[Titan6]

I am curious for the trophy hunters on the forum. What price are you willing to pay? What is the reward?

http://www.king-ranch.com/hunt_pricing_2007_2008.htm

http://www.king-ranch.com/hunt_pricing_2007_2008.htm

[wyohome]

The tag fee is all I would pay outside of the usual hunting costs.

[Rembrandt]

It's all relative, those prices look cheap......figuring what it cost to buy the farm, develop the area, hunt it for nearly 35 years and still don't have "Mr Big" hanging on the wall!

[Damon555]

The price of a tag...that's it.....I bet those are fenced in critters.

[TehK1w1]

The King Ranch is not high fenced-any of it. It is, however, big enough to allow effective game management.
On the King, though, I'd rather hunt Nilgai
/endthreadjack

That's not all that much for a Texas trophy whitetail hunt, actually.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Does a squirt of warm urine count? I'd give that.

[chevyforlife21]

nothing thats cheating

[paintballdude902]

depends how much are the taxes on my property for that year and what the prices of a tag are

[retrieverman]

Since my family owns land in NW Oklahoma, all I have to pay for is diesel to get there and an out of state license to hunt/kill "trophy" whitetails. The first buck is a 178" gross that I killed in 2004, and the second is a 150" gross that I killed in 2008.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/retrieverman/Picture648-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/retrieverman/Picture493.jpg

[Titan6]

Those are nice Bucks Retrieverman

The King Ranch is very nice and one of the largest operating ranches in the world. I am not disputing that the costs to manage game properly to achieve animals that size run high. But the market is only there because people pay for it.

But other than braggin rights for having the big honking monster buck on the wall is there some other reward that I am missing for paying $20,000-$25,000 for it? I am not rich but I imagine even if I were I would still not pay anywhere near that.

[schlockinz]

I've killed a few 150+ bucks (4, 3 within 4 yrs) in OK for the cost of the hunting lease and diesel (no one owns land in the family, and no one seems to want it bad enough right now to pay for it).

I'd rather shoot body weight than horns, thats why I took this guy

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eIK8-i3UMoI/SwQGSASjxjI/AAAAAAAABSc/Uj-jn1TrNZw/bow%20deer.jpg

I know of deer with bigger horns, but he was the only true mature buck (the others don't look like they're older than 4.5 maybe 5.5)

[chas08]

Narry a dime over the land lease and normal hunting expenses. I wouldn't be proud of going into a game rich compound, picking out the deer I wanted, according to what I could afford, killing it, and hanging it on the wall. Even though we hunt over feeders in Texas, I've never killed a good buck under one, or inside a high fence. I've never killed a book deer and probably never will. Trophy's come in all shapes and sizes, just like hunters. I can't attach a pricetag to that.

[dogrunner]

Other than for the normal and usual licensing fees, not one cent!

Fee hunting in truth amounts to just about as sporting a method as shooting a chicken in a barnyard.

I hunt federal lands, WMAs, and privately held lands in the Appalachians. And for that matter, if I only wanted to kill something I could stick the rifle out this home office window and pop the little four point that's busily engaged in killing my small cedar trees at the fence line...........for that matter, when I walked the hundred or so yards to get my morning paper at 7:00 AM I counted eleven bearded Osceola's in my front yard.....game is NOT the issue.....fair chase IS. The only thing that gets popped on this land is the occasional predator that tries to eat the tom cat or the odd diamondback that happens along.

Some years back I held membership in leased clubs, but frankly just tired of the politics and pettiness I saw grown men engage in. I have never regretted ceasing those associations and playing the game my way.

[AKElroy]

A few years back I assisted a friend in culling off all domestic whitetail to establish a breeder ranch. The owner had 5 x 20 acre pins, each with massively high scoring bc breeder bucks, charging quite a bit for stud services. I scoped them as we road by for an afternoon hunt; he grabbed the barrel of my 7RM & said, "I don't think so", while handing me his binoculars. He said whenever I wanted to scribble out a $25k check, I could take one of those bucks home.

While sitting for the afternoon hunt, I had a gorgious 12 point domestic whitetail walk directly under my stand. I got the owner on the radio, described the buck, and he said "I have 10 people waiting to pay me $3k for that deer. Pony up & he is yours". I stuck with the does.

Two years ago, I attended an auction @ the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, when the final 5 vials of seeman from "big red", a very well known and deceased record BC buck was on the block. The gavel fell @ $25k; EACH. 5 vials; $125,000.00. What was once tradition has, for many, become BIG BUSINESS.

