Questions about Seguin Texas

[WYOMan]

My wife and I are considering moving to Seguin, TX in the next few months if everything works out. Is there anyone here who lives in the area that can tell my about several questions I have about Seguin and the San Antonio area.
1: Is it true that Seguin has a lot of crime and gangs? I've seen that mentioned in other places, but the posts were several years old.
2: Do they have Castle Laws like Wyoming does?
3: Short synopsis of carry laws. On person and in vehicle.
4: Are there any ranges in the area that are between 800-1000 yards?
5: Is there any public land where you can shoot long range?

 

[jmace57]

My parents were both from Seguin, and both lived there until they passed away a couple of years ago.

I'll do my best to answer your questions.

1) There are a LOT of Hispanics there. 30 years ago it was about 1/3 White, 1/3 Black and 1/3 Hispanic. It is now probably 60-70% Hispanic, about 10% Black and 20% White. There is a large illegal immigrant population. I have heard stories of gang activity, but no more than many other places in South Texas. That said, it is a cool little town with a town square with a county courthouse. Definitely a small town feel. It is also a bedroom community of San Antonio - a lot of people commute the 40 miles.

2) Texas has Castle doctrine and stand your ground. Quite gun friendly. Recent (Jan 1) approval of open carry if you have CHL. They also made CHL much easier to get (6 instead of 10 hour class)...renewals by mail without a new class.

3) OK to carry in vehicle without permit - considered an extension of your home.

4) I don't know of a range with distances like that. That's just because I have never been involved/interested in that. Most I have seen go up to 300 yards. I'll leave that to others to respond.

5) I'm going to answer that "probably"., but it's going to be a ways away - probably well West of San Antonio.


Seguin is a pretty nice little town. They have a beautiful public park (Max Starcke Park) and the Guadalupe River flows through it. Be aware that areas flood! Some gorgeous homes on the river though. Close to some of the best barbeque in Texas too.

Having spent a lot of time there though, I'd consider looking at some other towns like New Braunfels (pop. about 55,000) - 12 miles from Seguin. Lots of tourists in the summer to tube the rivers and a Schlitterbahn water park. A great little town though. New Braunfels also has the shortest river in the world - the Comal - 1 mile from mouth to source. Another would be San Marcos (also about 55,000) probably 15 miles away). Lots of college students (Texas State University) - considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the US. With all the plusses and minuses that a lot of college students bring. Not many good restaurants in Seguin (not a lot of variety) - LOTS of good restaurants in both the other towns mentioned.

PM me if you want to talk - I can give you a lot more detail!

Jim

 

[nathan]

Gonzales, the town where the birth of Texas Republic started.

 

[Paul7]

Great wild hog hunting, that area is pig central.

 

[dogtown tom]

jmace57 ......3) OK to carry in vehicle without permit - considered an extension of your home.

No, it's not.

 

[txblackout]

some of the info is available online like crime stats

here is an example:
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/seguin/crime/

The first response was good except you cant open carry in your vehicle without a license to carry. You can keep a gun in your car but it must be concealed if you do not have a LTC.

some other things you might not be aware of:

If you have more than 10 acres annexed after 1981 a municipality cannot stop you from hunting with a shotgun.

If you have more than 50 acres annexed after 1981 a municipality cannot stop you from hunting with centerfire/rimfire.

A county can only regulate hunting on under 10 acres

All subject to the rules of texas parks and wildlife department.

Here is a forum which discusses ranges:
http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/texas-gun-ranges/

you could post there to see if anything has changed in the SA area. Last messages I saw said dietz in new braunfels has 500 yards.

Best of the west in liberty hill has 1000

 

[burrhead]

A person MAY possess a loaded firearm in a vehicle without a CHL. If it's a handgun, it must be concealed. The old "traveling" law was clarified that it is presumed the actor is traveling.

The are practically no public lands in Texas other than parks and a couple of national forests. Parks are a no go and I don't know about shooting in the national forests in Texas. There aren't any near Seguin anyway.

As a practical matter, hunting is done on leases and it ain't cheap. There are some state owned "Wildlife Management Areas" that can be hunted but most people don't bother.

You'll think it's hot in the summer (which is 6 months long) but the winters are nice. San Antonio has GREAT Mexican food.

 

[chicharrones]

A person MAY possess a loaded firearm in a vehicle without a CHL. If it's a handgun, it must be concealed. The old "traveling" law was clarified that it is presumed the actor is traveling.

The are practically no public lands in Texas other than parks and a couple of national forests. Parks are a no go and I don't know about shooting in the national forests in Texas. There aren't any near Seguin anyway.

As a practical matter, hunting is done on leases and it ain't cheap. There are some state owned "Wildlife Management Areas" that can be hunted but most people don't bother.

You'll think it's hot in the summer (which is 6 months long) but the winters are nice. San Antonio has GREAT Mexican food.

To the best of my knowledge, true on all points.

 

[Hummer70]

https://www.tsra.com/

Join the above. I am told their association is awesome.

Hummer70

 

[X-Rap]

Spent last summer in New Braunfels and I'd say that if you're just moving and don't have

 

[X-Rap]

A specific job or daily destination you can't hardly go wrong with any small town in 100 mile radius of San Antonio.
Go spend some time looking around and do your homework. I'd tend to favor North and West myself.

 

[GEM]

http://www.krtraining.com/FAQs/AustinGunFAQ.HTML

More local info.

 

[chicharrones]

A specific job or daily destination you can't hardly go wrong with any small town in 100 mile radius of San Antonio.
Go spend some time looking around and do your homework. I'd tend to favor North and West myself.

The few times I've been to Kerrville, I sure wished I could move out there to live.

 

[medalguy]

Kerrville, Boerne, lots of small town west of SA are very pleasant places. That would be my preference but I suppose you will be working near Seguin.

Hunting in Texas is pretty much exclusively done on leased land unless you happen to own acreage in the hill country or South Texas. By about 1880 I believe, just about all the public lands of Texas had been sold or granted away. We leased a ranch out near Comfort years ago and there were plenty of deer, doves, and armadillos back then. The public lands in Texas remaining are managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife but I have no idea where any might be.