That's the same thing you're doing with your bucks.

Gumby

3.5 is 3.5 now we gonna make exceptions? Maybe that 3.5 10pt is just as impressive to a hunter that has never taken one over 100". Cant have it both ways, not for all these rule following... Nevermind.

If not killing anything is management, then I have managed properties all over Texas for over 40 years.

...so anyone who just wants to "meat hunt" is welcome to kill a doe.

If you want to manage a lease that is all fine and dandy, but a penalty is really overkill. I can see all these restrictions if you have a high fenced lease because the deer are going to be on the same property and not going anywhere (for the most part). But on a regular piece of land with standard cattle fencing? Please. Those deer are going to get shot somewhere else. And no it won't be shot by someone with no management practices, or someone who doesn't respect a trophy. It will be shot by someone who sees a nice buck and chooses to harvest the animal.

If you want to manage a lease that is all fine and dandy, but a penalty is really overkill. I can see all these restrictions if you have a high fenced lease because the deer are going to be on the same property and not going anywhere (for the most part). But on a regular piece of land with standard cattle fencing? Please. Those deer are going to get shot somewhere else. And no it won't be shot by someone with no management practices, or someone who doesn't respect a trophy. It will be shot by someone who sees a nice buck and chooses to harvest the animal.

If you want to manage a lease that is all fine and dandy, but a penalty is really overkill. I can see all these restrictions if you have a high fenced lease because the deer are going to be on the same property and not going anywhere (for the most part). But on a regular piece of land with standard cattle fencing? Please. Those deer are going to get shot somewhere else. And no it won't be shot by someone with no management practices, or someone who doesn't respect a trophy. It will be shot by someone who sees a nice buck and chooses to harvest the animal.

Sort of silly to expect everyone to think just like you. Variety makes the world go round. If the rules of a certain lease don't fit you, go find another lease or abide by the rules.

Not the case at all. We are on a 9000 acre lease and adjoin another 6000 acre lease all on the same ranch. Low fenced. We let 160-180 inch deer walk if they are not at least six and a half years old and they do not get shot. Now if you are on a small tract of land then yes, neighbors may shoot them. But again, it depends on the lease, ranch, and property size

yeah that does make sense. i totally missed the large tracts of land aspect. good point. i still dont get the fine though. id figure if it was a rule and it was broken then they dont get invited back

If they want to pay the fine, we let them come back the first time. If they decide to leave, in most cases they are not going to pay the fine anyway. You would be surprised how many repeat offenders you have. Some people get excited over any showing of antlers and start blasting away. If it is a questionable buck, we usually rule in favor of the hunter the first time. You have to draw the line somewhere because if you do not, pretty soon people are shooting 2.5 year old bucks. Not everyone agrees on what a shooter is, just like everyone does not agree on what a safe driving speed is.

On my lease we are all related and have the same goal which is to grow bigger bucks. If one of us gets trigger happy and takes a younger buck that as good potential he or she might get picked on for the rest of the season but it is all in good fun and we are happy for them. We have decided that we don't want to take any buck that is less than 4-4.5 years old and less than 10 points.