Blackjack Outfitters - Management Program

The deer herd has been on a protein program for eight years. With one feeder every 500 acres, we feed unlimited protein from February through August each year. From September through January, corn replaces the protein.

Not to be understated, we harvest in excess of 40 does each season along with every cull buck we can identify. Our trophy bucks must be four years of age before harvest. Because we do not offer book hunts or management hunts, we encourage lessees to bring family members, guests, or clients to help manage the herd. Many memorable hunts have been defined by that first six point taken by a young child or that 8 point management buck taken by a guest. In addition to taking home some fine deer meat, invitee’s will talk about those big bucks they captured on video for years to come.

Home to Red Berry Juniper, Mesquite, Little Leaf Sumac and vast expanses of brush, Irion County is excellent deer habitat. To enhance the habitat some of our pastures have been cleared in 30 acres plots creating new growth and edge so important to deer habitat. These plots, while not planted, allow native vegetation to grow and thrive without competing with the larger brush. It is not uncommon to see 20 to 40 deer grazing in a cleared opening.

Blackjack Outfitters has a contract with a wildlife biologist that provides helicopter surveys each year along with habitat and harvest recommendations.

To promote and enhance the management program, we are working with the landowner to high fence the entire ranch. At present, approximately 60% of the ranch is high fenced in conjunction with low fencing so as not to affect Boone and Crocket scoring.