Texas Rio diy

[Southernson13]

Boys and girls I'm looking for any suggestion on a diy Texas Rio hunt. Before anyone suggests "well you should just go to Kansas" or "why don't you hunt Oklahoma". Please save it. My girlfriend lives in Houston so the logistics just works to drive from her place. I had a line on a place last year that was roughly 8000 ac and all you had to do was pay the trespass fee. I'm not looking for an outfitter or guide. Just want somewhere to pay a little bit for confidence that they have birds. I will find, call, and kill the birds myself. Not bashing but the guided thing just ain't my cup of tea. Thanks in advance.

[quackaddict]

Good luck. Rios are big money and seems almost impossible to find what you're wanting. I looked pretty hard for several years and never found it. I'd look to the Hill country based on the scenery alone though.

And you're still going to have to drive quite a few hours to get into Rios from Houston.


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[OJR]

Call this guy...Alvarado Raul,  210-262-9599 Compadre Hunts, Devine, TX. He's on Facebook too.

I've been going to Texas at least one trip a year for the last 13 years I went here last year and struggled, but buddies of mine did fine. Have friends that swear by this guy. You have to have your own place to stay. All he does is collect a trespass fee and show you the gate. He has some rules that can cost you some extra money, but all in all a good experience.

[Southernson13]

Anyone else have suggestions for unguided hunts or land use hunts. Just can't see spending that kind of money on a bird that's pretty easy to kill.

[Burney Mac]

Anyone else have suggestions for unguided hunts or land use hunts. Just can't see spending that kind of money on a bird that's pretty easy to kill.

I understand your mindset on thinking things will be easy, I had the same thoughts. Just don't be naive to think it can't or won't turn into a real turkey hunt. I walked away rather humbled.  Not every joint down there is all feeders and sunshine.

[OJR]

Anyone else have suggestions for unguided hunts or land use hunts. Just can't see spending that kind of money on a bird that's pretty easy to kill.

Easy if you want to sit on a feeder all day, but trust me, they are real turkeys doing real turkey things.

Other than public land there aren't many inexpensive options. The days of cheap private land hunts and knocking on doors is fading fast. Landowners know there is value in selling their turkey hunting, either by the day or leasing the season to folks who charge you to hunt.

I used to hunt a place near Coleman, TX that offered two birds for $850.00, lodging (a crap hole) and meals ( cold meat sandwiches and the like). Now its $1800.00.

Go hunt an Osceola, Gould's or Ocellated. Now you're in the $2500.00 to $10,000.00 range.

And it's only getting worse. Especially with gas getting up around $4.00 a gallon by turkey season.

Good luck and I hope you have a great season.