Back in mid-August of this year I wrote an article that touched on conducting deer surveys and how the abundant rainfall received during 2010 really set up most of Texas up for a great year of white-tailed deer hunting. I had a feeling that a lot of the bucks carried over from last year would be looking good this fall.
That said, really was not expecting a new Texas non-typical white-tailed deer record to be harvested on the first day of the 2010 deer hunting season! By the way, I’m talking about over 300 inches of native buck antler. That’s awesome!
Texas Nontypical Record Buck
You may recall that hunter Marko Barrett harvested a big South Texas buck on the Las Raices Ranch back in 2007. That non-typical deer was a brute in his own right with 34 points that measured out at an impressive 275 7/8 inches.
Well, it looks like his father, Mark Barrett, has raised the bar even higher with his own giant, non-typical whitetail buck. And right from his Facebook page, Marko wrote:
“We’ve been keeping this one pretty tight to the vest, but now that he is down we can share these pictures. He is potentially, by our score, the largest native Texas deer EVER! Rough score in velvet of 311 4/8. Congratulations, Mark Barrett (aka Dad)!”
Managing for Better Habitat, Bigger Deer
The Las Raices has been actively involved in whitetail deer management for many years, so producing high-quality whitetail bucks is nothing new for this family-owned property. With the Las Raices’ commitment to on-going deer population and habitat management, it’s starting to look like they could be their only competition for producing record-breaking native deer into the future.
But what am I saying? Big bucks are produced all across Texas every year.
“The buck’s score is reported as 311 4/8” green gross, in full velvet. This score is not official, but is almost certain to replace the current state record. In Encinal’s own words, “Las Raices is a family owned and operated hunting ranch in Webb County, Texas that has exclusively non-manipulated nor transported native genetics.
This is a 100% native pasture deer that has not been manipulated in any way. Just rain, protein feed and patience…'”
One for the Record Book
Congratulations are in order for Mark Barrett and the Las Raices Ranch for bettering their very own state white-tailed deer record. I don’t think every property can produce a 300+ inch non-typical whitetail buck because, let’s face it, this buck is several standard deviations away from average.
But hey, it does show that anyone can exceed their deer management expectations by managing for good habitat and allowing those buck to get some age on them. And then hoping for a little rain, too!
This is a great buck! I know this deer was shot in a high fence property, but it is still a native deer. It takes a little luck with some serious management to grow a native 300 deer, so my hat is off to him.
YES, Congrats Mark (DAD)! That is one impressive buck. They just don’t have them like that that here in Western New York, although I am from Texas originally. Haven’t lived there in over ten years. Makes me wonder why I left. Anyway, I really enjoy the story and your deer. Again, congratulations!
Good looking buck. I don’t think I could have even got a shot off from shaking so bad!!! I would have buck fevered myself right to the floor.
“With 4,000 high-fenced, protein-fed acres, the Las Raices is able to provide excellent quality fair chase hunts with very high success rates.”
That’s a monster no matter where you’re from. We just killed a buck in the 190’s here on our ranch in Texas, which is 30 inches higher than anything we’ve ever killed here prior. Our buck and this 300″ monster are definite proof of what happens when the “right” buck breeds the “right” doe.
Killing pen raised deer (high fence) is not fair chase hunting and should be clearly denoted for what it is and is not. This type of deer farming is killing the sport of deer hunting. Let’s get back to celebrating fair chase hunting and stop patting fat cat dudes on the back for shooting deer killed in a big pen.
If an area of 5,000 acres is high fenced and a buck would never leave that area in his lifetime, even if it were low-fenced, how can it be a barrier?
People just as Todd have been miserable for years because things aren’t the way they want them.
Please define what high fencing “is and is not.” If you’ll say it’s a physical barrier that keeps deer from leaving a territory… then technically you’re hunting high fence too… ever see a buck swim from the US to Europe or across the Panama Canal? That’s the only true way he can truly get away from you. Poor guy, you’ve been hunting in a “game pen” your whole life but got brain-washed that you were hunting fairly. Just because it’s not 8 feet tall, the ocean is still a physical barrier.
I think some people confuse pen raised deer with wild deer that happen to be within an area that was high fenced. Pen raised, or deer grown on deer farms, are admittedly not street smart. I do not take it upon myself to judge what is and is not hunting though. Each hunter has to do that for him or her self.
Some people are vegetarians because they do not want to eat animals produced commercially. Some hunters look down their noses as deer that are raised in pens or high fences that are then shot by hunters. What a person considers hunting may vary from one hunter to another, but I think we should all stick together.
Max, I think you’re definitely the voice of reason. I believe that there is a definitely discrimination going on with those who are proponents of low-fenced hunting. I believe that discrimination towards high-fenced hunters has only hurt hunting by pulling us apart. The only chance we have in preserving our heritage is to stand together against politicians that would one day want to take our guns and sport away from us.
The attempts by many to state that “low-fenced is the ONLY way to hunt” have only brought resentment and disdain.
What a deer! However, if this non-typical giant was harvested on a ranch with high fences, unless I’m mistaken, B&C will not recognize it in their record book. Therefore, it is not a state record in this Texan’s mind.
Moronic argument that has no bearing. Your statement about deer not being able to swim is about as germane to the topic as much as it is needed.
Hunting whitetail deer is hunting whitetail deer. Take it or leave it,its up to you. If you bait deer–high fence, low fence–you bait deer. If you drive up to shoot deer or walk up to shoot deer you do one or the other. If you shoot deer from a blind or you hide in a thick bush or elevated up on a bluff or down in a valley it’s up to you.
Gun or bow, rain or shine, you may like to hunt deer. I only hope we do not forget how we got here. Man and woman hunted and gathered there way to the 21st century. Thank the whitetail deer and all other species because without them and that way of life we would not have made it. Prejudice is just what it is no matter how you slice it.
Thankfully here in the good ole USA we still have a chance to choose how and when or not to hunt. The key word is still.
Great deer but still a high fenced ranch…..not exactly what you can call “fair chase”. Granted these are wild deer and are fed protein supplments but so are the ones you see so many of in the mid-west or north-east that are 500 acres or smaller……Still though a great deer.