It seems y'all have a deer hunters paradise!
The grass is always greener. I look at Britian as a paradise for a middle class hunter. One can obtain permission, perhaps for free, but it seems to me much less than a couple thousand dollars and hunt some form of deer year round and be able to shoot at least a couple per month. Plus, they are close. I would love to get in my RAV drive an hour or so, or less, sit comfortably in a blind, commune with nature, and shoot, or not a deer if I see one, or need to cull. This I could do year round. The biggest problem I see is gun restrictions, but with a little persistence, it seems, that can be overcome. capt david
Here, it would cost at least $2000 for a 3month deer lease that one would probably shoot a representative buck and 4 does in October and December. For years I was on a 'deer lease,' that is similar to your syndicate. Through experience one should only be on with ones that one knows. our lease, with 5 guns, cost us $7500 from September through April. Seasons varied but basically that's 2 moths of dove hunting. 2 of deer and three of turkey. Importantly, we could take 5 trophy whitetail 5 culls and 15 does, 3 turkey and unlimited hogs. We never killed all the bucks nor turkey. That was for about 750 acres of low fenced native brush. We had electricity. we were responsible for stands and feeders, easily another $500per year. Doing the math, that was $1500 per gun in2001, It's $2500 per gun today.
Texas, as you may or not know, was an Independent nation before becoming a state. We became the only state to become one by treaty. Hence, we are unique in many ways. Part of the deal, was that Texas retained possession of all it's public land. Most of this land was sold to pay debts, or given, with restrictions, to encourage settlement. Therefore we have huge ranches and very little public land. There are some National forests, in east Texas and state parks, where hunting is allowed, but most of that is restricted and by draw, or fees.
Three things one must accept if one is to hunt in Texas that are almost universal:
Most land is privately owned.
Game belongs to the property owner, no matter where it originated and they know it's value.
Lots of game is on high fenced game proof land, some small acreage, but most, that is hunted, is on larger tracks. At the present, I am hunting 1600 acre and 4600 acre high fenced ranches. Depending on geography and vegetation I prefer to hut at least a thousand acres. The rest of my hunting is on low fence acreage for free ranging game. The success ratio on both is about the same. I spent 3 days on the 1600 acre ranch hunting one specific red stag cull. I could also have taken a good sika stag. I hunted the blinds most frequented, game cams, by both. I saw several sika, probably 10-12 different red stags and around the same amount of hinds and never saw those two. Some high fenced animals can be tame, but most, if they are hunted are not.
The other options are day leases, semi-guided or guided. Day leases, are what they sound like. One rents a pasture, for a daily fee, usually $100 or so per person, is shown around, hunts on their own and then pays a per animal additional fee. The semi-guided, is similar, but the guide drops you off and picks you up a normally skins and quarters your animals. It's around $150, per day per person. Animal fees vary, but $250 per white tail doe and $400+- for exotics. If one wants a trophy buck Its guided and will cost anywhere from $1750-$4000, the higher would include luxury accommodations.
If one just wants meat one ranch offers a two day two night Whitetail doe hunt including basic, decent, bring your own bedroll and pillow, lodging. This includes tacos for breakfast, sandwich bar for lunch and fajita and beans for supper. Its $1000, as is an elk cow for around the same.
To hunt out of state is hard, unless one is in good shape and has the time to scout before the hunt. It's hard to hunt the Rocky Mountains. One has to drive possibly 1500 miles, or more, to hunt, when one can drive 500miles or sometimes much less to hunt Texas. Plus, in the Rockies, there are outfitters fees. Remember Texas is close to four times the size of Britain. My yearly Texas hunting and fishing license is $60. where an out of state license can be over $500.
Last, but not least;
I am in no way financially connected to any one I recommend, except If you go, mention my name for good relations.
