New Hunter in TX

[XLMiguel]

I have a nephew attending TexTech in Lubbock who would like to get into hunting. He is a sensible kid (20), but grew up in a non-hunting/gun-ambivalent home, with little real shooting experience. My immediate advice is to start with an NRA Safe Hunter course and maybe find a good gun club or Izzak Walton league to join up with.

He's interested in going after doves & deer. Obviously, a 12 pump (Rem 870) is a good start for birds, and he thinks a 30-30 would be a good deed rifle. I suggested he get acquainted with the local gun shops and maybe CDNN and Bachman to do a little shoppping. Being a newbie and student, I think he ought to find a good used shottie and lever gun for starters.

Problem is, I'm in VA and clueless aout west TX and gun/hunting resources. I'd appreciate any leads or advice on training sources, gun clubs/ranges, and where to go shopping. TIA.

 

[Art Eatman]

The country up in that part of Texas is pretty wide open as far as deer hunting. A fella needs to be skilled enough to reliably hit things out at a bit farther away than back east. Most lever guns aren't really the thing for that area.

He needs to spend a bit of time at local gun stores, checking out what's known to be available in the area.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has a lot of on-line info, plus various brochures at their local offices.

A lot of Texas is lease-hunting on ranches. These have become rather expensive. There are areas available for public hunting, controlled by TP&WD. I know there are a couple of Game Managment Areas around the Panhandle.

Some ranches have "day hunting", and some only charge if there is a kill. The deal varies; some only allow does...Price also varies...

Excellent bird hunting up there, as well as deer and aoudad.

Art

 

[bp_cowboy]

There is not allot of public hunting

out west where he is located. His best bet is to enter some draws from the TPWD next year for some of their hunts. They offer some in many of the state parks to thin some of the deer herds, etc. I have seen one buck several time while camping at Lake Whitney that makes me want to go back and enter the draw. While a 30-30 is good all around deer medicine he should opt for a 30-06 or 270 in one of the value packages that Walmart sells.

 

[DigMe]

Yeah, I'd recommend that he get set up with .270 or maybe .308 in a bolt action. Maybe a Savage 111/110, Winchester 70 or Weatherby Vanguard package gun from Wally World. Honestly I think his best bet would be to make some friends that hunt and go hunt with them! That will be his cheapest option.

brad cook

 

[zippo8]

Tell him also to see if skeet is offered as a class. What better than getting to go shooting AND getting credit hours for it!

 

[client32]

I live almost 2 hours north of him. He will need to find land to hunt on. There isn't much that is public that I know of. One of the local gun stores says they have a lot of people who really like 25-06 for deer around here. I'm not a fan just because of ammo availability, but you get the idea.

Pheasant season starts Saturday (Dec. 4) and goes until Jan 2. Again, I'm a couple hours north, so I don't know what is available closer to him. I have to miss the opening weekend this year because of school.

Something else he could look into is pigs. If he can find a land owner, they will probably be more than happy to let him hunt the pigs.

I know there are some people on this board from Lubbock, some may actually work for Tech.

 

[rbernie]

Lubbock and the surrounding environs are FLAT - this is definitely 270 country moreso than 30/30....

Also, there are a number of outfitters with large lease tracts wihtin 2 hours north and/or east of Lubbock. Most of 'em sell guided as well as unguided (stand) hunts, if he wants to get started hunting in a relatively 'supervised' environment.

 

[XLMiguel]

Thank you, gentlemen, for your input. I'll be turning him onto this site shortly. His home is Seabrook/Housotn, but he's got to get thru school, etc, and find his own way.

I particularly think the notion of getting class credit for Skeet is most cool

 

[ranburr]

About 70% of the students at Tech grew up on W.TX ranches. Tell him to make some friends and enjoy some of the best hunting that he will find anywhere. Of course Tech also has some of the best looking of the female two-legged species to hunt. If he is selective and bags the right one, his new father-in-law will probably have 50,000 acres or so for him to hunt on.

ranburr

 

[Art Eatman]

Yeah, ranburr, if the kid can learn how to tawk. Gotta be able to say "Bob war fence" and "Far department" and talk about visiting the town of "Big Sprangs". "Look in that tool box, son, and bring me a pair uh plars."

Lots of potential fathers-in-law in the cow bidness are looking for a son-in-law who can read and write; there's a definite shortage up there.

But, modern world: I know one guy who checks his 800 or so head of Herefords on horseback during fall roundup, happy in the convenience of a laptop computer.

, Art

 

[Smoke]

Lots of potential fathers-in-law in the cow bidness are looking for a son-in-law who can make a living outside agriculture.

Most parents I know, including my own, encourage their kids to do anything else but farming or ranching. Good advice, some of us were too dense to take it.

About 70% of the students at Tech grew up on W.TX ranches

Horsefeathers. You ever been to Tech?

If you want to go courting daughters of West Texas Ranchers; find one that is raising more pump-jacks than cows.

Smoke

 

[DigMe]

Of course Tech also has some of the best looking of the female two-legged species to hunt.

Apparently you haven't spent significant time at Texas A&M.


brad cook

 

[rbernie]

You mean, "The Cult".

 

[XLMiguel]

My nephew grew up in Seabrook, speaks well, has a fine little philly for a girlfriend,and as suggested, has made friends with several of the local guys and does indeed have access to ranches for hunting, according to his mom. Next order of business is to get him into a Safe Hunter class. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[zippo8]

I particularly think the notion of getting class credit for Skeet is most cool

So did I. Amazing how it was the only class that everyone always showed up for...

 

[client32]

The college I attended didn't have skeet, but there was a shooting class. (pellet rifles, .22 rifles, .22 pistols) Same way, everyone showed up every time.