Public Hunting Opportunities

[scout34]

Most of the posts I see here about hunting public land in Texas are not complementary.  I tried it one year but didn't get to go but once or twice.  Saw some deer but it was a two hour drive there, no place to stay near there and couldn't camp.  Didn't go back.

Looking at hunting in the national forests (Sabine, Davey Crockett, Angelina, Sam Houston).  Anybody ever try it?

[scout34]

Okay, guess that about sums it up for public hunting opportunities in TX.

[FWiedner]

I believe that there are good success rates in the areas that you mention.

On the issue of public hunting opportunities in general, what's the point in rehashing the fact that some lazy people don't want to do any of the work involved in doing what it takes to hunt in Texas?

Most of the guys that criticize public hunting opportunities bitch because some other fellow of greater means can afford a lease that they themselves can't, because some management oriented rancher raises trophies behind a high fence, or because they might have to walk more than 100 yards from the road to get into "the woods".

In my opinion, the guys who criticize the public hunting opportunities in Texas are just quitters and crybabies.

Get a hunting license and an annual public hunting permit and they'll send you a book with maps and data on the game taken in those areas by species.

You'd do your self a favor by actually scouting an area before opening day.


 :-)

[jrlinz]

I pretty much agree with the above post.  You will have to work for it, but there are deer and hogs in SHNF.  I do most of my hunting there.  Most of the hunters stay within 1/4 mile or so of the roads.  If you are willing to get out there early, go in deep, and to scout the area before hunting season, it's not a bad place to hunt.  Very thick brush, limited visibility in some areas.

[markc]

let me add this, bring a GPS and logg your hunting locations in it.  This should help you keep from getting lost coming or going in the dark and also if you leave that iinfo at home, will help folks find you should you get lost or injured back in the NF.   Also, some of the areas do not allow wheeled vehicles, which used to include even a cart for hauling deer or hogs back out.  Check into therules of the NF you plan to hunt and do your scouting and GPS work way ahead of the hunting season.  Also, as already mentioned, there will be lots of "hunters" within a few hundred yards of the road.  If you have already scouted and are physically fit, you can find some great hunting spots wayyyyyy back away from the highway.  Good luck, and be careful..

[*ROCK-MAN*]

I have hunted in Texas National Forests all my life.(Parents have pics of me in diapers camped out in Davy Crockett on a pipeline)
I hunted the Davy Crockett Forest(north of Livingston) right up untill I met my Wife while fishing Lake Sam Rayburn out of the Jackson Hill Marina.Last 15 years since I have hunted the Angelina Forrest(Harvey Creek Area east of Broaddus) and I have taken a deer every year.Not to knock the Davy Crockett(Kinfolk up there still get deer every year) but I now hunt some of the prettyest hardwoods I've ever seen.When timber companies log off the land they leave these strips of hardwoods along the creeks and branchs off the creeks and this is where you will get your deer.If you can find the hardwood bottoms so much the better.I go on hunts every year to west and south texas for whitetail and exotics but nothing can repalce the pineywoods in my heart.Some people may think I'm crazy but I'd rather stalk wary game animals one on one with my shotgun than sit in a tower stand watching a herd of sheep(deer,fallow,axis,elk,etc.) and pick out a trophy.The buck taken stalking means so much more to me it's hard to describe.

Keep your Powder dry

Rock

[markc]

I have no idea where my reply went, so here goes again.  There are over 1 million acres of public hunting land in Texas.   I have hunted some, and have friends who only hunt public land.  They have bagged some mighty fine whitetail over the years.   The key to success there is to have the maps provided by TP&WD and scout the areas.  Carry a GPS and mark your trails and or hunting spots in the GPS.

You must get away from the paved highways.  Most public land hunters don't travel further than 1/4 mile from the roadway.  Be in good physical shape and make the hike back into the woods.   Some of the biggest fair chase (read no high fence) bucks in the past several seasons have come from East Texas counties.

[scout34]

Looking at the sheer size of the National Forests in that area, I thought that there had to be some deer back there.  I really want to give East TX a try, because I want to try fair chase and it has the most available area.  I won't knock hunting over a feeder because it helps the sport and I've done my share of it and will do more, but I want to try something a bit more challenging.  I'll also have a new .41 Mag to try out.  Unfortunately the only scouting I will do this year will be in Baghdad.  Thanks for the info and the positive outlook.  Hope to see you at the campfire.

Scout

[markc]

It sounds like the hunting is really good in Baghdad this season.  Be careful there...

[jrlinz]

I have been hunting the SHNF for 10 years.  Before that I hunted a great public area near Maydel.  It closed.  The deer are there, and it's pretty good if you get far enough off the road (1/2 mile or so).  You WILL hunt, though.  It's not a gimme like it is at a lot of leases.  A good number of hogs there, as well.

[scout34]

I figure mix small game expeditions out of deer season with my scouting trips, and take the kids fishing as well.

Looks like I'll be scouting in KY though.  PCSing to Knox in March.

[sawfish]

There are other public land areas in Texas besides the Natl. Forest system.  There are some sizable tracts of land in Northeast Texas (North of Bonham, near Ivanhoe, etc.) that are part of the National Grasslands.  Some of the Texas lakes that are built on the larger rivers (i.e. Texoma) have large areas of land (usually above the headwaters) that are owned by the Corps. of Engineers.  It usually owns everything below flood stage.  When I hunted those areas, the COE only allowed shotguns for hunting on its land.  Just keep looking, its there.

[Pat Miller]

There's a huge quantity of land available thru the Army Corp of Engineers/Tulsa & Fort worth Districts also.
Try National Forest Lands, State Parks and all the River Authorities and even some of the Counties and Cities have available land.
Search, scout and study.
I've found tons of places to hunt some more populated with other hunters than others but I've also had great success in some of the public places also!
You just have to be patient, scout, hang tough!

[mardrobe]

I have hunted SHNF for a couple of years now.  I have not been successful, but have seen enough deer to keep it interesting.  How do we get information on the Corp of Engineers land?  I have seen many posts on it, but no information on who to contact.

[Ironwood]

Mardrobe,  Here's last years US Army Corps of Engineers Public Hunting Guide for 2006-2007.  A new guide should be coming out pretty soon for the 2006-2007 season.  http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/ops/recnres/HUNTGUIDE06-07final.pdf