Texas Hunters are Tapping the Power of Deer Hunting Cooperatives

DEER AND DEER HUNTING have come a long way in eastern Texas over the years.

Back when I first moved here in the early 1980s, not many hunters shot does, and just about any deer with antlers had a bullseye on its back. A buck whitetail that was able to live beyond 3 1/2-years on open range without getting shot was more of an anomaly than ordinary. An eight-pointer with an 18-inch inside spread was considered a really good buck.

That’s not the case anymore. Life is good for deer and deer hunters in eastern Texas, and it appears to be getting better.

That’s because more hunters and landowners are learning the benefits of letting young deer walk. Instead, they spend their antlerless tags, care for the habitat and manage their herds with quality in mind.

The Co-op Advantage

Many hunters have found it’s much easier to realize the benefits of deer management when multiple land managers are on the same page, rather than just one or two. Thus, the beauty of a “hunting cooperative.”

A hunting cooperative is formed when a group of landowners or hunters on opposite sides of the fence voluntarily work together for the purpose of improving the quality of an existing deer herd, which ultimately enhances their hunting experience.

Co-ops generally consist of several adjoining properties following similar guidelines with common management goals in mind. Although there is no limit on how small or large a hunting co-op should be, the more folks that join in the effort, the merrier the party will usually be.

Don Dietz knows a thing or two about deer hunting co-ops. Dietz is a veteran wildlife biologist and deer hunter from Lufkin who has had a finger in managing some of the region’s very best hunting clubs over the years. Among others, he currently oversees 25 hunting clubs along both sides of the Neches River, which form the North Neches Management Co-op.

The clubs range in size from 653 acres to more than 9,000 acres. With roughly 79,000 acres under its umbrella, the NNMC is arguably among the largest hunting co-ops in the state.

Dietz, a recreational lease manager with Forestry Resource Consultants, has been overseeing the operation since its inception in 2005. Not surprisingly, he has witnessed hunter attitudes blossom and has seen the hunting quality improve exponentially with time.

“When we first started, hunters acted like we raised the rent and took away their bucks,” Dietz said. “Two years later they were showing me game camera pictures of mature bucks they had let walk the past season. When I asked them why they passed on legitimate bucks, they all said the same thing: ‘I want to see what he looks like next year.’”

I recently caught up with Dietz and asked him to share some insight on the ins and outs of forming a hunting cooperative.

On the process of starting a hunting co-op, Dietz said, “Pick a large area that has good connectivity, with very few inholdings of other property. It was easy for us since we manage 1.1 million acres in East Texas. I would look for a block at least 10,000 acres in size.

“If there is multiple ownership, everyone has to buy-in to the program or it will not work. Landholdings within a designated deer management association or co-op that won’t participate will just create turmoil, and the co-op will fail.

“Come up with your goals and a strategy. Do you want to manage for trophy bucks or quality deer? Trophy buck management is much harder to sell, because too many hunters will not get to harvest a buck. Quality buck management allows hunters to shoot 3½-year-old bucks for several years until the program starts producing more 4½-year-old and older bucks.

“Also, make a conscious effort to harvest an adequate number of antlerless deer. If the property is large enough, consider getting involved with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Managed Lands Deer Program.

On the most common obstacles a landowner/game manager can expect to encounter when starting and maintaining a co-op, he said, “Members shooting ‘mistake bucks’ that aren’t old enough is a big one.

“Another is failure to adequately punish a member for consistently shooting mistake bucks. Some clubs try to impose a fine for harvesting the wrong buck. That never works. The most effective way to deal with this problem is to prohibit the hunter from taking a buck the following year.

On how big should a co-op be to have noticeable impact on the deer herd, Dietz said, “At least 10,000 acres.”

“Following the rules and keeping everyone on the same program is imperative for a hunting co-op to work. So how does a co-op deal with a co-op member who bends the rules or doesn’t follow them?

“When you have control like we do, we threaten to cancel the lease,” Dietz said. “We have only had to cancel one lease in the North Neches Co-op since 2005. However, once clubs get used to Managed Lands Deer Permits under the conservation option, they cherish hunting bucks early. You can threaten to take that away.”

Some land managers may be reluctant to join a co-op due to feeling restricted about what they can and cannot do/shoot. So, what are the best ways coax a “hold out” into joining the group?

“I would guess that the promise of better bucks and, therefore, increased lease revenue could help,” he said. “If they are just in it for friends and family, then being able to hunt during the rut with a rifle is enticing. The bottom line is that under the TPWD Land Management Assistance Program, where you can get Managed Land Deer Permits, your deer season can go from just two months to five.”

A successful co-op isn’t just about managing the game. It’s also about managing the habitat. So, what are your thoughts on that? we asked.

“If you manage your deer population through harvesting does and culls, you will naturally improve your habitat,” Dietz said. “However, I am a big believer in both fall and spring food plots. I also support feeding protein, but with one consideration—once you start you can’t quit.

“If you do need to stop feeding protein, then do it gradually. Supplemental feeding, even food plots for that matter, allows you to artificially carry more deer. Taking it away will cause you to have more deer than your habitat can naturally support.”

The NNMC went to a 4½-year-old minimum requirement prior to the 2018-19 season on quality bucks. What was the minimum prior to that, and for how long? we asked.

“In 2005, I made it mandatory to harvest only those bucks that were 3½ years old or older or those with an inside spread of at least 15 inches. In 2011-12, I dropped the spread rule and went with a straight 3½-year-old limit. Our hunters had learned how to age bucks on the hoof by then, and the average age of bucks harvested was already at four-years-plus.

Did the change meet with much resistance? We asked.

“The change met hard resistance in certain clubs, but after I told them I would try to find them another lease they accepted it, Dietz said. “After a few years, the most resistant clubs became the most protective of their bucks, often letting mature bucks walk just so they could see what they looked like the following year.”

We asked if Dietz has seen things change as far as deer and deer hunting quality within the co-op from 2005 to 2019.

“Lactation (doe in milk) went from 50 percent to 70 percent,” Dietz said. “Buck ages jumped from an average 3.6 to 5 years old, while inside spread went from 14.5 inches to 16.6 inches. Basal circumference grew from 3.6 inches to 4.3 inches and buck live weights jumped from 112 pounds to 130 pounds. I did not require the clubs to score bucks until a few years back, but the 2017 bucks (200-plus) averaged 126 B&C, including culls. The observation data indicated 3.9 does for every buck in 2005. Last it showed 1.3 does per buck.

Co-op success doesn’t happen overnight. Moreover, the amount of success can vary from one year to the next. So we asked how long it took to see a noticeable difference on the NNMC.

“We noticed a difference in one year and have seen continuous success every year,” Dietz said. “We have had bucks harvested that scored in the 170s, 180s and 190s, including a 199 5/8 net non-typical taken on Bobcat Ridge in 2015. That buck qualified for all-time Boone and Crockett records.”

Communication is key in a hunting co-op. How often do NNMC members get together for meetings?

Dietz replied, “We meet annually where my team and I present the harvest data and our expectations for next season.”

What is primary advantage of a hunting co-op? we asked.

“If you are shooting the right bucks,” Dietz said, “and letting the young bucks walk, you know your neighbor is doing the same thing.”

 

 

—story by MATT WILLIAMS

 

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