Jan 31st 2016, 07:19 PM
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#16 |
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Hello Gary,* We don't breed in the ranch.* We did at the first preserve we had, I thought the extra breeding was nice, but I wanted to reduce some of the fighting and death loss from fighting, so I eliminated the does when I fenced and built the second ranch.* I also had the plan I have now and*decided I wanted to run the ranch the way I do.* I don't regret it at all.* It reduced the fighting, but the bucks act the same whether the does are there or not.
Our ranch is about the same size and is extremely thick, 2 streams that run through the ranch and meet in the middle.** Those consist of the thick tag alder and poplar bottoms.** Each year after season*I get the bucks out of the ranch and into a couple of holding areas that are attached to the ranch.* This allows me to feed them and rescore them the following fall.* By getting them out of the ranch I can usually also get a better gain in antler size by feeding what I need them to eat.* I never was able to get a good gain on size and many times the bucks would be smaller the following year.* This has done*well for me.*Getting the deer out of the preserve and into the holding areas is not an*easy task.* Matter of fact, I just got the last one in about 7:00 tonight.* He was a little smarter and didn't have a good feed pattern.* I have to double check for tracks after the next snow to make sure I have them all, but I am pretty sure this was the last one.* The other benefit for me with keeping all of the deer out of the ranch is I have no browsing during the year accept for during the hunting season.* Everything grows out very thick and makes for a great hunting area.* This is what I do.* I hope everyone wouldn't do just as me.** What works for some people will not work for everyone and it is good when everyone does things a little different to offer variety.
One last note for Reed or anyone else that is considering starting a ranch.* Under promise and over deliver!!* Keep everybody happy and learn how to market.* Marketing what you do is going to be the challenge.
I am going back out to Harrisburg,Pa this year.* Leave Wednesday. I haven't set up out there since 2010.* I have quite a few clients from that area of the country*that I need to come back out and see outside of hunting season.* If anyone lives in that area and wants to stop and talk deer, come and see me.* I am never sick of it.* *I am in booth 4923.*
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Thanks,
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Rick |
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