How many acres per hunter? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

SJP51 · 01-21-2021, 07:07 PM

Throwing 30-06 bullets around, I like to be pretty spread out. Not so much with arrows.

Hunting deep east Texas deer and hogs. Thick brush and/or pine with some hard woods. How many acres is a minimum for archery hunters? I'm thinking 25 to 40 acres per hunter?

sharkhunter · 01-21-2021, 07:15 PM

I like 150 minimum. 200 acres is better.

johnpaul · 01-21-2021, 07:16 PM

If you put a hunter every 25 acres in east Texas then you’re going to have more humans than animals on the property.

Pernell · 01-21-2021, 07:18 PM

We do about 350 acres per spot.

DRT · 01-21-2021, 07:21 PM

We are hoping to pick up 800 acres and we will put 6 bow hunters on it if we do.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

RMW · 01-21-2021, 07:23 PM

Rifle minimum 500
Bow minimum 250

SJP51 · 01-21-2021, 07:27 PM

You fellas hunt some big places. Buddy and I hunted 120 acres together for 10-years and always took a few does and usually a buck or two between us. Gobs of hogs, too.

Was thinking of buying a 60 acre place I saw for sale that would give me only a 15 min drive from home to stand for me and one other. Archrery only.

BobbyJoe · 01-21-2021, 07:33 PM

West Texas: 300-500
South Texas: 200-350
Hill Country: 150-250
East Texas: 100-150

TheHammer · 01-21-2021, 07:51 PM

500 acres per hunter if funds allow. The less # of Hunters the better everytime.

East Texas you can get by with a lower acre/Hunter ratio, but I still would try to keep it above 200.

Greenheadless · 01-21-2021, 07:54 PM

How many deer per acre are you able to hold?

ShaBow · 01-21-2021, 08:46 PM

East texas I’d say minimum 150 acres per hunter but 200-250 would be better

Greenheadless · 01-22-2021, 10:00 AM

How can you tell how many people is good without knowing your optimal carrying capacity?

Mr. Stickers · 01-22-2021, 10:08 AM

We hunt 10 guns on 5,000 acres

DRT · 01-22-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenheadless

How can you tell how many people is good without knowing your optimal carrying capacity?

That's a good question. I think most places go by how much total split by how much people are willing to pay.
The area we are in there are good numbers of deer, a ton of pigs and turkeys. But the land we are looking to lease is $15 per acre.
Personally I'd like to put four people on it but $3000 a bow is pretty high for most folks.

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Greenheadless · 01-22-2021, 10:35 AM

If you run 25 acres per deer (not uncommon in E Texas pine plantation country). That would be 6 deer on 150 acres. Depending on your harvest plan, 25% harvest rate would be 1.5 deer per 150 acres. Each hunter on 150 acres would get 1-2 deer per season.

See where I am going?

Once again, all variables can change depending on range conditions, long term management plan, changes in property composition, etc.

Arrowthreat · 01-22-2021, 10:40 AM

Its hard to generalize, really depends on the specific property, and the surrounding properties. This is the minimum amount I would generally consider for each region based on deer density and terrain. Personally, I would use this for bow and gun.

East Texas (north and south) 100-150

West Texas (West of Abilene and San Angelo)

300-350

South Texas

100-150

Hill Country

50-100

Mr. Stickers · 01-22-2021, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRT

That's a good question. I think most places go by how much total split by how much people are willing to pay.
The area we are in there are good numbers of deer, a ton of pigs and turkeys. But the land we are looking to lease is $15 per acre.
Personally I'd like to put four people on it but $3000 a bow is pretty high for most folks.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

I'd be glad to help you out with those Turkeys

SJP51 · 01-22-2021, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the insights. But I was really talking about how many acres per hunter for safety, staying out of each others way, etc. Not all that many deer, but gobs of hogs at times.

I have no idea how many acres/deer this country can hold, but pine woods is rather low, and 6 per 150 acres might be close.

