LBJ Grasslands and Open Shooting

texas297 · Post by **texas297** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:20 am

Hello,

According to some docs and map that I have of the LBJ Grasslands in Wise County, there is an open (SHOTGUN ONLY) piece of land west of Alvord, just north of FM 2265.

I'm just curious if anyone here know if it's still legal to open shoot (by that I mean target shooting, etc) up there?

Furthmore has anyone ever done any hog hunting on the "grasslands"? All I've ever hunted up there is Dove but I've heard of people taking deer, turkey's, and other smaller animals. Of course it's shotgun only.

I've got a new shotgun and I'm itching to play with.

Thanks
David

Greybeard · Post by **Greybeard** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:25 pm

Last time there, the folks in office just north on north edge of Decatur were semi-friendly and semi-helpful. At least not anti. I'd suggest giving them a call or visit for the current 411, but I think all "target shooting" will be confined to that one area. Rifles and handguns used to be OK, but some yahoos years ago spoiled that for all of us ...

I've hunted LBJ just a little. Have talked to some of my hunter ed. students who have had success there on both deer and spring turkey. But, it is public land, so you can expect to have to work at it, especially scouting in advance. One of the bow hunters I had in class went so far as to put mops on his boots for sneaking as scent-free as possible to set up for deer - and he scored!

The guy at Sportsman's Warehouse who set up my bow said he'd seen hogs near Dan's Pond. But when I hunted it last, all we found was thorns!

texas297 · Post by **texas297** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:14 pm

Ahhh......Dan's Pond. Walked around there many a days. Guess I'll head back up there Saturday or Sunday and "look" for some hogs myself.

I'm mainly just wanting to get my little boy (4) out of the house and walk around the woods with him. I'm going to take "his" BB gun so I can teaching him some basic gun safety.

I just hope I can find some hunter orange small enough for him. With spring turkey season starting this weekend I'm not about to let him walk around the woods NOT wearing orange.

Thanks for the reply Greybeard.

David.

p99guy · Post by **p99guy** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:52 pm

Greybeard, I used to go out there years ago with the other Deputy Sheriff's because we didnt have a range of our own..long story short, I dont think it was a matter of this or that Yahoo ruined it for anyone.
It had more to do with anti gun feelings in the Parks service highups
and many public lands were closed to all firearms use. They were suppost to build a range there that folks could target shoot. That was the excuse used when they changed policy at LBJ...the range never materialized after several years. I too miss shooting there...there was a small valley that most shooters went to then..it had a small hill on the north end and a ridgeline on the east and a larger hill at the south end that had a prominant boulder,and a revine on the east side....it wasnt too far from tadra point.
Perfect backstops/fond shooting memories.

gmckinl · Post by **gmckinl** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:28 pm

p99guy,

I believe where you described is the spot I used to use many years ago. Deep ditch w/ junk (targets) in it. I remember an auto transmission and lots of propane bottles. We used to shoot shotguns at clay pigeons and "finish" the wounded w/ our pistols from whatever distance/angle you first saw them at. We could face south towards the big hill, but away from the ditch/ravine and do some 100 yd rifle shooting.

p99guy · Post by **p99guy** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:41 pm

yep, sounds like the place...folks would illegally dump in the revine.
Folks would shoot at the boulder on the south hill...it kept getting smaller and smaller lol (it was a great place to shoot.)

Greybeard · Post by **Greybeard** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:53 pm

It's been more years than I can recall specifically, but there was an article in TSRA newsletter about unsuccessful efforts to keep open for plinking ...