Trying to get a feel for the area, have an opportunity to lease 106 ac just west of Eden. Discuss!

I have not hunted there but I would think it would be good.

I've hunted Concho County going on 17 years. Best lease I've ever had, that's why I stay, Great deer numbers, some monster bucks and exotics to boot. Plus the country is visually pleasing.

Thanks, do you think 106 acres (mostly mesquites)is enough for 1 gun in that area? Also, it has 15 head of cattle and a small herd of sheep roaming the place, should I be concerned?

The deer in Concho County on a few ranches I have been on are very "flighty". By this I mean the run from any vehicle on a place and will run for a long ways before stopping. Some good genetics in the area and some bad. The size and age of deer depend on the hunting pressure around you. 15 hd of cattle on a ranch in that area is very heavy stocking rate for that part of the state. Then throw in the sheep and it will be overstocked in bad rainfall years. It must be very open pasture land to support even close to that stocking rate for cattle. You will need a very good feed pen to keep the cattle from around your feeder.

Can be a very good area depending on terrain and hunting pressure.

I would not lease it with the livestock and sheep on that small of a property.

Just west of Eden is very skinny country. With the stocking rate you mention you will have a real hard time keeping any deer on it. I'd put a feeder right in the middle and hunt the edges. Cause any deer on that place will be coming or going.

100 acres with that much stock will be scalped. I would be skeptical of much game.

On the upside, you will be close to one of my favorite breakfast spots in the state. Jacoby's Feed store has a little café, and it is good!

A little small for that area with cattle and livestock and expect to see good whitetail game. I probably would have passed on a lease with that description or in the least very wary of it. I have hunted that area a lot and I don't think I would take something like that unless it was all I could find and had something good on it that your not talking about.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Deer are good in that area. It is a small place, however. If it's cheap enough, you might want to check it out.

STX nailed it. I have hunted that country around 19 years now. There are some great areas and some poor areas...just like any county. I have been on ranches that the bucks max out at 115 and some that they kill 150-160 on a regular basis.

You will be at the mercy of your neighbors and their management, or lack there of. Especially with 100 acres. The deer in that area tend to travel. It doesn't surprise me anymore to see mature deer on TC's that are 4-6 miles apart as the crow flies. And as STX said, when they scatter, they tend to run a long ways.

Good luck on whatever you decide

If you can get the lease CHEAP go for it.
And every time you’re in town do allot of searching / networking for a new lease. If a new lease is found be ready to act fast. This may require you leasing both leases during that same season.

I hunted a small place (180 AC)west of Eden by the road side park. We saw lots of deer and axis. The guy did not run any livestock

Good area, but 106 acres might not be enough, depending on the make-up of land.

Look at it on googlemaps and see what all it is connected to. You should be able to tell if is any good or not.

As already mentioned, if you can get it cheap enough it would be better than sitting at home.

Like Pope said, if it's cheap enough get and start looking for something better. Good leases go fast and are hard to find in that area.