Pheasant Hunting In Texas – Rich Hunting Experience

While the population of ring-neck pheasants is now healthy and plentiful in the state of Texas, it wasn’t always the case. The bird wasn’t introduced to the state until 1933, and it did not flourish; none were seen after 1939. While a few were added by local landowners in the Panhandle, the majority of the pheasant population in the early days began to trickle in from Oklahoma. By 1946 the Texas ring-neck population was only about 1,000 birds. By the 1950′s, however, farming practices began to change, including the practice of irrigation which became much more favorable for pheasant habitat. Because of the boom in the population hunting the birds became a great success.

By the 1980′s, however, agricultural practices had shifted again causing a decline in the bird population. Farmers did away with row irrigation replacing it with center-pivot systems and were working the land much more intensively which decreased viable pheasant habitat. Many conservation programs in the state have made efforts to create lands and reserves to encourage the development of the pheasant.

The state of Texas is so large that there are many different terrains and landscapes available to the pheasant hunter. He must know the characteristics of each one to decide where to hunt, and the type of supplies he’ll need for his hunt. Depending on the area, pheasant season begins at different times, with the shortest season in the Panhandle during the month of December only. However, the Panhandle offers the largest population of ring-necks and is often the hunter’s first destination for pheasant hunting in Texas. A game bird stamp is required to hunt pheasant, and there are many different types of terrain the hunter will find just in the Panhandle alone, from grain feilds, creek bottoms, to shelter belts.

There are also plenty of guide services available if the hunter should want to enlist their help. A guide can be an indispensable resource as he knows the terrain intimately and the habits of the birds. Many outfitters will offer lodging, guides, and even dogs for the hunter’s use. It’s important for a hunter to do his research ahead of time as guide services often book up fast with many hunters returning from the previous season. A service will be happy to answer any of your questions and tell you the supplies and equipment you may need to bring, if any. Also, the service offers thousands of acres of land available for the hunter to enjoy his Texas pheasant hunt.

West Texas Whitetails – A Mecca for both Quality & Numbers

A Texas motto is: “It’s like a whole other country.” Here in West Texas, it’s really “like a whole other world,” but a deer hunters paradise in every sense.

Texas is home to the largest herd of whitetail deer in the United States and is estimated at over 4.5 million deer. The Lone Star State is also known for producing some of the largest trophy whitetail bucks in the country. So how can a hunting outfitter in West Texas boast to being the best kept secret in Texas? Lets find out.

Meeting up with Dan Brinlee, of Brinlee Ranch Hunts, I found him to be warm, hospitable, colorful and Texas-friendly. He’s been hunting this area for more than 26 years, but he’s been a guide and outfitter for the last twelve. “We’re the best-kept secret in Texas,” Brinlee stated. “We tell others where the place is, and they say, ‘Where? West Texas?’ They can’t believe that there’s this much quality game here.”

Located in Terrell County on the rugged western edge of the Edwards Plateau, Brinlee Ranch Hunts has over 60,000 acres of prime low-fence deer hunting habitat. Brinlee said by working with Texas Parks & Wildlife biologists they have developed a uniform deer age structure with an ideal 2:1 doe-to-buck ratio. The ranch holds one deer for every 10-12 acres. If you do the math, that’s around 6,000 deer. “Those are some really amazing numbers for a low-fence operation,” Brinlee stated. “Our number one goal is to make sure our hunt is an exiting, memorable, and successful experience for our clients.”

“The ranch has plenty of trophy bucks that will score 150-160 B&C or better,” Brinlee added. “Only one guy in twelve years didn’t shoot a buck. He won the hunt and he was a real trophy hunter. He told me he wouldn’t shoot one unless it was a monster.”

Brinlee has built up a solid clientele base that has about a 70 percent return rate. Many of his hunters are regulars from California. Brinlee says California hunters seem to really appreciate the amount of wildlife, the abundance of deer, and the quality of the bucks here. “The biggest problem is that they shoot the first buck they see and then later see a nicer one,” Brinlee said.

Experienced guides such as Kenneth Self and Harlan Hinds have incredible records on guiding hunters to deer. Hinds is 80-for-80 with buck hunters over the past three years.

If you are truly thinking about booking a hunt in Texas, do not book anywhere else until you find out what Brinlee Ranch Hunts has to offer. You can contact Dan at info@brinleeranchhunts.com or go to www.brinleeranchhunts.com for more information.

Texas goose hunting package: watch a sample of our guided goose hunting package in north Texas. Goose & duck combo 0 includes lodging and meals.

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