DRT · 01-22-2021, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJP51

Thanks for the insights. But I was really talking about how many acres per hunter for safety, staying out of each others way, etc. Not all that many deer, but gobs of hogs at times.

I have no idea how many acres/deer this country can hold, but pine woods is rather low.

Well I'd say the same. I hunted a place with 5 hunters on 300 acres. Hill country. Plenty of deer. But I tried to tag out during bow season. Opening weekend of rifle season was loud and a tad uneasy.

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hpdrifter · 02-25-2021, 07:20 PM

I've not been on a great number of leases, but the ones I was on opening week is the only time you had to worry about the "mob" showing up.

Some one said something about 'more people than deer" on the place, well, in E Tx someone may actually see that phantom deer.

In E Tx, we used to hunt 50 acres and never be bothered. Some areas will hold 4,6,or 8 deer and the next 50 or 100 acres might have none.

Bow hunting. Rifle, more care is needed.

Greenheadless · 02-26-2021, 11:18 AM

I saw some statics that showed the average deer per acre of the major regions of Texas.

The one take away I took was E. Texas overall average is 1 deer for every 50 acres. Of course this varies and is a broad brush approach.

SJP51 · 02-27-2021, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenheadless

I saw some statics that showed the average deer per acre of the major regions of Texas.

The one take away I took was E. Texas overall average is 1 deer for every 50 acres. Of course this varies and is a broad brush approach.

There are a lot less here than most other places I've hunted. Up in the pines there's just nothing to eat, and there are lots and lost of pines.

muzzlebrake · 03-05-2021, 08:47 AM

8 people on 5500 ac and it's still crowded

tdwinklr · 03-05-2021, 09:01 AM

depends on the terrain and forage available.

Johnson · 03-05-2021, 09:15 AM

5 men 7500 ac

Stetsonoverton · 03-05-2021, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnson

5 men 7500 ac

this is what dreams are made of!

6 on 5010 here

jhuddleston · 03-05-2021, 10:02 AM

we have 7 on 2400 acres with no issues

jonny_thunder · 03-12-2021, 10:19 PM

I used to bring two buddies with me to bow hunt 120 acres in Brazos Co. Always felt safe.

01-21-2021, 07:07 PM	#1
SJP51 Four Point Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Nacogdoches Hunt In: Menard, Nacogdoches, Bryan	How many acres per hunter? Throwing 30-06 bullets around, I like to be pretty spread out. Not so much with arrows. Hunting deep east Texas deer and hogs. Thick brush and/or pine with some hard woods. How many acres is a minimum for archery hunters? I'm thinking 25 to 40 acres per hunter?

01-22-2021, 10:35 AM	#15
Greenheadless Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX Hunt In: Liberty County	If you run 25 acres per deer (not uncommon in E Texas pine plantation country). That would be 6 deer on 150 acres. Depending on your harvest plan, 25% harvest rate would be 1.5 deer per 150 acres. Each hunter on 150 acres would get 1-2 deer per season. See where I am going? Once again, all variables can change depending on range conditions, long term management plan, changes in property composition, etc. Last edited by Greenheadless; 01-22-2021 at 10:37 AM.

01-22-2021, 06:01 PM	#18
SJP51 Four Point Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Nacogdoches Hunt In: Menard, Nacogdoches, Bryan	Thanks for the insights. But I was really talking about how many acres per hunter for safety, staying out of each others way, etc. Not all that many deer, but gobs of hogs at times. I have no idea how many acres/deer this country can hold, but pine woods is rather low, and 6 per 150 acres might be close. Last edited by SJP51; 01-22-2021 at 06:31 PM.

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01-21-2021, 07:15 PM	#2
sharkhunter Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tarkington , TX Hunt In: In the woods	I like 150 minimum. 200 acres is better.

01-21-2021, 07:16 PM	#3
johnpaul Ten Point Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Beaumont Hunt In: Winnie, Beaumont, La Belle	If you put a hunter every 25 acres in east Texas then you’re going to have more humans than animals on the property.

01-21-2021, 07:18 PM	#4
Pernell Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Humble TX Hunt In: N.M., East Texas, South Texas	We do about 350 acres per spot.

