Premium hunting ranches in Texas and hunting guides? In general, the early season is no time to push far into the woods to set up on a buck, as they tend to bed fairly close to primary food sources now. Ideally, you want set up along the edge of an ag field, food pot, or cut-over, especially where water is nearby. Picture a hidden beanfield near a north-facing slope with a cool creek running just inside the woods, and you get the picture. Find a good creek crossing and set up on the field side where you can shoot both to the food and to the water. In either case, water is a big advantage. Wooded creek and spring corridors, for example, are significantly cooler than surrounding uplands. What’s more, they provide whitetails with the extra drinking water they typically need in hot weather. The same is true of lake, pond, and swamp edges, which often feature dense, shaded bedding cover nearby, as well as convenient foods such as grasses and sedges.

Hotspots: When winter gets serious, snow depths are lower and ambient temperatures higher on south-facing slopes, making them preferred bedding areas. Look for low-growing browse nearby. Likewise, low swamps and marshes provide relief from frigid winds. Also focus on young clear-cuts and grainfields because winter deer will build their existence around these food sources. The closer the grub is to bedding cover, the better. Hunt Plan: Watch the Weather Channel on a daily basis, and be sure to get into the woods ahead of any approaching storms or fronts. Set up on the hottest winter food sources, especially near good bedding and security cover, and hunt in the afternoon, as your chances of beating a buck back to his bed at this time of year are slim.

We had a great time this past weekend. The owner and his family are hard working, salt of the earth people, who want their customers to leave happy. They treat you like a friend instead of a client. The cabins were clean and comfortable, and the ranch is covered with game. We saw deer, turkey and hogs every day. I would definitely recommend B4 Hunting Adventures for your next hunt. See additional info on https://www.b4huntingadventures.com/texas-hog-hunts.

Jared Larsen, onXmaps: Whether you hunt the same 100 acres you’ve hunted for 20 years or you’re a public-land guy covering new ground, apps like ours have a ton of uses for whitetail hunters. If I’m hunting public land, I’ll first use our web-based map to look for hard-to-access places—areas requiring a boat or kayak or a bit of creativity to get to. That cuts down on the number of hunters I’ll have to contend with. Next, I’ll use aerial imagery to determine habitat diversity. It’s no secret that whitetails are edge creatures, so I determine where these edges and habitat diversity exist. From there, I’ll use topo-based maps to find naturally occurring funnels, like a saddle between ridges or where two draws come together. I’ll drop waypoints on the map and then sync these with the phone app. When you’re out there trying to find a particular tree to hang a stand, you’ll have those general areas that you’ve e-scouted.

Since 1847 my Family has raised cattle and hunted on this Ranch. Through years of management practices, we produce Trophy wild game. We offer 5 star Meals & Lodging and can accommodate large groups of hunters or an all exclusive hunt. Our Ranch is free-range hunting with no high fences. We offer Full & Semi-Guided hunts. We can put you in a blind in front of a feeder or do a spot & stalk. We offer Deer, Axis, Turkey, Dove, Ram, Hog, and Predator hunting. Read more info at Texas hunting outfitters.