Just bought my first rifle (10/22) and I'm looking to get into hunting for the first time. I'm currently finishing hunter education and getting my license/permits, so hopefully I'll be ready in the next month or two.

Since squirrel season isn't open yet, I figured rabbits would be the best species to start with. I'm in Houston, so Sam Houston National Forest seems like the closest public land.

A few questions for those who hunt there:

• Are there any areas of SHNF that tend to hold more rabbits, or specific terrain/features I should be looking for?
• Besides a quality vest, sling, knife, and basic first aid kit, what other gear would you consider essential?
• Are there any apps you'd recommend for finding public land, navigating, or scouting?
• Any beginner mistakes I should avoid?

I'd appreciate any advice you have. Looking forward to getting out there and learning. Thanks!

Father of three looking for a long-term, family-friendly deer lease within two hours of Royse City. Respectful hunters, no partying, willing to help with feeders, fences, and ranch work. Looking for a lease where I can teach my kids to hunt the right way. Budget flexible for the right place

Hello All! My wife and I are traveling from Florida to San Antonio in mid March (unfortunately just before turkey season). I’d like to take a couple of days to do some javelina, coyote, and bobcat hunting. Do you all have any recommendations on ranches in the San Antonio area I should contact?

Thank you in advance.

Hi all

New to hunting but getting things ready and learning before this years deer season. I have finished the NRA course and am now researching what would be the best option for a deer/hog rifle.

From what I've researched so far, 6.5 creedmoor may be the best option with PRC if I ever want to endeavor into Elk Hunts out of state.

Tikkas appear to be the most recommended options.

I have set an all-in budget for the build to end around 3-4k.

Curious to hear what people recommend in terms of rifle, accessories, scopes. Will likely have a suppressor so threaded barrel on the list.

Appreciate it!

I haven’t hunted whitetail in a while (like 15 years) but will be picking it back up now that my son is ready to start. I’ve never had an illuminated reticle when I did hunt but my eyes were much better back then.

I picked up a Seekins PH3 in 6.5 creed to compete in NRL Hunter competitions but I’d like to use it for deer hunting as well. I’m considering a Leupold MK5 5-25 with a non illuminated PR2 reticle for competition since it has a non busy Christmas tree. I could also get the PR1 non Christmas tree reticle with illumination but I’d lose the benefits of that competition style reticle.

Have yall found that illumination is necessary for deer hunting? At least at low light? Or has it been fine without?

Note: I do have another 6.5 Creedmoor with a Nightforce NX8 that has illumination that I could use, I’m just more wanting to have the ability to use both rifles when hunting without issue.

Has been showing up on our cameras for the past 2 days, we believe it could be a puma or Cat…. We are in south texas

Last year, my 10-year-old Wildgame Innovations feeders were still working but were pretty beat up, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. A hunting buddy of mine raved on about how great his Moultrie Directional feeders were, so I bought three of them. At first they seemed great, but then they started to have problems. I run a little cheap birdseed in with my regular feed because the small grains are harder for the deer and hogs to find, and keeps them around the feeder for three two four times longer than normal. I once had a hog stay all night until the sun came out trying to find every last grain of milo. Well, it turns out that these directional feeders don't work so great with anything but large pellets or whole corn. They were constantly getting jammed up, but this is not why I am leaving Moultrie.

After a year of use (I run my feeders 365 days a year), the plastic spinner plates started stripping out where the tiny motor shaft goes into the plate. "No problem"I thought. I will just order a replacement. Not on your life!

Turns out, Moultrie deliberately does not sell this $1 part, because they know it is going to break, and they want you to buy a whole new system. This is a calculated and deliberate part of their marketing plan. Unlike every other feeder system I have used for over 30 years, where you can buy spare parts for, Moultries intentionally designed their system to fail, and force you to buy a whole new system. I will not deal with a company that uses this kind of dishonorable, underhanded, customer-screwing marketing system.

So be warned! Moutries does not care about customer loyalty.

