Best Place and Type for Beginner Hunting

[commandernavi]

Hello all.

Me and a few of my friends would like to go hunting somewhere outside of the Houston area. We have plenty of experience with firearms and many different choices of firearms to bring, but have never been hunting before and feel a bit above our heads when it comes to figuring out how to get started. We were thinking of going hog hunting but don't know where we could do this, how to organize it, and what to do (not to mention that it sounds very difficult to actually hunt feral hogs).

Can you please offer advice and locations to us? Unfortunately we don't have any close friends who have done it before to teach us so would like to learn as much as possible from other sources including here. Please don't just tell us not to go. There are many people who don't have the privilege of having a family member teach you growing up and I have heard many account of people starting to hunt without any prior experience or training.

Thank you all very much!

 

[UncleSamsMisguidedChild]

Everyone started at one point or another. Personally, my family wasn't into hunting so I picked it up much later in life. What you want to look for is a lease to hunt on. A quick google search would find you what you're looking for there.

 

[LJH]

Hunting is easy, harvesting game is not. (That was a joke) How to start hunting? hmmm, If you have never hunted at all, you might look into guided, or semi-guided hunts. Just be sure to tell them you have ZERO hunting experence and could use instruction if you bag and animal.

 

[Vaquero]

^ yep. And money.

 

[LJH]

Forgot to add, most guides will not field dress your animal, but will explain how to do it if you dont know how. Youtube has tons of videos on the subject.

 

[LJH]

^ yep. And money.

Yes, money.

 

[cbigclarke]

in case it wasnt mentioned "money"

 

[Mic]

Forgot to add, most guides will not field dress your animal, but will explain how to do it if you dont know how. Youtube has tons of videos on the subject.

Really? Why is that? I figured they would, but would probably charge for it.

 

[LJH]

Really? Why is that? I figured they would, but would probably charge for it.

Well if you pay them, they will do it. But most would rather feel you gained experence from their teaching.

 

[commandernavi]

Is there anything that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? How about hunting on public land?

 

[dbgun]

Is there anything that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? How about hunting on public land?

I would try the Texas Parks & Wildlife web-site.
TPWD: Public Hunting and Access to TPWD Lands


That's how I started. A friend from work (w/ only a little bit of experience) invited me, to go with him to Sam Houston National Forest for deer hunt. Back then, it was free, now IIRC you need a Type II hunting permit. It's been a long time since I bought one of these permits for about $40. I think they are about twice that now. We hunting off the New Weaverly exit, near the Raven Ranger Station. If that helps.
Didn't have much luck at first. Mainly from no experience, but we maid up for it, but going almost every weekend. That's where I killed my first deer. I've been hooked on Deer hunting ever since.

The TPWD also, leases private land for Dove hunting. Only went twice, but did have some good luck. Only real problem is that the Dove Hunting can get crowded. And in SHNF, you come across strangers. But everyone I came across was very friendly. Just my $.02.

 

[cbigclarke]

If you hunt public land, its best to go during the week.

 

[dbgun]

If you hunt public land, its best to go during the week.

+1. Good point. We hardly ever ran into other people, when we hunted in the middle of the week.

 

[mkburden]

Public land permit is $48 and they mail a booklet with maps, a hunting license is still required also. That mixed with some day hunts might be the best way to get started.

 

[cbigclarke]

Some outfitters will require you to have a permit as well

 

[commandernavi]

Are there any good places near Houston you could recommend for the first hunt and what animal should be first? Also, is it possible to get a permit from Academy rather than order one so we can get it faster?

 

[cbigclarke]

Yes you can go to academy. The state office is right of the beltway on by Bush as well. you'll wanna go to Sam Huston Forrest

 

[commandernavi]

Thanks! Any other recommendations would greatly be appreciated. Do you know if we are allowed to go and set up some targets to shoot at anywhere besides a range? Are we allowed to do this on hunting land or is that not allowed?

 

[Spcwolf]

I don't think you can shoot the trees in the national forest. I found some good places near Huntsville. One where the electrical company clear cut in the middle of the forest. Provides about 300 yards of open space. It was by a cemetery across the train tracks on 75. I can't remember the street name, it was 1.5 miles south of Huntsville.

 

[Txpitdog]

If you want to go pop something for cheap and to have fun, check out DB hunting ranch (www.dbhuntingranch.com). Hogs are $100, and that's all you pay unless you want them to clean /quarter it for you. Fun, and a good way to ease into it and fund out whether you like the meat.

For SHNF, I personally would be very very damned careful. I have been shot at, and I was wearing an orange vest and hat. Deer are out there, but the hunting pressure is so high that you will have to work very hard to be successful.