One question for those against high fence hunting ranches, how many of you would want to go to South Africa for some hunting?
Not me, for many reasons.
Silvertip, maybe I'm missing something, but what is wrong with hunting near a water or food source as long as it is a free range? Water and food sources concentrate game, and a hunter improves their odds by going where the game is. Is there a difference between a manmade water sources like a pond ("tank" in Texas terminology) as compared to a creek or river? Is there a difference between a man supplied food source whether a feeder, food plot, abandoned orchard, or agricultural field as compared to going nowhere near one? Most whitetails, and I am limiting my comments to whitetails, live near areas of human activity and influence on their habitat.
I am against high fence hunting which is now becoming common through all of the whitetail's range even in Canada, and against hunting deer with dogs, which is legal and common according to one of my friends in Virginia. Beyond that, I say conform to the law, tactics and hunting culture where you are hunting. I've noticed that practices, tactics, and ethics vary widely by the property being hunted, and even more so by individuals on the particular hunt.
I prefer to see tactics which cause the least amount fear in the animals i.e. no chasing with dogs, and personally I prefer to let them come by me rather than chasing them.