Now that my lease is gone, I've been pondering hunting public land but I've never done that so... any tips, pointer or suggestions for hunting the Davey Crockett National Forest? I would assume that the handbook put out every year would have the info about blaze orange and such, right? The land is accessible all the time, meaning, could go out and look around for where animals are crossing the creek right now? Would I have to wear blaze orange now?
-
-
When you buy the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit, they should mail you the public lands map booklet, which has all the seasons, bag limits, maps, etc. I believe that you do have to wear orange (head and chest) any time you're on public land, but there are specific rules near the front of the book, don't let me tell you wrong.
You might also check out the "Applications for Drawings on Public Hunting Lands" booklet put out in August by TPWD and "The Official Guide to Texas Wildlife Management Areas" by Larry D. Hodge. The latter is definitely worth paying for, it gives you tips and areas to check out for almost all of the WMAs.
Good luck! Hunting public land isn't as bad as people make it sound. I have taken most of my deer on APH and draw hunts. -
You don't have to have an Annual Public Hunting Permit for the DaveyCrockett. Also, you only need to wear orange if there is a gun season open. The land is accessable all the time. I would get some maps ordered from http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/maps/index.shtml. Do as much scouting as you can. You can also kill does during archery season without a permit. Lots of land, good luck!Comment
-
wheww!! I thought this was going in a totally different direction.Comment
-
-
If you hunt the southern portion of Davy Crockett Designated as Alabama Creek WMA you do need the APH.Originally posted by q2xlman View Post
Also, now that hogs can be hunted year round you need to also wear hunter orange year round.
x2 on the scouting. If you have only hunted private with a feeder scouting of the type you need to do on public will likely be foreign to you. I suggest that you get with someone who is good at public land hunting if possible. If not, look for burned/logged areas that are hard to access and abut a thickly vegetated bottomland.
Good Luck! Hunting public land is fun for those of us who feel hemmed in on a few hundred acres. I love it, especially after the AR.Comment
-
Maybe next year LOL.Originally posted by Rchr View Post
Thanks for the info guys. I think I'm going to get that permit for the WMA so I can maybe give the Alabama Creek area a try.
There also are a couple non-WMA places really close to my house that I would like to try also. Years ago there used to be tons of vehicles just parked along side the hwy but in the last couple of season you may just see one or two and even then it's late in the season.
Looks like I'm going to invest in a newer light weight climber.Comment
Comment