Best Time to Hunt Texas?

[BP1992]

I'm thinking about booking a hunt with a TX outfitter for next year. I've always wanted to hunt texas rios so I'm finally gonna try to make it happen. If you could pick the perfect time to go, when would it be? I'd like to go near the end of March if possible, but don't really know much about tx rios and when the best times are. This would be a hunt where the guide drops us off and lets us do our own thing.

Also, what kind of questions should I ask before booking? I've never hunted with an outfitter before so it would all be new to me.

[Tail Feathers]

If you want late March in TX you are looking to go to south TX.
Ask about their success rates, how much land they have and make sure you check some references.  Any reputable outfitter will give you plenty.
Expect some cactus and maybe some rattle snakes.  Love those Rios tho!

[BP1992]

If you want late March in TX you are looking to go to south TX.
Ask about their success rates, how much land they have and make sure you check some references.  Any reputable outfitter will give you plenty.
Expect some cactus and maybe some rattle snakes.  Love those Rios tho!

It would be Eldorado, TX, so it is more west texas.  I didn't realize the season didn't start until April in that part of the state.

[Tail Feathers]

I'd have to check the map and seasons, but Texas has staggered seasons because it's so far from the south to the north.  They usually run pretty consistent from year to year so you could check Texas Parks and Wildlife site and see if it was on the early opener this year or not.
Good luck!

[stinkpickle]

I agree on checking references, and THEN asking the outfitter about the timing.  Weather plays a big role during the Texas early season, or at least it has in my experience.  One year we went for the opener and dropped birds like flies, but they had drought that year, and we were hunting around a lot of water sources.  The following year was wet, and the few birds we found were controlled by hens.

[VaBoy]

I think you have to be south of I 10 to be in the south zone. I hunted out of Eldorado last year ( Magnum Guide Service ) and Jim had some properties that were in the south zone . We hunted the later part of March , the 24th I think. Birds were still early in the cycle but we still killed 4 birds by 1 o'clock the 1st day of our hunt. For what it's worth , it was my 3rd trip to Texas , all great hunts , but I prefer the areas a little further north of Eldorado as they tend to be less desert like as opposed to south Texas. Ask about water sources also. If the places you are hunting have good water , preferably creeks / rivers , you will see tons of game. Good luck and enjoy.

[Planner]

For what it's worth, I hunt in Sonora, TX and it seems like the first week in April is when I find the gobbling to be at a peak, although they are very vocal birds through the entire season. I had birds that would work every weekend of the season. Best of luck...


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[Triple Gobble]

North Texas is usually good first week and a half
In April

[arrow1]

I hunted Texas two times so far and look forward to going back.  I hunted near San Angelo with Greg Simon's Wildlife Systems in 2007 and 2011.   I shot 2 gobblers in 2007 4/19/07 and 4/20/07 respectively, each sported 1 1/4" spurs and 8 and 9 inch beards.  In 2011 I shot a "slob" Rio 4/8/11 that they had been chasing for several seasons he weighed 22# 11" beard and 1 3/8" spurs.  The guides, food and lodging was incredible and the turkeys plentiful.  Texas is I my blood now and I will continue to return.

[BP1992]

Thanks for all the info so far!  It sounds like a lot of feeder hunting going on in TX. I'm definitely not interested in that kind of hunting.  Does anyone know if these places will allow you to run and gun instead of sitting at a feeder?

[kjnengr]

Thanks for all the info so far!  It sounds like a lot of feeder hunting going on in TX. I'm definitely not interested in that kind of hunting.  Does anyone know if these places will allow you to run and gun instead of sitting at a feeder?

Where I have hunted in the past, the guide would let the client decide whether he wanted to hunt over a feeder for the whole hunt or not.  Like you, I don't care for babysitting a feeder. 

[Planner]

I must have missed it, but I didn't see anyone mention hunting over a feeder. I certainly don't begrudge someone to do so, if it's legal but I can tell you there's a lot of fun to be had chasing them outside of feeder areas.


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[BP1992]

I must have missed it, but I didn't see anyone mention hunting over a feeder. I certainly don't begrudge someone to do so, if it's legal but I can tell you there's a lot of fun to be had chasing them outside of feeder areas.


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Nobody here mentioned it.  I talked to a few different references from 2 different outfitters and they all said they hunted over feeders.

[stinkpickle]

Maybe that's why we didn't do so well during that wet year.  We were hunting near water, and the feeders only get loaded in the fall for deer and hogs.