Dick Geoffroy's friend, Chris Munson, has been a member of a deer lease on the
Shield ranch for several years. Right now they need two more hunters to
complete a five hunter lease. The property is located right off Hamilton Pool
Road about five miles from Hwy 71 (Hamilton Pool Road is about three miles
west on Hwy 71 from Bee Caves). Drive time from 183/620 is about 45 - 60
minutes depending on the time of day.
Entry to the ranch is via an electronic keypad (which activates an electric
gate). The size of the lease area is about 1200 acres on two pastures.
Camping on the lease is permitted in a designated area, which is remote from
the ranch headquarters. Check-in on entry and check-out on exit is required
by the Ranch but it is easy. They have six feeders on the property and
approximately 20 established stand locations.
The Ranch is a working ranch and part of the Balcones Canyonlands program.
There is an aggressive coyote management program going on at the ranch. This
year and for the last two years ranch management has been working to redevelop
the big buck population. This year hunters will be allowed to take up to two
cull bucks, spike to 5 point if the spikes are taller than the ears, or
antlers are between the ears. No does will be allowed to be harvested but the
ranch has designated that one large buck of 8 points or larger may be killed
by one of the group. There are additional rules for that deer. One bearded
turkey may be taken per hunter in the fall or during two designated weekends
in the following spring turkey season. Hunters may take guests on the lease,
including their children, but any game taken is counted to the lease hunter's
ranch limit. No other game may be taken. The only other animals allowed
to be killed are coyotes.
The lease fee is $600 per hunter (your children can hunt on your lease at no
additional cost) for the season due to ranch restrictions on bag limits.
Ranch rules and liability releases are much more detailed but this covers the
basics.
Hunters must write in a log book upon check in (first come first serve each
hunt period or day). They must designate which blind area they plan to
hunt that period and they are expected to stay with it. There are lots of
creeks and draws on the lease so stands and blinds are well protected by
terrain. With only five hunters on 1200 acres there is always a place to go
where deer have been seen and many times killed over the years.
The lead hunter on the lease is Jim Horton. The other hunter, Tomas Leon,
tends to hunt very frequently at the beginning of the season, becoming less
frequent usually after thanksgiving. None of the hunters took deer last year
but they all had opportunity. No one camped over night at the lease the last
two seasons.
It is already sold out for the 2006/2007 season. The owner likes to wrap
up commitments by about April and then have everyone signed and paid by
September.
If you are interested or would like more info, please call Chris during the
day at 512-345-7840 or evenings at 512-331-2136. His cell is 512- 517-5308.