High fences seem to be a double edge sword. Yes, they are good for the animals IF their habitat and living conditions are not just good but EXCELLENT! When nature get bad these animals can't escape from drought, fire, disease, or envirinmental conditions that they could get away from in a low fence situation. The managers must step in and most will. I don't hunt behind a high fence only because I can't afford it. I have my last kiddo in college at $35,000/yr. This is a better investment than $15,000 for a 180+ class deer.

If I had enough property, time, money, and everything else it takes to own and maintain my own place with a high fence, I would do it in a heartbeat. AND it would be done to suit my style of fair chase with no "harvest" or "cull pens".

Now we all know and I'm sure will admit to the existance of "harvest pens" or as I call them "canned hunts". This is the ugly side and I sure hope that this site is not being used by anyone who runs this type of operation. If you do and you read this SHAME ON YOU! You are doing it for YOUR intrest and the $ only. You are not helping hunting at all.

I have often wondered why we don't hear of deer breeders offering surplus animals to the state for re-introduction back into the public lands. ( I hope some do this.) I would love to see this kind of partnership exist in all deer hunting states. It would be another example of good done from behind a high fence. Just imagine the changes in the gene pool across the country.

We killed 3; 2 bucks and a doe. I scouted this weekend and found quite a few deer and a ton of hogs. Can't wait for bow season to start. This wet weather will really be good for the animals-especially the *$#*@ mosquitos!

It looks as if that might be a road in one of those pictures. Remember there is no hunting on any roads in SHNF. It looks promising. Are the laydowns old crabapples? That's a good sign to find an area with them in it. The deer seem to be on the cherries and acorns right now. The acorns I am seeing are very small for some reason.

Hardy,

The info I have is from a guy that ONLY hunts 200+ class whitetail. He knows ranchers that use these super protiens (they are cotton based) for deer to be harvested for cash. (He will not hunt these places either.) They won't feed the high concentrations to the breeders except during the antler developement because it stops the reproductive process. (Remember these are breeders). They get the horns big and cut this type of feeding out. They then make litterally millions on sperm from these "altered" animals. This is where the real money is made.

I'm not saying 20% protien is bad, but the 65% mentioned above is. If 16% is optimum, why have an animal's diet consist of more than what is optimum? It does seem that we do agree a good supplemental program is good, but there are products that are cotton seed based that are not. I did not want to mention any products by name for fear someone will try it.

Hardy, for those of you who use cotton seed products properly thanks. I appologize to you guys. There are those who abuse these products and the deer herd, I want to let everyone know that this does go on.

Scott,

I wish you the best of luck. The only way we can save the aging sportsmen such as ourselves is thru recruitment. We each must teach the ethics and morality that goes hand in hand with the outdoors to several yougsters. They in turn pass it on. The public media does not care about sportsmen, (We aren't as cute as deer or birds) and lawmakers will not pay attention to a group who's numbers are on the decline, eventhough we do more for the environment than the so-called green do gooders.

Have you thought about combining the sportsmen with industry? Just a couple examples: 

Timber industry for habitat and game monitoring. We can prove that cutting timber increases forage for animals and the animal quality will increase. The new growth areas can be replanted with trees and food plots can be created so the animals don't harm the young trees.

Oil and Gas industry has a lot of coastal territory where the environment can be improved and monitored by sportsmen. Fishing, duck and goose hunting etc. Habitat creation grass and plant restoration?

I believe the PR would be great in just a few short years for both of us. The greens won't do it because they are opposed to industry being there in the first place.

Maybe just maybe someone can give a green light on a program much like the Corp. of Engineers is doing with public land hunting and access. Quality lands and wildlife's environments are shrinking because of the public, and the government wanting a bigger piece of pie for themselves, not because of the outdoorsman! This is where we get our pay-off . This would allow us sportsmen to do our recruiting and land stewardship while industry gets credit for their greener image. Wildlife will have an environment that will sustain them for the general public, media, and future generations to come.

Working man's ranch? How much is too much? Well that will be different for each one of us. My youngest daughter is starting Baylor next year so $500 will probably too much for the next 4 years. I can't see paying over $1,000.00 for a lease. I hunted close to my house this year and got in 8 days. What would I do if I had to drive several hours? How much hunting could I do? Probably just a couple of weekends. Let's face it, I'm not rich. I will never be rich. I'm just a high school grad who makes a lot less than 6 figures a year. I can't write-off these expences like some can. Time is always short it seems.

However, I can for $108.00 get my hunting license, stamps, and annual hunting permit. I get to watch the birds start their day at sunrise, the animals scamper about the forest floor, and the georgeous sunrise and sunsets from a stand, the bay, or a lake. I can watch bald eagles chasing ospreys over their catch. I get enough meat and fish in the freezer each year. I can bring my child or grandkids with me at any time. I may not ever get a chance at a world class animal, but I can still have a world class experience, especially in the great state of Texas.

Just a note: Texas is also the name of my grandson. Does anything else need to be said?