My family and I are on our first year on a 120-acre tract on the Hamilton/Bosque County Line (Hamilton Side). I'd like some input on how we can manage our harvest numbers so that we have a good family lease. Mainly concerned with seeing/getting deer and having meat in the freezer, not looking to manage for maximum antler potential.
so here is the background...
property has a 30 acre wheat field, a perennial creek lined with mature live oaks and pecans, and several nice cedar thickets that are good bedding areas. Our neighbor to the south has a high fence that parallels the creek and this is a major travel corridor between agricultural fields in the area. Our neighbor to the west has about 400 acres and our landowner pays her to not let anyone hunt it (hopefully this will get incorporated into our lease eventually as that potential has been discussed). I don't have information about the properties to the north and east other than them being large wheat fields or pasture.
We have had really good luck getting pictures the past few months and have counted 11 different bucks on camera. 4 of which are certainly older than 3.5 years. It is difficult to estimate doe numbers, but I have seen as many as 6 in one photo. Based on that and other pictures I am estimating that maybe 10 or so use the property on a regular basis, but this is just an educated guess.
my youngest brother and I are planning to bow hunt only, and my mom and dad (who will likely always hunt together) will rifle hunt along with my middle brother.
With that information, here is my thought. I would like to take 3-4 bucks and 2-3 does. This would give us some flexibility and allow everyone to take at least one deer. I know that it would be way too many typically, but I'm thinking because of the other variables we might be able to make it work. what do you think.
so here is the background...
property has a 30 acre wheat field, a perennial creek lined with mature live oaks and pecans, and several nice cedar thickets that are good bedding areas. Our neighbor to the south has a high fence that parallels the creek and this is a major travel corridor between agricultural fields in the area. Our neighbor to the west has about 400 acres and our landowner pays her to not let anyone hunt it (hopefully this will get incorporated into our lease eventually as that potential has been discussed). I don't have information about the properties to the north and east other than them being large wheat fields or pasture.
We have had really good luck getting pictures the past few months and have counted 11 different bucks on camera. 4 of which are certainly older than 3.5 years. It is difficult to estimate doe numbers, but I have seen as many as 6 in one photo. Based on that and other pictures I am estimating that maybe 10 or so use the property on a regular basis, but this is just an educated guess.
my youngest brother and I are planning to bow hunt only, and my mom and dad (who will likely always hunt together) will rifle hunt along with my middle brother.
With that information, here is my thought. I would like to take 3-4 bucks and 2-3 does. This would give us some flexibility and allow everyone to take at least one deer. I know that it would be way too many typically, but I'm thinking because of the other variables we might be able to make it work. what do you think.
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