to get it, but they always give doe tags for unit 903, and if it's too late to apply for a doe tag if you go to the office they will give you one. Actually the game warden ussually showed up opening weekend & passed then out, but don't rely on that.

The deer are very skidish on public land during season, but the guy that hunts the hardest ussually gets deer. I see so many people hunting the edges of the forest, or stalking. These methods do not work on public land, and if you here of deer being harvested on public land this way it was luck. Good luck and have patience.

 

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

gpatton

gpatton writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

OKAY

Once you kill a deer.What is the best way to get it out of the woods?Most WMAs have limited or zero motor vehicle access.

RE: How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

PsychoJester

PsychoJester writes about
Points: Y (0) / M (0)

drag it, or buy one of those cart things.

Forums >> Texas Hunting >> Texas Deer Hunting >> How's Public Hunting (Deer) in TX?

Forums Statistics:

  • There are 19810 registered site users.
  • There are currently 6 active users on the site.
  • There are currently 1 registered users that active are on the site (and signed in).
  • There are currently 5 active users in the Forums.

Welcome to the newest registered users: ladydeerhunter bill_spp dwacker mjwarren2000

Google Adsense 728x90 Leaderboard

Explore Forums Through Common Keywords:

duck dove family hogs crappie lease bold public deer buck rigs shoot bucks fish cut turkey ndash blue land trout priority hunters hog county animal hunts shot bow camp gun shad redfish spinnerbaits lake fishing points rsquo ranch crankbaits brush channel yellow wild season semihidden first buy catfish call unhidewhenused hunt shrimp hunting target minnows free soft rifle night striped shooting bait locked south bass hunter lsdexception game texas outdoors jigs wildlife