Where to start? Seeking advice for a new hunter in Texas

[michael.shabareck]

At the seasoned age of 32, I wish I could claim I’ve harvested every tasty critter from Tulsa clear on to Timbuktu. Reality is… my hunting résumé is more haiku than epic.

I’ve hunted whitetail exactly once, and I’m fairly certain the only reason it worked out is because I used a few unorthodox methods—nothing I’m willing to document for legal reasons. I’ve also punched a couple hogs in Florida, but Texas is a whole different ecosystem for me.

Out here, I don’t have the usual network of outdoorsmen I’m used to. I’m not sure I can justify the time or cost of a lease right now, and I’m mostly just trying to figure out how a newcomer can get into whitetail hunting (plus all the other oddball critters this state seems to produce).

Guided hunts look fun, but my wallet has filed a formal objection. Public land sounds like a bow-only endurance trial within a descent driving distance that I can spend scouting etc...

Long-term, I’d love to do an Outrider Event—maybe by the time I hit 40 and have the PTO/Budget to match the ambition.

Hunting clubs, though… those have my attention. I don’t know much about them, but they seem like a potential path that doesn’t require selling a kidney.

So I’m throwing this out to the group:
For someone new to Texas hunting—no lease, limited network, trying to learn without going broke—what paths, clubs, or strategies would you recommend? Any pitfalls to avoid? Anything I'm not considering?

Appreciate any guidance from folks who’ve walked this road before.

 

[John Warren]

I recently moved to Texas from Oregon, I am lucky enough to be able to travel and hunt for work but as far as homefield advantage goes. I still looking for a lease and scouting the Texas PHLs. I started shooting my trad bow again just to make lease hunting harder as well as flintlock rifles etc.

 

[michael.shabareck]

I recently moved to Texas from Oregon, I am lucky enough to be able to travel and hunt for work but as far as homefield advantage goes. I still looking for a lease and scouting the Texas PHLs. I started shooting my trad bow again just to make lease hunting harder as well as flintlock rifles etc.

I feel like we're on very different skill levels.

 

[Jake wade]

I’m up in Tulsa and in the same boat - Recent relocation, want to start hunting. Not sure where to begin.

 

[niacrtwi]

Try joining a local Safari Club chapter or going to one of their monthly membership gatherings, you might have luck getting some local knowledge that will help shorten the learning curve. There's probably a few other organizations that could help, I just have experience with our local SCI chapter. Our local chapter members like the big guided hunts to Timbuktu, but the vast majority of the our hunting is chasing whitetails, turkeys etc in WI.

 

[John Warren]

I feel like we're on very different skill levels.

Or I just like to suffer haha

 

[mrblonde]

I can’t speak much for clubs. I hunt public and private. Gotta go where the big deer are. Hunt public on a week day. Scout properties online and contact landowners, get permission, offer services and bring gifts. Blur out the background of your public land and lease kills if posting online.

Dallas Safari Club or your local SCI chapter would be a great place to start. Maybe Texas Trophy Hunters Association. Get involved, go meet people.

Hell, even a ducks unlimited banquet. Just don’t join. None of the funds raised will touch local habitat. Plenty of folks there though who have tried to deer hunt. If you can’t hunt a buck, hunt a duck, as they say.

 

[Milo'sSyndicate]

Texas? No specific experience there but knocking on some doors always seems to work everywhere.

 

[Ron Dan]

At the seasoned age of 32, I wish I could claim I’ve harvested every tasty critter from Tulsa clear on to Timbuktu. Reality is… my hunting résumé is more haiku than epic.

I’ve hunted whitetail exactly once, and I’m fairly certain the only reason it worked out is because I used a few unorthodox methods—nothing I’m willing to document for legal reasons. I’ve also punched a couple hogs in Florida, but Texas is a whole different ecosystem for me.

Out here, I don’t have the usual network of outdoorsmen I’m used to. I’m not sure I can justify the time or cost of a lease right now, and I’m mostly just trying to figure out how a newcomer can get into whitetail hunting (plus all the other oddball critters this state seems to produce).

Guided hunts look fun, but my wallet has filed a formal objection. Public land sounds like a bow-only endurance trial within a descent driving distance that I can spend scouting etc...

Long-term, I’d love to do an Outrider Event—maybe by the time I hit 40 and have the PTO/Budget to match the ambition.

Hunting clubs, though… those have my attention. I don’t know much about them, but they seem like a potential path that doesn’t require selling a kidney.

So I’m throwing this out to the group:
For someone new to Texas hunting—no lease, limited network, trying to learn without going broke—what paths, clubs, or strategies would you recommend? Any pitfalls to avoid? Anything I'm not considering?

Appreciate any guidance from folks who’ve walked this road before.

Feel free to DM any of us. @Charlie Benton would be a really great resource for this. I’m excited for your journey.

 

[Charlie Benton]

At the seasoned age of 32, I wish I could claim I’ve harvested every tasty critter from Tulsa clear on to Timbuktu. Reality is… my hunting résumé is more haiku than epic.

I’ve hunted whitetail exactly once, and I’m fairly certain the only reason it worked out is because I used a few unorthodox methods—nothing I’m willing to document for legal reasons. I’ve also punched a couple hogs in Florida, but Texas is a whole different ecosystem for me.

