I have been told that hunting on game ranches in Texas is hunting captive deer. And our hunting it's not the same as British stalking.
The latter is definitely true. Our hunting iv very similar to doe box, high seat or tower box hunting. I would like to know if anyone has stalked west Texas deer, and their experiences. I suspect that our deer are much more afraid of humans, because they live in wilder locations, where all humans are seen as danger. I would guess that upon seeing a human on foot, ours will run, close to a mile before stopping. From what I read deer live in such proximity to humans, and public 'paths' leading from village to village, are traveled regularly through deer habitat. Small farms with fields crisscrossed with hedgerows would also help in stalking. Our ranch land is sparsely populated, sometimes with tens of miles between homes. and almost no row crops. Its hilly, rugged limestone rocky, with semi-open areas and dense juniper brush valleys and hill sides. In south Texas its thick brush country with rolling hills.
I suppose it depends on one's definition of captive and how it pertains to the ability to find and take game. My intent was more on ethical shooting. In Texas, most land is private or corporate owned. The state sets limits on 'native' species. The state sets the rules, but if it's on your land, it belongs to you. 'Exotics' i.e., sika, fallow, Axis, Reds, etc. are owned by the landowner, even if they just escaped from a neighbor. Most Hunting land in the western part of the state is in larger particles and ranched, not farmed for crops. These ranches can be hundreds of thousands of acres. of course most are smaller. Most of those are 'under low fence,(free roaming) barbed or sheep /goat wire. Some is under 'high fence.' This is 8' game proof fencing. obviously these ranches can be large or small. In my opinion, to be fair, animals hunted on small 2,3,4,5, hundred acre ranches, are not my cup of tea. Depending on geography and cover, once one gets bigger than a thousand acres, while technically captive, it doesn't make them any easier to hunt.
My hunting is divided between low fence and high fence. On the low fenced ranches there are feral hogs, native deer and a few exotics. on the high fenced ranches there can be a mix of exotics and natives. Although I have hunted smaller the ranch I have hunted for the last five years is 4600 acres. I can hunt Elk, Axis, Fallow, Sika, Black Buck and Scimitar Horned Antelope. There are also native whitetails and hogs. The cost for an animal is the same as on low fence hunting. another ranch that has red deer is 3600 acres. Due to a friend of a friend, I have a chance to hunt a management 4-5 year old red stag 8pt. It's priced right. It's on a 1600acre ranch. All of these ranches have thick cover, valleys and hills. Were it not for Game Ranches, lots of hunting opportunities would be lost.
Its important to remember these are truly wild animals and afraid of humans and most vehicles.
We have a saying: 'you play the hand you draw!' In some ways as a meat hunter, I wish we could hunt something, at low cost, or free year round.As I see it, as your game is free roaming, you have little ability to control over or under hunting. It's obvious, looking through the 'Articles' thread that many small bucks are killed, before they have time to mature to their potential. Again, this doesn't bother me, in fact in some ways it allows me to 'shoot horns.' Most deer leases here are sold by pricing the number of deer taken. For example let's compare two 1200 acre ranches, for lease. The one under high fence will probably lease for twice as much as the low fence one. this will have a cabin or mobile and entitle the taking of one trophy and maybe one inferior buck for8-10 hunters. an Exotic may be exchanged for a trophy if available. a couple of does will also be available for each hunter. Guests, with the exception of close family are not allowed. I haven't priced these lately, but I would guess these would be in the range of $4-$5000. The same lease on a low fence lease, would be about half that, with a slim chance for a true trophy. Smaller leases are available. I've seen some 100 acre leases go for $2000 per gun for five hunters. These are usually next to much larger leases, and the general rule is you see, you shoot, or if it's brown, it's down.
Ive explained fee for game hunting else where, but I usually hunt on the larger high fenced ranches for exotic does. The best deal for me is to go semi guided. they drop you off in a blind and pick you up. I shop around and can usually find a guaranteed doe and a really good chance for a pig or two for $5-$600 for a two day hunt. A pig only hunt is about half that. pig hunts are a little cheaper on low fenced ranches, for a little less.
given these options, what would you do, on a tight budget. capt david.
