So you would say nothing. That is what i thought. We are also over 500, but the fence is 500.

[This message has been edited by nnichols (edited 11/14/2011 3:32p).]

quote:

---

High fence doesnt equal inability to get away. It means restricted access.

---

Holy ***** Nice spin.

I can tell you that we have had at least 10 tagged deer leave and 14 that we have spotted enter since we began tagging last year. 10 out of a total density of roughly 50.

id say that is pretty high turnover for being restricted.

We have also had hogs, bobcats, and coyotes work through the water gaps and predator wire.

If they were stressed due to a density issue, it would be fairly obvious.

[This message has been edited by nnichols (edited 11/14/2011 3:37p).]

quote:

---

So you would say nothing.

---

I don't have to say anything. He and I share the same feeling on high fences. Neither of us like them. Simple as that.

I could turn a snake loose in my living room and he'd have lots of places to hide, but I could find him if I really wanted to. And much easier than I could if he was loose outside.

I'm not really a big fan of high fences (shocker, I know) but I consider them too ingrained in Texas society ($$ and politics) to believe they'll ever be outlawed. I do think their should be limits on the amount fenced and the amount of crossfencing allowed. I'd prefer it be something along the lines of 10 sections, but that's probably not doable either politically.

I will say that I grew up feeder hunting in Texas and really don't have a problem with it. I saw high fences begin to spring up and I was a little uneasy. I will tell you that outside of the State of Texas (and hunting shows are at least partially to blame) the belief is that every Texan sits inside a 50 acre high fence and shoots bottle raised deer. I know its far from accurate but it's the prevailing train of thought about "Texans" and it makes me sad.

Getting rid of (virtually all of) the Texas based hunting shows would help a lot, but I guess as long as Keith & Allen Warren continue to get sponsors, they'll continue to shoot stocked deer on TV.

I'm not saying anything but the habitat the property provides, as I know nothing about it. And yes 500 ac, can be much better than 10,000 depending on what is avialable and support a higher population both naturally and un-naturally (adding feed).

But the deer cannot escape, period end of story. You're giving fairy tale dreams of, "well they can scoot under the fence at the water crossing", and "they can jump the fence" it's high right? like high enough to keep them in? Being able to causally jump the fence would then defeat its purpose so it obivously keeps 99% of the deer in.

I don't care what you do with your property, but like I said earlier you should have had to pay the state for everything that walks on four legs and cannot climb over the fence that you fenced in. Then you can do whatever you want to with it, cuz you own it and it's your property.

You mentioned tagged deer "getting out of the fence" were they still on the larger piece of property? And for the other deer that came onto the property did you tag them and take them into the herd?

Also, and here is a real kicker... Dogs love their owners so much so that if lost away from home they sometimes can find their way back. If like you said the deer are so happy to be in your fence, why aren't they fighting to get back in once they escape?....

[This message has been edited by OnlyForNow (edited 11/14/2011 3:45p).]

How do you get the deer to stand still to put a tag in their ear?

Puts some peanut butter on his dick.

TPWD uses a helicopter to tranquilize them and tag them. They tag both ears because we found that they lose them quite frequently.

So is there where the thread really begins or where it ends?

quote:

---

Can't shoot inside a 1/4 mile radius around a feeder.

---

We hunt about 900 acres. Using this fun map radius tool, I estimate that 4 feeders would just about block us completely out using the 1/4 mile rule.

[This message has been edited by Ol Jock 99 (edited 11/14/2011 4:22p).]

Why is TPWD flying around in a helicopter shooting deer with a dart?

sunchaser

I would venture to guess that one way gates would constitute trapping, for a high fenced place. But you know If a welder is not available, jb weld will pretty much keep a one way gate shut.

In my case the fence is put smack dab on the property line, because that is where I placed the survey stakes for them to build it. So, if they try luring deer from my place, there will be an auxillary fence placed around the trap area.

I think this drought is going to dramatically change the small acerage high fence places. I was on a little under 100 acres that was high fenced about 3 weeks ago and it was sad and my recommendations were to kill everything still walking. The die off's are going to be ugly.

One guy said his wife didn't like to see him kill the animals so he could only do it when he got out on his own. I asked him if she would rather see the animals starve to death. He didn't have a real response.

High fences are pure crap. Just plain chicken s***. I also hate it when people bring exotics into Texas because if they do get out, they usually out compete the native deer for food. So glad I hunt on my grandpas place where there isn't a high fence around for miles.

High fences

Ok, I'm not going to weigh in one way or another on the high fence issue, yall can run in circles if you want.

Last year I had the chance to see nnichols' property, high fenced or not, he legitimately has some of the best actual HABITAT management I have seen on a property. If the local biologist makes a habitat recommendation, they do it. They are one of the few high fence places I have seen that didn't have a browse line everywhere you turn. One of the big reasons is they actually follow their herd management recommendations. My dad was able to shoot a doe (which I am extremely thankful for) on Friday night. I didn't even see another doe until Sunday morning. The deer have enough to eat that they come to the feeders more as an afterthought, and the place has A LOT of cover. The property sits in an interesting ecotone, so you see some very unique plant communities.

