As a land broker and ninth-generation Texan, I’ve had the privilege of connecting passionate hunters with properties that aren’t just land—they’re gateways to lifelong memories. Few stories capture that magic quite like the one I shared with my client and friend Joe S. back in September 2021. Joe, a medical sales professional by trade, had a passion for the outdoors – something we shared from the moment we met in 2018. Hunting wasn’t a hobby for him; it was his way of forging bonds with friends and family. We had swapped hunting stories over the years and always talked about that “next tract.” When he reached out about an 188-acre tract near Groveton in Trinity County, Texas, I knew we might be on the cusp of something special. This wasn’t just a sale—it was the start of a legacy.
Joe was no stranger to the area. He’d held a deer lease nearby for years, seeing trail cam photos and hearing stories about trophy whitetails that wandered these piney woods. “I’ve heard the stories,” he told me over the phone, “This area is the real deal. I want my own piece to manage right.” My expertise as an Accredited Land Consultant with HomeLand Properties sealed the deal. We’ve brokered hunting lands across East Texas for decades, and Trinity County is our backyard. I shared what I’d heard from former lessees of this parent tract—a +/- 9700-acre tract we had previously listed: consistent giants, a ton of natural browse, water, and rubs on just about every pine sapling you saw.
Our first showing was as expected. At 188 acres, it was a perfect blend of open potential and natural sanctuary. Years earlier, a timber harvest had cleared the majority, leaving rolling open areas for long-range rifle shots. But the secret ticket? There are several creek drains / SMZs (Streamside Management Zones) snaking through its heart. They weren’t just water sources—they were deer highways, providing cover, bedding, acorns, and browse. From the moment we stepped out of the side-by-side, the sign was everywhere. Consistent rubs scarred young oaks and pines and tracks the size of 4 fingers pressed into the trails.
We both knew Trinity County’s reputation backed it up. Nestled immediately surrounding Groveton, this pocket of East Texas produces whitetails that punch way above their weight class. The area’s mix of pine-hardwood forests, reliable rainfall (most years), large acreage tracts, and low hunting pressure breeds monsters. Joe’s lease experiences had taught him, but seeing the evidence firsthand? It was confirmation. The landscape sealed the vision: open slopes for spotting at 300 yards, tight creek bottoms for bowhunters wanting to sling arrows within 40. No existing structures, but trails meandered through regrowth thickets—perfect for enhancement.
Joe’s vision was crystal clear from day one. Selective harvests only—let the young bucks grow, cull the mature bucks that he didn’t want breeding. Post-closing, he hit the ground running. He set up blinds along the creeks/timberline, installed corn and protein feeders at strategic points, and blazed trails for easy access. Teaming up with a neighbor, they got very selective: find the balance, study patterns and movements, understand genetics, and manage the herd. It was QDM (Quality Deer Management) at its finest, tailored to Trinity County’s ecosystem.
Of course, no East Texas tale is without hurdles. The dry spell of 2022 and 2023 would test any hunter’s resolve. Rainfall dipped low, almost nonexistent, and we were gifted 40+ days over 100 degrees. This starved out the land and natural browse. The deer were forced to hit the protein hard. A sort of weird give-and-take relationship, if you can look at it that way. Those feeders became lifelines, bulking up and sustaining the herd through the drought. By Spring-Summer 2024, with rain returning, the property exploded. Joe’s 188 acres buzzed with activity, plots greened up, and rubs multiplied.
Fast-forward to early October 2025, and the payoff every hunter dreams about happens. Joe, like he has done a million times before, heads out to sit in hopes of seeing a deer he’d watched for years on the trail cameras. What steps out? That true East Texas giant. Homegrown. He wasn’t just any buck – he was the buck. Joe draws and lets the arrow fly. When he posted the photos, I instantly showed everyone in the office—191 and 4/8 inches of antlered glory—his personal best. I reached out, congratulated him, and asked if I could share this on social media. And it doesn’t stop there. He’s racked up a few more good deer on this place, including a typical 150-inch 8-point just last year. Doing this all while teaching his boys the playbook of QDM and Ethical hunting. That’s the Joe S. way: hunting as a connection.
Quoting Joe, “We passed him year after year (hoping none of the neighbors or hunting clubs harvested him) and let him get to 6 years old.” This year, we — Joe and his neighbor– made a gentlemen’s agreement that we would both only hunt “Daggerboy” with bow and arrow. I had a close encounter opening weekend, but Dagger didn’t present a shot. Well, it finally all came together Sunday afternoon… This buck is a testament of what can be grown in East TX given the right genetics, nutrition, neighbors, and most importantly, AGE.”
Reflecting on that September 2021 closing, I’m reminded why I do this. HomeLand Properties and I aren’t just selling dirt; we’re helping craft family legacy and lifetime stories. Joe’s 188 acres transformed from a “for sale” sign to family history, proving Trinity County’s whisper: Groveton grows giants. Suppose you’re chasing your own slice of East Texas magic—whether 50 acres or 500 acres or more—reach out. With our deep roots in Trinity Co and beyond, we’ll find your rubs, your creeks, your legacy.
Ready to hunt your dreams? Contact me, Walker Powell, Accredited Land Consultant at HomeLand Properties. Let’s talk land.
