What Next? Texas Whitetail, Hogs & Sandhill Cranes

It’s almost that time again — bags packed, rifle cleaned, tags printed, and excitement building. I’m heading back to the States for another incredible hunting adventure. My destination? Texas. Specifically, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport — DFW — from where I’ll make the 2–3 hour drive east to some very familiar and much-loved country.

This isn’t my first rodeo with Bruce Hunnicutt and the crew at White Oak Outfitters in East Texas. In fact, I’ve been hunting with Bruce and the Hunnicutts for the better part of a decade now. Over the last 10 years, their operation has never failed to deliver — not just in game opportunities, but in camaraderie, laughs, stories around the fire, and good old-fashioned Southern hospitality.

This year’s adventure kicks off around the 28th of October when I touch down in Texas after a long-haul flight — about 17 hours in the air from Brisbane to DFW. But I can promise you, that travel fatigue disappears fast when you step into the woods and that first cool Texas morning hits your face.

The Plan: Whitetails, Hogs & Sandhill Cranes

As always, the primary game in East Texas will be whitetail deer and feral hogs. Whether it’s rifle, bow, crossbow, or even handgun, the opportunities on Bruce’s place are top-notch. I’ve had success with all methods over the years, and it’s part of what keeps me coming back — the variety, the challenge, and the chance to switch it up.

But this year, there’s a twist.

Thanks to Doyle Brown, a good Texan mate, I’ve got something new lined up — a sandhill crane hunt in West Texas. If you’ve never hunted cranes before, let me tell you: they call them the “ribeye in the sky” for a reason. These birds are not only a challenge to hunt, but also some of the best-eating game birds in North America.

We’ll be allowed three cranes and ten geese per day, over what’s shaping up to be a 2–3 day hunt. It’s going to be fast-paced, early mornings, big skies, and shotgun barrels warm from action. I can’t wait.

Why I Keep Going Back

There’s something about East Texas that feels like a second home now. It’s the people more than anything — Bruce, the family, the guides, and the crew who show up year after year. We’ve built a bit of a tradition, and that’s hard to come by in today’s world. Hunting with White Oak Outfitters isn’t just about filling tags (though that certainly helps), it’s about the experience: the land, the stories, the laughs, the memories made each season.

When I fly back around the 10th of November, I’ll land in Australia on the 12th (you lose a day on the way home but land the same day — figure that one out!). I’ll have a camera full of photos, a head full of memories, and probably a few extra kilos from Southern cooking and campfire beers.

Until Then...

As I count down the days, I’m double-checking gear, confirming travel plans, and making sure everything’s dialed in. Hunting trips like this don’t happen every day — they take planning, patience, and a whole lot of passion.

But once you get boots on the ground, hear that first gobble, grunt, or wingbeat overhead — you remember why you do it.

See y’all in Texas.

East Texas Whitetail With Hunnicutt's Ranch www.texashoghuntingoutfitters.com