I'm in early talks with a LO about leasing a place in the Brady area. Either a 600 ac place or a 1000 ac place.

With some management, what size trophies can I expect in that area? Are 140s+ realistic?

Knowing nothing else, what price per Acre would be reasonable with water and electricity but no cabin?

Probably depends on the neighbors and how much they hunt as to your trophy potential, the genetics are there. Google the Brady buck...that was before feeders, protein, etc

I would be aggressive on your offer, the rancher has 25 other folks interested in leasing most likely. As far as price, I don't know. Haven't leased since 2011...

Good luck with your negotiations!

Brady is know to have a large number of deer, not necessarily monster size. That said and largely dependent on surrounding properties' pressure, etc., if you supplementally feed, probably no reason you couldn't expect to see 120-140 bucks on occasion and rarely, a 150+.

As for price, I understand, $12-$20 per acre is not uncommon to pay around there, on the higher end if nice improved property and possibility of exotics.

I used to lease a place in SW San Saba County. About 30 mins East of Brady. We were high fenced and we culled heavily. Fed protein year round. We killed several deer from 160's-176 with one at 188. All native deer. Let them get old, kill all the carp, manage your numbers and the genes are there for 170+ inch deer. If you're looking at low-fenced country, no reason you can't kill 160+ trophies if you have good neighbors and manage accordingly. I paid $24/acre for that place. But it was fenced and had a very nice house and other facilities on the property.

Fouzman nailed it when he said let them get old. Sadly so few do. My family had a place outside of Brady for almost 10 years, and it can produce great bucks given the chance to grow up. If you do get a place, try Steve's meat market, his smoked link is top notch.

My cousin and her husband are part owners of the Statten Creek Ranch a few miles south of Brady. High fenced and tightly managed. They have produced several 170" deer. They are all millionaires and have only the best that money can buy as far as equipment, feed, etc.

I get invited down every Easter and its amazing to ride around in the high rack just enjoying the Ranch.

Nice place!

Buds of mine had 700ac on the river near Brady. Over the years they killed quiet a few 140 kinda deer and couple low 50s and a 164...plus a few exotics, Axis and red stag. They had 4 guns on it at 2750 per gun. No camphouse. Always lotsa deer but they were very commited to lettin em grow old and had the luxury of big neighbors on good management plans. They gave it up year before last....were there for 10yrs until they just couldn't deal with the hardcore alcoholic LOs bizarre behavior anymore.

That Staten Creek ranch is gorgeous I see it every time going to mason.

need another gun? hunted the brady area for 20 years and loved it, then moved from Aus to Dal and stopped traveling out there. really ready to get back to that country to hunt...Im older now so time and money are easier to come by...

Don't need anybody yet but I will keep you in mind if we don't have enough guys to fill spots. Still trying to lease the place. Just hoping for info about the deer quality in the area.

What parts of the county have huntable exotics?

We are south of Brady and have shopped around quiet a bit. Anything we have found you are looking at $2,000-$3,000/gun. We are currently on a great 450 acres with 4 guns, live creek, pecan grove and hills. We are paying $2,000.00/gun. No camp house but has electric. We haul water from the landowners house. He is a great landowner which accounts for alot. There are deer everywhere but need to be thinned out and managed for about 3-4 years. Historically on another piece we were on for years, if you got a 130 class you are doing good but there again we only fed corn from September through end of season. Throw in some year round feed and management you might see some bigger ones but then again your neighbors will see them too.

I have a low fence place in Brady with 10 guns. It is about 2700+ acres and has a old ranch house (not pretty but has a kitchen, hot water and A/C). We have lots of 130 - 135 10 pts and a few freaks with 11+ pts with kickers and drops. We are working on getting rid of the crazy rack and older 8's. If you manage properly I think you would have no problem finding deer in the 140 range. We have more doe than we can shoot, lots of turkeys, hogs, dove, and some quail (we don't hunt the quail).

I love hunting in Brady and when we do lose this lease I will certainly be looking for another in the same area. Prices stated above are about right.

I hunted just east of Brady square in the 90's and we killed some awesome bucks off the ranch.
It was not uncommon to see bucks from 140's into the 160's.
If the ranch has been managed correctly and you have good neighbors it could be gold

we hunted on the Mason/McCullogh county line, on about 1600 ac. all through the 90's and into 2002. Lots of deer, a few good bucks taken each year, fed corn, but really not needed as two of the neighbors were peanut farmers, and the deer absolutely LOVE the peanuts...Look for nuts.