Texas Hunting Leases

A quick survey of deer corn prices for 50 lb. bags is a little shocking.  Some reports have it getting close to the $10 mark.  If things keep going like this, it will soon pass up protein - is a barrel of oil next?  It makes you think about your off-season feeding regimen, if gas prices have not got you thinking already.  And, there may be no end in sight for a while.

If memory serves me right, that same bag of corn was around $5.00 a few years ago.  Some feed store operators predict prices will be up nearly 50% from last year.  And, it will be a good idea to shop around and buy in bulk if available.  If you are having to drive down to the lease to fill feeders, you might consider rotating your feeders or even buying bigger ones.  The first will cut down on the corn you use, the other on the number of times you need to drive down to fill them.  Sure, bigger feeders are more expensive, but compare that to a tank of gas.  Especially for those who drive more than a few hours to the lease.  If you want to get ahead of the curve and buy your corn now, you need to be concerned with storage.  Keeping pests out of stored corn is a chore at best.  Some recommend using medicated cattle ear-tags to keep pests away, and its also a good idea to put these in feeder motor boxes to keep out insects as well. 

Hunters are feeling price pressures from every aspect of the sport.  Good leases are getting further away from most major cities as the “ranchette” craze continues in nearby counties.  Those same leases are also costing more as the Texas oil-based economy brings surplus dollars for “corporate leases”.  Their bigger budgets push out the average hunter who are starting to have long-term leases pulled right out from under them.  Firearms and ammunition are going up too, as manufacturing materials used for both are at all time highs.  Finally, fuel costs round out the siege to complete a painful undertaking for those who are still mad at the horns.

It remains to be seen if our legislators will provide some price relief in the form of ethanol legislation.  The mandates most certainly have contributed to the cost and price speculation.  On a drive down to South Texas recently, fields that I usually see filled with budding cotton plants are now brimming with stalks and ears.  More supply, yes, but will it be enough to catch up to demand?  One can only hope.  I wonder how many bags of corn can fit in an oil barrel anyways.