Nine Bar Ranch Blog
Nine Bar Ranch North Texas Deer Hunts: Detailed Info
The grounds at Nine Bar Ranch offer our guests the chance to experience the best North Texas deer hunts of their lives. With over 12,000 acres of natural Texas beauty surrounding our authentic ranch, we combine traditional Texas hospitality with skilled game management to offer a genuinely authentic deer hunting experience. We host two seasons, one for our Red deer, Fallow deer, and Sika deer starting in mid-September and another for Whitetail deer beginning October 1st and lasting until February 28th. Below we provide all the incredible details about our deer hunts.
Our deer hunts are two-day hunts that include your meals, lodging, guide service, and after-harvest care for the game, including field dressing, skinning, and quartering. You will not have to pay any trophy fees—the package price for each animal is what you pay.
Whitetail Deer Hunts: $3,500.00 for Bucks, $1,200.00 for two Does
Whitetail are our specialty! Our ranch consistently produces an abundance of trophy bucks in the 130-150 B&C class, with some bucks coming in at 160 or even 170. The rut typically falls around Thanksgiving, during the third or fourth week of November. All of our Whitetails are free-range, offering an actual fair-chase hunt. At the same time, we carefully manage our game to ensure a high opportunity for success for each guest. The question is not IF you will find a trophy Whitetail, but HOW you will be able to contain your excitement long enough to wait for the trophy you are looking for.
Fallow Deer Hunts: $4,500.00
Originating in Europe, these deer have three coloration varieties: white, spotted, and chocolate. The spots in their fur can become less distinct in the colder winter months. Their unmistakable palmate antlers can reach up to 16 inches and make them a memorable hunt.
Red Stag Hunts: $6,500.00
Come experience the big Red Deer roar in person! Known as the Monarch of the Mountain, Red Stags originate from the dense forests of Europe. They are the fourth largest deer species weighing an impressive 750 to 1,000 pounds. Most of our mature bucks have racks with 12 or more points, making them one of the finest trophy animals we offer. These elusive and majestic animals make for a thrilling hunt.
Sika Deer Hunt: $4,000.00
With origins in East Asia, Sika deer range in color from rust-colored to lighter patterns with a white underside. During winter months, males and females will develop a distinctive neck ruff. Male Sika have antlers that stretch up and branch out, growing 11-29 inches in size.
Axis Deer Hunt: $4,000.00
Axis deer originate in Asia. With an antler size of 31-36 inches and weighing about 180-250 pounds, the distinctive red-brown fur of the Axis deer makes them a sought-after trophy. Axis deer shed their antlers around the anniversary of their birth, so it is common to see hard-horned and velvet bucks during the same season. These elusive animals can be a great challenge for even experienced hunters.
Join us this deer season for a memorable hunting experience!
Top 3 Texas Deer Hunting Mistakes
Today we’re discussing some of the Texas deer hunting mistakes we at Nine Bar Ranch see frequently. With the rut of 2022 behind us, it’s time for each of us to take a look back and analyze our whitetail hunting strengths and weaknesses. With consistent refinement, your success rates in 2023 will be even better, and you’ll learn a few more valuable skills and strategies to pass on to your friends or even the next generation of hunters.
1. Not Watching the Wind and Weather
Unless it’s the height of the rut, deer are influenced by the weather. When there’s a cold snap or a storm has just passed, that’s a great time to head out early and stay out late hunting. Anytime it’s too cold for your neighbor to hunt is the perfect time to gather your gear and get going!
Once you’re out scouting where to set up your blind, pay close attention to the direction of the wind. Even if you’ve masked your scent, making sure you’re downwind is still important. We often see both new and seasoned hunters alike forgetting how sensitive deer are to the scent of humans on the wind.
2. Not Wading Into the Thickets
When hunters flock to the forests and fields, deer are naturally going to be more reclusive. By heading through thick brush until you find a clearing that offers a clear shot and setting up your blind along the edge early, you’re increasing your odds of being in a place deer will wander through.
For your very best chance, choose a clearing that is peppered with plants known to be preferred by whitetails. Even a shy buck gets hungry!
3. Failure to Use Calls and Rattles
Nearly every deer hunter we know has calls and rattles, and they’re probably going to bring them on a hunt. Still, when they’re out hunting, we see our hunting friends leave their calls and rattles stashed away in their packs.
Deer are social animals. If you’re hunting during the rut, this is four times as true! Make use of your grunt calls and your antler rattles to encourage does and bucks to wander your way.
For more pointers on hunting deer, boar, or wild game, schedule a hunt with us here on the ranch! Your guided hunt will be a great opportunity for us to work with you one-on-one to optimize your hunting skills and strategies for the coming year.