Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

The best possibility for your weed, I think, is one of the burclovers.   One with particularly prickly seeds is Medicago polymorpha [syn. = Medicago hispida] (California burclover). It was introduced from Europe and is commonly used as a forage or cover crop for livestock.  It also is a nitrogen fixer that enhances nitrogen availability in the soil.  However, even though sheep eat it, the prickly seeds tend to get caught in the sheep's wool and lower the value of the wool.  It is considered invasive in many places as it spreads through lawns and other unwanted areas.  You can see on the general distribution map from the USDA Plants Database that it occurs over most of North America.  Although it is not shown as occurring in Gonzales County on the Texas County Distribution map, it is shown as occurring in counties surrounding Gonzales County.  You can read from Dr. Kaae-Online an extensive article on various methods to control it that are based on the University of California Online IPM Programs.  As you know, it isn't easy to control and you will need to use a combination of methods and be persistent.

Another possibility for your plant is Tribulus terrestris (Puncture vine), a native of temperate and tropical areas of the Old World.  However, its seeds are quite formidable and have been known to puncture tires so I doubt that this is your weed.

If neither of these plants is your problem plant, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.