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Texas Deer Hunting Leases

Texas is a unique state in that 98% of the hunting land is privately owned.  Generally speaking, if you hunt in Texas you typically lease the land from a private landowner since free public hunting land is scarce and often overcrowded with sub-par hunting available.  Technically, when a person leases land for hunting purposes in Texas he is really leasing “trespass rights,” as the deer on the property actually belong to the State of Texas.

I’ve learned a few things about Texas hunting leases, hunters and landowners since 1998.  One thing is that hunters often begin looking for their new leases right after deer season ends.  Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of new leases available at this time of year because hunters haven’t told the landowners they’re currently leasing from that they intend to move. 

Although there are new hunting leases that become available year-round, it seems that more are available after Spring Turkey season and the numbers continue to grow through October and on into November.  Some landowners don’t advertise until just before deer season.

Inevitably, some are more willing to negotiate price at this time as well.  Further, there is less competition for the leases that do come available later in the year as most hunters have settled on something.  Contrary to popular belief, May – October provides hunters with the best opportunities of the year for finding a new lease.

 Here are some tips for finding a good Texas hunting lease:

  • Anytime you need a lease is the best time to be looking.  You never know when your lease is going to become available.
  • Make sure everyone in your hunting party agrees on what is required.  It doesn’t do anyone any good to look at a lease that is void of wild turkeys if there is a dedicated turkey hunter in your group.
  • Gather at least 50% of the total lease price from all hunters in your party so that when a good lease is found, you have a substantial down payment to offer the landowner.
  • Be realistic in your expectations and discuss it with the members of your group.  Your search for a trophy lease in the Brush Country of South Texas is sabotaged if one of your hunters is only willing to pay $800/gun.
  • Login to DeerTexas.com daily and search the ads in the “Last 30 Days” section to see the most recent ads.  When you find one you’re interested in, call the landowner rather than emailing.  A phone call is quicker.
  • Finally, appoint a decision maker.  This is a member of your hunting party whose time is flexible enough to go scout a property on a moment’s notice.  There are many hunters looking for leases and a finite number of leases are available.  The early bird often gets the worm.

Once you’ve secured your new lease, make sure everyone follows all the rules including the Texas game laws.  There’s no quicker way to get booted off a lease than to break the landowner’s rules or the law.  Be sure to ask the landowner what his rules are before you lease the place.  There’s no sense in getting on a lease that the landowner doesn’t allow ATV’s if using one is important to you.  If you must go off road, always drive the edges of the pasture rather than through the middle of it, and leave all gates just as you found them.

If you’re reasonable in your expectations and follow this simple advice, I’m confident you’ll find a hunting lease by using DeerTexas.com.  I can’t promise you’ll find a lease by using our service because I can’t control your actions, but I’m so confident that you’ll be satisfied with the service offered that I offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

 I wish you the best this season and always and… good hunting to you!

Scott Thrash
DeerTexas.com, Inc.