Hunting Texas (Houston, San Antonio, Conroe: leases, price, move to)

[TJ Texas]

New to TX. Can anyone recommend an area in N. Houston to begin hunting explorations? Seems everyone calls their land a ranch (private) but where would a new Texas resident begin explorig their huntings options. Looking for turkey, dove and other birds. Deer could be an interest too.

[LostInHouston]

I'm not a hunter, so I can't help you with specifics. However, there is a local radio show on 97.5 FM on Wednesdays from 7-9pm that covers hunting, fishing and the outdoors. I guess they have a TV show too:

CSEoutdoors - Home

[Poltracker]

There are public hunting lands available as well as private leases start here to learn more about hunting in Texas: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | Hunting & Wildlife

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by TJ Texas

New to TX. Can anyone recommend an area in N. Houston to begin hunting explorations? Seems everyone calls their land a ranch (private) but where would a new Texas resident begin explorig their huntings options. Looking for turkey, dove and other birds. Deer could be an interest too.

There is a treasure trove of great bird hunting nearby to Houston, but if you aren't driving about 90 minutes from downtown you're probably never going to shoot a limit. You'll have to drive at least twice that for deer.

[EasilyAmused]

Pretty much have to go south and west to get Turkey, Dove and deer larger than a dog. Acreage is pretty pricey these days unless you go way west of San Antonio.

3000-5000 an acre is the norm within 3 hours of a big city. And that usually doesn't include improvements.

Most people get on hunting leases......

Anything under 200 acres is a Ranchette in my opinion. Anything under 75 is a farm. Anything under 40 acres is a country house.

Now you can get on deer leases up on the logging acreage around Davy Crockett National Forest. But the deer are seriously "eh." If you can get enough backstrap off them for a meal consider yourself lucky.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Now you can get on deer leases up on the logging acreage around Davy Crockett National Forest. But the deer are seriously "eh." If you can get enough backstrap off them for a meal consider yourself lucky.

Agreed. Don't go east for deer. You have to go West, South, Southwest or North and whichever direction you go you have to go a long way.

East Texas deer get shot on sight year round. There is no management or natural selection, just attrition.

[TJ Texas]

Thanks for the information folks. My buds and I go on an annual dove hunt (will miss it with my move by one week this year) about two hours east of San Diego, CA. Limits (10 each) within the first hour. Good thing, it was 100 by 9 a.m. last year, and 112 just after noon. About 50/50 split between larger white wing and mourning...some Eurasians too.

[crisma1001]

The closest to Houston Tx. are: Conroe, Clearlake, Kemah, and Nueces River areas.

[Poltracker]

If you want to see herds of deer that you can look at but not touch, go hand out near Bay Area Blvd near the chemical plants. I've seen some really outstanding bucks cross the road. The folks at the wastewater treatment plant on the corner of Port Rd. put out a feeder and sometimes you will see 7-8 nice ones there at a time...no hunting though This extends down to Armand Bayou nature center too. Actually quite a nice selection of wildlife in that urban/industrial area. They have to do special collections (read: remove to different location) of deer and hogs every so often just to control the population from what I hear.

[jimboburnsy]

Eagle Lake is probably the closest prospect for a good waterfowl hunt. You can find dove to shoot in a lot of places, but for a Mexican style shoot you have to go quite a ways. I've noticed a major increase in whitewings here over the last ten years or so. I could only speculate as to the reason why.