Hunting in Texas is certainly different than most other areas of the US. Compared to other states, public land hunting is limited to a few Wildlife Management Areas operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., some Army Corp of Engineers land and a little National Forest land.

Most hunting is done on land leased for hunting rights or day lease operations. A few are lucky enough to be able to hunt their own family land or land of friends. With  more people hunting each year, the competition for available lands is increasing.  For those relegated to hunting on leased land, here are a few tips that can make the experience better for you and everyone involved.

In my opinion the most important thing you can do when you lease the hunting rights on a piece of property is to get a written contract with the landowner or his agent. Many old time ranchers still like to operate on a hand shake and a man’s word and while that can be adequate in some cases, I feel it leaves too much open for dispute if things go sour. Insist on a written contract and be sure to include important facts like dates allowed to hunt, term of the lease, cost of the lease and how it is to be paid. Include wordage dealing with the number of hunters allowed, guests, and whether or not you will have exclusive rights or if the landowner and family will also be hunting the property. Be clear on what game can be hunted. Don’t assume that because it’s there, you can hunt it 

Once the legalities are handled, a lot of the business of “getting along” with a landowner just comes down to common sense and being nice. Keep in mind that there are others that would love to have your hunting spot and don’t mind paying for the privilege to hunt it. Keeping on good terms with your rancher can go a long way toward keeping your lease in the future.

Gates! Probably the quickest way to get “crossways” with your landowner is to mess up when it comes to the use of gates. If he has to come out in the middle of the night and round up cattle off the highway because you left a gate open, he is not going to be a happy person and you may find yourself looking for a new place to hunt next year. The same attention is required of cross-fence gates as well as highway gates. Most ranchers cross fence their ranches to allow for the rotation of grazing and again, he won’t be a happy man if you’ve let cattle into a pasture or crop field where they are not supposed to be. Mostly, it boils down to just paying attention. Leaving the gate like you found it is a good rule of thumb unless you’re certain it should be different. If in doubt, give him a call.

Roads. This is another area that can cause problems if you don’t use some common sense and consideration. Road work is expensive if hired out and time consuming if done by the rancher himself. It may be no big deal to you if the roads get rutted up after a big rain.  After all, you’re probably only out there on weekends during hunting season – but the rancher has to drive these roads every day. Use a little common sense and try to stay off the roads until they dry out a little if at all possible. If necessary, walk to a stand or use an ATV if the rancher allows them.  If you must drive on muddy roads, use your 4WD and go slow! Fish-tailing ruts back and forth across a road are gonna get you scolded at best!

Parking. Take a few seconds to think about where you’re parking your vehicle. Don’t park in front of farm implement sheds, barns, gates, feed bins, haystacks or other places the rancher may need to get. If you’re out hunting for several hours while your locked vehicle is parked in his way – well, you get the picture.

Trash. Don’t leave it! Imagine how you’d feel if someone came to visit your home and threw their empty cans and garbage in your floor or yard. Ask the rancher if there is a dumpsite on the premises you can use or take it home with you when you leave for the weekend. Go a step further and stop to pick up trash that others may have left. It will go a long way with the rancher if he knows you’re trying to help him keep his place clean.

Fires. First of all, find out if you’re allowed to have them. If so, be careful. I won’t go in to all the precautions you should take but common sense should dictate when and where you should have a fire. With round bales of hay costing near $100 these days, you don’t want to burn up many of those! Not to mention the cost of replacing fences, livestock, structures or equipment.

Ranching operations. For many farmers/ranchers, the income from leasing hunting rights is only a small portion of their overall income and you can expect that ranching operations are going to take priority over your hunting.  Fencing has to be done, cattle have to be moved, and all the other things that go into running a ranch. Discuss with the rancher about any “extra curricular” activities that may be planned for the year and see if the timing can be arranged away from hunting season. Sometimes it can, sometimes it can’t – just understand there is not much you can do if a rancher has to ranch while you’re hunting.

Be helpful. Although it may not be part of your lease contract, being helpful around the place my pay big dividends when some big corporation tries to come in and lease the place out from under you. If you see cattle out or fences down, try to get the cattle back in and repair the fence or at least call the rancher and let him know about the situation. Pick up trash you find on the place.  Help the rancher shuttle farm equipment around the ranch if needed. Little things like this don’t cost you much and may pay off in the future. If not, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing you did something nice for someone.

Courtesy and consideration are still appreciated by most folks and it just may make the difference in having a place to hunt next year or having to start all over on a new place.

Good luck and good hunting.

John Shelley

Pro Staff

Bowhunting North America, LLC

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