Was wondering if anyone has had experience of hunting next to a larger ranch that goes up with high fencing on 1-2 of your sides and what are the type of effects you experienced to your hunting, both in short term and long term? With other low fence properties around you on the low fence sides, do the deer' travel patterns adjust over time and how long does it take, weeks, months? What is a realistic percentage drop in deer sightings, 25-50%, etc.? Thanks

How big is the place? What’s deer density like? Is it cutting off any major water food or cover source?

In the long run with good density and not cutting of something major I doubt you see a huge change… other than if your hunting up against the HF your game comes from the other side. No different than hunting against the fence from the inside other than lack of control of neighbor harvest etc.

X2

My buddy has been hunting next to a HF for years. He says he’s seen a lot more deer since the fence went up. Seems like the deer travel to the fence and then hang around the area for awhile, sorta like stacking them up.

I have partial high fence on 2 sides of me. No indication, after quite a few years, of it mattering. One possible bonus was when somebody, not on an adjoining side to me, cut his fence and released some of his big antlered livestock. I expect they have shared their genes.

My neighbor told me that the stands he has close to my HF, he's seeing less deer than before. That's all I got.

Ha, good one Stompy...Different situation than what you dealt with as we've taken a total of 2 deer in 6 seasons; big wig came in and bought some large parcels of land and wanting to breeder stock it for big game hunting...

The only way it should affect you is if all the deer you had before were coming from the now HF pastures. Maybe you need to look in the mirror for your deer problems.

HA, if 2 deer killed and shot at in 6 seasons is the issue, I'll own that one 24x7, 365 days a year...You must have missed the whole DFW big wig coming in and sight unseen stocking up on parcels of land to big game hunt. Thanks for the input though....

So, this happened to you? On how many sides, and what exactly has been your experience? If I read correctly, you're averaging killing one deer every 3 years. Do you have prior history on the place before the HF went up on 1 or 2 sides of you?

Correct on all accounts, been nice deer, 120-140" seen seasonally...

What has your experience before the fence went up? Killing more?

2, 5+ yo deer taken in six seasons before HF going up, plenty seen

How long has the fence been up, and on how many sides?

2 sides and recently completed

How big a place?

My home place is 23 acres. I’ve had multiple deer in the 140’s on cam 1-2 probably broke into the 150’s. I’ve shot zero, but 1 adjoining owner could put up a HF and I might never see deer again.

Several years ago, 2 miles of HF went up east and west. It adjoined an existing 2+ miles of HF going south. At first, deer didn’t change but their movement did. Years later, we’ve been able to better the herd.

Beware of HFDS - as we all know, it certainly can have an effect on somes.

It’s a 160. DQ and I share it. Fence on 2 sides but one side is an open wheat field with little to no traffic from that direction.

LOL Hudbone. DQ and I don’t have it we are just looking for honest and candid feedback. Thanks for chiming in !

We are partially high-fenced via neighbors ranches. It should not have any long term affect provided the areas that are not high-fenced have quality habitat on either side.

Maybe if you can't raise any deer on your place is the reason you don't have any. Before the HF you say you had deer. Now you have very few. Seems as though you were shooting your neighbors deer before he HF it. Just my educated guess.

DQ never said he had more deer before the fence went in. And how does one "raise deer" on a 1/4 section lease?

Don

We asked a legitimate question for the board. If you want to keyboard warrior our question please go find another thread.
You are just trying to mix it up. Please stop.

4W

I found it to be awesome. Especially when a large tree takes out huge section or a pissed off ranch hand cuts openings all around the ranch. 😁

Sell it to some rich Dallas duck hunter and he can high fence it, use the money on out of state hunts and have more fun and bigger deer plus elk