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Hunters per acre ?
#1747600
10/14/10 04:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
Logante
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 36 |
This may be a relative question, but I am new to deer hunting an just need some experience folks to chime in. How many people could safely hunt on 800 acres of land? What are the things that you look for when picking a lease? Any area's of North Texas not so good for Deer hunting?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by sig226fan (Rguns.com); 10/14/10 04:26 PM.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: Logante]
#1747607
10/14/10 04:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601
sig226fan (Rguns.com)
duck & cover
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duck & cover
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 32,601 |
s This may be a relative question, but I am new to deer hunting an just need some experience folks to chime in. How many people could safely hunt on 800 acres of land? What are the things that you look for when picking a lease? Any area's of North Texas not so good for Deer hunting?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: sig226fan (Rguns.com)]
#1747622
10/14/10 04:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 342
BOWTECHHUNTER
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 342 |
depends on the location of the state. we hunt 8 people on around 2000 acres in west texas.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: BOWTECHHUNTER]
#1747641
10/14/10 04:40 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,451
Seadog
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,451 |
In East Texas Big Thicket area, I'm on a 6200 acre lease with about 60 hunters, (about 30 hunt)!!! It is so thick there that many can hunt safely!!!
I support Cap and Trade - Cap our spending and Trade Obama
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the Government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. - Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: Seadog]
#1747679
10/14/10 04:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,262
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,262 |
About 100 acres per hunter is a good rule of thumb for most of East Texas. This number is based on what a wildlife biologist told me in terms of what it takes to support one good buck per season. It also works out to be the ratio the TPWD appears to use most often when issuing antlerless permits on managed properties. When we participated in the program, we ALWAYS received one antlerless permit for every 100 acres.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: Texas Dan]
#1747686
10/14/10 04:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
it all depends on the cover and terrain. Could get by with 100-200 acres per hunter, but usually just b/c you can safely hunt that many doesn't mean it's a smart choice in terms of 1 buck/hunter allotment.
Last edited by rifleman; 10/14/10 04:59 PM.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: BOWTECHHUNTER]
#1747699
10/14/10 05:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
depends on the location of the state. we hunt 8 people on around 2000 acres in west texas. X2 Hunted on 14,000 acres in Stonewall and Kent counties and we 8 guns and it was crowded at times. Have 8 guns on 70,000 acres in Pecos county now and it can get crowded on that large of ranch if all areas of the ranch did not get rain that year. Have seen a gun to 100 acres with lots of deer and lots of cover. Just depends on location and cover and what your buck to doe ratio is as well as deer density. If you goal is meat then you can get by with more on a ranch than if it is trophy quality then you will need more acres per hunter.
Last edited by stxranchman; 10/14/10 05:09 PM.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: stxranchman]
#1747854
10/14/10 06:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 205
Ray Ray
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 205 |
I was on a 650 acre lease in Fredricksburg and we had 8 hunters on it and I thought that was too many, I'm now on a 1400 acres lease in east texas and we have 16 hunters on. Like others have said it all depends on tree and brush cover. You want to be able to hunt safe and not have so many hunters that the deer can't move around the property without getting wind of them or spooked everytime they turn around. Things to look for are availability of water, food sources and cover for the deer to move around on, bed down and feel safe in. And you don't always need a food or water source if it's on another adjacent property look for signs that the lease might be a crossing area for the deer moving across it to get to the food or water. I personally would like to hunt only 4-6 hunters on 800 acres if it was wooded east texas forest. That way the hunters are spread out fairly good and it provides a lot of area that the deer feel safe and less pressure. But you can have several hunting areas/stands and feeders to rotate hunting on during the season.
If we always do, what we have always done, the we always get, what we have always gotten! Learn to adapt!
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: Ray Ray]
#1747886
10/14/10 06:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,355
Bowtech1233
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,355 |
800 acres I would say should be limited to 2 hunters. But the way leasing is going now days they will try to cram about 20 hunters in there and charge them all $2k. It has gotten ridiculous!
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: Bowtech1233]
#1747936
10/14/10 06:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,502
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,502 |
personally if i was lookling for a lease
This is what I limit it to
hill country- no more the 2 per 400 acres max Central texas to north texas no more then 2 per 400 acres max Panhandle/west tx no more then 1 per 1000 acres South texas 1 per 400 acres max.
But it depends on what your looking for if its big bucks well then it depends on the management in place and what you classify asa big buck.... Safety wise depends on the the hunters hunting it
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: stxranchman]
#1747946
10/14/10 06:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765
jskin
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765 |
depends on the location of the state. we hunt 8 people on around 2000 acres in west texas. X2 Hunted on 14,000 acres in Stonewall and Kent counties and we 8 guns and it was crowded at times. Have 8 guns on 70,000 acres in Pecos county now and it can get crowded on that large of ranch if all areas of the ranch did not get rain that year. Have seen a gun to 100 acres with lots of deer and lots of cover. Just depends on location and cover and what your buck to doe ratio is as well as deer density. If you goal is meat then you can get by with more on a ranch than if it is trophy quality then you will need more acres per hunter. Seriously, even if it was wide open 70,000 would not be crowded for 8 guns. There is no right or wrong to this question. You do what you can afford and are comfortable with. You just have to realize that if you put several guys on a smaller place you are not all gonna shoot trophy deer. I have hunted with up to 4 guys, all on places less than 600 acres. Me and a buddy hunt a place in ETX that is probably 40 acres of woods and we hardly ever see the same deer.