Personally, I'm not a fan of high fencing, but after seeing the specific property and area specific challenges, frankly I would probably be tempted myself.

Ok, yall can go back to arguing.

It sure got awful quiet on this thread fast.

quote:

---

I own just shy of a quarter section and without the aid of bait, we would likely not see many, if any, deer. As it is, we often go without seeing one deer throughout the season.

---

Wow. I suggest you learn how to hunt deer. I hunt thousands upon thousands of acres of continuous wilderness/national forest in the Mountains of WV with thick stands of hemlock, mountain laurel and rhododendron; huge cavernous rock cities full of cracks and gorges; and topography that you could hide skyscrapers in. There are infinite places for deer, bears, and wildlife to hide.

And yet, I manage to kill deer with a bow and arrow with regularity without the aid of any sort of bait. And I do not profess to be a world-class deer hunter. I do consider myself perhaps slightly better than average.

Your statement, while honest, is in my opinion pretty pathetic. I don't have an ethical problem with you grocery shopping over a feeder. But to act like you just simply can't kill deer any other way is just flat wrong. It's not that you can't kill deer without bait, it's just that YOU can't kill deer without bait.

Re nnichols operation: Maybe high fencing is like lawyers....99% give the rest of them a bad name.

PM sent instead...

[This message has been edited by Todd 02 (edited 11/15/2011 7:13a).]

quote:

---

I hunt thousands upon thousands of acres of continuous wilderness/national forest in the Mountains

---

I only have 100 acres and they still elude me.

Just to throw some more gas on the fire ...... how about the State (your tax dollars) start paying me and other ranchers and farmers for the crop damage from your State owned deer turkey etc. It costs me money to feed your deer shouldn't I be compensated for it? Side note none of my land is high fenced or leased.








Waiting for the S*** Storm to start ...... this really isn't a serious post. just jerkin some chains....lol

Your subsidized crop insurance isnt enough?

what about the fields you're paid not to till?

[This message has been edited by Sloan Kettering (edited 11/15/2011 8:12a).]

Sean98
user level: TexAgs LegendAggie posted 8:06a, 11/15/11this user's public profilesend private message to useredit this replyobject to this reply



Your subsidized crop insurance isnt enough?


NO Sir, I am self insured and receive no government subsidies on any kind (nice try though). I farm to raise feed for my cattle, (hay and wheat pasture). I do NOT use the government for anything. I don't want any of them even flying over my place!

Great program. Sloan Kettering you seemed to like pheasants.

AggieCowboy, now let's be a little honest, that wonderful wilderness area you guide is federal property.

[This message has been edited by ursusguy (edited 11/15/2011 8:32a).]

Cowboy,

with a little leg work and you can get permits to shoot animals (game animals too) that are depradating (devaluing) your crop.

[This message has been edited by OnlyForNow (edited 11/15/2011 9:00a).]

true enough ursus

quote:

---

this really isn't a serious post. just jerkin some chains

---

This was the important part of your post and it continued into mine.

I personally believe some of the federal programs are very well (and appropriately) utilized. Not all, but some. CRP in many cases has been a tremendous success. But has also been abused from time to time (like this year).

OFN,

YOu don't need a permit to kill anything destroying your crops, you just can't collect anything to keep or eat.

I have a peanut farmer 1/2 mile from me and he regularly dispatches a few dozen deer when he plows his peanuts. He was fined pretty heavily, once, when he was caught dressing out a few of the doe. GW told him he had to leave them where they lay, if killed protecting crops. If, not he would need a license and tag what he shoots.

quote:

---

YOu don't need a permit to kill anything destroying your crops

---

Ursus can answer this better than me, but I am not sure that is correct. I believe it happens a lot, and it may be how your local GW has decided to enforce it, but I don't believe it's correct per the letter of the law.

[This message has been edited by Sean98 (edited 11/15/2011 11:27a).]

Doc. I do not think that is correct. I am pretty sure you still are supposed to have the correct permits in order to kill them. (hogs excluded).

I'll admit my experience is soley with the MBTA (Migratory Bird Treaty Act), and filing federal permits to kill 'protected' bird species... you'd be surpised at what fish farms are allowed to shoot...

I did work for a guy in HS that was a farmer (small batch kinda thing) and he had to get some kind of state permit to shoot the deer eating his crops (Montgomery County), he also had to prove that they were causing a monetary loss to him/the farm. ie, harvest before deer, harvest after deer.

[This message has been edited by OnlyForNow (edited 11/15/2011 11:45a).]

Ursus ,roflmao, very true about the wilderness area but I wasn't talking about high fencing any of it unless you know of some gubernet program where I might claim me a part of it

If you buy enough checkerboards and fence those appropriately it could work!!