Startup cost guide

This guide only pre-fills numbers we can cite. Unsourced items start blank: enter your own quotes from local suppliers. The totals are planning estimates, not bids.

1. Your place

Species

Acres to enclose Shape factor (1.0 = square; use 1.2–1.5 for long or irregular tracts) Head of stock

2. Fencing

Installed high fence cost per mile ($)

Default: TPWD estimate of about $55,000 per mile for a fence of at least 7 ft that holds deer; it "could be higher or lower depending on terrain." TPWD Commission, Aug 20 2026, Item 7. TPWD also notes 8-ft woven-wire/high-tensile game fence is the only fully reliable deer exclusion (TPWD).

Gates, water gaps, clearing (your quote, $)

3. Feed (annual)

Feed cost per head per day ($): your supplier quote Hay / supplement per year ($): your quote

4. Water

Well / pipeline / troughs ($): your quote

5. Handling & health

Pens, chute, boma, trailer ($): your quote Annual vet & deworming ($): your quote Animal purchase ($): see Market Prices for published figures

Estimate

Fence length assumes a square enclosure (perimeter = 4 × √(acres × 43,560 ft²)) × shape factor. Lines left blank aren't counted and show "—". Get a site visit and written bids before you commit.