The latter is definitely true. Our hunting iv very similar to doe box, high seat or tower box hunting. I would like to know if anyone has stalked west Texas deer, and their experiences. I suspect that our deer are much more afraid of humans, because they live in wilder locations, where all humans are seen as danger. I would guess that upon seeing a human on foot, ours will run, close to a mile before stopping. From what I read deer live in such proximity to humans, and public 'paths' leading from village to village, are traveled regularly through deer habitat. Small farms with fields crisscrossed with hedgerows would also help in stalking. Our ranch land is sparsely populated, sometimes with tens of miles between homes. and almost no row crops. Its hilly, rugged limestone rocky, with semi-open areas and dense juniper brush valleys and hill sides. In south Texas its thick brush country with rolling hills.
I suppose it depends on one's definition of captive and how it pertains to the ability to find and take game. My intent was more on ethical shooting. In Texas, most land is private or corporate owned. The state sets limits on 'native' species. The state sets the rules, but if it's on your land, it belongs to you. 'Exotics' i.e., sika, fallow, Axis, Reds, etc. are owned by the landowner, even if they just escaped from a neighbor. Most Hunting land in the western part of the state is in larger particles and ranched, not farmed for crops. These ranches can be hundreds of thousands of acres. of course most are smaller. Most of those are 'under low fence,(free roaming) barbed or sheep /goat wire. Some is under 'high fence.' This is 8' game proof fencing. obviously these ranches can be large or small. In my opinion, to be fair, animals hunted on small 2,3,4,5, hundred acre ranches, are not my cup of tea. Depending on geography and cover, once one gets bigger than a thousand acres, while technically captive, it doesn't make them any easier to hunt.
My hunting is divided between low fence and high fence. On the low fenced ranches there are feral hogs, native deer and a few exotics. on the high fenced ranches there can be a mix of exotics and natives. Although I have hunted smaller the ranch I have hunted for the last five years is 4600 acres. I can hunt Elk, Axis, Fallow, Sika, Black Buck and Scimitar Horned Antelope. There are also native whitetails and hogs. The cost for an animal is the same as on low fence hunting. another ranch that has red deer is 3600 acres. Due to a friend of a friend, I have a chance to hunt a management 4-5 year old red stag 8pt. It's priced right. It's on a 1600acre ranch. All of these ranches have thick cover, valleys and hills. Were it not for Game Ranches, lots of hunting opportunities would be lost.
Its important to remember these are truly wild animals and afraid of humans and most vehicles.
We have a saying: 'you play the hand you draw!' In some ways as a meat hunter, I wish we could hunt something, at low cost, or free year round.As I see it, as your game is free roaming, you have little ability to control over or under hunting. It's obvious, looking through the 'Articles' thread that many small bucks are killed, before they have time to mature to their potential. Again, this doesn't bother me, in fact in some ways it allows me to 'shoot horns.' Most deer leases here are sold by pricing the number of deer taken. For example let's compare two 1200 acre ranches, for lease. The one under high fence will probably lease for twice as much as the low fence one. this will have a cabin or mobile and entitle the taking of one trophy and maybe one inferior buck for8-10 hunters. an Exotic may be exchanged for a trophy if available. a couple of does will also be available for each hunter. Guests, with the exception of close family are not allowed. I haven't priced these lately, but I would guess these would be in the range of $4-$5000. The same lease on a low fence lease, would be about half that, with a slim chance for a true trophy. Smaller leases are available. I've seen some 100 acre leases go for $2000 per gun for five hunters. These are usually next to much larger leases, and the general rule is you see, you shoot, or if it's brown, it's down.
Ive explained fee for game hunting else where, but I usually hunt on the larger high fenced ranches for exotic does. The best deal for me is to go semi guided. they drop you off in a blind and pick you up. I shop around and can usually find a guaranteed doe and a really good chance for a pig or two for $5-$600 for a two day hunt. A pig only hunt is about half that. pig hunts are a little cheaper on low fenced ranches, for a little less.
given these options, what would you do, on a tight budget. capt david.
