High Fences/Exotics
 

Hey after recently reading a post about hunting shows many people were bashing ted nugent for hunting on high fences for exotic animals. now i dont care for nugent myself but why does everyone always bash exotic hunts. I go on a least 2 or 3 high fenced hunts every year. normally during the summer months or in between seasons. its a great way to keep your hunting skills sharp and plus exotics are a lot of fun to hunt. high fenced ranches for hunting are normally no cake walk either. for example i own about 80 acres near my house under high fence i keep deer in there not for hunting but for watching and as pets. some time i have trouble finding any of the 14 deer in that pen. many people on this website hunt on small farms of no more than 300 acres which would be unfair if high fenced but now when you make that an 8,000 acre ranch it becomes very hard to find animals it is in no way like a "canned" hunt only a few outfitters or people hunt on very small high fenced areas which i agree is wrong but for the mojority of places you cannot tell that it is even high fenced. just tell me what you think about these hunts and dont bash them just becasue you've never hunted on one refuse to hunt exotics or because you simply cant afford to hunt on one. just tell me why in one good reason that it is bad to hunt on one of these ranches thanks for your input

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

For me it's plain and simple. Hunting behind a high fence is not fair chase. I'm not trying to stir the pot but a lot of people, myself included do not feel hunting behind a high fence is pure. Although the property maybe 8000 or 800,000 acres the deer can not get out, he is trapped behind the fence.

I'm not knocking you for what you choose to do but it's is not for me.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Like that???

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

While I haven't hunted high fenced exotics. I have, earlier in life, hunted a few exotic dancers...but thats another story.

I know some guys around here that go to Texas every year in the off season to hunt exotics and have a blast! I would like to go someday myself.

I'd have to argue the fact on the 800,000 acres. Do you know how many square miles that is????

I'd love to spend an entire season hunting the King in Texas. I know that one season would not be enough time to hunt it all.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Everything is true-it is not for everyone but it is a great experience to try for something we do not normally get a chance to see, let alone hunt. I wanted to extend my Bowhunting season(48 years now) & started researching Exotics & high fence. I did not want a canned hunt & did lots of searching for an entire year. The next 2 years I traveled to several places in 3 states. The places were 1-200 acre low fence hogs only, 1 nearly 500 acres low fence hogs & rams & 2 hogs, no fence, 1 Exotics/hogs 4200 acre high fence & 1 -1000 acre high fence & 1- 3000 acre low fence.. 11 Bowhunts in 2 years making a INFORMATIONAL video on this that I hope to release within the next few months.
I did get a much different perspective on this type hunting & must say, enjoyed them all. No, as I have said, it is not like chasing Elk in the Mountains or Caribou over the Tundra Or sitting over a bait waiting for that single chance at a Bear BUT I believe it has it's place. Not for everyone, but not an easy task as many think that have not experienced it. It can be done at a very reasonable cost as my information does cover-we kept the working man in mind at all times. If your idea of Bowhunting (or hunting in general) prevents you from doing such an experience-I do understand. As for Ted, he is another story. Good Luck in your Bowhunts this year-I have Whitetail planned in Ill., Iowa & Ws & a couple Exotics/hogs too.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

oh yea by the way 800,000 was not me that was adams i said 8,000 and im glad to see how many people feel the same way as me in that they have their place and are not for every one but man the sure are fun for someone who cant afford an expensive trip to africa or something it very cool i think that they can go to texas and still get to see and hunt african game although nothing can quite compare to africa lots of fun

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I myself have never hunted behind a high fence. IMHO The only way a high fence operation could be considered a fair hunt? Would be if it were large enough? If you put a guy inside a high fenced ranch of 10,000-acres armed with only a bow. Allow only foot traffic on this ranch. No trucks, atv's or bikes of any kind. Have him hunt the same animals that get hunted every week by average joe hunter? Then I think you would have a "fair hunt".
I have nothing against large high fenced operations. The small operations that have "canned hunts" get under my skin.

Would I ever hunt behind a high fence? Even if I won the lottery I doubt that I would? I can not afford it at this time in my life. If I could afford it? I would rather put that money towards a caribou or moose hunt.

Just my two cents,

WK

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

That is quite a few square miles (if my math is correct aprox 1200 sq mi) but I guess my point is the guy down the street that dosn't want to pay a hefty fee to hunt behind the fence can't hunt the animals. To me this is canned(not a guarentee you'll get one and it may not be easy) but anyone on the outside dosn't have the oportunity to harvest the animal first. These animals are in a sence "sold" to who ever is will to pay to play.

