Guide · Hunting lease & ranch
Ranch Gate, Feeder and Water Trough Tags: A Numbering System That Works
On a working ranch the same gate can have three names depending on who you ask. Number the gates, feeders, troughs, wells and pumps once, put a tag on each, and everyone — family, hunters, the feed delivery, the well service — is talking about the same place.
By Henry Elsner (Hank) III, Von Ormy, Texas · October 23, 2026
Gates
Gates are where directions go wrong. Give each one a short ID and use it on the map and on the tag:
- G1, G2, G3… starting at the main entrance and working outward, or by the road each gate opens onto.
- Add a name where it helps: "G1 Front Gate", "G4 Back Pipe Gate".
- Put the coordinates of the main gate on your emergency sheet — that's where responders and deliveries should meet you.
Security tip: never engrave a lock combination or gate code on a tag. A gate tag should say which gate it is, not how to open it.
Feeders
Numbered feeders make a fill schedule and a game-camera log simple. Use a number that matches the nearest blind (blind 10, feeder 10F) or a separate run (F1–F12) — just pick one. A tag on the feeder leg facing the road means whoever is running corn can confirm they're at the right one, and the QR pin gets a new helper there the first time.
| Feeder | Pasture | Filled | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | North | __/__ | Timer checked |
| F2 | Creek | __/__ | Camera card swapped |
| F3 | South | __/__ | Battery low |
A simple fill log keyed to feeder numbers — print it and keep it in the truck.
Water troughs, wells and pumps
When a float sticks or a pump quits, the repair call goes faster if you can say "W3, the trough at the south windmill" and text a pin. Tag each trough, well, pump and storage tank with its ID and coordinates. Keep a short list with the well depth, pump type or last service date in the truck or on your phone — the tag tells people where, your list tells them what.
Equipment and buildings
Barns, pens, the shop, fuel tanks, the skinning shed and shared equipment can all carry a tag. It's especially handy when you have hunters on the place who don't know the ranch, or when a contractor needs to find a specific building.
What to engrave
- The ID (G1, F3, W2…) large enough to read from the truck
- Ranch name
- Coordinates in decimal degrees
- A QR code that opens the map pin
- A contact line — ranch manager's number or "Emergency: call 911"
Our Lease Locator Tags carry all of that on a 2.17 x 3.35 in black anodized aluminum tag with two mounting holes; zip ties through both holes work well on pipe gates and feeder legs (hardware not included). Set of 6 $30, set of 12 $50, extra tags $4 each.
Not livestock ID
These are location and property markers for gates and equipment. They are not livestock ear tags, brands or any official, government-issued ID or sign. For livestock identification, follow your state and federal requirements.
Getting it done in one afternoon
- Drive the place with a phone and drop a pin at every gate, feeder, trough, well and pump.
- Assign IDs on a printed aerial or a shared map.
- Order the tags with the IDs and coordinates — or have us text you to collect them.
- Mount them, scan each QR to confirm the pin, and send the map to everyone who works or hunts the place.
For blinds and stands, see how to number deer blinds and feeders.