No difference between that and hunting a truly large Texas ranch that uses similar management practices. The ones with the deepest pockets will always have the best access to the best properties.

There is no such thing as guaranteed kills without a truly penned animal. But there are some that won’t take your money unless you are successful.

there are assumptions and reality. Taking a perception and using it as a blanket approach is mental gymnastics at its lowest.

There are no doubt, over stocked pens out there but there are also LF operations that offer similar or same success rates as the majority of HF operations.

Nothing brings out either pure jealousy or an inferiority complex better than a discussion about High Fences....

High fences are a tool a land owner uses to get their desired outcome....sometimes that is bigger buck antlers. Sometimes that is keeping "brown its down" shooters from ruining a management plan, sometimes it a paid hunter that pays dearly to enable the property owner to continue owning said property. Lots of reasons, but they all have an end goal in mind. No one just PUTS UP a high fence "just for the fun of it".


People on this forum that complain about high fences are still using high power rifles, with scopes and in texas most are hunting over a feeder that is filled with deer food. These are things others in other states see as much an advantage as some in TX see a HF for shooting bigger deer. To take the example a little further, none of us are chasing a deer off a cliff or strangling them with our bare hands or doing anything "au naturale"...we all have advantages of some sort and each state determines which advantage they want to make legal and which to make illegal. As long as we are abiding by the rules set forth by the state you are hunting in, have at it, enjoy, and don't bad mouth anyone for doing what they want legally.

[quote=Huntmaster]I also think/know if someone had a 25,000 high fence ranch; with one fence surrounding the property, there are going to be multiple fences within the high fence to “channel or funnel “ deer or cattle to a specific location. Feeding is usually done at specific places. Properties operating for a profit are not going to have multiple Joe Blows coming different days of the week, and not know where the deer or game is located on that 25,000 acres. The Cotton Mess ranch, which is 10,000 acres will make sure you get your $4500 elk or $75,000 elk… you choose, you go, you shoot. And B&C will not recognize those elk.

Do yall think hunting 25k acres high fence is fair chase? Heard that people will say its like shooting fish in a barrel. just wondering what are yalls opinions on large high fence game ranches.

All the high fence hunts are outside my budget. A well managed low fence hunt is way out of my budget. And i just don’t have time to find and manage a lease. But i don’t look down on anybody else that can.

I spend a precious few hours every year on public ground near my home and i have seen a buck that anyone would be proud of. But I am always trying to save/plan for a paid hunt, high fence or no fence whatever fits my time and budgetary constraints. It just never works out. I am not gonna let that turn me against those who can. I hope one day i can afford to go on a $30k guided elk hunt on a big no fence place.

I feel like the gist of it is high fence or high horse, pick your side

Brian, you should consider saving up about $6k and going to Namibia. I've done so 5 different times, 4 of those were on "management" hunts consisting of 10 cull animals they want you to shoot. I shot over 60 head of red hartebeest, gemsbok, impala, wildebeest, springbok, zebra, and a few kudu. The place I hunted had 40k high fenced acres, and 500k low fenced acres to hunt your asss off for 8 days. No shooting from the truck, all spot and stalk. Including airfare I was around $6k per hunt. It is an unbelievable experience, and by the way, I never even saw the high fence while hunting that property. You can go 2-3 times for the cost of that trophy elk hunt, or mule deer hunt anymore.

This one has remained entirely too civil.

I have actually hunted a Texas +-25k HF ranch. There was no funneling or HF cross fences. Just perimeter fencing. One of the harder hunts for WT’s Ive been on

I hunt a CO LF ranch and pass a min of 10 200-330 archery bulls… every year. We have killed 3 370 bulls in two years. Biggest difference CM is cheaper, and you can grab a rifle in archery season. Success rates per weapon are about the same.

B&C is a JOKE. It has completely lost its way. The whole point of the scoring system was to highlight areas with exceptional age class, nutrition and genetics. Now you pay to enter your paid for trophy to highlight yourself not the animal or management/conservation efforts.


The B&C deer I shot was on a LF ranch that I worked my butt off to manage properly along with many conservation efforts. My entering my deer with them had nothing to do with "highlighting" myself but rather to share with others what good management can produce. I share pictures on this forum for the same reason.

difference between you and I. I have never entered or posted mine. Infact I dont post dead pics of anything, Just live pics of specifically “midsized” deer to help with aging. I get you are proud of your lease and its accomplishments, but remember perception isnt always fair.

Im all for John Doe entries.

I always wonder reading these posts. Why don’t you post dead pics? I know I won’t change your mind but know many would love to see them. To each their own I guess we just aren’t in the click.

Most people would post a true B&C record breaker. Human nature.

Most people would post a true B&C record breaker. Human nature.

My rocky mt bighorn is in the book. Taken on a DIY hunt, am I proud of it, yes I am.
I wanted our area to get some recognition for the management they have done on the sheep herds, book sheep get taken in there and it is a DIY type of area.
My book pronghorn is not listed even though it also comes from an area not known for trophy animals.

Good point BOBO on the loss of leases and poaching, yep some folks will do almost anything for a chance at a book animal. and money talks with most folks too.