Nine Bar Ranch Blog
Tips for Fall Hunting in North Texas
The summer is behind us and it’s time to prep your gear for hunting in North Texas. At Nine Bar Ranch, we’re always looking to share our expertise with new and experienced hunters alike. Read on for five fall hunting tips you won’t want to miss.
Extend Deer Season with Archery
White-tail deer are active this time of year and you may not want to wait until November to start hunting them. Fortunately, you can get started as early as the end of September if you’re willing to give archery a try. Bowhunting requires a whole new set of skills and mastering the art can bring you back to that thrill of your first bagged deer.
Prep for Thanksgiving with Turkey Hunting
The fall and winter holidays will be here before you know it, and what better way to celebrate than with a turkey you caught yourself? Most Texas hunters associate the turkey hunt with spring, but you’ve got another opportunity between November and December. That said, turkeys tend to gather in large numbers in the fall, and you’ll need high-quality camo to escape their keen sight.
Get Ready for the Rut
Seasoned hunters know that the rut is the best time to go searching for a buck. When bucks are tracking the scent of does, they throw caution to the wind, moving out in the open and paying less attention to the sounds and smells of nearby hunters. Unlike the southern part of the state, the rut in North Texas can begin as early as October, and you won’t want to miss this window to bag an impressive buck.
Track Cold Fronts
Though we get most of our below-freezing temperatures in the winter, there are occasional cold fronts that pass through North Texas in the late fall. If you get the chance, schedule a hunting trip the day before the temperature is predicted to drop drastically. Many animals, including deer, tend to increase activity when they sense a major shift in weather, seeking out plenty of food to sustain them through the coming chill.
Go for Exotic Game
White-tail deer and wild turkeys are great native species to include on your North Texas hunting bucket list. However, at Nine Bar Ranch, you aren’t limited to the animals that call Texas home. We’ve got populations of aoudads, sika, red stags, and more, so book your trip today.
Best Places to Hunt in North Texas
Best Places to Hunt in North Texas
As we approach the fall hunting season, Texas hunters around the state are getting their permits, scheduling their hunting trips, and entering the public drawing system. If you don’t want to travel far west to the Edwards Plateau or down to the South Plains, what are your options? We’re here to talk about a few of the more accessible hunting spots in the North Texas area that you can knock off your bucket list this season.
The Post Oak Savannah is a long stretch of land that spans from North Texas to parts of South Texas, creating a border between the prairie land to the east and the forest to the west. While much of it consists of private land, there is one WMA bordering North and East Texas that hunters can enjoy, and that’s Engeling.
For small game, Engeling is open to all who have their Annual Public Hunting permit. For deer hunting opportunities, hunters can enter the public drawing system with a better chance of winning, as typically only a few hundred people (as opposed to thousands) try to snag Engeling each year.
The Piney Woods are North Texas’s claim to fame when it comes to both big and small game hunting. However, much of the Piney Woods have been divided up into lots that are controlled by private owners. If you’re looking for a public hunting opportunity not too far from Dallas, it’s time to head to Lake O’ the Pines.
Lake O’ the Pines is home to hogs, ducks, squirrels, and deer. For best luck sighting deer, head to areas that are flush with oak trees, including the lake’s upper floodplain.
Nine Bar Ranch
If you’re planning a weekend hunting trip in North Texas, check out Nine Bar Ranch. Located just east of Decatur, we offer some of the best hunting opportunities North Texas has to offer—with lodging to boot. Nine Bar Ranch is comprised of over 12,000 acres of land, offering diverse topography that supports wildlife ranging from whitetail to sika to hogs and more.
The fall hunting season is right around the corner, kicking off with dove hunting and moving swiftly into deer and whitetail season. To book your trip, contact us today.