I know that's a loaded question. I am considering buying some land in east or north east Texas-really for the sole purpose of hunting deer and especially pigs. No structures, but I may decide to put a double wide on it for convenience.

Anyway, could I get away with something like 20-30 acres if it wasn't fenced or do I need to get up to the 70+ acre realm to have "better" success?

I hunt on 55 here in burleson. There's definitely one direction I can't shoot but overall it's not too bad, about 60% open pasture and 40% woods.

I think as much would depend on your neighbors as your lot size. My uncle has 400 acres in 20-50 acre sections in east Texas that we hunt. Some lots are near paper mill land that is never hunted and is thousands of acres, and some is near other people with their own small lots that are heavily hunted. You are certainly limited if you want to supplement and selectively harvest on a smaller lot, but with good neighbors you can develop a program that benefits everyone. Or with bad neighbors that shoot anything that moves you may be lucky to just get some meat or a spike before someone pops it.

I would say anything less than 20 or 30 acres is basically fence line hunting. Part of our land backs up to several people who have 3-10 acre plots of land. They have feeders basically on the fence line but claim it is just for deer watching. Every season they shoot deer that run off and end up dying across the fence line on our property. Have notified the GW but he hasn't done anything. I have had nothing but bad experiences with people who hunt small plots of land. Is also very dangerous when there are 6 people hunting a combined 50 acres next to your property line on opening day. Can't stand it.

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Have notified the GW but he hasn't done anything.

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Probably because he knows all you do is beech about KDWPT, why would he help you?

Of course it could also be that nothing you described is illegal.

Thats part of my worry. If I am in a blind, I am typically aiming down so I am not worried about grandma's house 20 acres away, but that close proximity does concern me nonetheless.

I'm pretty sure it is 10 acres but that is going off what I have heard.

I think that is why there are quite a few 9-9.9 acre lots outside of Austin. A buddy of mine's inlaws were looking to buy a house with some land just out of Austin. Their realestate agent told them the reason for most of the lots being in this size range and under was to prevent people from being able to hunt.

Sounds believable but I haven't looked it up. I'm sure someone will look it up and post the exact size here in a bit.

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I would say anything less than 20 or 30 acres is basically fence line hunting. Part of our land backs up to several people who have 3-10 acre plots of land. They have feeders basically on the fence line but claim it is just for deer watching. Every season they shoot deer that run off and end up dying across the fence line on our property. Have notified the GW but he hasn't done anything. I have had nothing but bad experiences with people who hunt small plots of land. Is also very dangerous when there are 6 people hunting a combined 50 acres next to your property line on opening day. Can't stand it.

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Is hunting the fenceline illegal? I'd never heard anything about that. We have people around us that do the same, but I always just figured we were SOL. It chaps my hide, cuz these guys cleared off about 50 acres of forest, didn't replant, ruined their really nice property, and then cleared along the fence to put up a blind and feeder. Kind of ******y to put that up, knowing that if they see one, it will be coming off of our place, but anyways....

Edited. I don't think it's illegal. The poster above just made it sound like it was.

[This message has been edited by AceAggie05 (edited 7/16/2014 8:17a).]

They are basically failing to make an effort to properly retrieve game by failing to notify the landowner in my situation. Pretty sure that is illegal and also unethical on their part. You also cannot discharge a firearm across property lines even though I'm positive they do that as well. Not sure on proximity to fence line laws. I don't think there is one.

Put some cameras up to catch them doing those things and then call the GW.

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I'm pretty sure it is 10 acres but that is going off what I have heard.

I think that is why there are quite a few 9-9.9 acre lots outside of Austin. A buddy of mine's inlaws were looking to buy a house with some land just out of Austin. Their realestate agent told them the reason for most of the lots being in this size range and under was to prevent people from being able to hunt.

Sounds believable but I haven't looked it up. I'm sure someone will look it up and post the exact size here in a bit.

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IIRC this is a county/local reg, not a state reg.

And that's for discharging a rifle. You could bow hunt on a half acre lot if it's allowed in the deed restrictions to the neighborhood. Might wanna rig up an automatic gate closure though.

Yep looked it up Max06. Looks like if you are outside city limits the county determines the minimum amount of acreage. It also looks like for many it is 10 acres.

I dont see the big deal in hunting fence lines as long as you hunt a respectable distance from your neighbors and dont shoot on their land.
I hunt a fence line to one of my neighbors and another neighbor hunts my fence line. Its really no big deal.

To the OP, the real issue isnt so much about acreage size, but the fact that you want to buy land just to hunt, particularly in East Texas.

I would never recommend buying land just to hunt. Owning land is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. For what I pay per month on my land note, I could be on any East Texas Timber lease for an entire year. For what I pay per year on my land, I could be on the finest South Texas deer lease for at least three years or I could shoot a trophy class buck every year.

As for investment, rural land, especially East Texas land, barely keeps up with inflation (research TAMU Real Estate center) so at best it is a good place to stash cash, but overall a poor asset.

Finally, the Piney Woods region of East Texas, West Louisiana, South Arkansas, and East Oklahoma isn't exactly known for quality deer.

Sorry to be a debbie downer, but sometimes people need to hear all opinions (good or bad) on a topic to make the best decision.

[This message has been edited by PineTreeAg (edited 7/16/2014 10:29a).]

Shoot, 10 acres in East Texas, you can get several hunters on that.

Didn't say it was remotely a good idea.

PineTree, my motivation isnt only just to hunt. I would just like a place that I could go to anytime without having to go through the BS of availability, upcharges, etc as well as somewhere I can ride four wheelers and fish with my kids.

I admit, it probably isnt a wise investment, but for some reason I find value in having a small piece of rural TX that whenever you want you can do whatever the hell you please (within reason).

One of the best places I've ever hunted was 40 acres.

My family owns 1000 acres or so near nac. We find evidence all the time that people hunt our land year round.

Just be aware, east texas has more than its share of people who wont think twice. I carry a gun when travelling alone on the place.

Isn't it illegal for you to shoot a gun, knowing your projectile is going into someone else's property? It seems like if someone was hunting a fence line like that, you could have issues with that.

Just because you are hunting near a fence line does not mean you are shooting Deer across a fence. Shooting downward from an elevated position and / or being aware of your back stop prevents projectiles from crossing over property lines

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Just be aware, east texas has more than its share of people who wont think twice. I carry a gun when travelling alone on the place.

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I was born and raised in deep east Texas and carrying a gun is second nature to me. That's the sad reality of the region. I will say that neighbors look out for you though. Having the right friends and connections around you and throughout the county will take you a long way.

30 acres is basically 1150'X 1150'.
40 acres is 1,320 X 1320


Our best hunting spot growing up was our 16 acre peanut field on 40 acres.

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I was born and raised in deep east Texas and carrying a gun is second nature to me. That's the sad reality of the region. I will say that neighbors look out for you though. Having the right friends and connections around you and throughout the county will take you a long way.

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Agree. Neighbors that own their land aren't the worry, usually. Prepare yourself to possibly lose any feeders left out on the property. Been a problem, as of late.