Now I'm not saying that I hunt exclusively on public land but I do hunt free rangeing animals. This is my idea of hunting

Exotics I believe should be behind a fence. If they are not native they should not be free rangeing.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

well the way i see it i could be wrong and probably am but i think they put the high fences up so that the exotics dont breed with the native species but hey thats just me and i will never hunt in a high fence, i will go to africa and hunt an exotic there....when i get the money;)

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

well in response to adams its the same with private land you wont get a shot at hunting that animal before someone else but they are not like that at the big places you cannot "buy" an animal i mean you could hunt for a month and never kill it with a bow. it can be tougher hunting than in the wild. for example i know a guy in alabama who has only 600 acres under high fence there is a buck that is non typical in the 200s and after the season starts he cannot find it i mean doesnt even see it at night or driving around. now 600 is a little too small for my tatses but still it gives you an idea of how tough it can really be

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

oh yea and i do love hunting free ranging animals.
i have a farm in missouri of about 6,000 acres and there is nothing more satisfing than being able to pattern a huge free ranging buck and arrow him yourself. so im like every onew else in that thats where i do the majority of my hunting

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Personally I think it depends on the situation. What critter is being hunted, how large is the fenced area, how many animals are in there. I don't see a problem with hunting exotics in a large area with a low pop. Those "garunteed hunts" have really given the whole industry a bad name.
Hunting fenced up natives tho is just plain taking a shortcut and missses the whole point of hunting in the first place.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I wasn't bashing Ted or his hunting methods, I was simply pointing out the lack of quality hunting shows.:D

That said, I've got no problem with Exotics or high fences...IF the area is so large and the animals "wild enough" to where it's not an issue..which most likely is the case in many parts of TX...I for one would love to hunt some exotic in that type of establishment..I've eaten nalgai(sp?) before and they are some good eating..wouldn't mind taking one of those bad boys or some of the other deer species (axis, fallow, etc).

However in other parts of the country many of these fenced exotic "hunts" involve paying some guy 500 bucks..letting a half-tame animal out of a cage, and then walking up to it and shooting it. :eek:

The latter scenario disgusts me, and IMO these types of ranches/outfitters should be strung up by thier baby makers[:@]

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I second what ADAMS sead, no matter if it`s 50 ac. or 10.000.00 ac it`s still behind a fence! And in my opinion thats not fair chass! but what the hay every one to there own;)

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

i have nothing against high fences. its not the same as other hunting though. not pure. i would love to hunt exotics in the off seaon some time though. whats the cost of hihg fencing some of that land?[:-] probably a ton

slayer

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

The first question I would have for anyone bashing on hunting behind a high fence is have you ever done it? Since you are bashing it I would venture to say no. I have never hunted a high fence ranch but I would bet that a sizeable ranch (even as small as 2000 acres) would just about the equivalent of hunting a normal ranch. The only difference being that your neighbor can't shoot your deer but also you can't shoot his. Most of us are not fortunate enough to hunt large parcels of property so I don't believe anybody that hasn't hunted a high fence operation should pass judgement on the people who provide them or the people who hunt them. I have had an opportunity to hunt an 8000 acre low fence ranch for about 5 years now and I can tell you , there are places on that ranch that I still have not seen; and it ain't due to lack of trying. Unless you have ever been on a place that large you can't get a grasp on just how much property that really is. My point being, most of the high fence ranches in Texas are large, not some 200 acre place. I think anything less than 1000 acres under high fence is probably giving the hunter an advantage. Besides, any outfitter that is worth a darn is going to do his best to put his hunters on game, so really I see no difference in paying an outfitter a lot of money for him to put you on deer whether it be high fence or low fence. Either way you are still "buying" that animal as someone else said.

So are you guys against all types of pay hunting? If not you're being hypocritical IMO.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

If an animal wants out they can get out. We have a hundred acre high fenced area on our place, it's there to keep the deer from grazing the oats. Last year my brother watched a buck jump over the fence. the fence is at least 9 feet high. we see deer in there all the time and the gates are kept locked.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Lets see, you have a high fence to keep deer out! I'll bet the nay sayers will still find something to find fault with.[8D] The reason they're jumping the fence is that there isn't much to eat in Texas and them oats is like candy to them.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I say to each there own, I call myself a hunter because I do it all from the beginning to end, I scout, set stands, kill my deer, dress it, skin it and process it. When I look in the mirror I can honestly say "I am a hunter".

Do not get me wrong, if I won a free hunt on a LARGE high fenced area I would do it, but when I looked in a mirror I would not call myself a hunter because of a kill on one of these places, I would call myself a shooter.

I have no problem with folks hunting high fence operations as long as they do not try to tell me "I am a hunter". Hunters do it all from begining to end.

