I come to this site to learn everything I can about western hunting. I understand that you are trying to establish credibility here by throwing out a number, but I doubt that flies with some of the really knowledgable hunters who frequent this board (and I'm not presumptious enough to include myself amongst them). I normally ignore these kind of argumentative posts, but I'm responding because this type of attitude enforces the stereotype about Texas or other nonresident hunters who show up in other western states.
I don't know a single legitimate rancher or large landowner in Texas who ever will talk acreage for any purpose. I must admit that I am somewhat skeptical about whether you are truly being honest here due to several reasons including the sheer cost of running that kind of fence around a property with that long of a perimeter. It isn't cheap even for someone with the kind of resources necessary to own a place that big. The people that I know that are truly very wealthy are usually some of the most unassuming and nice people I know. The don't have to put on airs or show off.
Also, there aren't very many ranches of that size in Texas. They inevitably get broken up through the inheritance process. The King Ranch is about the largest ranch down here and they certainly don't high fence their entire place.
High fences are not necessary for managing whitetails. Although "your" three biologists on your Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico ranches might disagree. I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but in the open country of Texas whitetails don't typically live their lives within a square mile block. If "you" or your "family" does own a ranch that large, it is most likely in far west Texas or the deep south Texas brush country. In north Texas where I live, our deer travel a lot more than that, and they don't have to move nearly as far for water as they do in the southern and western parts of the state.
There are some really large ranches in other western states (i.e. Vermejo) that certainly don't feel the need to high fence and do one heck of a job with wildlife management.
I agree with you that if you truly have a 250,000-acre high-fenced ranch it isn't a canned hunt and it isn't restricting movement much.
Our problem in Texas is people high-fencing very small places (a few hundred acres). We are going to eventually get signficant CWD problems and who knows what else if we don't stop it. High fences are put to up to allow people to grow deer. We have a numerous operations down here that are AI'ing or importing deer. Everyone to their own, but that just kills the spirit of it all. That is worrying too much about numbers.
High-fencing has nothing to do with guided hunts. Nothing wrong with the outfitting business at all.
To me, hunting is all about enjoying being outside, teaching my kids, remembering hunts with my father and grandfathers and friends. Sure I love to take big animals, but it is the smallest part of the equation for a great hunt. I've been on outfitted hunts and had a great time. But there is nothing like the challenge of doing it all on your own.
