Within the home pasture is an 1,800-sq-ft deer working facility along with 10 five-acre, predator-proof deer pens connected to a 10-acre predator-proof soft release pen constructed in 2022. San Isidro also features two separate sets of smaller 8 original predator proof deer pens, each with a connected five-acre soft release pen for whitetail breeding constructed in 2018.
To improve genetic diversity across the entire ranch, two additional 10-acre predator-proof soft pens were constructed in 2023 as far from the current breeder pens as possible. Typical rack whitetail deer genetics have been introduced within the last three years to our breeder pens from 7F whitetails, Mag Creek, Jerry Savoy and Mike Mullen whitetail herds. Currently, we are utilizing roughly 400 head of deer to improve deer genetics on the entire management unit. The land enhancement plan in place is extensive, focusing on increasing permanent water distribution throughout the entire ranch, developing approximately 20 bentonite-lined water tanks/ponds, installation of 70 water troughs in 2022/2023, construction of 40 food plots, each having a water trough, corn and supplemental protein feeders plus turkey feeders. Each fall, the entire river area and all food plots throughout the ranch are planted with triticale wheat to help supplement the feeding process for all wildlife. Eight 4-man sunken duck hunting pit blinds have been installed across the ranch from which to hunt the abundant waterfowl. Ranch personnel maintain a very aggressive predator program to enhance fawn survival rates and increase gamebird population rate. More than 100 miles of enhanced roadwork has been constructed with 200,000 feet of various poly water line deployed for better water distribution throughout.
Extensive roller chopping soil enhancement occurred in early 2023 on the adjoining El Oregano ranch and on Jan 1, 2024, an extensive roller chopping program for San Isidro Ranch will start as well. Approximately 10 water wells have been drilled and completed with full solar downhole pumps, controllers and 8’ x 40’ solar panels to improve water distribution on San Isidro. San Isidro facilities consist of a main 6,000-sq-ft cinderblock barn with a connected 3,000-sq-ft covered overhang for mechanic shop/covered parking and wildlife cleaning area with refrigerated walk-in cooler.
A separate 10’ x 10’ shell/gun room with hurricane fencing has been constructed. A new 1,800- sq-ft feed barn with covered storage on each side is also utilized. Covered dog kennels for eight are constructed along with a separate water filtration room with ice machine. Constructed along the river in 2023 is a hunters’ cabin with roughly 2,300 square feet, sleeping eight comfortably, and set along the roughly two plus miles of cleared San Rodrigo River frontage that the ranch features. A 1,200-sq-ft facility adjacent to the cabin features two 3,000-gallon poly water tanks, a new 40Kw Genset for cabin, water filtration system and 1,000-gallon propane storage.
Improvements in process or planned for 2024 include:
• Installation of 80-acre pivot irrigation system within the home pasture
• Erection and connection of eight miles of electric line from La Salada Ranch to river cabin and then on the San Isidro barn
• 3-mile installation of 10” PVC main water line from river to pivot
• Creation of a 5-acre lake in late 2024 for fishing on the ranch
• Completion of several bentonite-lined tanks/ponds throughout the ranch for the wildlife.
• Resurfacing of several of the large original concrete water pilas throughout the property
• Possible installation of 3 additional pilas.
In short, we have a very active daily improvement list in order to enhance the native wildlife populations.