28k acres and found 7 miles from the fence.

I'd say 43 sq miles is about as close to LF as you can get.

My point is its not a breeder buck and it wasn't genetical engineer other then by nature.

I guess people don't realize that deer travel on average, no more than 2 sq. miles from their birthsite. Which is the equivalent to 1280 acres. So, don't bash a high fence place over 1280 acres because unless there is a higher driving force, the deer aren't going anywhere anyways!

Don't want to get involved in the high fence/low fence/no fence debate...but I hunt on a 10k acre ranch in West Texas and we see deer travel much farther than 2 miles. I have set on a ridge and watched a group of deer travel over 3 miles and were still moving when they crossed over the next ridge. We have pictures of the same bucks at different feeders that are over 6 miles away as the crow flies.

2 Square Miles might be "average", but it isn't unusual for them to travel much farther on my place.

I can't believe anybody would criticize a deer of this magnatude.

I read a post earlier stating that he passed him up at 220 and six years old because "he knew he was in a high fence and could't leave"

there are 365 things that could have happed to that deer to end his life besides a bullet or arrow. coyotes, stress, drought, getting in a fight, etc.......all these things can and do happen to mature bucks on a regular basis. for him to let a deer like that walk shows DEDICATION that 1% of the hunting population has. for you to say something like that just reeks of jealousy.


all this bull**** about "oh, he shot it under a high fence on MLD, a 160 class low fence buck would be more impressive, you can take that 160 and put it where the sun don't shine, I'll take you to a ton of ranches, low fence, that have produced 160 in deer. Hell, I'll take you to some that have produced 180's and one that produced a 197.....low fence/no protien.

I would agree that this deer, had it been pen raised, cross bred with northern genetics, etc, would't be nothing to write home about, but its 100% native, grown on what 10,000 other ranches are doin with their herds.

what this buck represents, is what can be done with proper herd management. No need for outside genetics, DMP pens, just good old texas stock and some time and good groceries.



Way to go Mr. Barrett. Looking forward to seeing that buck at the los cazadores awards banquet next year!

That buck is the crowing achievement of their hard work and patience. Congratulations to them. Just proves what can be done if one is committed enough.

If all hunters in Texas practiced a little more management and let those young bucks walk then we all might have at least a small chance of shooting monster bucks.

My family owns a small place (300+ acres) in San Saba Co. Like most places in the hill country, the genetics are there for some nice deer. The age structure isn't. The bucks never make it beyond their 3rd year generally. I haven't hunted my own property in more than 10 years simply because my idiot neighbors shoot anything they see with hair or bone. Wish I could afford to high fence them out.

got the same problem around kerrville luckily for me less people are hunting it would make me happy to see them all leave or stop huntin my brother and dad are on a lease in south texas for this reason and as soon as i get outta college and have the money hopefully i will be there 1700 acres of low fence beautiful but back to the point if everyone practiced deer managment it would definately increse the odds of shooting a hell of a trophy for the area you hunt of course hill country deer can grow to the 150's just have to be passed on definately should be an average of shootin 130s and 140s if managment catches on and more and more people are the information just has to be put out there and gotten to people with some sense

For all the jealsous winey babies...

The only thing a high fence does on a place like that is keep the neighbors from shooting him before he got where he is.

I have 330 acres in south texas, it is low fence, and we feed corn, protein, and have lots of good food plots. Why wont we ever shoot deer close to being that big??? because they will get shot before they get the chance, genetics has little to do with it if you dont let them mature.

That is an awsome deer, I love the trash, great job and keep it up, I want my old man to get a good one too, prob wont be that good but great to us.

matt

I don't care either way, but what it does show is that the Rack has become the MOST important part of the hunt to some people.

I blame TTH and the ego.

Didnt b&c start the big antler/horn club .

yelp!!! that damn Teddy Roosevelt and his Boone and Crocket club

I don't care either way, but what it does show is that the Rack has become the MOST important part of the hunt to some people.

I blame TTH and the ego.

Yep ain't it a shame that a man over 100 yrs ago had the foresight to see the value of wildlife and what tha mean't to a nation to preserve them for all of us to enjoy today. It's a shame that we can't do that today...oh wait that is what they call wildlife management.

So with all this said, I guess the race is on to see who can produce the first 400" deer. Or is he in the making already?.......

Probley in the making if we get even more rain this summer... and everyone uses their doe tags like TPWD recommends this year since this is third year of awsome fawn recuitment.

But to be serious I have already showed you two buck in texas that where already very close to the 300 mark on free range so whats still your problem?