Out here, I don’t have the usual network of outdoorsmen I’m used to. I’m not sure I can justify the time or cost of a lease right now, and I’m mostly just trying to figure out how a newcomer can get into whitetail hunting (plus all the other oddball critters this state seems to produce).

Guided hunts look fun, but my wallet has filed a formal objection. Public land sounds like a bow-only endurance trial within a descent driving distance that I can spend scouting etc...

Long-term, I’d love to do an Outrider Event—maybe by the time I hit 40 and have the PTO/Budget to match the ambition.

Hunting clubs, though… those have my attention. I don’t know much about them, but they seem like a potential path that doesn’t require selling a kidney.

So I’m throwing this out to the group:
For someone new to Texas hunting—no lease, limited network, trying to learn without going broke—what paths, clubs, or strategies would you recommend? Any pitfalls to avoid? Anything I'm not considering?

Appreciate any guidance from folks who’ve walked this road before.

Michael,

No shame at all in limited experience. You gotta start somewhere and you're in the right place to get sorted out. Finding land to hunt when you move to a different state can be slow going as most people with hunting land tend to be wary of "folks from off."

Leases can be awesome, but can also be really expensive. Hunt clubs can also be great but those come with rules, restrictions, and politics, so choose wisely.

@mrblonde is pointing you down the right path. When I moved to Georgia I mentioned to just about everyone I spoke with that I was looking for places to hunt and asked if they knew of anywhere or anyone I should check into. When I say I spoke to just about everyone, I mean the following: dudes at the gun store, everyone I met at church, the other parents at my kids' sporting events, my primary care doctor, the mailman, the roofer who replaced our roof, dudes at the hardware store, ladies at the hair salon where my wife goes, dudes at the pub, dudes at the lumber yard, and teachers at my kids' school, among others. After about a year, I ended up with access to multiple private land spots, two of which border national forest.

I'm also a big fan of driving around and scouting out private land that looks huntable, using public records to identify the owner and their mailing address, and sending a handwritten letter introducing myself and requesting permission to hunt . Most folks will say "no'" but you'll inevitably run into someone who is agreeable. They may stipulate that they only want you to shoot does and save bucks for their family members, but, depending on your goals (trophy bucks vs experience and meat), that may not matter.

Bottom line: Work the fact that you are new to the area and looking for opportunities to hunt into as many conversations as possible. Be humble in your approach and honest about your goals and you should end up with a at least one spot by next season.

Like @Ron Dan said, feel free to fire off other questions here or DM me. We want you to be successful and kill all the things.

 

[Mike Schoby]

I agree with Charlie - also joining a rifle range/shooting club as well as local DSC/SCI chapter will get you into the right circles where you meet people that have knowledge as well as access (critical in a place like Texas where nearly everything is private).

 

[michael.shabareck]

I agree with Charlie - also joining a rifle range/shooting club as well as local DSC/SCI chapter will get you into the right circles where you meet people that have knowledge as well as access (critical in a place like Texas where nearly everything is private).

RD, Charlie, Schoby... everyone... thank you.

Signing my life away to DSC now for the low fee of $75.

Will report back once I shoot something that's hopefully not a ranchers calf or mule since they kinda look the same through a thermal at 2 AM.

 

[Charlie Benton]

RD, Charlie, Schoby... everyone... thank you.

Signing my life away to DSC now for the low fee of $75.

Will report back once I shoot something that's hopefully not a ranchers cow or mule.

This is the way

 

[olsensoutdoors]

At the seasoned age of 32, I wish I could claim I’ve harvested every tasty critter from Tulsa clear on to Timbuktu. Reality is… my hunting résumé is more haiku than epic.

I’ve hunted whitetail exactly once, and I’m fairly certain the only reason it worked out is because I used a few unorthodox methods—nothing I’m willing to document for legal reasons. I’ve also punched a couple hogs in Florida, but Texas is a whole different ecosystem for me.

Out here, I don’t have the usual network of outdoorsmen I’m used to. I’m not sure I can justify the time or cost of a lease right now, and I’m mostly just trying to figure out how a newcomer can get into whitetail hunting (plus all the other oddball critters this state seems to produce).

Guided hunts look fun, but my wallet has filed a formal objection. Public land sounds like a bow-only endurance trial within a descent driving distance that I can spend scouting etc...

Long-term, I’d love to do an Outrider Event—maybe by the time I hit 40 and have the PTO/Budget to match the ambition.

Hunting clubs, though… those have my attention. I don’t know much about them, but they seem like a potential path that doesn’t require selling a kidney.

So I’m throwing this out to the group:
For someone new to Texas hunting—no lease, limited network, trying to learn without going broke—what paths, clubs, or strategies would you recommend? Any pitfalls to avoid? Anything I'm not considering?

Appreciate any guidance from folks who’ve walked this road before.

I do a ton of hog and predator eradication for landowners and ranches. This usually ends up being more…they usually offer to let me hunt dove, duck, turkey, deer, and gators. Networking helps a lot! Going to church, joining a conservation group/chapter, door knocking, or even posting on Fb. If you see a rancher riding fences or a farmer tilling ground stop and talk to them. Like I tell others on my IG it all depends how bad you want something. What’s the worst that can happen? You get told no. Hope this helps.