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Hunting Resources

Hunting, hog, deer, and exotics, South Texas Style

 Getting started, so your ready to go hunting in Texas? That's fantastic we are here to help! The first thing you should know about hunting in Texas, is that Hunter Education is mandatory for anyone born on or after September 2, 1971. Courses are offered all over the state and fill up quickly as the hunting seasons near in the fall.

 

 You will also need to have a hunting license. The good news is that you can pick up your hunting license from over a thousand retailers, such as walmart, and you can also pick one up online at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

 

 This goes without saying but, you should always match the firearm to the game that you are hunting. We had a guy that wanted to hunt hogs, by attacking them ninja style... just saying it's a bad idea. Hunting magazines, experienced hunters; and Thompson Hunting Lodge, guides should be able to help you choose the right firearm for the game you are hunting. If you are in doubt you can find a list of legal firearms on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

 

 The best way to become a good hunter is to become a great shooter. The only way to do that is to practice. Fortunately we have a shooting range here at Thompson Hunting Lodge that we provide access to for all of our guest. Shooting can be a lot of fun, it's pretty easy to burn through all of your ammunition quickly, so be sure to bring extra supplies so you can get in as much practice as possible.

 

 It is always a good idea to try and practice with the firearm that you will be hunting with. You want to get as used to the weapon as possible before you go out and hunt with it. Even if you are an experienced hunter; it is always a good idea to keep your skills honed. By going out and practicing before you go out into the field.

 

 We do offer clay target shooting upon request. If your interested just talk to one of our guides, or contact us and we would be glad to help you out.

 

 One final thing you need before you go hunting is to make sure you sight in your firearm. We require that you head down to the range and sight in your weapon before you go out on a hunt. We also ask that you stay in your deer stand. If you are out walking around the property,only do so with permission or the assistance of your guide. Your safety is important to us, and we appreciate you doing your part, in making sure that you return home safely to your family.

Hog Hunting

 Hogs are omnivirous, which means they will eat just about anything. Some examples are: insects, reptiles and crops such as corn and milo. We have plenty of improved grass fields, and quite a few watering holes. So you can be rest assured you will see a wild hog while you are hunting with us. It is estimated that Texas has a population of roughly 1.5 million hogs! We are a part of one of the most heavily populated areas, right here in south Texas. They are very intelligent animals, and they are known to have a savage temper as well. You will be very proud of your wall mounted Hog!

 

 You can use any legal caliber weapon you like,  we do have a couple reccomendations. If you choose a bullet weight that is on the heavy side; for a given caliber it reduces the velocity and adds mass. Slowing the velocity reduces the chance of the bullet fragmenting; along with the added mass and length of the bullet, that will allow the bullet to dig deeper and do more damage. Which you will find especially useful on some of the bigger hogs we have here at Thompson Hunting Lodge.

Whitetail Deer Hunting

 Whitetail deer have an average life span of about 5 years. with a few of them having a lifespan of up to 11 years. Whitetail deer are very fast, they have been known to reach speeds of 40 miles per hour running! And amazingly enough they can swim at speeds of up to 13 miles per hour. They are herbivores, but they have a very diverse diet. They eat grass, leaves, and crops like corn, milo, and wheat. Whitetail deer, are generally more active during dawn, and at dusk. They are also known to have relatively small home ranges, typically less than a square mile.

 

 Whitetail can be seen grazing on our improved grass fields, and occassionaly swimming in a fishing hole, or the river. They have a tendency to bed down near a source of water. It is estimated that Texas has a population of roughly 3 to 4 million deer, more than any other state! Obviously this makes Texas a great place to hunt for deer. We can't guarantee that you will see a deer while hunting, but the chances are very good. If you do manage to bag one, we know you will be proud of it! For proof of our successful hunts just click the link and you will see we have had many happy customers.

 

 We reccomend the use of at least a 30 caliber bullet, with 150 grains of powder or more. The most important thing to remember, is that in order to be successful at hunting anything, practice is the most deadly weapon you have. You should always purchase a gun, and bullets, that allow you to practice as much as possible, on a budget you can afford.

 

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