pick your bull before you hunt

[RadSav]

I know he has over 25 different sheep and 30 goat species to his hunting credit. You don't hunt sheep and goats behind fences. It's confusing why he would think that would even be worth the time.

Probably too busy chasing goats and sheep to spend time hunting elk

I have done some canned hunts to test products.  One of those hunts the Barnes crew was there too testing bullet performance and weeding through a number of design improvements.  I'm sure that all the Barnes fans appreciate the seriousness in which they went about getting the most out of their design.

In most of these cases "Canned" can sometimes be thousands of acres not just the 240+ listed in the above link.  And seldom do you just walk out and shoot one with a hand full of alfalfa tied to the end of your barrel.  Sure you know you are going to see animals.  Sure you know if you mess up you will have another opportunity by the end of the day.  And sure you can pick the one you want and target just that bull without worry your hunt will end with tag soup.  But the Bow Cans I have been on have taken some effort to seal the deal.  These animals know what people are and that they are not friendly.  Many of the lesser animals have been there for years watching their big brothers go down and harvested.  They are spooky, alert and have plenty of room to escape the clutches of a novice hunter.  Guys who think it is on the same level as a back country hunt in a wilderness are delusional, but once you understand what it is it's a lot more enjoyable than walking through the meat isle at Wal-Mart.

I disagree that these hunts paint hunters in a bad light.  They have a purpose and most are run well.  The problem arises when shooters try and pass off these animals as major achievements.  Or claim to be some higher grade of elk hunter because they've taken a canned elk with large antlers.  The multitude of reports about new Idaho records come to mind.  Ones that eventually were found out to be "Estate" elk.  That should have the same penalty as giving a false statement to the police...maybe even worse!

I try not to talk about my canned hunts much.  As to me it was more about testing and learning than it was about hunting and being a better part time predator than the animal was a full time survivor.  But some of those experiences were filled with short bursts of extreme excitement.  And one hunt on 7,000 rough acres for Aoudad was a complete kick your arse "hunt".  One in which I came home without the ram I wanted because he was a better survivor than I was a predator. Unfortunately not all these hunts are that way so I keep most of them to myself.  Though I do have some animals taken on these hunts mounted.  More as an example of the species beauty and potential than an example of some great hunting accomplishment.

But, then again I like shooting stuff!  The wife and I hunt pheasant on release sights and reserves as well as wild pheasant on public land.  We enjoy watching the dogs work and filling our freezer with meat that rivals the supermarket.  Why can't a guy enjoy both as long as he understands the difference?  Most of the time its a lot more challenging than shooting a grouse on the edge of the road or tagging a deer in your back yard eating apples.  And it's judgmental elitism similar to views about canned hunts that led to the banning of baiting bear.  Not everything has to be a struggle to be considered hunting.  It all has it's place and with the right mid set and grasp on reality it can be an enjoyable experience.

[RadSav]

That's not to say there aren't some bad outfits out there.  Ones that have high income executives come and shoot some rare exotic animal out of a pen and tout the quality of their "hunts"!  But I do not know any of those that actually stayed in business for very long. 

[motg9_6]

well said rad sav!!

as i was looking at the pics on their site i could help but notice how some of them look like the Spyder bull genes 

[starbailey]

Very well put Rad Sav.
I have talked with some ranches in TX about some of the exotics they have (blackbuck) as I love the way they look and would like to have a mount. If I ever got around to going on one of these "canned hunts" I'm sure it would be a low stress, kick in the butt time. I just never see myself paying the money to go to Argentina or wherever they run free to kill one so I'd be ok killing a ranch raised buck.

[RadSav]

Very well put Rad Sav.
I have talked with some ranches in TX about some of the exotics they have (blackbuck) as I love the way they look and would like to have a mount. If I ever got around to going on one of these "canned hunts" I'm sure it would be a low stress, kick in the butt time. I just never see myself paying the money to go to Argentina or wherever they run free to kill one so I'd be ok killing a ranch raised buck.

If you want a blackbuck I can not recommend the YO ranch high enough.  Not sure you are going to find 40,000 of free roaming wildlife anywhere else.  Only thing that makes the YO seem like a canned hunt it the pure volume of animals.  I do think they have a 2,000 acre high fence whitetail area, but the rest of the ranch is pretty much free to roam.  They also have some of the most wild elusive Fallow bucks in the world!  These animals are hunted almost none stop all year round and they are wary as any wild animals you will find.  Again, 40,000 acres!  That's 62.5 square miles!!  I think I've been there three times and I've probably only seen 1/3rd of the ranch.  It is not a place I would ever call a canned hunt unless inside the high fence 2,000.

