Thoughts on High Fence Hunting

[stang67]

If someone thinks they are "hunting" an animal in a cage who am I to judge this?

Who are you to judge? Simply someone with an opinion on the ethical treatment of a wild animal.

[deltadukman]

One thought is its your land, do as you want to.

Another is, don't call it "hunting". These 650ac high fence places that try to tell people its challenging and just like free range hunting can blow that smoke up someone else's booty. Sampson's Whitetail Ridge for example. Please tell me where in the free range world will you and 3 buddies shoot multiple 180+ bucks in a single day?

Had a guy I know on FB shoot one from there and posted his grab and grin picture with a 180"+ buck and people were drooling all over it. It was so hard to not call him out on it, but I didn't. Anyone with any skills can cover 650 acres multiple times in a day. Its not "hunting", its shooting fish in a barrel. I would never shoot a deer behind a high fence, its not my thing, and wouldn't blow my skirt up.

[stang67]

For others, they want to practice QDM but can't because of outlaws/neighbors

Interesting take. All me to retort with all the respect in the world.

No neighbor can stop ME from practicing QDM on my land. A trespasser can, but a high fence isn't required to stop them. I think what you mean is that the neighbor is preventing the landowner from experiencing what they perceive as 100% of the fruits of their perceived QDM efforts -- a reaction to which I reply "boo fricking hoo. Go buy land elsewhere with like-minded neighbors." More instant gratification, entitlement, unrealdtic expectations.

I would argue that, more often, the fence is a crutch to allow the landowner to get by with a more lax and less thorough management program, and no one will convince me otherwise.

Again, I support their right to fence it. But don't wizz on my head and tell me these people are consummate QDM followers and conservationists.

[Wildfowler]

If someone thinks they are "hunting" an animal in a cage who am I to judge this?

Who are you to judge? Simply someone with an opinion on the ethical treatment of a wild animal.

Well sure, I have an opinion on the subject. But I don't believe it's up to me to make someone have to hunt the way I think they should be hunting. We already have far too much intrusion into our private lives as it is.

[DanP]

For others, they want to practice QDM but can't because of outlaws/neighbors

Interesting take. All me to retort with all the respect in the world.

No neighbor can stop ME from practicing QDM on my land. A trespasser can, but a high fence isn't required to stop them. I think what you mean is that the neighbor is preventing the landowner from experiencing what they perceive as 100% of the fruits of their perceived QDM efforts -- a reaction to which I reply "boo fricking hoo. Go buy land elsewhere with like-minded neighbors." More instant gratification, entitlement, unrealdtic expectations.

I would argue that, more often, the fence is a crutch to allow the landowner to get by with a more lax and less thorough management program, and no one will convince me otherwise.

Again, I support their right to fence it. But don't wizz on my head and tell me these people are consummate QDM followers and conservationists.

By all means, retort away

QDM is just as much about managing the herd as it is the habitat. So when your neighbors are on a "brown its down" management program, or take great pleasure in running their beagles through your thicket to flush the deer out on their property, or have corn feeders set up 30 ft across the property line, that DOES interfere with a person or clubs ability to manage the herd and therefore practice QDM. I know, I know, nobody owns the deer.. but that does not change the fact that herd management is a BIG part of QDM.

What I think you are implying is that folks with money are getting mad because their neighbors are killing "their" deer and putting up a fence, and that's probably true in a lot of cases.

The point where I disagree, and will wizz on your head, is where you put out a blanket statement that a high fence owner can't possibly be QDM follower and conservationists. I could actually introduce you to several that I consider to be good friends, thus I can confidently state their intentions. I would also say these type people are probably a small percentage of high fence owners, but they are the only ones I know and work with.

Personally, I get more enjoyment out of management than I do pulling the trigger. Definitely not a horn porn kinda guy. Could care less to shoot a buck inside a fence, but would drop a doe in a heart beat if I needed meat in the freezer. Don't even get me started on how that's not "hunting".... Its killing, just like shooting a deer in a food plot in the middle of a 7 year old pine plantation in January....

[JaMak84]

Since we're discussing a landowners right to fence his/her property and restrict the travel/use of a public natural resource, and since this is mainly a duck hunting site, let's replace deer with water. How many of you pro-fence advocates would be okay with private landowners that own land under public water building fences to restrict the use of that public natural resource? What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? I still believe a person should have the right to fence their property should they choose, but they shouldn't be allowed to restrict or interfere with the natural ingress and egress of a public resource.

[Deltamud77]

Would people change their minds if a fence was built to prevent invasion of wild hogs?