[Art Eatman]

I have a problem with these "high bred" trophy buck deals. Somehow, that's not what hunting is all about. The idea of a multi-thousand-acre high-fenced pasture is quite rational, but doing a "deer ranch" breeding operation is something else entirely. Off-putting, to me.

Okay: My father once commented, "A deer on the ground is worth maybe 50¢, 'cause the fun's over and the work starts. But, paying a fella for the right to trespass on his land makes sense."

So, for me, a decent lease-deal is worth some reasonable amount. And, to some extent, it's not a matter of what I can afford; it's whether or not the price is worth it to me. If the price seems too high, I'll do something else, or go somewhere else.

For me, if it's a decent ranch with a stock pond or two to do a little fishing, available during bird season in Texas, and of a reasonable size so a group can enjoy it, I'd kick in maybe a couple of thousand bucks a year. Deer only? At most, a thousand. The dollar doesn't buy much, nowadays, and I still recall paying $300 a year and even less.

But I won't pay a nickel for a guided whitetail hunt. It's just not my deal.

[Sav .250]

For me? Nada!

[kanook]

If you sit back and think for a minute on how much you spend on a regular deer, the trophy buck is close (not really) too a bargin :)

I hunt my land in another state. All said and done, my first deer of the year is about $1,200 - $1,500.

Now if I hunt my land back in Canada..........

[ArmedBear]

schlokinz- Did you shoot yourself in the leg, along with the deer?:D

[schlockinz]

Yeah, got so excited that I was going to have a wide open 20yd shot on him, that I flinched and nicked myself.

Actually, I don't know why, but I'm bloody in every deer pic that I have

[gatorjames85]

I think that for too many people, killing a big buck is just another ego boosting purchase, like a sportscar or a cigar boat. I have been doing a lot more duck hunting than deer hunting the past few years; it seems more about the experience than the trophy factor IMO.

[AKElroy]

But I won't pay a nickel for a guided whitetail hunt. It's just not my deal.

+1. The lease I am on is crowded enough with 5 other guns. I am taking some flak for camping away from the base camp; seems the other guns think I might be running off their game. Oh well...I am in it for the peace & quiet, time away from stress, and time with my kids. I have no desire to spend time with strangers, even if they are guides. Just not my thing. I pay over $2k per year round access; deer & hogs. It is overrun with pigs, so I have 12 months of opportunities for game.

In my earlier post, I described my cull efforts on a friend's whitetail breeder ranch as a volunteer assasin. He would actually agree with this next statement as we both made fun of how ridiculous it was for him to "guide" paying guns onto his 500 acres, driving them in circles to give the impression they were traveling some great distance, and then being "surprised" when they would find that just-right opportunity. He knows as well as I do that is not hunting, but it does rake in the cash.

I like the freedom of being able to shoot whatever I can draw in.

[MCgunner]

In Texas, if you want a trophy deer, just open the wallet. The King is NOT a high fence pen. It's hundreds of square miles. It's FRIGGIN' HUGE! It's bigger in area than the state of Rhode Island. It IS managed and the deer have the genetics. It does cost money. That's a fact.

My property is small as is the property around it except on two fence lines where bigger ranches border it. No way to manage, the deer have small racks, but so what? My cojones are just as big. ;) The venison is good, so's the pork.

[wyohome]

"It's bigger in area than the state of Rhode Island"

No, it isn't. But 85% as large.

[usmc1371]

I guess I am real glad to live in a state with an ass ton of PUBLIC land, 4.50$ for the tag application, 22.50$ IIRC buck tag if I draw the unit I want. Cost of gas to drive 250 miles each way, NO CHARGE to hunt cause its PUBLIC land. Yes if I want a big deer I have to walk a little farther from the roads than the average joe but thats what hunting is to me.
I have been on one guided elk hunt in Idaho and it was on public land. I worked my ass of for the elk I came home with, a smallish/average 6 point on the last day of a 7 day hunt. Worth every penny cause I don't own a horse or have the time to pack a camp in many many miles. For twice as much I am sure I could have hunted a big flat ranch some ware and had a 100% chance of shooting at a 350 class bull but that just ain't what I am into. I guess the story and memories that go along with the head on the wall mean more to me than the horns sticking out of it.

[Art Eatman]

I don't really worry about comparative costs all that much. If you hunt on a Texas ranch and pay lease fees, they may seem high. Okay, so you spend a couple of weeks in one of the mountain states and hunt for mule deer. How much do you spend on non-resident license and travel costs? Odds are, it's a wash.

