Habitat

Great Horizon Ranch located in the famed "Golden Triangle" of South Texas!

Big white-tailed bucks are synonymous with South Texas! Great Horizon Ranch, located in the "Golden Triangle" of South Texas is no exception. Blessed with abundant trophy bucks, it is also home to Rio Grande turkeys, outstanding dove hunting, bobwhite and scaled (blue) quail, abundant waterfowl, bobcats, mountain lions and an excellent population of javelina.

At first glance, the south Texas Brush Country appears to be harsh and unforgiving. Taking a closer look however, reveals the incredible plant diversity that makes this region of the country so productive for large antlered white-tails. The soils provide the native vegetation the ability to produce crude protein levels up to 21% The combination of nutrient rich soil and diverse plant species provide white-tails with the nutrition they need to express their genetic potential in the form of large antlers.

Habitat Management

Habitat management on the ranch is aimed at early successional management through the use of prescribed fire to promote forb production and set back succession on the brush, drum chopping, shredding and large forestry mowers. By keeping the mesquite, acacia, black brush, guajillo, huisache, prickly pear and many other species in early successional stages it keeps these plants highly palatable to the native white-tails leading to superior antler growth as well as providing excellent fawning cover and nesting and brood rearing cover for many species of native birds.

Supplemental Feeding

In addition to habitat management to promote abundant native forage, supplemental feeding in the form of cottonseed feeding stations are maintained at approximately 75 locations across the ranch (approximately 1 per 175 acres). Not only are these free choice feeders excellent locations to get trail camera pictures to assess antler quality and age structure but they are an insurance policy in droughty years to ensure the deer stay in excellent condition even in poor range years.

Population Management

Population management is a large part of the program at Great Horizon Ranch. While the excellent habitat can support a high density of white-tails in wet years, drought in South Texas can be very real! While the native plants are adapted to low annual rainfall (average annual rainfall of 16"), too many deer on the landscape in a droughty year can cause significant damage to the native brush so important to many species of wildlife on the ranch, even with the addition of the free choice feeders. In order to combat this, population goals are set at 1 adult deer per 20 acres with a target sex ratio of 1.5 does per buck. An annual helicopter census is conducted in October with harvest goals based on this census. It is a priority to meet the target goals set by this census.

Buck Age Class Management

Bucks on Great Horizon Ranch are typically off limits until 4.5 years of age to allow them to express their genetic potential. If at 4.5 they do not score at least 145" on the Boone and Crockett Scale they are slated for removal. Bucks that are 145+" at 4.5 are allowed to grow to at least 6.5 years of age before they are hunted with many of the top end bucks being passed until 7.5 to 8.5 years old. There are numerous bucks each year in the 160+ class with the occasional 195 - 200" buck on the ranch.

Low Fence

Great Horizon Ranch is considered a low fence ranch with zero acres under high fence according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. For this reason, any bucks harvested are eligible for the Pope and Young or Boone and Crockett Record Books if they meet the minimum requirements for entry. While rifles are typically the weapon of choice for many hunters, there are numerous archery blinds that can give the archer a legitimate chance at a trophy white-tail! Why don't you come try your hand for one of these great bucks?