High fence mule deer

With all the high fence ranches here in central Texas I have never seen a mulie in one, nor have I seen a hunt for one advertised in the outfitters and guides section. Is it against the law to have them in a high fence or are they just extremely wild and are hard to keep in. Just something I have been wondering about.

Don't know the law now, but about 30 years ago someone in Burleson county killed one and TPW was going to fine him because there was no season in that county. Believe case was dropped. It had to have been turned loose or escaped from a pen.

Good question. I've heard HF ranches in the rolling plains shoot all the mule deer out

We had this topic come up several years ago.


The general consensus is they cannot survive East of about ozona due to humidity and other factors

I sold a Ranch last year in Val Verde county south of Sonora and north west of Juno. Val verde has a mule deer season so the owners tried to raise them on the ranch. They even had a 250 acre trap they constructed to better help them along but it was a failed mission.

There was a few people breeding them but I haven’t seen or heard of those operations in years

For the most part, they are thriving in big ranch country in the panhandle and trans pecos. Most of those ranches don't see the need to high fence.

I quail hunted a very large HF Ranch near Sanderson that had both WT and Mule Deer. They were not feeding protein free choice on it and the deer of both types looked about average for that part of the State.

Sounds like our lease, on all counts. The family used to run a serious exotic hunting operation, and still do to some extent, but the surviving family member doesn't have the same interest and certainly isn't into the protein feeding expense.

There are a few mildly impressive mulies, but for the most part average but healthy. They are the reason I'm on the lease.

There is a HF place north of Jacksboro that raises Muledeer. I believe there has to be a season for the animal to be able to hunt them. Just like there are bears and javelina in certain areas that can’t be killed bc of no hunting season

I was about to name the same place. I haven't seen them this year but have only been by a few times lately. I am sure they are still there. He has some massive elk on that place too.