What You Should Know About Deer Ranching in Texas

Texas is a vast landscape with a range of wildlife that call it home. And with so many types of animals, ranching for wildlife has become a major player in the economic landscape of the Lone Star State.

There are two mindsets when it comes to deer ranching: raising native whitetail and mule deer versus raising nonnative exotic deer, and both require two completely different approaches and strategies. Regardless of which type you choose, Texas deer ranching involves much more than throwing a few hoofed animals on your property. Ranchers must maintain the health of their deer, ensuring they’re fed well and living in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats. This commitment to animal welfare is a cornerstone of responsible deer ranching in Texas.

Native Deer Ranching

Deer ranching involves breeding, raising and management of deer for many different purposes, including hunting, conservation and in some cases, even tourism. Whitetail deer is the most common big game animal, and in Texas their numbers reach as high as four million. Ranchers who want to breed native deer like whitetail and mule deer need a valid Parks and Wildlife permit, and as you can imagine, it comes with a slew of regulations and red tape to navigate. These ranchers have to comply with specific requirements for feeding, breeding and selling deer.

Exotic Wildlife Ranching

For hopeful Texas ranchers who want to dive into exotic deer ranching, there are far fewer regulations, with the exception of the animals on the endangered species list (ESA of 1973). And that’s probably the main reason the number of exotic ranches are continuing to grow. Texas considers feral hogs, Aoudad sheep, Axis deer, Elk, Sika deer, Fallow deer, Blackbuck antelope, Nilgai antelope and Russian boars to be exotic species, to name a few.

Once you figure out which path to follow, then you have to think about which breeds can and can’t be raised together. For example, if you put whitetail deer and axis together, the axis will completely overtake the whitetail if not properly managed. That’s how Texas Turnkey can help.

With expert consultation, Texas Turnkey will help build your deer ranch from the ground up and give you the tools you need to maintain and keep your ranch a thriving business — from designing and setting up pens, to food plots, to the types of animals that work best on your land. Contact us today.