I need some advice

[MasterOfNothing]

Ok everybody i need some advice. Sorry for the long read but I think it's necessary so you can understand my situation better. I'm a new hunter and have hunted the past two and half years on three leases. Two of the leases were in the same area just different locations. Leased from the same lease master. It was about a 1.5hr drive from my house, $1500 per year, 6 hunters on 150ac. The whole two years I was there i only had an actually shooting opportunity 5 times out if the 40+ times I went to hunt. None of which I could shoot anyway (8pt or better and no does). Althought i did shoot a javelina and a turkey. Also, to my knowledge only one person out of all of us shot a deer during those two years. So needless to say i got out that one. The second lease (over lapping the previous lease) is 45min away and $2000 per year. This lease is 200 acres with 6 hunters but you pretty much only have a designated 250 yard sendero to shoot. Apparently an auodad, an axis doe, and red deer does have been seen previous years that might have escaped from a neighbouring high fence ranch. There's also the very occasional nilgai that has been seen or caught on game cam. Fortunately I was lucky to shoot my first deer on this property (mature 8pt) and a hog. Two other hogs were killed from other members. But my deer was the only deer that was taken this season. Nobody else saw anything except for some hogs, several does, fawns, spikes, and a 4pt. There's no night hunting allowed, no guests (only immediate family), and hunting is only allowed from the beginning of archery to the end of the general deer season (4 months here in deep South Texas). So over these past two and a half years I've spent over $8000 in leases, gas, hunting equipment (since I'm new to hunting I had no blind, feeder, game cameras etc..) Also a guy from Harlingen tx claimed to have an opening on his ranch and took my $2000 and ran off with it and never gave it back (yes I know I'm an idiot). So here's where I need some advice. Should I stay on the second lease, should I find another one, hunt on day leases, or hunt for one trophy animal? Like I said I'm new to hunting and i didnt know anybody who hunts so I didn't know what questions to ask or what to look for in a lease. All I know is I've had a deep passion for hunting since I was five years old (I'm 36 now) and in the end all I want to do is to be in the outdoors and hunt. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[SmTx]

Run from your lease.

Up to you on day hunts or maybe trying to find target rich hill country lease.

I’d be pretty put off on hunting if I was in your shoes. Best of luck


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[hero_moneybags]

I’d get a better lease with more space per hunter and more animals or save up and go on a couple of quality paid hunts a year.

[mikemorvan]

Leases are hard to find, but i'd be finding another one. In the meantime, you could find a reasonably priced package hunt and be money ahead. My $0.02.

[DUKFVR]

Run! You can do better than that. Way Overhunted.

[Low Fence]

I will refrain from most of my thoughts and type this


I’d leave current lease and continue looking

[roughneck266]

Losing battle where you're at, it seems. Hard enough to find a good lease without folks steeling from you as well. I would keep looking for a new lease. If it doesn't come before hunting season, you can have a decent guided hunt for what you have been paying, might not be a trophy but it will be a lot better than getting shafted.

[Mexico]

I'll just say this, quality leases in South Texas are at least 4 to 500 acres per gun. And very spendy, but if you're already spending 8k a year on junk you're not far from a quality ranch price wise. I'd leave your current lease in a heartbeat.

[Low Fence]

Losing battle where you're at, it seems. Hard enough to find a good lease without folks steeling from you as well. I would keep looking for a new lease. If it doesn't come before hunting season, you can have a decent guided hunt for what you have been paying, might not be a trophy but it will be a lot better than getting shafted.

Exactly. He ain’t shooting “trophies “ anyway

If you want nice deer: go on a day hunt
If you want a killing spree: go on a goat hunt
If you want pigs or javi: go day hunt

Turkey is about the only thing that you could add that would go over the $2k spending now...... and that’s not counting trips and feed

[M16]

As a general rule. A decent South Texas lease for native deer is one hunter per 500 acres. A trophy lease is one hunter per 1000 acres.

[Drycreek3189]

Leases are hard to find, but i'd be finding another one. In the meantime, you could find a reasonably priced package hunt and be money ahead. My $0.02.

[Jon B]

Just my opinion.....if you are that early in your hunting career...go buy a few packaged hunts. Most will allow you to take varmints, hogs and does in addition to what you are actually paying for. Enjoy shooting stuff for a while and then find a lease with a few like minded individuals.
Honestly man, it sounds like some of the lease managers are taking advantage of your naivety and lack of experience in dealing with hunting property negotiations. Heck you can hunt public land for $48.00 a year and have potentially better success.

Please don't take any of this as an insult. We all started somewhere and my story is very similar to yours. I just went through what you are dealing with 18 years ago. I am trying to answer your questions the way I would if my little brother was asking. Feel free to pm me for a phone number and I will answer any questions you may have.

[BertramBass]

Still reading the first post..........

[Lawhunter]

Packaged hunt and public land. I also tend to avoid places with less than 200ac per hunter.

[Hunteraudit]

Better deals out there. Public land has opportunity as well.

Break that up into paragraphs next time and it’ll make for an easier read.