But the seriously high-dollar "trophy" bucks just aren't worth it to me...

[MCgunner]

No, it isn't. But 85% as large.

Well, that was the line when I was a kid. I do understand they've sold a bit of it off over the years. Heck, combine the Kenedy next door and it's STILL bigger.:neener:

[444]

To answer your question, I would pay maybe three grand to go on a "guided" deer hunt. Not nessessarily a trophy hunt.

There are a number of reasons why I would pay to hunt like that:
First of all, I live in a place where big game tags are drawn in a lottery. Often times you don't get drawn and don't get to hunt big game at all. Furthermore, I use one of my vacation picks at work just in case I get drawn. Then if I don't get drawn, I wasted the vacation pick that I could have used for some other adventure.
Second: I don't live in a place where big game hunting is easy to do. If I get drawn I have to drive 5-6 hours to get to the hunting area my tag allows me to hunt. Then I have to camp there since it is usually far from civilization. After all the work, vacation time, and expense involved in this, it would be nice to have confidence that you are going to have a good chance to harvest an animal. Of course you can greatly increase your odds by scouting the area ahead of time. However, scouting the area requires the same hassles as hunting the area: taking time (at least a couple whole days and nights with the drive), camping there etc. FWIW: the older I get, the less I enjoy camping. I have done a lot of it over the years and now consider it more of a PITA (or back) than fun.
Third: I am not a trophy hunter per se', but like most hunters, I would like to someday bag a bragging size buck. Random chance hasn't worked for me so far.
Fourth: if I was to hunt other states, I have no idea what I am doing. Where can I hunt, local places to eat or stay, where could I camp............. This all involves research and planning which takes time and effort.

Long story even longer, I sometimes think it would be a nice thing to just hop on a plane, or jump in the car and arrive somewhere with the only concern is hunting and not all the logistics of the trip.
I did this on a fishing trip a few years ago. I used to fish in Canada with a group of guys. We would plan the trip on our own. Find float plane pilots or conoe rentals, put all our gear together, fly with all the gear................. Then the guys I was going with got too old for all this and asked if I would be interested in paying a lot more money to go on a trip with a lodge, guides, cooks, etc. I gave it a try and really enjoyed myself. It as probably the best trip I ever went on. Doing the same thing for a hunting trip would probably turn out the same way.

[jbkebert]

444 brings up a really good point. While I would not pay big money to go on a trophy deer hunt. The reason I don't have to. Its nice to own land and live on a farm but not all of us do. Folks that live in the city will have limited access to huntable land. Also having the physical means to pack in your gear and pack out a deer. In N.E Kansas not a big deal. Go hunt in CO, WY, UT it is a huge deal. It doesn't matter if you take a trophy animal or not. I am personally more of a meat hunter. Being able to get your kill taken care of and cooled and to your vehicle is worth alot.

[Guns and more]

Nothing.
Killing a beautiful animal is not for me.
I'm not opposed to hunting. I don't think I could do it again.

But that's what freedom is all about.

[scythefwd]

umm.... about 200 - 300 in licensing fees (IL non resident deer tags). Family owns (well step mom, but she likes me) owns a 170 acre corn farm. Big bucks every year, and we know exactly where they bed down. I just have to pack up my Muzzle loader and sit in a tree/blind and wait from them to move. Saw a big 8 pointer chasing does last time I was there (1st week of November).

[seuss]

Hunting license, and a box of ammo, the only reason i hunt is to put meat in the freezer.

[TehK1w1]

Total size of Rhode Island, including inland waterways-1212 Square miles, including 157 square miles of water.
Total Size of King Ranch-1289 square miles.

But whose counting? :P


Back on topic, the trouble with trophy bucks is that the really nice Texas ranch ones often end up costing as much as an african plains game hunt...

[Dallas Jack]

I have no interest in buying heads. The only reason I started hunting again was a buddy invited me to help him take some doe off his property. He did let me shoot a buck this year but I still have to go back and shoot a couple of doe. His doe to buck ratio is over 20 to 1. Since the buck filled my freezer the doe will be donated to charity or given away.
Dallas Jack

[alsaqr]

I would pay nothing for a trophy buck. In the 1960s I killed three typical deer that score from 176-196. Am well aware that it is unlikely that there will be another one like those. Besides I'd rather shoot a doe or a mediocre hog than any buck deer.