Hard-pressed to find a place to hunt in the Lone Star State?
Texas is home to thousands of acres of prime hunting lands. Many hunters down here find themselves with limited access, though. Most lands are managed under private ownership, and public hunting properties are smaller than those of other states.
If you're a Texas resident, you're no stranger to complaints regarding the struggles of finding the perfect lease to hunt, either. You'll hear how they're too pricey or too crowded, and ultimately that the hunt(s) wasn't worth the cost.
So, what do you do? How do you hunt in Texas if you don't own land?
Hunt with a friend
Finding someone to take you on a hunting trip might be the best way to break into the outdoor world. If you know a particular person who hunts regularly, don't hesitate to ask them to take you along. Odds are, they'll be ecstatic to have someone to take into the woods.
Most outdoorsmen find the camaraderie they build with hunting partners become foundations for lifelong friendships. This gives you the opportunity to find people to hunt with, and potentially a lease to hunt on. Try reaching out and you could find yourself hunting quicker than you might think. Heck, you may learn some new tactics to build your knowledge of the outdoors!
Hunt public land
Acquiring a permit along with your license allows you to hike into public hunting plots and begin hunting during regulated seasons. This is probably the best way for someone to get out and chase game as soon as possible.
Hunting public lands comes with some downfalls, such as increased pressure on game and a lack of hunting locations. However, it can provide people with thousands of open acres. If you'd be interested in learning more about hunting Texas public lands, follow this link.
Lease hunting rights
Leasing rights to hunt private property may be the most popular method Texans use to get into the woods. Many people have tried to overcome the struggle of finding the perfect piece of land to hunt, but few have found a solution.
There are lease-finders, such as Leasehunter.com or TPWL Lease Listings, but upon personal findings, most posts fall short of your personal preferences. If you're looking for a place you can pay to hunt for a weekend and have a planned opportunity at an animal, you'll probably find what you are looking for.
When looking for land to put time and effort into, your best bet is to get involved with landowner networks in nearby counties. You can start by looking through newspaper classifieds and calling owners to see if their preferences match your hunting plans.
Another option could be to ask friends that hunt in the area if they know of openings on leases, or other landowners they have relationships with. Networking your way to a great hunting property is the ticket to finding long-term enjoyment in the outdoors.
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