Why aren’t mule deer high fenced?

[PondPopper]

Unfortunately it is becoming a very popular thing..

http://www.cedarbreaksranch.com/

[BTLowry]

One of the docs I worked with had a thing for big mule deer. I asked him one time and he said to fence the size of the place it takes for them to thrive is cost prohibitive for the majority of people who are interested in it

[Texans42]

Merritt killed a typical several years back that grossed over 200 typical and netted somewhere in 90s....not sure if that deer is listed on TBGA, but he came from a high fence. Great buck, as are most of the deer he kills.

There were 2 typicals killed in Culberson County this year that netted a little over 200. One of those should be new typical state record if entered.



To OPs question, not a big demand for high fence mule deer would be my guess.
The genetics of current mule deer breeders in Texas has not been producing giant bucks, though they are making progress.
And most of the large ranches do not want mule deer to turn into what whitetail breeding has.

Those are big deer

[RdRdrFan]

Merritt killed a typical several years back that grossed over 200 typical and netted somewhere in 90s....not sure if that deer is listed on TBGA, but he came from a high fence. Great buck, as are most of the deer he kills.

There were 2 typicals killed in Culberson County this year that netted a little over 200. One of those should be new typical state record if entered.



To OPs question, not a big demand for high fence mule deer would be my guess.
The genetics of current mule deer breeders in Texas has not been producing giant bucks, though they are making progress.
And most of the large ranches do not want mule deer to turn into what whitetail breeding has.

Yeah, and the place that Merritt killed that deer was small. Way too small.

[PondPopper]

Yeah, and the place that Merritt killed that deer was small. Way too small.

Yep. I have a picture of it on my phone. Its big.

[N.DaWoods]

I just saw a show with Keith Warren at a mule deer breeding facility. I think it was called Cedar Break breeders or something like that. I hadn't ever seen or heard of one before, but i read this thread earlier today, then saw it on TV, funny.

[Tom]

archery mule deer is one of the greatest hunts on the planet. No need to fence them in just work hard and put some years aside between trophies!

[huntindude]

It also wouldn’t be profitable or easy to manage numbers. Look at how short the season is in Mule deer counties. In a lot of counties they wouldn’t be legal at all to ever harvest. The reason Elk are in some high fences is because they are considered an exotic in Texas so can be harvested at land owners discretion . Not the same with Mule deer


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[MAP]

Look at how short the season is in Mule deer counties.

They have an MLD season for mule deer as well, a high fenced place would have a lot longer to hunt than the regular season

[boy wonder]

I just saw a show with Keith Warren at a mule deer breeding facility. I think it was called Cedar Break breeders or something like that. I hadn't ever seen or heard of one before, but i read this thread earlier today, then saw it on TV, funny.

I briefly caught a little of that "show" and they spoke of how tame/docile mule deer are compared to whitetail..... I can't stand that piece of crap show?

[trophy8]

Merritt killed a typical several years back that grossed over 200 typical and netted somewhere in 90s....not sure if that deer is listed on TBGA, but he came from a high fence. Great buck, as are most of the deer he kills.

There were 2 typicals killed in Culberson County this year that netted a little over 200. One of those should be new typical state record if entered.



To OPs question, not a big demand for high fence mule deer would be my guess.
The genetics of current mule deer breeders in Texas has not been producing giant bucks, though they are making progress.
And most of the large ranches do not want mule deer to turn into what whitetail breeding has.

Yep. I’ve been all over that place. Couple different high fence pastures. More low fence than high. His 264 came from the low fence. I can’t recall about the one you’re talking about. Been a mix of high and low fence kills for him.

Biggest issue with places with both is even if you kill a low fence giant, people will always doubt if it was truly low fence.

[d_e_smith]

It takes a stable climate, guaranteed water/feed sources, and conditioned deer that have taken up smaller home ranges. Going out west, the deer that are winter range fixtures (town deer) would be perfectly fine behind a fence. Desert mule deer also seem to do fine behind a fence. Mule deer have finicky metabolisms when dealing with climate induced stress.

[Bill]

I briefly caught a little of that "show" and they spoke of how tame/docile mule deer are compared to whitetail..... I can't stand that piece of crap show?

I’m in Montana and we have both mule deer and white tails. White tails are alert and do not let you walk much closer than 100 yards. Mule deer does are dumber than rocks and I’ve walked within 30-40 yards many times. They’re also incredibly curious and will walk towards you.

Big bucks of both species are different.




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[Hogmauler]

Fly wise you’d be opening up a huge can of worms if the high fence thread got started again!

[wtx223]

Yep. I’ve been all over that place. Couple different high fence pastures. More low fence than high. His 264 came from the low fence. I can’t recall about the one you’re talking about. Been a mix of high and low fence kills for him.

Biggest issue with places with both is even if you kill a low fence giant, people will always doubt if it was truly low fence.

Agree.

Weren’t you looking to book an aoudad hunt a while back....did you ever go?