Moving to Texas

[blakeschack5466]

So it looks like the wife and I are moving to Abilene Texas to go to school.  At first I was excited because I have heard of all the great bow hunting opportunities in Texas.  But then I did some research and couldn't find any public land.  Being from far northern california where there are several million acres of public land to hunt I was quite shocked.  

So please enlighten me.  Tell me its not so, or tell me how people hunt in Texas.

thanks

There is public land opportunities here, but the vast majority of folks pay to lease private land to hunt on. That's just the way it is here.

Bisch

[Raminshooter]

Blake,  I moved here from N. Calif. over a year ago and live in the Frisco area north of Dallas. Send me a private message and I will update you with what I have found.

[centaur]

Get ready to pay. Texas is 98% private land.

[Ric O'Shay]

Originally posted by centaur:
Get ready to pay. Texas is 98% private land.

That's exactly why 98% of my hunting is in other states.

Danny

[juneaulongbow]

Which school in Abilene?

[moththerlode]

We are blessed to have so much open land here in N. Ca.

[TxAg]

Welcome.

It can be done, but sometimes it is a needle in a hay stack.

[Jayb]

Check on Tx hunting Regs website and Corp of Engineers for maps.

[Wudstix]

There is public land and you'll get to know folks quicker if you're asking about land to hune.  It is not like where I'm from either.
 

[Green]

Go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and hit the "Hunting Land" tab.  There's some land open to hunt at Lake Abilene south of town.  In addition to your normal hunting license you'll need a $48 APH which gives you hunting access on all state lands.  When you purchase your license they'll send you a book with maps to all areas and all seasons/regs....each year there will be some new lands in various areas....and some of these will drop off each year as well.

[atatarpm]

X 2 on what Green said

[motorhead7963]

This is a good thread and better timing for me. As I just returned last night from Texas, The wife and I just spent 10 days there to nail down a job and a house. We will be moving to Texas as well in about three weeks or so,I have been doing some research on the topic and all the info I can get is appreciated as well. I will be up in the Panhandle area. I know I will have to drive a little to hunt but I am also pretty close to New Mexico so that will be an option as well.

[TexasKing]

Well Motorhead and Blakeschack, welcome to the Lone Star State,
great to have y'all. More trad hunters are needed down here...Abilene is a great place to be based out of, with great hunting every direction, but it's pricey. I know the area well, but not up on the public hunting.
Motorhead, the panhandle is positioned great for out of state hunting in 3 directions, which is what I bet you will wind up doing.

[Bowmag]

I live in Abilene. Been here my entire life. Unless you hunt a lease there isn't anything around here. One of the closest public places is the Matador Wildlife area about 3 hours north of here. They have really restricted the deer hunting there the last few years. But there is some hog hunting there. Parks and Wildlife has a very good website with a lot of info.  There is also a little bit of hunting about 90 miles south of here in San Angelo but I think it's pretty tough to get anything there. There is some pretty good hog hunting in the area according to what I've read on Trad Gang. Of course they are paid hunts. The best deal has been the yearly Pig Gig with Gene and Barry. Those are usually about an hour from here, depending on where it is. But those hunts may have come to an end. Welcome to Texas.

[Wudstix]

Make friends and influence people, get to hunt their land.  

[flcrkr]

My wife & I are moving to the Dallas area in the next couple of months! Actually, wife starts job on May 19, leaving me to sell the house. Once house is sold I'll be on my way! Any info is greatly appreciated!!!

[Redfeathers]

X's 3 what Green said!!!
Matador Wildlife is an awesome place as well.

[motorhead7963]

Cant wait to get out of here.... I will be moving to Lubbock, so if there are any shoots or anything like that in the general vicinity would be appreciated, and I don't mind driving a bit. anybody out there within hookup range?
and yea I will have to start to meet some people introduce myself, see what opportunities present themselves. Driving from San Angelo to Abilene back to Lubbock,I must have seen a dozen or more road killed deer and an Armadillo within 30minutes, so yea I know there are lots of deer there just got to get hooked up with the right people.

[Wudstix]

Traditional Bowhunters of Texas have many scheduled shoots each year.