Published: August 05, 2009 10:19 pm      

Money talks

Biologists check in on state of deer hunting economy

The shaky economy has taken its toll on everything from retirement accounts to soda pop sales at corner markets. That said, it seems likely that tough times will take a sizable bite chunk out of some deer hunting budgets this fall, as well.

Some hunters won’t be filling their corn and protein feeders near as often this year, while others may cope with the money crunch by making a few extended visits to the lease as opposed to trekking across the state every other weekend.

At any rate, those are the lucky ones. My guess is tough times have forced a considerable number of Texas deer hunters to give up their deer leases altogether.

Joining a deer lease can be an expensive proposition, particularly a good one with quality deer and sizable range that hasn’t been shot up.

Annual lease dues that can easily top $1,500 per gun are just the tip of iceberg. One deer stand is never enough. Neither is one feeder. And both cost money.

Then there are the costs of food, lodging and gasoline to get you there and back multiple times over the course of the season. Factor in a new deer rifle or scope, a set of truck tires, another trail camera, four-wheeler repairs and other odds and ends ... well, you get the picture.

To check the pulse of the current deer hunting climate in Texas, I recently questioned a number of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologists about what they have been hearing in regards to deer lease turnover and availability in their respective regions.

Not surprisingly, I got a mixed bag of e-mail responses. A couple said they had not heard a whisper about lease turnover, while others have been hearing rumblings all summer long.

In East Texas, TPWD District 6 leader Gary Calkins of Jasper said he has been hearing quite a bit of talk about hunters giving up their spots on Pineywoods deer leases, but added that most landowners have been successful in refilling their rosters ahead of the coming season.

Texas’ most popular deer hunting region, the Edwards Plateau, saw its share of turnover when lease dues came due this spring and summer, according to wildlife biologist Kory Perlichek of Mason.

Perlichek noted that many ranchers across the ecological region are feeling the pinch of the struggling economy as well as the drought. The biologist said some ranchers are asking hunters to begin helping out with cost of feeding protein during the off season. Otherwise, year-round feeding programs could end.

District 8 wildlife biologist Alan Cain of Pleasanton said there has been some lease turnover across the South Texas brush country. However, the struggling economy appears to be having the greatest impact on commercial deer hunting operations.

“Corporate groups that have often bought up a number of package hunts for clients and their employees are now looking at bottom line dollars and expenses for their businesses,” Cain said. “Deer hunting and other entertainment activities are among the first to be cut. Some landowners are so concerned with the lack of hunters that they are lowering prices on management bucks to $1,200-$1,700. For many hunters that could be a great deal, as some management bucks may score upwards of 140-145.”

While most deer leases remain occupied across much of the Cross Timbers region, wildlife biologist Ralph Suarez of Ballinger predicts the poor economy may force many hunters to cut down on the number of hunting trips they make this season.

Mike Miller, a TPWD technical guidance biologist from Stephensville, said he has not witnessed near as much lease turnover in his region as he had anticipated, but does believe the struggling economy has cut into feed purchases.

In far West Texas, wildlife biologist Jason Wagner of Ft. Stockton said lease turnover in the Trans Pecos region seems to be low. However, Wagner says there are leases available and some landowners might be willing to negotiate prices to lease available land for hunting as opposed to letting it sit idle.