SHNF.....dissapointing

So I have managed to get out 4 times over the season to look for Deer in the Sam Houston National Forest around Huntsville/ New Waverly and the experience has left me dissapointed. The first couple of outings it was busy and I bumped into quite a few other hunters which is to be expected but the disappointment comes from the lack of sportsmanship.

One area I went to there was a power line running through it and there were at least 6 blinds/ stands set up in close proximity, dotted either side of the power line, within a distance of 400m. How do these guys get to their stand without disturbing others? and what about arcs of fire?

The next time I went I decided to get in early and cycle further in to lose the crowd. I arrived an hour before sunset and made my way in under the cover of darkness. Choosing a spot about 1.2miles from the locked gate I was fairly confident, until 3/4 of a mile in I noticed a line in the dew on the road way, I am now looking closer and it is definitely a bicycle. I continue on and soon spot two spent cases on laying on the track, presuming it was from the previous evening I carry on. Eventually I got to my spot and as I round the corner I see a beam of light furtively searching the forest, clearly this guy is spot lighting and he is in the location I had selected. Not wanting a confrontation in the dark, that deep in the forest I took advantage of the distance between us and exited sharply eventually setting up in a different spot.

Yesterday I decided to go to a different area, closer to Huntsville. Again I cycle in about a mile or so and being post rut it was quieter. I dumped the bike and decided to stalk. It wasn’t long before I spotted an old looking wooden tree stand. No one was in it so I went to have a look to see why the owner had chosen that spot. As I am appreciating the location I notice something white in the tree....it’s a jar of peanut butter with a mineral block under neath! So I exit sharply again! As I continued on around the forest I found a further two peanut butter jars screwed to trees, empty deer corn bait containers and discarded trash and pheromone attractant sticks.

I really didn’t want to believe all the scare stories I have been told about public hunting but so far in my limited experience I have found evidence of overcrowding, firing from a forest service road, hunting before legal hours, spotlighting, hunting over bait and littering.

Is this typical of public land or am I hunting in areas to close to the city?

Nietzsche said:

Is this typical of public land or am I hunting in areas to close to the city?

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I don’t know that it’s typical, but it’s not unheard of.

Probably too close to the city but realize in deep East Texas there’s a lot of folks living at the subsistence level and do what it takes.

I spent a lot of my formative years in/around Huntington which is farther north, but the one game warden I know has been open that there’s some folks in that area who get an awful lot of warnings because they’re good people raising a family.

There’s also a shit ton of methbilly’s (thanks, Hoji) and general shit birds in that part of the state, too.

"there’s a lot of folks living at the subsistence level and do what it takes."
Quoted for truth.
There's some hard up folks scraping by out yonder.

Especially retired folks!

I'm near Huntington. It's the methbilly Capitol for sure.

They know to stay off my property. They are why I carry 24/7.

Hmmmm. Free hunting in a state with practically no public land and 55 miles from the center of a population of 2 and a half million - and it's crowded you say???? Gasp.

toddnjoyce said:

Probably too close to the city but realize in deep East Texas there’s a lot of folks living at the subsistence level and do what it takes.

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Thanks for the explanation. I spent the first 8 years of my life at subsistence level and had kind of forgotten about it over the years. There is no public hunting lands in the UK, your either poaching, helping out a Farmer, paying to hunt or own land.

It also explains why tree rats are considered a game animal around here and have a bag limit lol.

I am now fortunate enough just to hunt for the experience of being outdoors, taking a deer isn’t that important. I have 4 does that visit my garden daily (50 yards from the back door) and attracted two legal bucks this year. I could of taken one with a crossbow any time but that’s not hunting for me.

Time to look further a field, cheers.

Would rather walk point on a combat patrol than deer hunt on East Texas public land ...

Charlie said:

Especially retired folks!

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Yabbut only them that's got teeth hunt ...

You get what you pay for.

Sam Houston NF is an awesome place during the off season and I usually takes some good hogs mainly during Feb and march. I just concentrate my deer efforts in Mt Home, Texas or Junction area.

Nietzsche said:

Thanks for the explanation. ...
Time to look further a field, cheers.

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I should clarify that east Texas doesn’t have a lock on the supply of folks with problems.

I think, like in most places, a small number can ruin the experience for most.

A buddy & myself checked out Type II land offered by the state years ago when we both were underemployed. Pretty scary shit IMHO! More beer cans & booze bottles then deer tracks.

Lots of idiots who might of just picked up their rifle on the way to the places we hunted too. Instead of wearing orange vest full blown plate carriers would be a better choice.
Seems lots of peeps trucks were broken into as well.

Vaquero said:

"there’s a lot of folks living at the subsistence level and do what it takes."
Quoted for truth.
There's some hard up folks scraping by out yonder.

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I used to be one. When I first married my wife and I made $8/hr between us. Couldn't afford meat.

toddnjoyce said:

.

There’s also a shit ton of methbilly’s (thanks, Hoji) and general shit birds in that part of the state, too.

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Glad to do my part in expanding the vocabularies of the members of TGT.