I am retired, on a budget, love to hunt and love to meet new people. If anyone needs any help hunting in Texas let me know. If we can work it out, and I can afford a hunt when and where you are going, I could pick you up in San Antonio and we could hunt together. All it's going to cost you is dinner. let me know.
capt david
I recommend this place It's reasonable and a good example
The grass is always greener. I look at Britian as a paradise for a middle class hunter. One can obtain permission, perhaps for free, but it seems to me much less than a couple thousand dollars and hunt some form of deer year round and be able to shoot at least a couple per month. Plus, they are close. I would love to get in my RAV drive an hour or so, or less, sit comfortably in a blind, commune with nature, and shoot, or not a deer if I see one, or need to cull. This I could do year round. The biggest problem I see is gun restrictions, but with a little persistence, it seems, that can be overcome. capt david
Here, it would cost at least $2000 for a 3month deer lease that one would probably shoot a representative buck and 4 does in October and December. For years I was on a 'deer lease,' that is similar to your syndicate. Through experience one should only be on with ones that one knows. our lease, with 5 guns, cost us $7500 from September through April. Seasons varied but basically that's 2 moths of dove hunting. 2 of deer and three of turkey. Importantly, we could take 5 trophy whitetail 5 culls and 15 does, 3 turkey and unlimited hogs. We never killed all the bucks nor turkey. That was for about 750 acres of low fenced native brush. We had electricity. we were responsible for stands and feeders, easily another $500per year. Doing the math, that was $1500 per gun in2001, It's $2500 per gun today.
Texas, as you may or not know, was an Independent nation before becoming a state. We became the only state to become one by treaty. Hence, we are unique in many ways. Part of the deal, was that Texas retained possession of all it's public land. Most of this land was sold to pay debts, or given, with restrictions, to encourage settlement. Therefore we have huge ranches and very little public land. There are some National forests, in east Texas and state parks, where hunting is allowed, but most of that is restricted and by draw, or fees.
Three things one must accept if one is to hunt in Texas that are almost universal:
Most land is privately owned.
Game belongs to the property owner, no matter where it originated and they know it's value.
Lots of game is on high fenced game proof land, some small acreage, but most, that is hunted, is on larger tracks. At the present, I am hunting 1600 acre and 4600 acre high fenced ranches. Depending on geography and vegetation I prefer to hut at least a thousand acres. The rest of my hunting is on low fence acreage for free ranging game. The success ratio on both is about the same. I spent 3 days on the 1600 acre ranch hunting one specific red stag cull. I could also have taken a good sika stag. I hunted the blinds most frequented, game cams, by both. I saw several sika, probably 10-12 different red stags and around the same amount of hinds and never saw those two. Some high fenced animals can be tame, but most, if they are hunted are not.
The other options are day leases, semi-guided or guided. Day leases, are what they sound like. One rents a pasture, for a daily fee, usually $100 or so per person, is shown around, hunts on their own and then pays a per animal additional fee. The semi-guided, is similar, but the guide drops you off and picks you up a normally skins and quarters your animals. It's around $150, per day per person. Animal fees vary, but $250 per white tail doe and $400+- for exotics. If one wants a trophy buck Its guided and will cost anywhere from $1750-$4000, the higher would include luxury accommodations.
If one just wants meat one ranch offers a two day two night Whitetail doe hunt including basic, decent, bring your own bedroll and pillow, lodging. This includes tacos for breakfast, sandwich bar for lunch and fajita and beans for supper. Its $1000, as is an elk cow for around the same.
To hunt out of state is hard, unless one is in good shape and has the time to scout before the hunt. It's hard to hunt the Rocky Mountains. One has to drive possibly 1500 miles, or more, to hunt, when one can drive 500miles or sometimes much less to hunt Texas. Plus, in the Rockies, there are outfitters fees. Remember Texas is close to four times the size of Britain. My yearly Texas hunting and fishing license is $60. where an out of state license can be over $500.
Last, but not least;
I am in no way financially connected to any one I recommend, except If you go, mention my name for good relations.
I am retired, on a budget, love to hunt and love to meet new people. If anyone needs any help hunting in Texas let me know. If we can work it out, and I can afford a hunt when and where you are going, I could pick you up in San Antonio and we could hunt together. All it's going to cost you is dinner. let me know.
capt david
I recommend this place It's reasonable and a good example
Texas Exotic Animal Hunting - Heart A Ranch
We are a leader in providing gold-medal quality exotic animals and the best Texas exotic animal hunting experience available on our 4,200-acre ranch.
heartaranch.com
