Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2016 24 Hour Campfire Hog Hunt

East Texas around Lufkin looks pretty attractive for retirement. Nat'l Forrest, two big lakes nearby, Sam Rayburn & Toledo Bend, far enough from the coast to not get washed away...My sister & her husband are building out there.

I wouldn't retire there as my life's core loves are here in Va. I'm looking for a vacation and hunting-social meeting place while en route to the hunting and vacationing spots my son and I have enjoyed for 20 years. My preference is river front, 5-10 acres. I already have the blueprints for the house/pool/deck and patio to be built and a I'll leave it to my son who loves Texas more than his father does.

I pay the same air fare flying to Texas as I do our place in Naples.

I need to get my Arkansas raised wife to Texas so that she can see for herself my reasons. Right now her preference is a lake front home on one of two lakes in Va. A trip to Texas and maybe a hunt is in our near future as well as a few nights in Austin and San Antonio. I should have taken her to Pat's last Llano get together. That would have sold her.

Deb's up for TX rather than FL for our winter getaway spot Jan-March

You'd have a key, of course.

As will you my friend

Bob, I would second Patrick's idea. Anywhere around Lufkin, Diboll, Livingston area. Several rivers around there, but the Big Daddy is the Sabine ("suh-been" in Texican)that becomes both Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. More hogs and deer than you can shake a stick at (that means a bunch), good people, low taxes and property values compared to the hellhole you are currently in but don't know it, and you're not far from Pat Powell, tex n cal, Sponxx, or me.

Ed

Bob,

I would also consider property on the Guadalupe River.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Listen to Ed....his place is skookum!

A man would have some top shelf neighbors in that area.

Some pics...

The Most Exalted Grand Poobah showed us how to sight-in, using a bona-fide Texas Rifle:





Then, I decided to test the accuracy of my bespoke, Post-'05 Marlin XL7 rifle (in the über-rare .30-06 chambering) by utilizing a new nut behind the trigger:





It appears that some misunderstood the dress code...





but a good time was had, nonetheless:





Some firsts for the trip:

First Blood with the Marlin:





First Double, ever. (And I dispute Colrado Bob's Dinkathon Trophy! This piglet was definitely smaller, "collateral damage" be damned!):




(cont.)

And First Coyote (Thanks to Geedubya & EdM):





Ingwe's Saturday night boar left me with a case of cutter envy:






Did anyone mention it was wet down there? Here's what a white Expedition looked like:





And some good ol' boys enjoying a stogie:





Too much fun, for sure.

FC

There are some damn good photographers among our group.

I knew that's what you were trying to say because we were talking about it at the range that day. That's why I put the pronunciation and definition on there too. It's a tough word for someone who's trying to learn English.

If you drink enough, it'll roll off your tongue easier.

Damn right. That is very likely the prettiest valley in Texas.

No question it will see some action. The useful thing about the .38-55 is depending on the groove dia there's a huge variety of bullets one can shoot in it. And that rifle can take any load the brass can take...

I saw some pics of Patrick's and Ed's place. Both very nice, no question.

Travel access from the airport an important consideration for me, as well. Don't want to drive for too long a distance after landing.

San Antonio to Kerrville is an hour and the river runs towards San Antonio. An hour. That's how long it takes to get from McLean VA to Tyson VA.

Funny but damn near spot on.

Irish brisket

I just sampled mine. Killer.