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Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? #7211033 06/28/18 06:50 PM
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Hartca Offline OP
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Considering doing a hunt somewhere other than just my lease this year.

Im wanting a real chance at a 160-180 class fair chase deer. Budget is up to $3500 ONLY PAY IF blood is drawn. Will be a rifle hunt.

just kicking this around to see whats available. Location does not matter as i will probably use vacation.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7211756 06/29/18 05:07 PM
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Good luck with a 160-180 for $3,500
Prob be at least $5,000

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: sasqy 1302] #7211845 06/29/18 07:46 PM
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If that’s the case Ill just hunt my place. No big deal.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7211857 06/29/18 08:08 PM
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That would be one hell of a deal if you find it. If you do, I wouldn’t tell anyone you did cheers


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Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7212665 06/30/18 10:40 PM
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Probably won't find anything like that in Texas. Many outfitters here charge by the inch and that gets expensive really fast. Your best bet would be going out of state to the midwest. Kansas and Missouri have rifle seasons but most others would be archery, muzzleloader or shotgun.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7212676 06/30/18 11:06 PM
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There are several ranches and outfitters in South Texas that do MLD low fence hunts but I do not know of one of them that are cheaper than $7000 for a hunt for deer of that quality you are looking for. No guarantees either. Do not know of any hunts where you only pay if you draw blood or kill. To many places have had people come out to hunt, eat and drink then leave after they did not shoot anything. Some do a hunt fee then a trophy fee on top after the kill.


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Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7212848 07/01/18 04:09 AM
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$200 a day guide fee if no animal is taken is fair. I’ve found a couple of hunts close to my price range I’m looking at.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7213381 07/01/18 11:27 PM
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When people contact me I usually offer $150/day and then a kill fee. But I'm near San Saba so odds of one over 160" is low. We have tons of deer and nearly every sit see bucks over 120" Last year we had two 8 point regulars that were +/-130"

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Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7213957 07/02/18 05:45 PM
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I would be careful booking a hunt with a outfitter that tells you he's got a realistic chance at getting you a free range whitetail in the 160-180 range for 3500.
You might get lucky in Kansas, Ohio, Illinois or one of the other primo states but a lot of guys that kill bucks in the 150 plus range have been going there for years and have gone home empty handed a lot holding out. It may take 6 or 7 trips before you can finally close the deal on that caliber of a animal. A free range whitetail of that caliber is a true trophy once in a lifetime buck unless you have major deep pockets and can put yourself on ranches year after year that produce those kinds of animals. I would take STX's advice seriously, if you want a realistic chance at a animal of that caliber be prepared to spend that kind of cash to get on a ranch where you realistically have a shot at one. There is a big difference in there being 160 + deer in the area and occasionally passing thru vs actually having a realistic chance at one. Keep in mind when your looking at the midwest outiftters for 3-4k that most of those guys may run 10-15 guys per year on their place and maybe 1 or 2 of those guys will kill a 150-160 plus buck. Most guys on this type of hunt walk away with 130-140 deer. Even if it meant waiting a year and saving up I would be prepared to spend 6-7k if you are realistically gonna have a shot at a trophy like that. I'm not trying to discourage you from booking a 3500 hunt by no means but I'm only speaking from experience and hard earned money spent. A 160 plus buck is simply worth a lot more than 3500, and 99% percent of guys who have land or access to land of bucks of this caliber know it. Good Luck in your search and this upcoming fall.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: jhprice2] #7214014 07/02/18 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: jhprice2
I would be careful booking a hunt with a outfitter that tells you he's got a realistic chance at getting you a free range whitetail in the 160-180 range for 3500.
You might get lucky in Kansas, Ohio, Illinois or one of the other primo states but a lot of guys that kill bucks in the 150 plus range have been going there for years and have gone home empty handed a lot holding out. It may take 6 or 7 trips before you can finally close the deal on that caliber of a animal. A free range whitetail of that caliber is a true trophy once in a lifetime buck unless you have major deep pockets and can put yourself on ranches year after year that produce those kinds of animals. I would take STX's advice seriously, if you want a realistic chance at a animal of that caliber be prepared to spend that kind of cash to get on a ranch where you realistically have a shot at one. There is a big difference in there being 160 + deer in the area and occasionally passing thru vs actually having a realistic chance at one. Keep in mind when your looking at the midwest outiftters for 3-4k that most of those guys may run 10-15 guys per year on their place and maybe 1 or 2 of those guys will kill a 150-160 plus buck. Most guys on this type of hunt walk away with 130-140 deer. Even if it meant waiting a year and saving up I would be prepared to spend 6-7k if you are realistically gonna have a shot at a trophy like that. I'm not trying to discourage you from booking a 3500 hunt by no means but I'm only speaking from experience and hard earned money spent. A 160 plus buck is simply worth a lot more than 3500, and 99% percent of guys who have land or access to land of bucks of this caliber know it. Good Luck in your search and this upcoming fall.