"While we are postponing, life speeds by"
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#1747955
10/14/10 06:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,636
AdvTX
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,636 |
we have 10 on 2300 in the rolling plains, half are bow only which really helps on blind placements.
Bow Only
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: AdvTX]
#1747962
10/14/10 06:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
we have 2 on 276/652, but only kill one buck off the property
putting 2 on 288 and limiting to 1 buck for the property
have 8 on 5000 w/ an 8 buck limit.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: AdvTX]
#1747963
10/14/10 06:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765
jskin
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765 |
Some of you guys cannot compare your situation to the average hunter. 1 hunter per 1000 acres is not gonna fit most budgets!
"While we are postponing, life speeds by"
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: jskin]
#1747984
10/14/10 07:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 711
DBrock
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 711 |
Some of you guys cannot compare your situation to the average hunter. 1 hunter per 1000 acres is not gonna fit most budgets! Agreed.1000 acres per hunter is overkill not only in amount of land but cost as well. I hunt 2 on 400 acres in the panhandle and we do fine, but then again were not running a trophy program and were not shooting basket racks either. I think he's right there is no right answer. Depends on situation.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: jskin]
#1748003
10/14/10 07:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
depends on the location of the state. we hunt 8 people on around 2000 acres in west texas. X2 Hunted on 14,000 acres in Stonewall and Kent counties and we 8 guns and it was crowded at times. Have 8 guns on 70,000 acres in Pecos county now and it can get crowded on that large of ranch if all areas of the ranch did not get rain that year. Have seen a gun to 100 acres with lots of deer and lots of cover. Just depends on location and cover and what your buck to doe ratio is as well as deer density. If you goal is meat then you can get by with more on a ranch than if it is trophy quality then you will need more acres per hunter. Seriously, even if it was wide open 70,000 would not be crowded for 8 guns. There is no right or wrong to this question. You do what you can afford and are comfortable with. You just have to realize that if you put several guys on a smaller place you are not all gonna shoot trophy deer. I have hunted with up to 4 guys, all on places less than 600 acres. Me and a buddy hunt a place in ETX that is probably 40 acres of woods and we hardly ever see the same deer. I can assure you that with 8 hunters on 70,000 acreas and the low deer population and vast areas of the ranch getting no rain last year we seemed to be running over each other hunting the same areas. There are areas that will not hold deer at times. Water and cover are not the issue as much as forage availabilty is on that ranch. You are moving and glassing and not sitting at at feeder and waiting on deer to hunt you. This is Mule Deer only and not whitetail. I agree you can put however many hunters you want on a ranch and some will not get a legal deer if the deer are not there in huntable numbers of deer to support the guns allowed.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: stxranchman]
#1748083
10/14/10 07:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,566
KennyLee
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,566 |
It depends what you're looking for. On my place that is 600 acres, I'm the only hunter. However, I could safely put 8 hunters in different spots and all would be safe.
That said, if I put 8 hunters out there, all wanting a mature buck, but using the same standards I do when it comes to pulling a trigger, all would likely end the season unhappy.
Even with me being the only hunter, I've only pulled the trigger once in the last 5 years on a "trophy". However, there would be enough of a population for everybody to shoot a couple of does for a season. The problem would become the following season.
In the end, every property is different as is every hunter.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: KennyLee]
#1748131
10/14/10 07:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 52
trophycalls
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 52 |
Another angle to consider is family members. I hunt with a Buddy in Central Texas and we have 450 acres. But his wife or mine may hunt a few weekends in the year. And maybe our kids will too. So 2 hunters is just fine for 400 acres but if you add guests, it may be a little tight from time to time.
And if you want to shoot only mature deer, 400 is NOT enough.
Todd T
Sleep in Grayson County, Texas Hunt in Runnels County, Texas
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: trophycalls]
#1748182
10/14/10 08:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,065
exoticbob
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,065 |
3 of us (family memebers) have hunted some smaller properties with good success. we set our expectations to kill 1 good buck and maybe some culls or does. we did this to keep our costs down, but realistically knew that everyone probably would not kill a big buck. we were all fine with it and just enjoyed the outdoors together.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: exoticbob]
#1748199
10/14/10 08:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,359
COWDOG
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,359 |
It all depends on how the property is layed out. Some properties hunt bigger than others.
"If I die in Dallas, drag my cold, dead body back to Fort Worth"
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: COWDOG]
#1748267
10/14/10 08:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 332
jrpbullrider
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 332 |
The man I work for has property he lease out it is about 45 acres and has 3 hunters on it for the past 4 years and they told him that they each got a buck and 2 does each. there is a creek runs thru it. I don't know how big the bucks were but they have fun when they go
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: jrpbullrider]
#1748285
10/14/10 09:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719 |
My neighbor hunts about 5 people on the 60 acres that he leases.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: jrpbullrider]
#1748294
10/14/10 09:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,872
GLC
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,872 |
We have 650 acres and have 6 hunters. Each hunter has at least 2 feerers and stands. No problem overlaping or getting someone shot. We have pretty much cover though.
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: GLC]
#1748450
10/14/10 10:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124
LandPirate
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,124 |
6 hunters on approximately 7,000 acres in Jim Hogg Co.
Mike Buda, Tx Hunt near Freer
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Re: Hunters per acre?
[Re: LandPirate]
#1748460
10/14/10 10:19 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320
BMD
Silver Spoon
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Silver Spoon
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 41,320 |
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