Public Hunting Lands in Texas

deer and turkey. It's kind of goofy (in my opinion), that TPWD doesn't tell you where the public hunting areas are, but I guess they're trying to keep those which haven't bought the APH away...'

When I went to a TPWD office, they allowed me to look at the books before I decided if I wanted to purchase them.

Where do you live? If close to Houston, you can look at mine.

Deer is not too bad in east Texas. Turkey is pretty much non-existant on the AP properties (wrong locations).

Same at the TPWD office here in Bryan. They would let me look at it, but not take it with me. I think it was more a 'we don't have enough to just pass out to anyone that's interested unless they buy' issue. Made sense to me.

As I said, it's only $40. It's not like you're spending $1300 on a lease somewhere that may or may not have what you're looking for.

Exactly. I don't even use mine to it's full potential, but I get one every year. I think of the Super Combo license and the APH license as donations to TPWD, and buy them every year even if I don't use 'em. TPWD and all the other state and national parks agencies can use all the help they can get.

Chris,

It seems as if you know a lot about hunting public lands in Texas. I have disparaged hunting Texas public lands for deer [rifle] because there does not seem to be many opportunities and I hear terrible stories about overcrowded conditions. I cannot afford a lease and for the last two years have chosen to hunt out of state with family [same cost as a lease but at least I am with people I know and don't have to camp over a feeder].

So the question would be, can you find a quality hunting experience on Texas public land with reasonable searching?

Thanks,

-John Sauer

Depends on what you want to hunt. * Everything *except* deer, absolutely. * Deer? Depends on how much work you do to find a good Annual Permit place....

John, I have hunted public land in texas for the last 5 years. I dont even consider purchasing my license without getting the $40 APH permit. You make a valueable point about public deer hunting, the public areas are not in the greatest deer country available. However, there are deer there and we have seen them just no shots taken. We use the public mostly for dove, duck, geese and squirrel hunting. An archer would, I believe have a better deer hunt because a few more opportunities. Hogs are abundant, quail is fantastic. I really like the ability to move and hunt different parts of the state and habitat. So IMHO, the answer to your question below is 'yes'.

Don't forget pheasant. Although its a long way from the metropolitan areas, the public hunting for pheasant is pretty good. I was on the land for pheasant hunting in hansford county in Nov. and the place was full of pheasants.

Which places are you using to hunt quail? Matador?

I would also add that the Texas drawn hunts are decent. My dad and I have been drawn for deer two years in a row, and I'm pretty sure we'll get picked again this year. There are many categories to apply for, and each time you don't get picked in a category, you get points that add to your probability of getting picked for the next year. From what I've seen, the Texas drawn hunts are run professionally and SAFELY. My dad and I had 1500 acres all to ourselves last year.

Hi Chris,

Reading the other posts to my question it seems that finding quality public deer hunting in Texas is the issue. I was spoiled by years of hunting in CA, WA, and OR where public land was plentiful and hunting was good if you put in the leg work. I think that if I hunt deer in TX this year, it will be with a bow.

Thanks to all who answered this post as well. Great info.

Best,

Frank,

I agree that the draw hunts are good. We have been drawn 2 times in 8 years, haven't drawn in 5 years. Hopefully we have enough preference points that we will stand a good chance this year. It does seem to me that more people are applying every year and chances are diminishing.

Generally we hunt the Davy Crockett NF in east Texas. Success rate is normally about 20% for the area. By picking one area and learning it we run around 50%. Part of that Forest is a game management area requiring the annual permit, part is not. I talked to the NF biologist 3 years ago and he told me the deer density was about the same in both areas. So from that perspective there is no advantage to buying the permit. Sam Houston NF is not a choice in that the whole has been designated a game management area requiring the permit. The Angelina and Sabine NFs are a mix like the Davy Crockett.