Raising White Tail
Does anyone here have any expeirence in the business of WhiteTail deer? Read an article in the paper and I'm surpised of how much money is in the business?
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It's a huge investment and in general, people don't become deer breeders in order to make money. They become deer breeders because they enjoy being around and raising deer.
If I had $10,000, I would buy about 5 straws and AI 10 does with the best pedigrees. Way more cost effective than buying a live breeder buck.Comment
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Deer
I've been around wildlife all my life and love it.... I've had a pet racoon... and love the interaction of being with animals... was an animal science major and decided to take a biology path instead... but to actually think of being able to raise a heard 24-7 and have that interaction and to have the money to get by... I'm really considering the investment... I got the place to put em... of course it needs fencing... but the land is there.... but I wouldn't even know where to get started... would 10000$ be enough to start something..?Comment
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Get in touch with Cosmiccowboy. He knows lots of folks in the business and can probably answer most of your questions.Comment
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Greenarrow,
Unfortunately, $10K wouldn't get you very far. The deer pens alone would cost $10K.....then you have to run water, water troughs, purchase bulk feeders, feed, certifications with TPWD, purchase deer, etc.
Honestly, $30K could get you started with a handful of does and the necessary facilities on the small side. Then you must consider the cost to maintain the pens....figure 3-4 lbs. of protein per day/per deer. With 12 deer, you can figure $15 per day, 7 days a week.
It is an absolute blast, but a very expensive hobby!Comment
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Thanks for the tips ... Trophy hunter....Comment
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How much money do you think is in the deer industry when people are defaulting on their mortgages...Comment
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Understand your POV... But we all love to hunt... In fact I could scroll down a list of classifieds and there are people looking to lease next year....AND plus the demographic of the market base... are usually people who have a lot of land and manage their land well.... land has a price... and maybe a small percent of these huge land owners are the ones who make up the empty pocket Joe. Every one would llike to get em a nice BC 160+, times are hard for everyone right now.... yeah we can barely make our mortgage... but we still get our trophys mounted at no discount price, we're still looking for day hunts... and we're still looking for that deer lease with that ol' silver buck.Comment
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I hope you are right.Comment
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Originally posted by trophyhunter View Post
If you're paying $15 per day for 48 lbs of feed......you're getting ripped off!
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AntlerMax,Originally posted by AntlerMax View Post
We do not pay $15 for 48 lbs. of feed......it was an estimation of daily expenses for 12 deer and exaggerated to account for Protein, Alfalfa, and the Golden Nuggets we use as an attractant to monitor the herd.
We currently feed Record Rack Breeder (16%) and pay $10 a bag or so. If you can get it cheaper, please let me know!
Ironically.....if any bagged protein rivaled $15/bag.....it would be AntlerMax. They are PROUD!Comment
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I have a friend that has a small scale brreding operation and to hear him talk, I do not believe that $10 K will get you started, even if you already have the land. I was also at the TDA (great place for additional info on getting into the breeding business) Superior Genetics auction at the SA Rodeo on Friday, and given those prices, $10 K would go VERY quick.Originally posted by GreenArrow View PostComment
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I really can't encourage anyone to get into breeding on a small scale right now if they are wanting to do it to sell deer as opposed to stocking their own ranch. In my opinion, "average" breeder deer (170-210 B&C) will be getting cheaper as supply continues to increase.
Raising deer is nothing like raising normal livestock. Penned deer are just looking for an excuse to die and you should plan on at least 10% mortality every year.
Unless you are a player in the 250+ B&C category (which requires a significant investment) you will basically be raising "shooters" for "game ranches".
If you are raising shooters, realize that you are going to have to raise that buck and keep him alive until he is mature, so you are looking at spending 6 years plus from conception to sale. Sale price will be determined by score...say a "game ranch" can sell a 190 for $15,000. As the breeder, you would typically sell the deer for 50-60% of this amount which includes delivering him alive and healthy to the ranch.
Unless you value your time at 0 you will lose money doing this on a small scale and it is a 24/7/365 proposition no matter how many deer you have. Between, feed, drugs, mortality, and knock down/transport cost (the best knockdown drugs cost $100 a dose and you will knock the deer down a minimum of 5-6 times over his life) there's just not much money in it...Comment
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