I am not saying that hunting certain high fence operations does not involve hunting skills in addition to shooting skills, but 90% of the work is already done for you when you arrive, you do your 5% by shooting the animal and then they take care of the remaining 5%.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I took 8 guys on a hog hunt last year on a 12 acre fenced paddock.
There was about 60 pigs in that area and these guys said it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Only 2 did get a hog and they hunted from sun up till sun down in fact the second hog was shot right on dark.

Most commented that it was the hardest hunt they had been on.

I have no problem with people hunting behind fences some say you are buying the animal but just remember those that pay a lease fee are also buying the animal.

What I do have a problem is with these places that show you the animal in a small pen and you can pick which one you want. Cause most of those animals have been hand raired and used to humans thus have no fear of humans.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Any of you guys ever fish at a pay lake or hunt at a pheasant preserve?
Its much the same - a large area with mostly contained species and a certain amount of trophy size available.
That doesn't mean every person will catch a fish or take home a trophy, but you are paying for the better chance to.

Conversely, I would never fish in an aquarium under any circumstance.

But the fact is, there is a market and a reason for high fence / exotics the same as a pay lake. I can't afford a high fence hunt so I have never been, probably never will, but it is good to know the option is out there.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Oh really???? Now why would that be??? Duhhhhhhhh??????

Because it's fun.:) Just like hunting in the board room....seeing who you can shoot down next. It gives us big business practice.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

That seems a stretch. I'd say nobody knew what the heck they were doing. I could post 7 guys with 60 pigs and take turns walking around while I dodged arrows of the others. Second point.... JUST how many pigs do you think those 8 guys would have gotten walking around in the wild. You bust them once and THEY'RE GONE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE. Our inept hunters knew they were still in the fence. Doesn't take long to figure out where to hunt next. Seems like after 6 or 8 walk-abouts in the fence they'd have figured out a different game plan. I suspect those boys would have had "the hardest hunt they had been on" in a barn.

Which brings us back to another reason people dislike fence hunting. Folks who fence hunt are always telling us it was the hardest hunt of their life. Plain and simple... we know it's not, we hate having our intelligence doubt with such stupid statements.

YUP... we really do enjoy bashing pens. After all, pen hunters are the only hunters who keep trying to justify their "Hunting" to other hunters. They keep coming back for approval and converts and when they don't get any..... they tell us how tough it really is. Why it's tougher than hunting the world.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Same could be said of traditional hunters ;)

Sorry couldn't help it

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

I sure hope that one was tongue in cheek![8D]

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Ahhhh heck.... I've tried as hard as I could to stir the pot. I'll finish with... what ever floats your boat. To each his own. You do your thing... I'll do mine and I bet we both have fun. After all.... it's suppose to be fun.:)

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Wow David times have sure changed, I can remember a time in the not to distant past that this subject could run to 10-15 pages, all kinds of insults and opions being thrown out there. I guess folks on our side of the fence have grown up a little and have begun to see thier side and they have also grown some and acknowledged that there is a difference. Times are a changing, maybe we are learning that we need to watch out for each other.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Davidmil:

"YUP... we really do enjoy bashing pens. After all, pen hunters are the only hunters who keep trying to justify their "Hunting" to other hunters. They keep coming back for approval and converts and when they don't get any..... they tell us how tough it really is. Why it's tougher than hunting the world."


I think most of us "pen hunters" couldnt care less what other others think. Personally I dont give a damn what anybody thinks, and there is nobody that I have to get approval from when I decide to do something. The only time we ever try to stress our points is when somebody starts bashing what we do. Now I dont call this "getting approval", unstead I call it standing up for the things you do and enjoy, which I hope every hunter out there will do if the circustance ever arises.


Now I've hunted on high fenced ranches that varied from 1,000 to 40,000 acres and I can honestly say that these hunts were no easier or harder then any hunt I've been on before. Sure there not as hard as chasing dahl sheep in Alaska, but neither is setting in a treestand on the edge of a corn field in Illinois. I have a friend who owns a 2,500 acre high fence ranch, the only people who hunt out there is a few family members and
2-3 friends. If I didnt see the high fence when I first entered the ranch, then I would have never known that I was hunting a high fenced ranch, and this is the case on all the ranches I've been on.

No matter if I'm hunting on a high fence or low fence ranch, its all the same. Its just me with a gun/bow running around spotting/stalking/shooting an animal.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

Dave.

See there is the exact thought they had.

But what I did not tell them is that the 12 acres is thick with cedar with only very narrow walking tracks that in most cases you have to be crouched over to get through.

RE: High Fences/Exotics
 

This topic has been discussed many, many times and it always gets out of hand so before someones feelings get hurt really bad I'm locking this one up. If you want to do reading on this topic do a search and you find more than you care to read about it.