Public Land in Texas
 

I've heard a lot of people on HNI comment about the lack of public hunting land in Texas. However, i guess that everything really is bigger in Texas because it turns out that there is about 4.5 million acres of public land there. However, I do not know how much of it can be hunted and how it is distributed across the state. Can any Texans enlighten me on this subject.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

As txjorneyman stated earlier 5% of that 4.5 million acres can be hunted. Most of that is lakes used strictly for waterfowl. There is some public areas for deer hunting but they typically are highly pressured. The other spots you must be drawn for and the only draw a handful of tags.


Plus, why hunt public when you can hunt private?

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

What does that translate into, about 300,000 acres that can be hunted. That is damn low considering that Illinois has about 450,000 acres and it is not that big of a public hunting land state.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

some of that public land has some terrible habitat as well. Lake Tawokoni WMA for instance. about 5,000 acres, I think there are 2 deer there!

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

On a good day[8D]

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

Are you talking free hunting land or public hunting land in Texas? I hunt private land but I also have an Annual Public Hunting Permit (cost 48.00/year) which allows me access to 1,135,245 acres on 78 units in 66 counties in Texas. I will agree with you on one thing, if there is a deer on a Texas public hunting area, there will be a hunter behind every tree.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

Yeah Belushi that is true enough. There are 78 units. How many of them are Dove only? Small game only? The number that allows deer hunting is MUCH smaller.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

So, am i to understand that while the public land hunting for deer in Texas may be pretty bleak, it may be decent for other stuff?

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

I agree with you Journeyman, not all public land in Texas is for deer hunting, but it is for hunting. Another thing that has not been mentioned are the 4 National Forests in Texas, of which 3 are free to hunt and the Sam Houston NF is part of the Annual Public Hunting Permit land as it has been designated a Wildlife Managment Area and the State and Forest Service have had an intensive land managment program going for a couple of years now aimed at making the land better for the wildlife.

I guess my main point is there is more land available in Texas then you might think. You just have to get out there and scout to find a spot no one else is at.

Just a side note, The biggest deer my lease partner ever killed was from the Sam Houston NF.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

m Yes Lanse, there are some great small game opportunities on public land. Also, dove and quail. So if a guy wants to hunt in Tx the opportunity is there.
Belushi Big Sam isn't too awful far from me. I may have to look into that. Also I did some scouting in Angelina NF south east of Lufkin. I was looking for eastern turkeys and saw several does and one nice buck. I may have to go take another look in October :). And you are right about one thing. Ya gots to find the spot no one else has found!

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

My property my house is on backs up to the Sam Houston and I have hunted it in the past, as you guys have said before these properties are pressured pretty hard. There are some real good opportunities on the draw hunts, however I have never tried it and don't really know how hard it is to get drawn. About three years ago I leased a ranch from a biologist that works for TPWD, he told me it wasn't that difficult to get drawn and the wildlife reserve he worked with produced deer in the 160's, That place is up there north of Georgetown......Of course you also have Kerr county wildlife ranch that is a state run deal that i have heard good things about and they have exotics too!!!!!

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

This texas public land stuff is so confusing. Its hard to find which places you can hunt and what you can hunt there. Im not sure i would go deer hunting on texas public land. Can you do any predator and hog hunting on texas public land?

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

yes, you can do both. HOWEVER, you have to do the research to know when and where its legal. dfferent areas have different rules.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

txjourneyman... how did the turkey scouting go in the NF? I live in lufkin and have been looking for a place to hunt em. I have been told that on the south end of Sam Rayburn and the Alabama Creek WMA they have been spotted.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

Thats what I heard as well but I never saw any. TPWD reports a total of 125 eastern turkeys killed last year. I'm sure there were a few more that never saw a check station but those are still some very low harvest numbers.

RE: Public Land in Texas
 

That aint no lie. You would think this would be a good area for them to multiply, but I guess they need more farmland with bean fields and stuff.