practice hunting near Houston

[upslopeP]

Hi all,

I live in Houston and have a plan to go (likely elk?) hunting with my cousin in about 2 years when I turn 40. They have grown up doing those things and I think it would be a fun tag along/bonding experience. I already do a lot of camping, hiking, & exercise for the fitness part and I have shot guns here or there over the years. Last year I put together a 22 for more consistent practice. Well I am starting to get more serious and bought a Tikka T3x in 308 for myself over Christmas that I plan to use (it looks to be around 8lbs once I get the silencer, with a 4.5x14 scope).

I did a lot of range time with the 22 but I know I need more practice at longer range (was generally shooting the 22 at 100 yd) and also with live targets (less time to line up a shot and address movements).

I don't personally know anyone into hunting close by and was looking for advice. There are some ranch hog hunts nearby I think would be good to sign up for later this year. I do see the Texas Parks has some mentor hunts I will try to sign up for this fall.

Any advice on places or what I should be doing to prepare? Are there any communities locally I could join that would have some beginner hunting or more realistic target opportunities? I feel like one of the past challenges is getting handed a rifle I am not familiar with (bullet drop, sighted in distance) right before needing to take a shot - this is very unlike the range where you set up for 50/100 yards and then spend time placing repeat shots. I won't be disappointed if we go and I don't shoot but if given the opportunity I don't want to bungle it.

Thanks, D

 

[upslopeP]

don't see an edit button, but forgot to say thanks for all the material on here - I have read through many threads when looking at what gun to get (including the 70+ pages on Stocky before seeing they updated weight to close to the OEM using the foam fill).

 

[LongWayAround]

There are a number of one-day NRL shoots in Texas. They don't necessarily mimic hunting, but do require you to shoot accurately, under stress, and while playing by someone else's rules. I don't know if any of them are close to you.

Your hog hunt idea is probably a good start. The other thing I always recommend to new adult hunters is small game. Rabbits aren't as sexy as elk, but most successful hunters grew up learning how to hunt small animals first. It will teach you many of the fundamentals without the stress and expense of big game trips.

 

[OneGunTex]

Hi all,

I live in Houston and have a plan to go (likely elk?) hunting with my cousin in about 2 years when I turn 40. They have grown up doing those things and I think it would be a fun tag along/bonding experience. I already do a lot of camping, hiking, & exercise for the fitness part and I have shot guns here or there over the years. Last year I put together a 22 for more consistent practice. Well I am starting to get more serious and bought a Tikka T3x in 308 for myself over Christmas that I plan to use (it looks to be around 8lbs once I get the silencer, with a 4.5x14 scope).

I did a lot of range time with the 22 but I know I need more practice at longer range (was generally shooting the 22 at 100 yd) and also with live targets (less time to line up a shot and address movements).

I don't personally know anyone into hunting close by and was looking for advice. There are some ranch hog hunts nearby I think would be good to sign up for later this year. I do see the Texas Parks has some mentor hunts I will try to sign up for this fall.

Any advice on places or what I should be doing to prepare? Are there any communities locally I could join that would have some beginner hunting or more realistic target opportunities? I feel like one of the past challenges is getting handed a rifle I am not familiar with (bullet drop, sighted in distance) right before needing to take a shot - this is very unlike the range where you set up for 50/100 yards and then spend time placing repeat shots. I won't be disappointed if we go and I don't shoot but if given the opportunity I don't want to bungle it.

