Hunting Public Lands

[Target1911]

Does anyone have a experience hunting deer/hogs on public land? I am mostly looking at the areas NE of DFW.
Any and All tips and advise are welcomed.

[longtooth]

I have a cousin that hunts that Red River area a lot. The people population in the woods is nothing like it is around here. They like it & do alright most yrs.
Someone w/ personal experience will be able to help you more.

[Target1911]

Thank You LT.
Do you know what part of the Red River they hunt...ie county?

[Mike1951]

For several years, I hunted on an 8000 acre private ranch north of Mt. Pleasant divided by White Oak Creek. There were plenty of deer and hogs.

White Oak Creek WMA, tract # 727, is not that far and I would expect similarly good populations there also.

[BigBlueDodge]

White Oak Creek offers alot of good hunting opportunity. However, there are two things wrong with it. First, it is day use only. No camping allowed. You must stay in a hotel room some where. Second, accessibility is not that great, meaning that you need to be willing to walk ALOT to get to the good spots. No 4 wheelers are allowed, and vehicles are restricted to roads only.

For a state as big as Texas is, it is a shame that we don't have more public land available. I believe that only 3% of the state is public use land, compared to over 30% in Colorado. What public lands there are, is generally packed, and the hunting is not so great (especially during the opening weekends). Honestly, it's getting to the point where you have to pay $1500 a year for a private deer lease, or pay $500-600 for a weekend of hunting, or you need to know somebody that has land in their family.

[longtooth]

Thank You LT.
Do you know what part of the Red River they hunt...ie county?

No I dont & since they have bought a place of about 80 ac out of Greenville they have not hunted there. Stay on their own place for deer & hogs.

[Greybeard]

Quite a bit of "hoggy habitat" in and around Unit 9 (IIRC - Coffee Mill Lake?) at Caddo National Grasslands. Have also at least seen the south end of northbound porkers on similar units near Ladonia.

If ya apply early through the Feds in Lufkin office, a slight chance of getting a doe tag there. In my experience, kids have a real good chance of getting one (and I suspect adults have a chance on any "leftovers').