To each his own. This CRAP isn't for me but if someone wants to shell out big buck$ for a big buck by all means. The only problem I would have is it these "PETS" were allowed in the record books. I could care less if someone want to hang one on their wall. I PERSONALLY PREFER TO EARN MY ANIMALS!

And your point? I haven't hunted behind a high fence enclosure. And I would not go to a corral, point out my deer, have them turn it loose, then hit it in the head with a hammer as it eats out of my hand.[:@]

But.....Would I go hunt the King Ranch in Texas which is high fenced? You Bet I would. If only I could afford it. Bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island, these folks manage their wildlife herds. Deer included. My brother in law lives near San Antonio, TX and from his place you can look out and see a part of the King Ranch. This ranch is huge! Just go to google.com and type in King Ranch, then take a look at it and some of the deer they have. If you don't like these setups...don't go! Easy enough.

And finally, we've beaten this poor dead horse to dust.[X(] I'm guessing that in the next couple days we'll see another crossbow bashing post.[:'(]

Here is the deal. There has to be a market for these hunts or they would not exist. The reason high fences exists is that ranchers who own big ranches and tried to be selective about what they shoot would lose deer to the neighbor who would shoot the first thing they see. I see peole on here all the time talking about not shooting this deer or that deer; let them grow and on and on. That is what these fenced ranchers are trying to do. Just because a deer is inside a fence does not make them pets or tame. 10,000 acres is probably more land than most deer cover over their lifetime. They also do a great deal of managing which bucks are taken so the better genetics will be pasted down the line. Like it or not it works to get huge deer. Many of those places are not "shooting fish in a barrel". Some are. I wouldn't want to hunt in a place that was too easy but most are not as easy as they look on TV. Now I don't like it myself, but I can see the other side as well. I believe the deer belong to all the people not just those who own large amounts of land. But there are those who try to buy a small piece of land right next to a large ranch so they can shoot the deer coming off of that property. If I had the money to own such a place that would not make me real happy.

I have been hunting on open public land and kill deer within minutes of getting in my stand. Should I pass on those deer because it wasn't hard enough? People wait all year to hunt and when they get an opportunity they want to take game. Not everyone has been brought up hunting and know what it takes to hunt free ranging deer. Noone has ever shown them. So if they can afford to hire a guide to take them and have a good chance for success more power to them. A house divided can not stand.

So, they just want to make it so the young bucks don't go to the neighbors property and get shot. Hmmmmmmm......that sounds more like fair chase to me. Size of the property enclosed is not the issue, as far as I am concerned it is the fact that all elements(food plots, feeders, hunting pressure) are all controlled. Also, many have defended these places and stated, "I wouldn't hunt these places." If that's the case then why so intent on defending them? I don't consider my way of hunting to be better than everyone elses, but I don't accept hunts inside fenced areas as "fair chase." Would I hunt the King Ranch if I had the money. NEVER!

I would consider hunting public land in TX and if I went home without tagging a buck then that would be just fine with me.

TBO

funny stuff here.

bowarrior, sir-huntsalot, mnsterbuckslayer and stickhead are all the same person posting under different names

maybe not bowarrior, but it wouldnt suprise me.

Another Sybil.. I hate when someone does that.

Seems some of you are getting caught up in the grey area between wild vs captive. Sure there are places that are huge like the King ranch. But the place being supported by this site apparently buys, breeds and releases animals just to be shot. Clearly this is a long way from intensively managing wild animals (which is certianly an issue too but with not as many people). Is it fair to say hunting in the US also includes someone shooting a captive breed, born and raised farm animal in a fenced enclosure? That is the main issue for me.

I have been a bowhunter (never gun hunted) of biggame starting my 46th year.
I have been fortunate to have hunted many states on public ground and bagged many an animal from Bears, Mule Deer, Elk, Whitetail & Canada several times on guided successful hunts for Bears & Caribou. 2 years ago I wanted to extend my Bowhunting in the off season & did research on high fence/low fence/no fence Exotic & Hog Bowhunting in a few states . In the past 2 years I have Bowhunted 9 times(making a video) for such in all 3 types of facilities & beleive it or not-enjoyed every one of the trips. None of the facilities were no kill-no pay or a guarentee or Trophy fee added to a kill. They ranged from 1 small facility for hogs (200 acres) not high fence to 4200 acres high fence. I was skunked 3 times on high fence operations-saw the animals but never offered a Bow shot or close enough BUT yes, my chances were better than Whitetail hunting my back yard that is full of deer most of the time. This year, I have NOT taken a Whitetail but my 1 tag is being saved for HORNS this year & I have passed on more Does than I can count & many 8-6 & fork horn Bucks. I have taken many Deer over the years & some very respectable Bucks. I just want to get one more nice rack b/4 I go to that happy hunting ground (If the man upstairs wants me to). Thou I like the Bowhunting Exotics, even high fence, I would not consider taking a Whitetail under those circumstances. I guess it is a double standard. I have rambled & made no point at all but feel SOME of these facilities have their place & others do not.
I am not going to say it is hunting as we know hunting is BUT can be just as much fun & exciting as any other trip into the woods. Merry Christmas to all-life is short so enjoy your family b/4 it all passes you by.

Charlie P - Stealthycat never returned, so in a way, I did keep my word that he'd never post here again. Besides, I am man enough to admit being a little over zealous sometimes. VC was right about that - although this explanation has little to do with a Hunting Board having canned hunting sponsors. Again, its like AA having a liquor store sponsor, PETA owning a fur shop or the ACLU firing someone because they were gay - Kettle meet black, black meet Kettle (saw that the other day, thanks JRW for those cool words)

To ya'll who don't get it .... you will eventually. When States begin to legislate wildlife on the popular vote - and 90% of non-hunters see canned hunting as the ONLY way to hunt, ya'll will be right there where trappers are, where lion hunters are, bear hunters etc etc.

Last year we had that very advertiser drumming up biz by asking the fair chase question about his 67 acre fenced game farm for red deer. Got kinda nasty. I still don't like it but not due to the killing of the animals since I am a killer myself. It is no different than a farmer killin a pig for some city dude to eat. Here in Arizona you can put in for a buffalo tag and if you get drawn the F&G guy goes out with you and tells you which one to dispatch. Good eating and I hope I get a tag but it aint hunting. It all boils down to hunters have two nuts, guarantee hunters have one nut and PETA pukes have no nuts.