Overview
Whitetail deer hunting will be offered for the 2010 season on a private ranch in southwestern Texas. The whitetail hunts will be conducted from November through January each year. We're talking about completely free-ranging, spot and stalk hunts, in stunningly beautiful country.
Whitetail hunts will be conducted with only 4 hunters per hunt and 2 on 1 guiding. The goal is to offer a high success hunt with an enjoyable hunting experience attached. The numbers of whitetails on the ranch, and the area in general, are astronomical. Although not known for producing book-caliber bucks, the sheer numbers of 130 to 160-class bucks is what makes the hunt.
We will be offering rifle hunts with either one or two buck packages. Rio Grande turkey can be taken during the deer hunt at no extra charge.
The Hunting Area
The 8,320-acre Wade Ranch is located in southeastern Sutton County, Texas. The nearest town, Sonora, is 30 miles away. The ranch is situated in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas. We have an exclusive hunting lease on the ranch and will be the only ones hunting.
The
Wade Ranch has been owned and operated by the Wade family since the 1930's.
The entire ranch is contiguous which creates an uninterrupted hunting area
of 13 square miles.
All deer in the immediate region are completely free ranging. In other
words, they can leave anytime they wish.
The ranch has been under an extensive land-management plan since it's inception. All cedar and mesquite has been systematically removed over the last 70+ years. On over 8,000 acres, you probably cannot find 50 cedar or mesquite trees growing. The live oak trees are the jewels of the ranch. They are interspersed with abundant openings of grasses and forbs, creating perfect habitat for deer. There is cover yet enough openings to offer excellent hunting options as well.
We feel fortunate to have found such a place as the ranch has been hunted the past 14 years by a single group from Dallas. They hated to leave, but said they were getting too old to want to maintain the lease. In fact, over the last 50 years, only three different groups have leased the hunting on the property. Timing is everything and this time we got lucky.
The Whitetail Deer Hunts
First and foremost, let us clarify exactly what type of hunting we will be doing. There are hunting methods unique to Texas, such as hunting over bait out of blinds, and driving around the roads in vehicles looking for deer. It is legal and accepted as tradition on many ranches in Texas......
With that said, we want to make it perfectly clear, that we will NOT be hunting over bait. In addition, there will be no hunting from vehicles. Vehicles will provide only the access. The entire hunt will be spot and stalk on foot and glassing from prominent points.
We have a truly unique ranch that
offers superb spot and stalk hunting. Hunting over bait is not necessary or
wanted. The hunting experience will be second to none. That is a promise.
A year-round, supplemental, mineral and feeding program will be used to varying degrees to ensure healthy animals and to enhance the population of game on the ranch. However, no hunting opportunities will exist with it.
All hunts are guided 2 on 1 and there will NEVER be more than four hunters on the ranch at one time. That's over 2,000 private acres per person every day! You cannot hunt it all in a week if you tried.
You can choose to take either a one-buck or two-buck package. Both packages include a Rio Grande turkey should you encounter one during the hunt. Turkeys are plentiful.
Hogs are not numerous on the ranch, but should you encounter one, you may take it at no extra charge, as well.
Axis deer are plentiful on the ranch. An Axis buck or any other exotic animal may be taken on a kill-fee basis. Small numbers of Aoudad sheep, Fallow deer, Sika deer and Blackbuck antelope may be encountered on the ranch in addition to the Axis deer.
Expectations for the Hunt
Every hunter arrives with high expectations for a hunt, as
they should. But, there are many factors that affect the outcome of a hunt.
The first and foremost factor, outside of weather, that will dictate the
"success" of this hunt is physical conditioning. You need a fair to
moderate level of physical conditioning at a minimum to truly enjoy this hunt.
What are reasonable expectations? Historically, the ranch has produced 130 to
160-class bucks. The attraction here is not the chance at a 180-class deer. Go
to Illinois or South Dakota for that. This ranch offers high numbers of deer and
lots of action at good bucks.
If you are in decent shape, will hold steadfast on your minimum, and will stick with the hunt for the duration, the following shot-opportunity percentages are what any of our guides feel they can produce for a 1 on 1 hunter, any given week:
Minimum
Chances at a Shot
Size Class
Opportunity
Comments
130"+
95%
Ranch minimum. Good bucks with very high success.
140"+
75%
Getting harder, but good minimum for patient hunters.
150"+
40%
The uppermost class of bucks.
160"+
10% They
just happen along the way.
Accommodations/Meals
The accommodations for the Wade Ranch hunts are in mobile housing located on the ranch. The digs are nothing fancy, but are equipped with air conditioning, heating, showers and bathrooms. More than enough for a hunting camp.
Meals will be provided with breakfast and lunch consisting of easy-to-make items. A full dinner is prepared by the guides in the evenings.
Airport Information
Air service is available by flying into either San Angelo or San Antonio, TX. You will need to rent a vehicle and drive to the ranch. The drive time is approximately 1 1/2 hours from San Angelo and 2 1/2 hours from San Antonio.
2010 Texas Whitetail Deer Hunt Prices
4-Day
Whitetail Deer Hunt - $2400 (1 trophy whitetail buck, 1 whitetail doe, and 1
turkey)
4-Day
Whitetail Deer Hunt - $3200 (2 trophy whitetail bucks and 1 turkey)
Axis deer or any exotic on any whitetail hunt - $1000 kill fee
2010 Whitetail Deer Seasons
Nov 17-20, 2010
Dec 3-6, 2010
Dec 10-13, 2010
Dec 17-20, 2010
Dec 28-31, 2010
2010 Whitetail Deer License Fees
Whitetail, Turkey and Exotic License- $315 (available over-the-counter)
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