01-21-2021, 07:21 PM	#5
DRT Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Tx Hunt In: Jones County and Missouri	We are hoping to pick up 800 acres and we will put 6 bow hunters on it if we do. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

01-21-2021, 07:23 PM	#6
RMW Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Burr Hunt In: Down South	Rifle minimum 500 Bow minimum 250

01-21-2021, 07:27 PM	#7
SJP51 Four Point Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Nacogdoches Hunt In: Menard, Nacogdoches, Bryan	You fellas hunt some big places. Buddy and I hunted 120 acres together for 10-years and always took a few does and usually a buck or two between us. Gobs of hogs, too. Was thinking of buying a 60 acre place I saw for sale that would give me only a 15 min drive from home to stand for me and one other. Archrery only.

01-21-2021, 07:33 PM	#8
BobbyJoe Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Hunt In: Sabine County	West Texas: 300-500 South Texas: 200-350 Hill Country: 150-250 East Texas: 100-150

01-21-2021, 07:51 PM	#9
TheHammer Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carthage, TX Hunt In: Coke Co, Panola Co	500 acres per hunter if funds allow. The less # of Hunters the better everytime. East Texas you can get by with a lower acre/Hunter ratio, but I still would try to keep it above 200.

01-21-2021, 07:54 PM	#10
Greenheadless Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX Hunt In: Liberty County	How many deer per acre are you able to hold?

01-21-2021, 08:46 PM	#11
ShaBow Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sour Lake,Tx. Hunt In: A Tree	East texas I’d say minimum 150 acres per hunter but 200-250 would be better

01-22-2021, 10:00 AM	#12
Greenheadless Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX Hunt In: Liberty County	How can you tell how many people is good without knowing your optimal carrying capacity?

01-22-2021, 10:08 AM	#13
Mr. Stickers Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Bernard Tx. Hunt In: Brackettville Tx.	We hunt 10 guns on 5,000 acres

01-22-2021, 10:40 AM	#16
Arrowthreat Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Whitewright, TX Hunt In: Fannin County	Its hard to generalize, really depends on the specific property, and the surrounding properties. This is the minimum amount I would generally consider for each region based on deer density and terrain. Personally, I would use this for bow and gun. East Texas (north and south) 100-150 West Texas (West of Abilene and San Angelo) 300-350 South Texas 100-150 Hill Country 50-100

02-25-2021, 07:20 PM	#20
hpdrifter Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: kerens Hunt In: anywhere I can	I've not been on a great number of leases, but the ones I was on opening week is the only time you had to worry about the "mob" showing up. Some one said something about 'more people than deer" on the place, well, in E Tx someone may actually see that phantom deer. In E Tx, we used to hunt 50 acres and never be bothered. Some areas will hold 4,6,or 8 deer and the next 50 or 100 acres might have none. Bow hunting. Rifle, more care is needed.

02-26-2021, 11:18 AM	#21
Greenheadless Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, TX Hunt In: Liberty County	I saw some statics that showed the average deer per acre of the major regions of Texas. The one take away I took was E. Texas overall average is 1 deer for every 50 acres. Of course this varies and is a broad brush approach.

03-05-2021, 08:47 AM	#23
muzzlebrake Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Euless, Texas Hunt In: Sterling County	8 people on 5500 ac and it's still crowded

03-05-2021, 09:01 AM	#24
tdwinklr Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Leonard, TX Hunt In: N. Central and N. East TX	depends on the terrain and forage available.

03-05-2021, 09:15 AM	#25
Johnson Four Point Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Caldwell tx Hunt In: Mexico	5 men 7500 ac

03-05-2021, 10:02 AM	#27
jhuddleston Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Welborn, TX Hunt In: Brazos County	we have 7 on 2400 acres with no issues

03-12-2021, 10:19 PM	#28
jonny_thunder Spike Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Austin Hunt In: anywhere and everywhere	I used to bring two buddies with me to bow hunt 120 acres in Brazos Co. Always felt safe.