I have hunted E. Texas all my life. There are 161,000 acres just to your north and east that you can hunt w/ a Type 2 permit. It is hard hunting and will be good to cut your teeth on. 1st learn to use a compass. GPS does not work well under the forest canopy. Experiment w/ scent elimination: body, clothes, boots, hat and head. Find what will work for you. When deer don't blow at you you will know it works. Elevation is key to see better. Use a climber. That 30-06 hopefully has a 2-3 power setting on that scope. It is hard to see deer in your scope on high power in the woods. My typical shots are 10-40 yards. That is why I prefer a bow. I can take an animal and if someone is close by they will never know. It keeps your spots secret. Go early and stay late. Keep away from crowds or better yet get behind most of them and let them push deer to you. More work is required for that. Do not bait! If I find bait in an area I'm hunting the game warden is on my speed dial. Pictures and GPS coordinates are provided to him. I also like the check from them when the crook gets busted. If a spot is easy to get to, forget it. Everyone will show-up there. I hope you are planning on spending a few years in the woods to figure it out. You can get lucky but it will take years to get any good at it. I do not like open areas. I like them tight. I may have only 1 or 2 shooting lanes but that is OK w/ me. When I get into a patch of woods that looks good, I try to find the best 1/4 acre in them and that is what I will hunt. I don't need a big area.

When season starts the deer will change their movements and you will have to start over again. You will always be making constant adjustments....Just like in LIFE!  GOOD LUCK!

GO CLIMB A TREE, TIM

Thanks Tim! Some great info!

One thing that Tim didn't mention in the scent game is a good pair of boots...make sure that what you buy will not hold scent.  We're just about paranoid on that account...we hunt close-in too, and more than once when we've tried to take scent short cuts I've seen bucks refuse to cross my trail as long as 3-4 hours after I've walked it.  

We will spray our boots down with ordor elimination spray, keep them in a plastic bag, and not put them on until we're sufficiently away from our vehicle, camp, or whatever.  Even then, one of the first things we'll do when we put them on, depending on where we hunt, will be to either put more spray on the bottoms or find a cow patty to stomp in in, or cedar tree to rub our boot bottoms on...anything to diminish the scent. 

A couple other things: I'd learn that gun of yours inside and out.  Find a brand of ammunition your gun shoots well (try several different bullet weights/mfgrs).  Be sure to shoot at the ranges you plan on hunting  Learn how to clean your gun properly (there are some good videos on this website under the "Gun Talk "Section, here).  Also, be sure to practice at the maximum distance you're willing to shoot so you have a good idea how the bullet will behave.  Second, I'd try to put the best scope on your gun I could afford.  You want something that's reliable and clear, and you don't have to pay an arm and leg to get that.  Last, get some help on tracking and reading deer sign.  In public hunting areas that skill is critical. 

I'll be heading out to Sam Houston to do some scouting during the week between now and bow season. I also have a buddy who lives up in huntsville who can probably also help you out and give ya some good pointers on scouting and locating deer sign. He's hunted up there over the past 27 years and taken deer every year.

Other than the obvious here are some ideas of basic, overlooked equipment that may help make your life easier.

·          Sharp knife,

·          Latex or non-latex gloves

·          Towel

·          Water

·          Deer drag/rope

·          Deer hanger /gambrel

·          Hunting license/tags

·          Backpack

·          Small flashlight

Sorry about the delay. I realize you posted this almost 2 months ago. First of all, follow the advice of hunters like E.TX.BOWHUNTER and wohalliburton; these guys know what they're talkin' about. I just want to add to what they're saying.  I believe the easy part is shooting the animal.  Before and after shooting are the hard parts.  Know what to do with the animal after you shoot it. Watch as many videos as you can on "gutting a deer" or “field dressing a deer". This applies to other animals such as hogs. I'm sure they're on youtube or somewhere. Over the years I watched my dad gut deer, but I never truly learned until I did it myself. People have different methods; some are more efficient than others. Maybe before you hunt alone, go with some responsible hunters and volunteer to get your hands dirty (bloody). Usually guys will more than happy to teach someone willing to learn their “technique”. Along with a good knife, I always take some surgical latex gloves and a towel. Check out the knife called the Wyoming Knife. They are not necessary, but I like them. My first favorite (and I still carry it) is a Schrade Uncle Henry folding knife.  Many hunters use fixed blades with a gut hook. I've also seen guys successfully use $1.5o disposable scapels for field dressing a deer.  People have different opinions as to what the best hunting knife is. 

 Once you field dress it you have to figure out how to get the animal from point A to point B. Having an ATV or pickup truck nearby is the best way, but we're not all that lucky.  You can buy a deer harness, sled, dolly, or just use a rope to drag it out.  Also, know if you're gonna take it to someone to process the meat or do it yourself. If you do it yourself, buy a deer hanger (I think it's called a gambrel). They normally have all that at sporting good stores or Walmart. Of course hanging it at a buddy’s house and watching him process it is easier. Shop and ask around about butchers/processors. After the initial excitement of getting an animal down, you'll soon learn that the work has just begun.  Don't forget to fill out your tag once you take down an animal.

 Like E.TX. BOWHUNTER, my shots are close. 20-60yds have been the distance of my last 5 deer.  Unlike Mr. BOWHUNTER, my preferred weapon is a Model 94 30-30 lever action rifle with iron sights. I’d say my rifle is good up to 150 yds, but that’s max. I took one of the deer at 40 yards with a Remington 7mm Magnum with a 3-9X40 scope, but it was tough being that close with a scope.  I recently tried cheap scopes for the 7mm and it was a waste of time. While I can’t afford the $1000+ scopes, I finally bought a VX1 Leupold 3-9x40 for about $230.  It works great. Remember that no matter how experienced hunters are, they’re always learning.  Keep an open mind and good luck!