Hey all,

I’ve just found out I’ll be moving to Houston next year for work. I’ve never lived in Texas before. I do all of my big game hunting out west in states outside of Texas and whitetail back in my home state.

I’m not interested in any luxury/safari hunts, but I’d be very interested in doing some archery boar hunts, or rifle for coyotes and maybe gators.

Any recommendations on where to start? I’ve heard of ranchers inviting people on for pest control but I’m not sure if that’s an oversaturated market. I’m not looking to take any of your alls big game with the exception of gators if that counts, but I’d be very interested in some small game hunting/invasive species control.

Thanks in advance

Hello,

I’ve never hunted before and I’m 25 years old. I have a valid Texas hunting license until August 31, and I’m trying to get started by going out to Sam Houston National Forest WMA.

I just want to make sure I understand things correctly before I go:

• I own a Ruger 10/22, and I also have access to an AR pistol with a red dot set for 25yd borrowed from a friend. Am I allowed to hunt with both of those on this public land, or only firearms that I personally own?
• Do I need an additional permit to hunt in this area (like the APH permit), or is the regular hunting license enough for Sam Houston WMA?

I know this isn’t the easiest place to start solo, especially since harvesting and processing an animal is part of the process but I figure you have to start somewhere and learn by doing.

A few other questions I’d really appreciate advice on:

Processing game (for example wild hog):

• If I manage to harvest a wild hog, what are the closest processing options around Sam Houston National Forest?
• What kind of price should I expect? I think I heard something like ~$2/lb, but not sure if that’s accurate.

Gear:

• I know I’ll need a blaze orange vest and cap.
• What other essential gear would you recommend for a beginner going solo?

Scouting /Recon: I took Thursday and Friday off next week and plan to do a reconnaissance trip first.

• Anything I should know before going out scouting?
• Tips on how to stay discreet and not spook animals?
• What kind of terrain/features should I focus on in this area (water sources, trails, etc.)?

I attached a screenshot of the WMA map I’ve been looking at.

I’m open to any advice at all, mistakes to avoid, safety tips, or even YouTube channels/videos that you think are helpful for beginners.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help

Hello, I am looking for opinions and suggestions for guided hog hunts in the northern most part of Texas (around Lubbock or more north.) This is able to change however we are driving down from Colorado and would like to stay in the northernmost part of Texas. We would be in Texas from Oct 10th-14th. I know that of our party of 3-6 people, two of us would be using a bow. I have never done a hog hunt, nor do I know what it entails (I am from Alaska) I am just looking for suggestions for guided hunts!

I’m getting close to getting myself a dedicated hunting dog/woods walking buddy for birds and small game. I’d live to get a Brittany or Chesapeake bay retriever from a breeder but it’s take too much money from us, and we don’t know anyone that’s having puppies soon. Has anyone took a shelter pup and trained them into a field dog? And how hard was it to find one that has good drive?

https://a.co/d/07716wH2

Would you rather gun hunt:

NOCONA (RED RIVER STATION)
$2,750
100% shot opportunity on ANY buck
Low fence, wheat fields, natural grasses, feeders
1st year Outfitter
***Only 3 hunts booked on property last year
***Found heads of 180” buck
***Plenty of 130-140” buck on camera JAN-DEC last year
***Reported 100+ deer seen per sit last DEC-JAN
***including lodging, no food

OR

FREER
$2,850
100% shot opportunity on buck 140-149”
Low Fence, Feeders year round
Established Outfitter
***Only 5-8 of these hunts sold each year
***yearly members pay 11k to shoot bigger
/ more trophies
***no lodging, no food

I've made a hunting calls app with coyote, fox, deer, duck, and elk sounds - all of which should be legal in Texas.

Includes 200+ calls total.

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coconutisland.huntingcalls&hl=en-US

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hunting-calls-all-in-one-app/id6760745533

Check your local regs before field use - happy to hear feedback and improve the app as needed.

Anyone out there thinking this is salvageable with a new antenna and battery pack?