Thanks, D

Native Texan here,
Assuming you're an average guy like me, I'd give it a couple years of learning how to be a hunter before spending the money, time, and resources to plan a DIY nonres elk trip.
I've been hunting my whole life on west Texas ranches, but translating that into a public land deer hunt when I lived elsewhere was a serious learning curve. Likewise when my buddies and I did our first Western hunt (Idaho spring bear). Likewise when we did our first elk hunt. It was HARD, even with decades of hunting experience between us.
One of our buddies was brand new to hunting when he came to Idaho with us (and a couple of trips since, years apart). He was unsuccessful both times, and it was very clear that he understood on paper and bought the gear he needed, but just didn't have the woodsmanship. He needed to hunt some squirrels, some whitetail deer, and spend A LOT more weekends in the woods, rather than just going to the range and reading online and coming out for a big western hunt.
North of Houston there are some national forests that you can hunt without a draw tag. Buy your TX public land permit ($40 on top of your $25 license) and they'll send you a book with all of the open hunting land in the state and dates for every legal game species on each property. Go do some squirrel hunting to learn how to move through the woods, how to find animals (esp deer, even though they'll be out of season), etc. Then next summer put in for all the Texas draw tags that interest you (only $3 per entry!). In general, you'll have 1:1000 odds of drawing anything "awesome", but if you put in for everything you might draw a limited entry hog hunt or squirrel hunt (yes, that's a thing you can draw). Then hunt whatever public land you can get into.
Consider going to a Midwestern or Eastern state with a lot of whitetail and public land for a deer hunt. Total cost will be a few hundred dollars and you'll get a chance to practise an out-of-state hunt before you hit the mountains.
I wouldn't start planning a big time western hunt until you've killed a whitetail deer. It will save you thousands of dollars and a lot of anxiety when you get into the mountains and realize you're way out of your depth.

 

[OneGunTex]

Forum rules: don't post about specific units.
However, if you PM me I can go into a little bit more detail about areas near Houston.
Don't listen to the haters who want to gatekeep hunting across the country! We need new generations of hunters across the country if we want to keep these traditions alive!

 

[displacedtexan]

Even at the range, don't just repeat shots off sandbags.

Shoot off your pack. Crouch behind the table and build your position quickly for every shot off your bipod and unsupported stock. Do some jumping jacks in between shots. Get Bluetooth ear-pro and have something distracting in the background.

 

[PopNFresh]

get a membership at Bayou rifles, that's where I was shooting when I was out there south of Manvel they have rifle ranges at 50, 100, 300, 600 &1k. usually no one out there much during week and pretty easy on the weekend but can get busy. you can shoot prone out there as well, or at least you could years ago.
check out ftw ranch for hunting classes if that's your thing.

 

[wkk]

Native Texan here as well and I second everything that OneGunTex said above. You have sizeable public lands nearby in Houston (much more than in my neck of the woods in DFW). Get your license and annual public hunting permit. Go squirrel hunting with your 22. While you’re out learning how to find and harvest squirrels scout deer for next season. Find water, food, bedding areas, tracks and sign. Mark them methodically on your hunting map app of choice. Enter the free E-Postcard drawings in addition to the general drawings that interest you for the next year.

I would highly encourage you to take advantage of the mentor program that TPWD hosts for first time hunters. It’s intended for both youth and also adult hunters who are new.

 

[upslopeP]

Thanks everyone for the advice. What y'all said makes sense and gave me a push.

My cousins have hunted their whole life (including wherever we would go). I have tagged along before on their deer hunts. If they think their plan is achievable I believe it.

I think my challenge with range is you set up for a distance that you know and fire repeatedly - (at least with a 22) things change quickly with distance in the real world. Aiming for a prairie dog at 100 yd vs 150yd means a complete miss and I can't judge that yet. Maybe these aren't major issues with a 308 and a rangefinder?

I have scoped out some public land online and looks like I need to make a few weekend trips with my 22. I am less worried about hunting method than lining up a shot because I will have my cousin to guide me on the former but only 1 eye looks down the scope. But I think it will start to piece together in time.

 

[logem]

The forests north of Houston, such as Sam Houston National Forest, are so full of people at any time of the year that if you follow some of the suggestions above, then please be entirely wary of where and what you are shooting. Shooting squirrels in trees with a .22 would be fine, but don't decide to set up target practice with any rifle caliber except on any of the "un-official" ranges there. A quality air rifle would be best for squirrel and rabbit shooting in SHNF, in my opinion. You'd be able to train on awareness and improvising shooting positions.

Honestly, I think that quality range time shooting at various distances and attention to personal fitness is what I'd do in your shoes.

Best of luck.

 

[Cowbell]

We ranch two hours north of Houston and take in a few hunters each year, but don't outfit full-time. We could give you a reasonable pig hunt and then help you with anything else western hunting as bonus. We are mainly western hunters but shoot pigs and deer as we are overcrowded with both.