Whitetail Deer Breeding

Santos Cattle and Game is presently breeding whitetail deer under a Texas Parks and Wildlife Scientific Breeder Permit. This year several pedigreed does will be artificially inseminated to GB Magic a 300 + buck owned by Griffith Brothers.

Initially, pedigreed whitetail bucks, including male offspring from Helicopter (28" spread), Renegade, Winchester (+200 BC Score) and others were purchased and released unto the high fenced area. These genetically superior deer contribute measurably to the quality of our deer herd. Genetically solid deer were purchased from Gene Gonzalez as well as a variety of breeders selling at the Texas Deer Association Auction.

In addition to having five year round protein pellet stations on the ranch, oats are sown during the fall season for added forage. Bee Wild Bundle Flower and Luceana, high protein perennial wildlife forbs, were also recently introduced with some success.

The heavy 2007 rainfalls were responsible for much of the native brush bursting forth. Included are protein rich guajillo and black brush (chaparro prieto), carbohydrate rich cactus as well as mesquite and other native species.

We have an ongoing predator control program which has increased our fawn survival rate. Fawn survival rates have increased markedly as many twin offspring can be seen with their mothers during the fall. Statewide, only 40 to 50% of the fawns survive the summer.

Part of penned deer crop - fawns coming from Leo Hick's famous whitetail buck, Cherokee.

For 2007-2008 season we are offering several of our management bucks for harvesting. Some of the larger bucks will be available during the 2008-2009 hunting season. Our Whitetail Deer Hunting Packages will fit any hunter.