Management Hunts....?????

[mitchbcs]

There have been a few Management Hunts posted in the Classifieds for the up coming season. The price range seems to be $1500-$2500 for a 130"BC or LESS...

So do you sit with a guide and he points out a deer you can kill for the $ you paid...? and what if you pass on a 105-115 thinking there should be a 130 for the $1500-$2500 you've paid, do you just lose your money? Do you ever get to see pics of the possible management deer your hunting? How does this all work???????

What would a Management hunt (free range) be worth if the "management" deer was over 130??? Say 135, 140, 145.... or is that considered a Trophy buck?

[D C]

I hear ya this management hunting is getting more expensive. Not sure if the guide watches a deer that he knows what the score is and then tells you that thats the deer that you need to shoot or you go to the stand and shoot a deer that you think needs to be taken out, but it has to be under 130 or else the price doubles.

[Murph]

Mitch I guide on a High fenced ranch in the hill country and the way we do it is the management deer will be a big 8 point that we think will not reach trophy potential. Most of them are under the 130 score, but I will not make a hunter shoot a 105 as a management that would be a cull at this place and I will shoot it. Our management deer are all over 120 and every now and then we will let a management hunter kill a 135 or so if it is a big 8 point.

I don't know about the ones listed, but that is the way I do it.

[Russ]

Take me hunting in mexico and I'll show you it works!!!

[Encinal]

I haven't posted anything in the classified... but the way management hunts work on us is this way...

For singles... it's 2600 up to 135 with a 50% non-refundable deposit... all hunts guided.

every inch up to 145 is 225...

For groups etc we make deals like... 3k up to 140.

You shouldn't have to pay the full price if you don't have an opportunity to take a deer...

If you pass a couple of times and want to come back... then... you probably need to spend a little more money to pay for guides/cook/food

Management hunts have been around the same price industry wide for the last 8 years or so.

[Big8]

Its all different, and how the people involved in the operation see it. I have been curious of the same thing.

[DJM]

What would a Management hunt (free range) be worth if the "management" deer was over 130??? Say 135, 140, 145.... or is that considered a Trophy buck?

I was watching a show that the management bucks were "mature deer with undesirable characteristics".The one they harvested was 5 1/2 yo 150's eight point.One mans management buck is another mans trophy.

DJ

[mitchbcs]

Mitch I guide on a High fenced ranch in the hill country and the way we do it is the management deer will be a big 8 point that we think will not reach trophy potential. Most of them are under the 130 score, but I will not make a hunter shoot a 105 as a management that would be a cull at this place and I will shoot it. Our management deer are all over 120 and every now and then we will let a management hunter kill a 135 or so if it is a big 8 point.

I don't know about the ones listed, but that is the way I do it.

Thanks Murph...this is the info i'm looking for!

Take me hunting in mexico and I'll show you it works!!!

MEXICO I heard they kidnap you, give you the SWINE flu and shoot ya after you've suffered for a few days! No way I'm going back to Mexico

I haven't posted anything in the classified... but the way management hunts work on us is this way...

For singles... it's 2600 up to 135 with a 50% non-refundable deposit... all hunts guided.

every inch up to 145 is 225...

For groups etc we make deals like... 3k up to 140.

You shouldn't have to pay the full price if you don't have an opportunity to take a deer...

If you pass a couple of times and want to come back... then... you probably need to spend a little more money to pay for guides/cook/food

Management hunts have been around the same price industry wide for the last 8 years or so.

So a Trophy Class 8 (140-145) is gonna cost around $3750+... How many days does this get ya? If you shoot buck on day 1, do you get to hunt pigs or varmits or anything for the rest of the time? How do most ranches work it... Thanks for the reply Encinal! Exactly what I'm looking for!

[mitchbcs]

I was watching a show that the management bucks were "mature deer with undesirable characteristics".The one they harvested was 5 1/2 yo 150's eight point.One mans management buck is another mans trophy.

DJ

Exactly! But what does it cost ya to shoot a 150 class "management" buck???? I bet its a "TROPHY" of a price!

[Late Starter]

The size of a deer labeled as "substandard" varies greatly from ranch to ranch. Just know that you will pay handsomely for the privilege of culling the herd. If you're not willing to pay for this pruning function, the game manager and staff will do it.

[Encinal]

Yeah..

Our hunts usually run from like a friday afternoon to a sunday or a monday to a wednesday... with the option of staying over til the next morning and hunting if you haven't gotten anything.

For management hunts... honestly we sell very few "singles". They are almost a non-starter and have to be stacked in with someone else's hunt.

The operations for a weekend on our place (guide + cook for 3 days+ food) COMPLETELY eats up the deposit for 1 management.

On our place... after you are done hunting your deer... even if it is day one... the guide and cook get paid to stay the whole weekend regardless... you paid for them to be there... so you might as well stay and enjoy yourself... we haven't ever really charged for pigs/yotes/javelinas... Honestly I would have a hard time looking someone in the eye if I charged them for doing me a favor.

[mitchbcs]

so is 130 the magic #? It goes by the inch after that... Is this the standard practice most of you guys have seen? $225 an inch up to 145, then what???? 275, 300????

[mitchbcs]

Yeah..

Our hunts usually run from like a friday afternoon to a sunday or a monday to a wednesday... with the option of staying over til the next morning and hunting if you haven't gotten anything.

For management hunts... honestly we sell very few "singles". They are almost a non-starter and have to be stacked in with someone else's hunt.

The operations for a weekend on our place (guide + cook for 3 days+ food) COMPLETELY eats up the deposit for 1 management.

On our place... after you are done hunting your deer... even if it is day one... the guide and cook get paid to stay the whole weekend regardless... you paid for them to be there... so you might as well stay and enjoy yourself... we haven't ever really charged for pigs/yotes/javelinas... Honestly I would have a hard time looking someone in the eye if I charged them for doing me a favor.

Thanks for the info Encinal! Sounds like a good deal!

[STGS]

Ronnie,

We do 3 day managment hunts for $2650 up to 135". If a hunter passes up a deer, misses, or simply doesn't see a managment buck, we charge $350 per day. In the event a hunter desires to stay longer (3+ days) it is an additional $350 per day. $1K deposit.

Most of the deer we call management bucks are 8-9 pts and score 120-140. On occasion I have allowed a hunter to kill a larger buck, but in those cases the deer has some sort of irregularity or permanent damage that will likely prevent me from selling him as a trophy. We don't charge extra if the guide misses the score. I just fire the guide. ;-)

We also sell cull bucks for anywhere from $500-$1000. These are the scrubs that won't even make 120". These are not usually sold individually, but rather as an add-on to a trophy hunt or management hunt (father-son or family deal).

My biggest suggestion is to make sure everyone knows the rules, limits and consequesnces of an error or mistake. Nothing ruins a hunt and ****** off a client more than a surprise on their bill or unexpected cost. Hope this helps...

[angrybroadhead]

I hunted a place in South Texas last year with a rifle. It was cheap if you shot an 8pt or less. After that it started getting expensive. There was a 13 point they had seen the day before, said they wanted 4k for it! If I would have seen him, I would have just waved!