Texas public land advice

[LivinADream]

one of my dads friends hunts the NF every year and tags out on nice bucks. guessing 120 average.
1. he says dont go too deep cause thats where everyone else is
2. find the thickest mess you can find and hunt it
3. sit all day

[flywise]

Starting to sound encouraging
Thanks guys

[basscast]

I second hunting close to the truck. I have spots that are way back but when i'm feeling tired or lazy i have some really good spots within a couple hundred yds of the parking area. Just find a good lookin spot & hunt it, be flexible.

[flywise]

Are there good maps at the Ranger stations?
All the maps i come up with on the internet are pretty vague as far as the borders with private land goes

[Mr. Whiskers]

Not to hijack. Anybody go in by boat?

[Chew]

Texas public land advice

Mitch, you can take a flat bottom or small boat out of stubblefield park and get to some decent spots. I hunted all over that area when I was younger.

[AJMag]

Are there good maps at the Ranger stations?
All the maps i come up with on the internet are pretty vague as far as the borders with private land goes

Yeah you can get a nice map for $10 from the rangers. someone posted a link a while back where you could download a file that would outline the NF on google earth and show the private boundaries. Helps when scouting on the computer when you dont have to keep checking the map to see if you're still on NF land. If i remember later when i have a few minutes to spare, I'll try to find it. But i think it was on tpwd page on a side menu in the public land section

[Etxbuckman]

Yeah you can get a nice map for $10 from the rangers. someone posted a link a while back where you could download a file that would outline the NF on google earth and show the private boundaries. Helps when scouting on the computer when you dont have to keep checking the map to see if you're still on NF land. If i remember later when i have a few minutes to spare, I'll try to find it. But i think it was on tpwd page on a side menu in the public land section

I've got is set up on Google Earth on my computer but dadgum if I can't find the link now...

They could very well be getting ready to release an updated version so I suppose it is possible that they've pulled the link for the interim.

[flywise]

I've got is set up on Google Earth on my computer but dadgum if I can't find the link now...

They could very well be getting ready to release an updated version so I suppose it is possible that they've pulled the link for the interim.

I have been playing with it for a few minutes and figured out how to measure distances but cant figure out how to overlay private land

[Froggy]

Here's a link to the Davy Crockett Nat'l Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3806580.pdf

[howie1968]

im have great success every year i get around the thickest mess you can find with criss crossing major trails. i do hike/bike in farther then most i never see another human. ive got a game cart that goes with me so recovery is simple i stage my bike within a mile of my stand padlock to a tree when i harvest something attatch game cart to my mountain bike and ride out. i personally like being farther in the woods

[AJMag]

I think I found the file that puts the overlay of the public land boundaries into google earth. I can't confirm it really because the file is already saved on my maps, and I can't find the file name specifically to verify. Apparently it's more complicated that my simple brain can figure.

Anyways, do a google search for "kml file for texas public hunting lands" and it should be the first thing to pop up. I can't post the link because as soon as you click the link from google it asks if you want to open or save. Someone give it a try. If that's it, then it will help the OP a lot, and a few of you other guys too.

[Mr. Whiskers]

Mitch, you can take a flat bottom or small boat out of stubblefield park and get to some decent spots. I hunted all over that area when I was younger.

Thank you sir.

[kevin nicholls]

I use a topo software by National Geographic that is for Texas. You can zoom in and print your maps and get them laminated. They are worth there weight in gold on public land hunts. I think it was about $30 or so. They do show major borders pretty well. I also use the Trimble GPS app on my phone for topo. If you need to PM me for any info on these. Kevin

[bucknuts]

That rokon is so sweet . I have always thought they were neat. Is it a pain in the *** to ride like the videos seem to suggest?