I hunt multiple properties in Texas, some free range, some not. I can tell you from personal experience that there is very little difference, if any at all, in hunting free range deer and hunting high fence once you get over about 1800 acres inside the fence, and once you pass 3000 acres, any perceived difference is gone.
We have seen a buck chased by a coyote jump a high fence. I will also add that there are very few places in South Texas brush country and the Hill Country that you could find 10,000 acres without a high fence impacting it in some way. I hunt a 2500 acre low fence place where the neighbors high fenced 2 full sides, and a 5500 acre low fence parcel with one full side an part of a second high fence. It's really almost everywhere.
You may agree or disagree, but the small fence operations, less than 400 acres, really aren't hunting. There is no way to sustain the population. Once you get to the big units, 2500+ acres, especially the ones with no supplemental breeding, the deer are as wild as they are anywhere I have hunted in Alabama.
