Are there any leases that;

[grizz]

1) Don't bait (but food plots and deer management are OK)
2) Hunters have free range capability (ie) not assigned a small parcel to hunt exclusively
3) No Dogs for chasing

Just wondering if this exists in Texas. If so where?

THX

[meshmover67]

i bet this gets deleted i have a feeling where its going

[Jaspro]

No because that would be a waste of time.

#1 would just involve a personal preference.
#2 would be a safety issue as some dumbass somewhere would accidently shoot someone wondering aimlessly about.
#3 I don't think there are any leases anywhere that even allow you to chase with dogs. That is illegal in Texas anyway.

[Cotton]

1. You can choose whatever method of baiting you wish or choose to hunt the natural food sources.
2. With enough coin you can have the whole lease to yourself.
3. As stated above it’s not legal.

[justletmein]

No because that would be a waste of time.

#1 would just involve a personal preference.
#2 would be a safety issue as some dumbass somewhere would accidently shoot someone wondering aimlessly about.
#3 I don't think there are any leases anywhere that even allow you to chase with dogs. That is illegal in Texas anyway.

Yep, I got another one also:
#2 I don't want people walking through my area spooking my deer and I dang sure aint gonna walk through anyone else's area due to #2 above.

[Tuffbroadhead]

To me you just described public property...

Its not legal to hunt deer with dogs in the state of Texas...

[Phdan]

1) Don't bait (but food plots and deer management are OK)
2) Hunters have free range capability (ie) not assigned a small parcel to hunt exclusively
3) No Dogs for chasing

Just wondering if this exists in Texas. If so where?

THX

I have one here where I live.

Fort Sill Military reservation. They won't let you do any of that stuff. Leased by about 400 of us each year.

[grizz]

It is a legit question. I was wondering if there was a group of specialty hunter/ranchers in Texas that cater to book hunters. Just like recurve archers choose a style of hunting different from compound archers there are other options out there. In fact these leases are common in other states where baiting is illegal and you have to do like Cotton says " pattern natural food sources". Like was said..its a personal preference. I didn't diss anyone's hunting style so don't rag on my question aka preference. It may be a waste of time for some...not for me.

THX PHDAN, Thats Ft Sill, Oklahoma? I'm hunting Ft Hood, Texas which is the same practice but not allot of archery only areas. Military Bases are great! How many acres for 400 people and is it an organized group or 1st come 1st serve.

Fortunately, I can hunt public land close to home but 14,000 acres at 1 hunter per 75 acres means few deer survive to maturity. Not enough deep woods public land like National Forests where you can trudge in a bit.

I'm weighing the costs of out of state travel and licensing agaist an annual lease closer to home where I don't burn 7 days just traveling and $2000 in gas and fees. I need to decide now so I can be ready for this fall.

Looking for information not criticism and not having to spend $ on Texas Hunting Lease Mag.

[grizz]

I have one here where I live.

Fort Sill Military reservation. They won't let you do any of that stuff. Leased by about 400 of us each year.

Just checked and Ft Sill is 233 miles/4 hrs away. Do they have secure campgrounds that I could leave an RV there for the season? Whats the lease rate and how do you apply. Do you need to lease to scout the area? Any Fishing?

I'm googling for hunting data and harvest info. If you can send me any data or links I'd appreciate it!

Again THX! I appreciate your pointing me here!

[shotgunsmitty]

Grizz, I think that the way that you worded it came across wrong, but no fault to you.

Here's my 2 cents anyway, and this is coming from someone that's hunted Ft. Hood as well, so no offense intended here.

Dogs for chasing...illegal in Texas, no further discussion there. Dogs for tracking...different story.

No baiting. To me, in Texas it is a waste of time. Deer here are different. Not sure that says enough, but I know in Ohio I can get right up on one a heck of a lot easier than I can here. Same with the Dakotas and Carolinas for that matter. Texas...never seen anything like it.

Free range? Like was mentioned before, for the right coin you can have a lot of lease with very few stipulations.

Keep weighing the options, and don't forget to calculate in the cost of a day lease, as well. Sure, it's more, but if you only hunt a half dozen times a year, then it might be cost-effective to go that route.

Good luck with it, though.

[TexasCanesFan]

1) Don't bait (but food plots and deer management are OK)
2) Hunters have free range capability (ie) not assigned a small parcel to hunt exclusively
3) No Dogs for chasing

Just wondering if this exists in Texas. If so where?

THX

You can probably find something similar to what you are looking for, but it will be in far West Texas and it will be for Mule Deer and not whitetail. Their are some "mountains" out there and there is a whole lot of spot and stalk hunting. There are even free-range elk in that part of the state.

I do not know if you have considered mule deer in Texas, but it sounds closer to what you are looking for. They are not generally hunted with feeders here either.

That being said, I wish you would lease all of the hunting property around our lease and shut down all their feeders!!!!

[grizz]

No baiting. To me, in Texas it is a waste of time. Deer here are different. Not sure that says enough, but I know in Ohio I can get right up on one a heck of a lot easier than I can here. Same with the Dakotas and Carolinas for that matter. Texas...never seen anything like it.

Keep weighing the options, and don't forget to calculate in the cost of a day lease, as well. Sure, it's more, but if you only hunt a half dozen times a year, then it might be cost-effective to go that route.

Good luck with it, though.

Thanks for the input. Again, I didn't mean to diss anyone. I was able to get on deer everytime out last season on Texas public land. I was posting digital pics on the public lands forum of deer right under me at 8 yards. I logged over 60 deer hunting 5 different hunting areas (many the same deer week after week) . No Shooters. Biggest buck was a 115/120. Maybe the antler restrictions will extend the life of the bucks some in a few years. I found a P&Y class buck while scouting last month. It was killed and not recovered. Got the skull hanging over my garage.


Public land just gets hammered because there is so little of it so 125 class deer are few and far between.

I take off 4 weeks straight a year to hunt 6 days a week. Then hunt the weekends and holidays so I'm sure the day rate would be too expensive plus I'm not sure they'd let me stalk.

Again, THX for the reply! Like everyone else, just looking for better hunting areas closer to home.

[grizz]

You can probably find something similar to what you are looking for, but it will be in far West Texas and it will be for Mule Deer and not whitetail. Their are some "mountains" out there and there is a whole lot of spot and stalk hunting. There are even free-range elk in that part of the state.

Public or Private land? I never hunted Mule Deer. I've watched hunts on TV. Not sure I could get withing bow range. Be fun to try. Are the elk huntable or protected?
I'll take a look. THX! 2nd year trying to learn the state so thanks for the help! Its a whole different kind of hunting thats for sure.