+1

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7214101 07/02/18 09:08 PM
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Just go to a high fence ranch open the gate run the deer out and shoot him when he crosses the cattle guard
Free range deer problem solved

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7215316 07/04/18 02:27 AM
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Best one ive found on here that cna consistently produce good bucks and has the population is frio county hunts i shot a 135" their for like $2500 that was a few years ago not sure what hes charging now but i reckon around $5000+ for 150+

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7215476 07/04/18 12:23 PM
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You could find a bow hunt in the Midwest for that price, but no guarantee of blood drawn.


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Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7217989 07/07/18 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: Hartca

Im wanting a real chance at a 160-180 class fair chase deer. Budget is up to $3500 ONLY PAY IF blood is drawn. Will be a rifle hunt.


Outfitters and guides need to make a living. They can't feed, house and lug someone around for days for a "free range" deer and hope the shooter can make the shot or everything is free. They have expenses and need to make a living. They need to pay the landowners. Sometimes you pay to go on a hunt and get nothing but still have a good time.

I think it's safe to say, no outfitter will be interested. Sorry if this is blunt, but I've been a several paid hunts the last 3 years and see all the hard work that goes in to it. There are some truly great outfitters like WTO that do everything they can to get you the animal you want but there are no guarantees with free range hunts.



Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: jhprice2] #7219670 07/09/18 06:30 PM
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the hunt im looking at is in Paducah on 59,000 acres. $200 a day guide fee IF you dont draw blood. Total price if blood is drawn is $4500 with meals and lodging. 4 day hunt. Does not PROMISE 160+, but says there is a good chance and they kill a few every year. My post was for a real CHANCE at a 160+, not a walk in the park. I know my best chances at that caliber are North and South. One was killed out of my stand in coleman 2 years ago while i was elk hunting and i still kick myself every day about it. Im on the hunt to put one on the wall one way or the other. if i need to go to the midwest to try i may consider that as well.

Last edited by Hartca; 07/09/18 06:40 PM.
Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7219885 07/09/18 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted By: Hartca
the hunt im looking at is in Paducah on 59,000 acres. $200 a day guide fee IF you dont draw blood. Total price if blood is drawn is $4500 with meals and lodging. 4 day hunt. Does not PROMISE 160+, but says there is a good chance and they kill a few every year. My post was for a real CHANCE at a 160+, not a walk in the park. I know my best chances at that caliber are North and South. One was killed out of my stand in coleman 2 years ago while i was elk hunting and i still kick myself every day about it. Im on the hunt to put one on the wall one way or the other. if i need to go to the midwest to try i may consider that as well.


Someone got a 160+ out of your stand in Coleman so maybe some genes were left behind. Good luck

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Always ready 2 hunt] #7219892 07/09/18 10:55 PM
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I sure hope so.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7220432 07/10/18 01:54 PM
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Anyone want to do the paducah hunt with me?

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7231831 07/21/18 09:59 PM
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Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7231921 07/21/18 11:35 PM
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I remember when I first started guiding over 20 yrs ago there was a ranch in Medina County I guided on that was charging 10,000.00 for a 160 class buck and we sold lots of them. The price has come down but not as low as 3500.00 I wish you luck.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7232347 07/22/18 05:30 PM
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Free range guided hunt for a realistic chance for a 160-180 is more in the 7500 range. Definitely not under 5-6k in Texas.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7232399 07/22/18 06:38 PM
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********^^^^^^^^see my above post..iw ould do alot of talking with the outfitter,ask for refernces then talk some more...IDK sounds good...i spend double that on my lease alll total including all expenses..but i have option to really chance at a fair chaise..which aint been too good lately..but we hava great group pf guys..thats what makes home grown leases so appealing

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: mow] #7232520 07/22/18 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: mow


Pretty sure these are high fence deer

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: Hartca] #7232679 07/23/18 02:22 AM
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Says it's a breeding ranch, so yes HF and states 300/500 inch deer.

Re: Best FREE RANGE MLD WT hunt for the money? [Re: BowsnRods] #7233717 07/24/18 02:39 AM
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Originally Posted By: BowsnRods
Says it's a breeding ranch, so yes HF and states 300/500 inch deer.


not gonna touch the hf debate..lol

Last edited by mow; 07/24/18 02:39 AM.
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