I just got back from the lease, when I pulled up my jaw dropped.....

We are in Matador on the Caprock, heres what happened...

The landowner literally had every Cedar tree on the place pushed over and into probably around 100 or so piles. We have 750 acres with deep canyons so with all the cedars as you walked it, it seemed like a really big place; Sorry if that makes no sense...

Now it's typical West Texas miles and miles of it! The landowner told us nothing I had no idea, some of our stands where bent over because they were tied to a tree as well as our feeder pins are falling over!

Should I be pissed or should I be worried about the deer having no cover? What would you guys do?

I wouldn't worry about it. Cedars are evil little weeds that need to be destroyed. I doubt it will hurt your hunting.

I'd think quite the opposite. Most of your cover is dense cedar. All of that machinery isn't keeping deer happy. You will now need to have a heck of a food/water source to keep deer around during the season that might have use to feel a safe haven.

I agree that there pretty useless and suck up all the water and what not; but man there is literally no cover at all now. I'm a little worried.

I'd be pissed that he didn't give you warning about your stands and feeders. Since you said you have canyons on the place the deer will run those i would relocate blinds there.

Yea I agree on the location moves. It really sucks cause now basically we hunted 4 guys (1 bow only) and now with bino's we call see each other almost! It's crazy.

I'd be mad that it damaged your equipment and let him know. He also should have informed you since he changed the deer habitat on you. You didn't lease a freaking barren area you leased an area covered with good cover for the deer even though cedars aren't much good for anything else.

Definitely be upset! He should have told you and your equipment was damaged!

+1, did he give a reason for doing it? That's a lot of acreage to clear just for the hell of it.

He hadn't given me a reason yet but only because I haven't talked to him. Today I'm gonna give him a call and see what he has to say, he's really a nice guy and I really like him. I think he might of went a little to far though this time my lease looks like the freaking hills of Ireland!!

be mad but not to mad my stuff messed up im upset,trees no,didnt tell you yes.

That would be unacceptable for sure . Sorry you had to find out like that .

In the long run, getting rid of the cedar will improve the habitat.

Cedar chokes out the native browse, uses water, and offers nothing for deer.


Sucks that your equipment was damaged.

+2 HuntingTexas is right, you leased an area with good cover, now it's been taken away. The habitat has been changed, drastically! A simple phone call from the land owner (or whoever is in charge) would have been the very least that could have done. If it was me, I would be going APE S! Especially if my equipment was damaged. Maybe even to the point of taking my money somewhere else. But, that's just me.

I wouldn't worry to much about the cedars.

What I would be ticked off about is my damaged equipment.

We had a place at one time that the owner cleared most of the cedar off of, the hunting actually got better.

Bill

Stay with it. The deer hunting will improve. Now would be a good time to think about planting fall and winter food plots. I would inquire as to why you weren't given notice to first move your blinds. If the landowner is a standup guy, he may cut you a price break (or not).

this+

Are cedar your only cover? If not then your OK. If you have a good relation ship with the rancher he would have told you his plans. IMO Sounds like a good place to start. Nothing wrong with brush control, it helps.

Pretty much, other than 6-10 feet tall mesquites that are already dead the cedars were all that they had to feel comfortable in.

I think you guys are right I'm more POd about our blinds and feeder pins.

Update to come later...

The deer hunting should improve, and take a deep breath and explain that your equipment was damaged and you would appreciate a heads up next time.

chances are the property owner wasnt operating the dozer and it would have been move work for the equipment hand to move around your stuff.

Anybody that thinks cedars are good and wonder why a land owner would remove them; just know that a Cedar tree takes 100+ gallons of water out of the soil every day!

The only thing they are good for is a cover sent, I hack up some green trimming off of them and put them around my blind.

The landowner spent a lot of money improving the grass production which eventually will show improvement in the hunting. You didn't mention the adjoining properties as for cover but deer for some reason on our places migrate to the open country early and late for some reason. Lots of them bed in the open coastal fields at night that are dormant that time of year. The only reason I can think of is easier to spot incoming predators. Give it time and you will see improvement in hunting.

water food cover. Dont deer need all three to survive? Like someone mentioned before, the canyons will be your best bet. Yes I would be mad, some for the equiment, but if there is no deer in the area because of the lose of cover, then the equipment will be useless. Ease it in to your conversation with LO. Please let us know how it turns out. And if you get the chance, take some pictures so we can see what you see. Before and after pics if you have them. I hunt in East Texas, so I cant imagine not having any cover. Makes you not want to do any work on the lease also. Good luck. I have an extra stand you can hunt in during season if you need a place to hunt. Not much, but its something.

KG68

made a really good point, in Oklahoma every year I see extrememly large bucks bed down in grass that is 4.5-6' tall. And there is cover all around them but they choose to beddown in tall dead grass.

If I were you I would set up so you can see the creek/canyon crossings and catch them moving from the canyons to the tall grass.

Remember this picture I posted early this year. These deer were more interested in food than cover.

I would be upset about the equipment damage and I believe that he should have at least told you that he was going to do it.
I am assuming that the LO runs livestock on the place and it will help his herds not having cedars soaking up all the water, but he still should have given you guys a heads up.