[stang67]

By all means, retort away

QDM is just as much about managing the herd as it is the habitat. So when your neighbors are on a "brown its down" management program, or take great pleasure in running their beagles through your thicket to flush the deer out on their property, or have corn feeders set up 30 ft across the property line, that DOES interfere with a person or clubs ability to manage

What I think you are implying is that folks with money are getting mad because their neighbors are killing "their" deer and putting up a fence, and that's probably true in a lot of cases.

The point where I disagree, and will wizz on your head, is where you put out a blanket statement that a high fence owner can't possibly be QDM follower and conservationists. I could actually introduce you to several that I consider to be good friends, thus I can confidently state their intentions. I would also say these type people are probably a small percentage of high fence owners, but they are the only ones I know and work with.

Nah. I don't think money has a part in this at all. And I, in no way, intended to say that they CAN'T practice QDM with a fence. The first post I made, I gave an example of just that. If I made that blanket statement, it was poor communication on my part, because I don't believe that statement to even be true.

And you're right. There's always the question of what is real hunting. By some definitions I guess I've never done it, although I've never killed a deer in a grass patch. But that's precisely part of my point. Take away the hunting aspect of this debate and you still have people penning up wild animals, which I argue challenges ethical border lines. Put the hunting aspect back in and you have people that can have "their" big bucks even if they decide to "take a year off" from any habitat enhancements. Cuz, hey, "where they gonna go?" Lol. The whole point of it just seems so incredibly shallow to me.

Back to watching all these ugly people in the NOLA airport...

[pondman]

I've deer hunted in a high fence one time. I saw more deer on the unfenced property than I hunt in Madison County than did inside the fence. This is a 1,200 acre property in Hinds County.

The reason this property is fenced is because of neighbors. They would not keep dogs off the place nor would they stop shooting every deer that walked. Therefore he invested in a fence. He does not bring in breeder bucks, but does grow some really nice deer. He got tired of spending a ton of money and time on MANAGING his deer only to have the majority of his efforts go to his neighbors.

When he put the fence when up his neighbors got pissed, because "he was holding all the good deer and now we can't get to them". Wow! I wonder why he put the fence up.

I have no reason to defend the guy; however, I do understand his logic. I also know that he has to HUNT to kill a big deer inside the fence. Yes, he grows bigger deer than free range. Yes, it is easier to kill A DEER in the fence, but most people that fence a property are not trying to kill A DEER.

Lastly, I have no use for people that sell "canned hunts". Put a deer in a five acre pen and let someone shoot it. No thanks -- I'm out.

The big question is -- where is the line drawn? How big an area is considered "fair chase"? Everyone has to make that decision, but I do suggest people not cast a blanket over all high fences. Some are done for the right reason and do not offer a "guaranteed" hunt.

Pond

[JLT]

I am against fences altogether and I wish that they weren't allowed in our state.

[420 racin]

I worked with a guy that put a fence up to keep some folks IN! Person "A" buys a lot of land. The people in the Camp that he now completely surrounds wouldn't sell out, so he fenced them in in a bid to make them sell. Hasn't worked yet, but a few more deer seasons and I bet they sell and the fence comes down. They only have about 200 or so acres now and they are hunting inside fence.

[Wildfowler]

I worked with a guy that put a fence up to keep some folks IN! Person "A" buys a lot of land. The people in the Camp that he now completely surrounds wouldn't sell out, so he fenced them in in a bid to make them sell. Hasn't worked yet, but a few more deer seasons and I bet they sell and the fence comes down. They only have about 200 or so acres now and they are hunting inside fence.

Good grief that is very cold blooded. I love it!

( just kidding)

[REBEL DUCK]

I did it on someone else's dime and got a 222 inch deer getting mounted. I did not brag or put it on facebook, I am not to proud of it. We had more fun hunting a big 6 in a 1000 acre fence that we did hunting the 200 inchers. its a challenge with a bow to kill one of them in a day or two period but nothing like hunting a deer in the wild.

We were right outside of Camden Alabama and it seems to be big business over there but they told us they would not allow breeder bucks in MS.

[britton]

I used to be in Oxberry Bayou. All i can say is the Cons of High fence definitely out weigh the Pros.

[hntrpat1]

Since we're discussing a landowners right to fence his/her property and restrict the travel/use of a public natural resource, and since this is mainly a duck hunting site, let's replace deer with water. How many of you pro-fence advocates would be okay with private landowners that own land under public water building fences to restrict the use of that public natural resource? What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? I still believe a person should have the right to fence their property should they choose, but they shouldn't be allowed to restrict or interfere with the natural ingress and egress of a public resource.

yeah well they already practice that around the Ms river. Its the same mentality its called Aholeitis and they all have it