I'm wanting to go hunt Texas and given that I wanna use an outfitter. Does anyone have a good reliable source that they would recommend? I know you have to watch it out there with some outfits are a scam. Thanks in advance for any help.
I have been currently doing a lot of research. I am willing to share in PM's with you the ones I would consider. Are you looking in North or South zone?
No info on outfitters. But I would look for something in the hill country. I have hunted rios in the red dirt of north TX but something about hunting them in the rocks, cactus, blue bonnets, and mesquite just makes it that much more special to me. If you can find a place with in the hill country with natural water, there will be big numbers of turkeys.
Find a place with at least 10k acres so you can get away from feeders and that has water frontage. Be sure you're allowed to hunt the whole place. Where we went had the first two but the side with the river was reserved for fully guided clients, not lowly semi guided. Never occurred to me to ask about that.
Sticking to those criteria will narrow it down. I wouldn't recommend where We went, but we were able to all get our Rios because there was room to get out and find birds away from rooosts and feeders.
Anyone try panhandle outfitters?
I have been looking as well. A lot of outfitters are a!ready booked for next year. I think with this year's Pandemic some guys who were going this year rolled their hunts over until next spring.
Steer clear of anything with Paul Moore in the mix. He's around Bridgeport. He'll take your cash and turn his phone off to never be heard from again.
Jim Roach with Magnum guide service gets rave reviews but our hunt with him sucked.
Be very careful. Everybody and their brother is an outfitter. My buddy and some friends just got back from a booked hunt in TX. My buddy has yet to see or hear a bird on that trip. No birds killed out of 5 accomplished turkey hunters. Guide didn't even show up one morning.
What outfitter are they using this trip?
I have a lease in outside of sonora, tx. Our rancher has a large ranch that he was leasing turkey hunts on a couple years ago. Not sure if he's still doing it but I can find out. I want to say its several thousand acres. Likely running feeders on it but it's not a guided hunt. More like a fee and you're on your own. There's definitely turkeys on that property but seems like the population is down the last couple of years on our place which is a few miles from this place. But in that country a few miles can make a big difference on populations. We never hold/roost birds on our lease but catch them crossing thru during the season. With 10k acre im sure theres birds living on it. Don't think it includes lodging either. If anyone would be interested in something like this I can find out if he still offers tbis.
I was kicking the idea of a Texas hunt around with a couple of buddies. One is very well travelled (multiple world slams), the other has hunted 5 states, & I haven't hunted outside of a 10 county radius of central N.C.. I have no idea what to expect, though I have read enough horror stories to know what I don't want. I'd appreciate suggestions of reputable operations/ areas to try. Thanks.
Jim
General run of thumb with any service that I have found.....
You get what you pay for.