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Regarding high fences, I have a simple opinion I think...

I have been on a 300 acre high fence ranch in Texas, and I have been on 75,000 acre high fence ranch in Texas. How much land is high fenced absolutely matters.

The region of Texas also matters. Hunting 1000 acres high fenced in East Texas is a very different experience than hunting 1000 acres high fenced in South Texas. My point is visibility and access directly effects the hunt.

My primary concern when people high fence any parcel of land, is that they understand the RESPONSIBILITY they are taking on to be a good land steward. When you high fence, you literally become "G-D" of that ecosystem. You must be aware of and manage EVERY species of wildlife on the land. To not do so is harmful to the environment and the species within. At the same time, if you do a good job managing for whitetail, or turkey, etc., the "actions" you take are usually beneficial for the other species as well.

I discussed TODAY at the Texas Deer Association Annual Banquet with Mr. Milton West a 1000 acre ranch that had been inherited that was high fenced that did not have live water. The wildlife was fed by two wells. Through lack of attention, both wells quit working. The descendant who inherited the land was not interested in the property. As a result, the animals on that ranch died a sad, unneccesary, unethical death. It frustrates me to think that this would happen. But it is reality.

On the other hand, high fences are simply a tool that good wildlife managers can use to change the genetic influences of specific species on the property. With proper management and oversight, very healthy herd structures can be managed and maintained to a degree that is impossible with low fence ranches.

There are more "postive impact" stories than "negative impact" stories in my opinion.

Personally, do I want to hunt a trophy whitetail breeder buck raised in a 50 acre pen that is let out on 300 acres of high fence? NO. Will someone else pay top dollar for that hunt - maybe - probably.

However, when I have been on high fence ranches that are 5000, 10000, 50,000 acres, it is hard to argue that these animals are tame or in any way disadvantaged. Isn't a low fence ranch that has a feed truck drive every day at 5pm and corns the roadway, going to habituate the wildlife to a certain behavior that removes the "fair chase" hunt aspect just as much (or more) as any high fence?