How is the deer population (quantity & quality) in either or both of these areas? Looking to purchase a small ranch primary for deer hunting and I am curious on what people think would be the better location. Specifically, I am trying to compare a property in eastern Callahan County south of Putnam and a couple of options in Northern San Saba County, north of Richland Springs. I'm coming from hunting primarily farmland in Jones County that didn't have great activity so I think either will be a large improvement. Appreciate any insights into these areas!

I have a buddy with a family place north of Richland Springs, the amount and size of deer they have for low fence is shockingly good.

As I understand from others and what I've read and heard, bigger deer in Callahan and decent quantities but also nice deer in San Saba and more quantities.

On a smaller property, it's all about your neighbors. I don't know much about Callahan County, but San Saba County in general has a pretty good deer population. The closer you are to the Colorado River, the better.

A small ranch anywhere, all depends on your neighbors. I'd check out the neighbors in both locations.

All things being equal, I would pick San Saba.

Thanks for the insights here. I think San Saba is the move. I'd take seeing more deer on every sit with a chance of seeing some real brutes over a lower overall population, albite maybe some unicorn bigger bucks... I hear the comments about the neighbors. I'm struggling to determine how hard they hunt. All I know to do is ask the seller (which is hard to trust) and check on google maps for obvious signs of feeders. Any other tips on how to tell if the neighbors are aggressively hunting?

Also, I am curious if people recommend protein feeding on low fence 100-200 acre properties? I'm sure it's close to pointless if neighbors are shooting anything with antlers, so lets just assume the immediate neighbors are not aggressive hunters. Sorry if this is a duplicate question, i image it's been discussed somewhere on this forum before.

Walk the perimeter fencing, looking for the obvious, deer blinds on neighboring properties, houses, etc. Also look for animal crossings under the fencing to get an idea on animal movements into and out of your place. I own smaller property, sub 100 acres and put out some protein mostly "in season" and not in an enormous quantity to more act "as an attractant" than anything else. Seems to keep bucks coming in during rut, though a lot at night, lol...

You will get a better price per acre in San Saba County versus Callahan, generally speaking. Callahan is basically a straight, relatively quick, and easy shot out of the Metroplex. I could make a driveway to gate trip from Fort Worth to our place in Rising Star in less than two hours; my friends in McKinney are less than 3 hours to the ranch. San Saba Co. adds at least another hour drive time.

100-200 acres is going to be pretty stout in that area. Excepting some truly unique places, $6,000-$8,000 per acre average list prices wouldn't surprise me south of Putnam versus $4-5,000/acre in San Saba. As for deer, I think the Callahan Co antler quality in your targeted area is superior to San Saba Co unless you are along the river down there. Alternatively, deer quantity in San Saba will be superior to that part of Callahan. I would think there is a better chance at stray exotics in San Saba, too.

I would not feed protein on 100-400 acres LF.

They'll eat you out of house and home.

Depends on your herd size. I have a protein feeder on 2 separate small acreage spots. One 400lb and one 300lb. Fill them 3-4 times a year.

Go to the property in question on a weekend and see how much gunfire is going on. Others doing some target shooting might give you an idea about what takes place there. I would feed cottonseed even though the place may be small. It will make a difference in a years' time that you will see.

I've been going by a place near Putnam pretty regular the past few weeks that may be the place you're looking at. Depends on what the property value is. The one I've seen needs lots of brush control- range improvements. Good deer in that area. How is the water situation? It is much closer to home and be easier to work on.

Yes they will, no matter the property size. Only difference is, on a smaller property you'll be feeding deer for the neighbors to shoot too. I hunt a small property but still feed protein. We find the benefits outweigh the expense. But none of the surrounding properties hunt, so our <100acres turns into about 700 of mostly unhunted land.

San saba has better deer as a whole.

As far as feeding protein, go to timed and feed with an attractant mind set and not supplemental and you will be happier, you will tend to attract more buck during season also as they tend to dominate feed sources before and after rut

Summer heat feed 2 hours before sunset and after sunset, season go to regular LST

Yes on protein, but not with an expectation to develop them. I use it solely as an attractant from an All Seasons Timed Protein Feeder. I start it about mid September, one cycle after sun up when the coons have gone back to bed. I've done this four years with good success in getting bucks in my area. They hit it hard and does seem to hit it harder. I've never killed a buck at a feeder but I have them in the area come rut and that is when I've been 100% successful getting a good one. I always have a plan to keep it running after the rut but I haven't got to that point before I've killed one. If I make it this year past the rut without killing one I'll keep it running and see if a straggler returns to the food source.

The problem in Callahan Co right now, especially around Putnam, is the massive solar panel farms coming in on both the north and south side of i20.

Here’s a couple from San Saba right on the Colorado river

Nice long brows

Who knows....you just might run into Tommy Lee Jones at his place in San Saba!

I watched him mock TABC to their face on a whole new level One night, odd bird, he isn’t much different then his character. He use to love the jug wine from some chain Italian restaurant, I wish I could remember the name. My dad would always bring him two jugs

Yeah, he seems to be on a different page alright. He came to Baylor a few years ago to play in a polo match and went bonkers during and after the match. Last heard about him locally was about three years ago when he made an offer to buy some of the Harkey Pecan Farm about the time of the murders by Bruce Harkey!