Entertaining the idea of purchasing ~100 acres land in Lavaca County for hunting/recreational use. Any development activities would be trails, shooting lane cutting if necessary, food plots, maybe add a pond, and add a homesite close to the road later on. Currently the property has a cabin with a well and electricity. Looks to add oak trees. The vast majority of the property would be left wild and the neighboring properties appear similar except for some pasture land from a google maps view.

Specific to area
1. How is the spring turkey hunting around Halletsville? Looks like an outfitter Boars N Moar does some Rio Grande turkey hunts in the general area so there must be some around.

2. How is the water fowl hunting? This property has some creeks and if I put in a pond I would think I could at least hold some woodies. Eagle Lake and Garwood aren't too far from the east so I would think birds are at least flying over.

3. Doves?

4. I assume they have their fair share of feral hogs?

5. Pecan trees? best smoking wood out there

General hunting land questions
1. What are my chances of getting a wildlife exemption for taxes? Land currently has ag exemption, but I currently hunt with cows and don't want those MF'ers there.

2. What are the chances of getting MLD 1 so a doe or two could be taken during rifle season? I do bow hunt, but its nice to have an insurance plan to have a better chance to take something in a restricted county.


I know its not much land for deer hunting, but I currently hunt on ~200 acres in Austin County that is 70% cattle grazing pasture land, and at $5-6k per acre I can't afford much more now. I have taken deer, hogs, ducks, and dove from this land so it does produce some game, but I've grown tired of the majority open pasture land and not holding many bucks. I'm not what you would call a trophy hunter nor just a meat hunter, but I intend to manage the land to produce some healthy legal deer assuming my neighbors are on the same page. It just seems hard to find a lease these days so why not just grab my own little piece of land before everything turns in to a strip mall.

I live in Houston and I like that fact that this place would be far enough to where I would need to stay out there, but I'm not traveling a half day or more and not too far from CS to work in games. Also go grab some Shiners real quick.

What do you say Lavaca County area hunters/residents?

Cheezag....

I can help you with some of these questions. I work for a company that finances agricultural and recreational land and have done some deals in Lavaca County.

Our company is the sponsor for the Aggie Football forum. Look our website, then find the Katy Office and give me a call.

Thanks,

I'll be glad to fill in for you in Austin County! Give George Loredo real estate a call he knows the area well.

I grew up there just a few miles outside of Hallettsville on 450 acres and would be happy to answer any questions you have.
There are 4 or 5 different wildlife co-ops you can become a member of depending on what area of the county you are in. MLD is highly supported by landowners in the area. We receive 9-14 doe tags each year. We were participating in the co-ops prior to the 13" rule but it has significantly helped the number of 3.5-6.5 yr old dear we are seeing. You can expect to kill anything from 110-140ish deer occasionally higher. It's getting better every year, now that they are getting some age and more people involved in management practices. See the www.kchall.com website. Look at big buck contest and division standings to see winners over past decade. Most ppl don't participate in contest, but it is indicative of what you can expect.
As for turkey, it's hit or miss. They come through every once in awhile. I've killed 3 there my entire life. Tons of dove. Hogs run rampant. A lot of ppl will run them with dogs and trap after deer season. Plenty of woodies in the area as well.
I would say get to know your neighbors. Anytime I have soneone new near us I take the chance to introduce myself. Management minded neighbors will be welcomed I promise you. Most tracts of land are in that 100-300ac range so it's nice if everyone is on same page. I'm fortunate to have great neighbors. We don't concentrate on the 13" rule as much as making sure we kill mature deer. We killed plenty of high 120 to 140ish deer in past, but now are slacking off on some of those 130" 3.5s and trying to get some age. I got a 153" 8 pt at taxidermist now and a 140" 12 pt with 7" drop that goes to show what age and year round food plots will do. It may not be like going to a south Texas ranch and busting a nice deer on a weekend trip, but if you put in the time throughout the year you can definitely reap some rewards over time.
It's a great community and located just close enough to everything, yet far enough away at same time. Hope this helps, if you have any more questions of be glad to help.

Turkey could be hit or miss, but for what it's worth I've seen more turkey this deer season than any year previous. Have up to 11 on trail cam pic in the same shot.
Sorry, I couldn't tell you about bird hunting..

The genetics are there for bigger deer, IMO. The county as a whole has been down few years on the expected rain fall which is impacting the growth of vegetation, the water in creeks and over all habitat health.
We just started habitat improvement plan for whitetail this past march on 420 acres near ezzell. We started by putting in food plots, protein feeding and a lot of tree work that will start after the new year... And yea my dad still runs cows on the place but 30 head aren't to much of a nuisance...
I've been considering starting a thread detailing the work... I just haven't gotten around to it, and the board is been kind of divided recently.... If your land is near ezzell pm me any questions you might have always happy to help!

Thanks for all the great info fellas. Sounds and looks like a great area, and the KoC there look to put on some damn good parties. This property is east of Halletsville getting on to Sheridan. Need to make sure I can make the money work. Will be quite the step up from the annual deer lease payment, but its kind of an investment in my future.

How's the fishing in the Navidad?

Awesome. Whereabouts? Our place is east of town just before Sublime.

Property out that way is $5-6k an acre or is that Austin County?

Pretty much what Tynanz said.

Tons of hogs. Doves are pretty decent at times. Turkeys are hit and miss, but should be decent closer to Sheridan. We dont duck hunt much, but the ducks are definitely there, just not like in Eagle Lake/Garwood.

The Navidad in Lavaca county usually doesnt have much water in it so dont get too excited about fishing it.

How close to Sheridan are you? One place I hunt is south of Sheridan on the Lavaca County line. There is a ton of hunting pressure out there and the deer are typically smaller out that way, but some good ones can be found. But if you are closer to Hallettsville near the Navidad, you should be in one of the better areas in the county. 120-130s is typically considered a pretty good buck.

Lots of active WMAs and shouldnt be a problem getting some doe tags.

This place is closest to Sublime.

Ducks, that's what I'm seeing on the listings in and around Lavaca County for the properties I'm interested in. I don't want pastures, or any improvements whether a homesite or ag improvements aside from some electricity and water/well out by the road.

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This place is closest to Sublime.

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You should be good. While I was in high school my dad and I hunted a place a couple of miles south of Sublime on FM3283. Some pretty nice deer in the area, especially along the Navidad. The old man who let us hunt on his place passed away and his family sold the land. Still miss that place. Good luck!

Go to the Local USDA NRCS office and ask for Chris Janak - good Ag and knows every square inch of the county.