hunting texas

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Wildlifexpressions64

Member
Has any of you fellows ever whitetail hunted in south texas? I've always wanted to go hunt the brush country but don't have the money to go on a big high dollar guided hunt. Is there any public land there or do any of you'll know any fairly reasonable outfitters there? 3 places i want to hunt before it's my time to leave this world is South texas, iowa, and Sascatkchewan. Sorry about the spelling.
 
I am not an expert on South Texas, but I did go there once about 10 years for a hog hunt. There is very little public ground that would be worth traveling that far for a deer hunt from my memory. Lots of people lease and from what I could gather, it was a fairly expensive proposition. Maybe that has changed with the recession, I don't know.

The deer there are not that big body-wise, it is an interesting terrain to hunt in though if you are used to Iowa woods and fields. If it were me, I would see if you can make friends with somebody in Texas and then work out some sort of a swap hunt and you can guide them here in Iowa sometime.
 
On top of paying out the rear to hunt a tiny bodied deer, I think most outfitters down there also charge an extra fee for so many inches of antler.. retarded.. I don't believe there's much public ground down there to hunt. I wouldn't mind going on a hog hunt down there though
 
We hunted near Freer Texas which is just north of Laredo a few years ago. I can tell you first hand that it is a rifle hunters paradise. With one hunting liscense you can kill something like 5 deer 3 turkeys, unlimited hogs and javelina, and the coyotes and bobcat are thick. We spent 6 days down there hunting on a friends lease and it was a blast. We killed 4 whitetails between 3 guys, but the last 4 days of the hunt were basically spent shooting pigs and coyotes. It is a riot and I would highly recommend it. You will see more game in 5 days in Texas than you will in a season some places. Also it's legal to shoot pigs at night down there, so after dinner we would drive around the sendero's with a spotlight and shoot pigs and yotes, just doesn't seem right, but it is a good time! Hope you get a chance to go. BTW the wingshooting is pretty awesome as well.
 
thanks for the help, yea i would like to go hog hunting down there, and i've always heard the wingshooting is awesome there as well. That would be different to drive around with a spotlight shooting hogs and yotes. around here in kentucky the co's will try and write you a ticket just for having a spotlight in your truck.
 
dedgeez said:
We hunted near Freer Texas which is just north of Laredo a few years ago. I can tell you first hand that it is a rifle hunters paradise. With one hunting liscense you can kill something like 5 deer 3 turkeys, unlimited hogs and javelina, and the coyotes and bobcat are thick. We spent 6 days down there hunting on a friends lease and it was a blast. We killed 4 whitetails between 3 guys, but the last 4 days of the hunt were basically spent shooting pigs and coyotes. It is a riot and I would highly recommend it. You will see more game in 5 days in Texas than you will in a season some places. Also it's legal to shoot pigs at night down there, so after dinner we would drive around the sendero's with a spotlight and shoot pigs and yotes, just doesn't seem right, but it is a good time! Hope you get a chance to go. BTW the wingshooting is pretty awesome as well.
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That's just about right, with a few corrections. I hunt my borther-in-law's lease just north of Laredo regularly. In fact, this fall will be the first time I don't hunt with him since 2008. With your $300 NR license, you get 5 whitetail tags (2 antleress, 2 buck only, 1 either sex), 4 turkey tags (2 per season: spring/fall depending on county), 2 mule deer tags (1 buck, 1 doe), 2 javelina (NOT unlimited), unlimited hogs (including at night), unlimited coyotes and bobcats. You have to pay $7 extra for quail/bird hunting. I've taken my share of hogs from there, but my BIL doesn't charge. Some outfitters will charge you to take 1 or 2 hogs, even though everyone HATES them down there. I'm blessed in that I have access to 3 different ranches that let me go after all the hogs I can take, does, cull bucks (TX management; you learn to live with it), an occasionaly trophy, and real south Texas Rio Grande turkeys on 2 of the ranches. I know for sure I can't get you on 2 of the ranches, but you might be able to work something out with my BIL for a very discounted price for deer (under $3K, I'm guessing; but don't quote me). PM me and keep in touch because I can also dig around and see what else there is over there. I know some ranches will charge $30K for a 200"+ deer (and they do exist). The deer are mostly smaller bodied, but I've seen some good bucks that give Iowa deer a run for their money in body size
 
Don't see how anything lives down there? 100' every day and no rain for 6 months. Ranches must have to feed everything.
 
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