For city folks to fully under stand what 40,000 acres is...That's larger than ten (10) Mercer Islands put together!  Or nearly twice the size of the Bellevue City limits.  For you dry siders that's 5 square miles larger than the city limits of Spokane and more than twice the size of the city limits of Yakima.  1/6th the size of the Mount Rainier National Park! 1/4 the size of the entire Weyco/Vail permit area... It's BIG!!

One of my trips there I was hunting one single blackbuck for three days.  He was a MONSTER with one horn broken off at the base.  Because of that no one wanted to tag him and the ranch offered him to Doug Walker and I for half price.  I think back then that was $650.00.  I had visions of mounting him like a marlin!  3/4 mount length wise in a full run position.  Would have been a one of a kind mount!  But that dang buck busted us every single day and some times more than once a day!  He hadn't gotten that big and old on a hunting ranch because he was stupid, that's for sure!

Blackbuck are very territorial.  At the boundaries of their territory they have markers which are perfect mounds of poop with a pee hole dead center.  Each day they make the rounds refreshing the scent.  That is probably the only reason we were able to get multiple opportunities at seeing him since he had miles to go if he wanted to.

You really have to experience the YO ranch for yourself to fully understand how enormous it is and how "Un-Canned" the experience is!  They are not kidding when they say, "It's like Africa in Texas".  Very cool animals...awesome place.  Or at least it was 20 years ago

[deerhunter_98520]

Sounds like u had a good time

[RadSav]

Sounds like u had a good time

Even if you just take a sightseeing safari on the YO it is worth it.  Just stay clear of the Ostrich.  They're mean!!   

It's like Jurassic Park when the people are driving toward the facility upon arrival.  There are animals you never thought you would see just meandering about in the vast expanse of land.  I tried an elk bugle on a large Sika deer.  He paid no attention, but a 380 class bull elk just about ran me over coming in!  That was just moments after six scimitar horned oryx walked through followed by a 140 whitetail and about 80 turkeys.  By the end of the day I'd also seen axis deer, albino skunk, porcupine, red deer, American bison, Jacobs ram, mouflon sheep, Corsican sheep, fallow deer, giraffe, Texas dall, YO ibex, Hawaiian sheep, Catalina goat, blackbuck, Pere David deer and Audad. Only the giraffe, ostrich and Pere David were in secluded pastures.  All the rest I came upon while doing about a three mile hike (which I was only allowed to do because Doug Walker said I would be fine and not get lost forever   Apparently it's large enough where that is a problem!)

I hear it is even crazier now that they have been successful breeding African game.  When I was there last they were just getting in most of the original breeding pairs and had them in a secluded pasture.  And if true, there are more Pere David deer on the YO than there are in their native China.

[motg9_6]

do they have a website?

[snowpack]

They are for sale....hint, hint Rad...... 

[motg9_6]

definitely buying a lotto ticket tonight!!! 

[RadSav]

I knew they had gone from 500,000 acres to just over 100,000 acres in the cattle ranch years ago.  But selling off parts of the 40,000 is crazy!  That's been in the Schreiner Family for more than 130 years!  Wish I had known I'd have made one long trip down there this past winter.  What an absolute shame

Maybe Uncle Ted will buy them all up!  I know either he or his son has been there each time I have been.  It could be the new YO Gonzo Ranch

[starbailey]

Yes, I wouldn't call 40,000 acres a canned hunt. I think the YO also has red sheep and Armenian sheep free range along with the other wildlife you mentioned. I've talked with several hunters that have hunted with Rowdy on the ranch (audad, red, Armenian) and they all say it can be extremely difficult to sneak up on game.
Not all ranch hunts, canned or not, are created equal.

[D-Rock425]

So is uncle Ted as crazy off tv as he is on tv?

[RadSav]

Yes, I wouldn't call 40,000 acres a canned hunt. I think the YO also has red sheep and Armenian sheep free range along with the other wildlife you mentioned. I've talked with several hunters that have hunted with Rowdy on the ranch (audad, red, Armenian) and they all say it can be extremely difficult to sneak up on game.
Not all ranch hunts, canned or not, are created equal.

I'm not familiar with the Armenian sheep.  But I've seen some dandy Reds on my last trip!  They seem about twice as spooky as the Mouflon.  Not sure that would be all that difficult with a rifle, but would be a reasonably challenging hunt with a bow.  You have to throw in an Axis while you are there too.  Best eating wild game animal on the planet

[RadSav]

So is uncle Ted as crazy off tv as he is on tv?

He's a lot smarter when the camera is off

Always high energy and the center of attention.  But a really great guy.  His wife Shemane is super nice, super smart and not at all offensive to look at She also makes some dang good cookies!  Not many celebrities as approachable, kind and friendly as Uncle Ted and Shemane.  I'm not a big fan of his when he is on TV, but will always remain a big fan of the person and the family.  They are GOOD people!