Texas with it's lease system and deer management practices has destroyed deer hunting in my lifetime. The lease system and "trophy management" has spread like a disease from Texas throughout the Country. When I was young, your average deer hunter here had no idea how to score a rack and didn't care. Folks hunted for fun/recreation and meat. Farmers looked at deer as a nuisance and consequently most didn't post their land and welcomed hunters. Any legal buck was considered a "good buck" and the odd big one a fortunate curiosity. Texas's bullshyt management practices, intense focus on "trophy bucks" and "score" has changed what was once a simple, inexpensive form of entertaiment for the rural masses into a rich mans competetive sport for the fortunate few. Thanks alot and congratulations you azzholes. Now GFY.
It wasn't Texas or leases that changed anything.
It was far better hunter awareness and a conjoined effort to improve deer herds, and not just shoot anything with hair on it.
If game conservation and management is a by product, then we are all the better for it.
If you still want to hunt cheaply, then put in for a tag out west on public land, or get in on management hunts for does or cull bucks.
