Animals at Buck Valley Ranch

Buck Valley Ranch has been home to Whitetail deer and a number of exotic species since it was high fenced in the mid-1990’s. There are presently large herds of Whitetail and Axis deer and a smaller number of Blackbuck antelope, Fallow deer Red deer Scimitar-horned Oryx and Dahl Sheep. In 2006 a number of mature Fallow deer and young Dybowski Sika were acquired. In 2007 Red deer, Scimitar Horned Oryx and Dahl Sheep were acquired. The Fallow, deer Red Deer and Scimitar Horned Oryx are available for hunting but the Dybowski are not available yet.

The management plan for Whitetail deer is based on allowing most bucks to reach three and one half years of age. At three and one half years bucks will be classified as trophies or management animals. All bucks having less than ten points at three and one half will be classified as management animals to be harvested as soon as possible. Trophy animals will be allowed to mature to six and one half before harvest to maximize their antler size. This part of the plan should produce the best trophies but will also show hunters a number of trophy animals that are not available for harvest. Beginning in 2007 we have emphasized harvesting management Whitetail early in the season, before the rut, to reduce their impact on the gene pool.

In 2007 we also began a registered Whitetail breeding program in separate pastures. With the purchase of some high-quality breeding stock we intend to introduce even higher quality trophy Whitetail onto the ranch for eventual hunting and near-term improvement of the gene pool. These actions, on top of the significant quality increases we've already seen from other management actions will yield some of the finest Whitetail hunting opportunities available anywhere.

The management plan for Axis deer is more flexible than for Whitetail. While Axis can have hard antlers at any time of the year our herd seems to be generally divided into one group that sheds its velvet in the spring and another that is pretty much on the same schedule as the Whitetail. This gives us nice, hard-antlered Axis year round. There are quite a number of mature bucks and several of these are great trophies that appear longer than 35 inches. There don’t appear to be very many management animals or culls.

Thirteen Blackbuck were introduced to the property in 2003. This number has grown nicely a number of nice animals have been harvested. There are three or four nice trophies above 22 inches with a number of animals not far behind. The doe population is quite small so we will not be harvesting any does for now.

Several mature Fallow deer were added to the property in 2006. These are trophy animals ready to harvest. A tightly controlled breeding program was initiated in a separate breeding pasture. Based on hunter interest we will either grow the herd or maintain a small number of animals.

In 2007 mature Scimitar Horned Oryx, mature Red deer and Dahl Sheep were acquired. Most of these animals are ready for harvest.

A small herd of young Dybowski Sika was added to the property in a separate breeding pasture. These majestic animals mature quickly and develop very large antlers. We intend to develop these animals so that more hunters can have the chance to harvest one.

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