In 1995, after only hunting whitetails in my home state of Florida, one of my lifelong friends asked me to join him on his deer lease in West Texas...the sheer number of deer and the incredible quantity of bucks observed was like nothing I had ever imagined...this was a Whitetail Deer Hunter's Paradise! 

In 2003 I was given the opportunity to lease an incredible property: a 33,000 acre, family owned Ranch in West Texas. Together with a group of family and friends we have been enjoying the exclusive Whitetail Deer hunting rights on this property ever since. In 2019 I formed "Cedar Hill Hunt Club, Inc", a Florida non-profit company to manage the hunting on the Ranch for the enjoyment of its Members. 

How Our Club Members Hunt

Each individual Season Membership includes the right to hunt for one Trophy Whitetail Buck. Members are permitted to hunt on the Ranch as they so choose : from elevated stands overlooking feeders or by still hunting. This property is low fence with all hunts being fair chase. 

Whitetail Deer Management: Deer Density

With the goal of maintaining the Whitetail Deer population in balance with the carrying capacity of the Ranch, this property in 2007 enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP) as administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This program  allows the Landowner, and its hunters, to establish deer harvest numbers based upon a Wildlife Biologist's assessment of the deer herd. Additionally, the MLDP allows the use of firearms to harvest deer from the opening day of the archery season. These key features of the MLDP have allowed the Ranch and the Club to manage the quantity of deer present on the property prior to the Whitetail Rut and the onset of the harsh winter season.  Over the last 5 years, over 900 Does and over 150 undesirable (Management) Bucks have been harvested by our Members in addition to the Trophy Bucks taken. These efforts have achieved a Buck to Doe ratio on the Ranch, as determined by our annual helicopter survey, of virtually 1 Buck for every Doe sighted.

Whitetail Deer Management: Antlered Bucks

Club Membership guidelines specify that only Mature Bucks, be it a Trophy or a Management Deer, are permitted for harvest. All Members are expected to be able to age a buck on the hoof and to pass on bucks estimated to be younger than 4.5 years old. The Trophy Whitetail Bucks harvested over the last 5 years by Club Members, as aged by the Cementum Annuli method in the lab, have averaged over 6 years in age with one ancient buck harvested aged at 11.5 years old

Hunt Dates

The Club conducts hunts on the Ranch during two distinct periods:

1. Doe/Management Hunt: All Members are encouraged to attend this event, which is held during the opening week of the hunting season, to focus primarily on the recommended harvest of Does and Management Bucks. Members are free to harvest their Trophy Buck if encountered and several are taken during this hunt each season.
2. Trophy Hunt: Hunts are scheduled over 3 weeks during the pre, peak, and post rut which occurs during the month of November and Early December. The Club establishes and schedules the actual hunt dates as well as the total number of Members on the Ranch during each of these weeks.

Other game available to harvest by Club Members, as allowed by Texas Park and Wildlife regulations, are Fall Turkey, Javelina, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Skunks, Coyotes, Badgers, Fox, Rabbits, and Raccoons. The harvest of Exotic game, Spring Turkey or Quail is Not Permitted. 

Accommodations and Amenities at the Ranch

Member's accommodations are located on the Ranch in a fully furnished 4 bedroom, 3 bath home and adjacent 1 bedroom 1 bath apartment. 

   The accommodations include:

• Capacity to sleep 18 persons
• Central heat and air
• Large capacity washer and dryer
• Bathroom and bedroom linens
• A kitchen stocked with all cooking equipment, plates, and accessories
• Outdoor gas BBQ
• Electric smoker
• Full size Billiard table
• Big screen T.V. 
• WIFI. 

   Amenities located on the Ranch include: 

• A covered deer cleaning area and adjacent walk-in cooler that will hold up to 25 deer. 
• Over 100 miles of accessible roads which include over 60 miles of graded caliche roads. Most of the Club's hunting blinds can be reached within approximately 30 minutes of leaving the Member's accommodations.
• 41 enclosed hunting blinds and automatic spin feeders are located strategically around the 33,000 acre property. 
• 100 yard gun range.

Photographs of the accommodations and amenities can be seen by clicking the link below.

Location

The Ranch is located approximately a 1.5 hour drive from the Midland/Odessa International Airport or the San Angelo Regional Airport. Drive time from the Dallas International Airport to the Ranch is approximately 5 hours.

I feel very privileged to have been able to enjoy my passion for chasing Whitetails on this Ranch for these many seasons and consider the Ranch owner and his family a part of mine! Membership in the Club is limited and by invitation only, please contact me via the link below if you would like more information.

Doug Pitts, Club President