Do you hunt in Texas?

I am a simple hunter looking for a place to hunt in Texas. Last year and this year I purchased the Annual Public Hunting permit allowing me to hunt on the states few and far-between 'public lands'. I get the impression that a majority of Texas hunters (who don't own their own land) do not purchase the APH nor do they limit their hunting to public lands. I am hoping to find where and how Texas hunters hunt. I will be happy to repost the results of this very informal pole here. Thanks, Mike, San Antonio, TX

I hunt on: My own land Annual Lease Season Lease Several day lease Public Lands

Located in: East Texas South Texas West Texas North Texas Hill Country

I'm thinking about taking up hunting this year. How did the APH lands work for you? I'm up in the Dallas area. Not familiar with the APH lands un North Texas.

Scott

You might want to refine this question to specific game animals. For example, I hunt dove & waterfowl on both public land (Sam Houston & Davy Crocket National Forrest, as well as lakes & coastal bays) as well as APH lands (and occationally a guide).

For deer hunting, I apply for the drawn hunts run by TPWD (I had a lease outside of Brady, but it was too expensive).

My own land in West Texas and friends' lands

annual lease in Lampasas County

Leasing hunt land is big bucks, no pun intended. I hunt dove on public lands and land leased by TPWD mostly North and West of Ft. Worth. Pete

Most of them come up here to Colorado.

Thinking about trying out Ft Hood this year. Anyone know of any good zones? Any good ideas for dodging tank shells?

Yes, if you don't live close one of the 'far-between' locations that can be less than joyful.

Most hunt on family, friend or leased land.

Very rarely. It's legal to hunt on my property, but it is too much like shopping for me to get much out of it. When you have deer nibbling on your shrubs every day, 'hunting' is too strong a word. More like 'pest control'. I also have Turkey on my land, along with other interesting animals like Foxes and Coyotes from time to time. I leave the foxes alone and I whack the coyotes. Too many small children in the area to leave them be.

That's what I've been doing for about the last 15 years. Once you get settled in to a long-term agreement with the owner and the game is well-managed, this can be very nice. The annual lease I'm on allows for 365-day access for hunting, fishing, camping, target shooting, star gazing, whatever floats your boat.

I sometime 'day lease' for dove, but for game animals, day leases are usually a complete waste of money.

Mike, myself, son, and best buddy buy the APH every year, have so since it used to be called a Type II permit. We get it mostly for the bird hunting ( by the way, down by San Antonio are some great properties). Yes, some places you have to drive a distance, but hey this is Texas , everything is far away. We dont mind having to drive 2,3,4 hours for some good shooting. It is out there you just have to work for it. The deer hunting is a different issue. The orange armies make me a bit nervous. Check with TPWD on the draw hunts, and hurry, some of the deadlines are coming fast. I believe Sept 7 is the first gun deer deadline. Texas is a leasing state, good or bad, but there are plenty of opportunities available to those willing to do a little investigating. By the way, I would love another lease if the $ wasnt $1200+ a gun, with me and son thats $2400, cant do it with a wife (very understanding I may add) and 2 smaller boys at home.

Llano TX, I have found, is the best for whitetail bucks. Just my fyi...

KRS