Around Christmas this year I'm going to be visiting the in-laws out in Big Spring TX and I'm wanting to do some hunting on their 1,500 acres of land. I've only really ever hunted in NC where I'm from and I know hunting in TX, especially on a shortened timeline is quite different. I plan on using my .308 to hunt here. Any advice that you all have on how to scout, what types of places to set up, etc. will be greatly appreciated. I will probably be hunting from the ground so keep that in mind. Thanks in advance.

Find the food sources if there are no feeders. Late season and cold temps make for some great hunting in that area. If they have wheat/oats check those fields first. Water can be a key also. Spend more time standing/sitting than walking and use your binos. Good luck.

I hunt south of Big Spring. If ya don't have feeders set up it might be a little difficult. If not, corn pipeline clear cuts and roads. If your to the east where you can get some elevation get up on top and glass the bottom. Could require a long shot, but thats west texas hunting for ya.

Look at some of our threads and you might get some ideas. I will also place some pics on here maybe tonight so you can look at the terrain.

The place I hunt on is lots of mesquites and cactus flats, lots of cactus. Deer love eatin that stuff. Mike has feeding areas just off the ranch roads and around his power lines.

Some places are hilly with some creeks going through. The ground blind will work really well along a sendero(ranch road) with corn scattered out a ways from you.308 is an awesome round out here.

Best of luck and welcome to Texas

From what I know in my couple trips out there it's very heavy with prickly pear cactus, mesquite trees, cedar, and tall grass is what's predominate on their land. The property is separated into 2 areas. My wife said that on the part of land that I haven't really walked much on, has a small pond and maybe some grain fields. I'm guessing that might be the best place to start?

I hunted out that way just West, one year, These guy's gave you super advice, finding elevation was big for me and worked well, also the creek and/or brush bottoms had allot of travel traffic.

Did any of you guys spend much time scouting for rubs, scrapes, etc. or is it more of a spot and stalk type of hunting?

Great advice and what worked for me. (so did leather chaps)

We scouted this ranch for a month before bow season. Saw a few rubs, I have yet to find a scrape anywhere EVER. If it's flat and you try spot n stalking, I'm bettin your gonna get busted quick. If your not hunting a food source, find the thickest nastiest cover you can find, corn the closets opening (road, clear-cut, field border, etc), and sit, wait, and pray. Only guarantee I can give you is some awesome sunrises and sunsets. To me, west texas seems to be one of the hardest areas of the state to hunt whitetails.

wow. why is west tx so much harder to hunt than anywhere else in the state where it's such a gold mine? Has anyone had much luck hunting out in west tx anywhere near big spring?

I would just hunt travel corridors if you don't have a food source. It's a great place to hunt. You don't need a feeder, just look over bottoms and draws. No place is a gold mine, you still have to know what you are doing unless you are hunting a feeder and can wait days on end for something to come eat eventually....

If you know how to find the property on Google Earth, you can do a lot of scouting before you get there. At least it would give you an idea of the terrain and potential high spots to sit or a couple of areas to drop some corn.

Ltsheets, West Texas is not that difficult it just has more open terrain depending on where you are. Meaning they can smell and see you quicker than you can see them.

Be smart in your hunt and talk to your in-laws. they should know the lay of their land.

thanks for more advice guys!