Texas Exotics Hunting

[UnckleBob]

Because I spend so much time with my kids and their activities (I won't apologize for that), my time for scouting is limited.

As always, I'll put in for the chance to hunt restricted (still hoping for a Nilgai permit) Texas public land. So far, I am 0-2 when I did draw National Wildlife Refuge access, but I had a lot of fun doing it. If I get drawn again this year, I'll definitely go try again.

But, I have wanted to try an exotic hunt which means paying for guided hunts on private ranches. From what I can tell, there are challenging Aoudad and Nilgai hunts out there where there is a lot of land for critters to hide.
- Nilgai has the advantage of providing a lot of meat. My freezer is getting empty and I hear Nilgai meat tastes good. A Safari style hunt seems fun if not particularly challenging.
- Aoudad offers the biggest challenge if the hunt is done right.

I don't really care about a big trophy, but I would like a (not embarrassing) Euro mount trophy for my office. It would hang next to my very mediocre 8 point Whitetail trophy.

If you know of any good outfitters who offer real hunts vs shooting an Oryx cooped up in a small pasture, could you you point me in the right direction?

 

[RWT]

I would look or an axis hunt out west. Generally can pull a buck for $3-4K and they throw in a doe for another $250. They taste better than any goat species, make great euro mounts and awesome throw rugs/ pillows.

Once you get west of Junction they tend to be larger ranches that are less canned hunts.

 

[UnckleBob]

I would look or an axis hunt out west. Generally can pull a buck for $3-4K and they throw in a doe for another $250. They taste better than any goat species, make great euro mounts and awesome throw rugs/ pillows.

Once you get west of Junction they tend to be larger ranches that are less canned hunts.

One place I saw in Facebook was offering what I call platform hunting. From what I could tell, they built tall wooden towers that overlooked a meadow and you could take shots at exotics from up to 700 yards away.

Nope.

I did more of a canned hunt a few times, blind 100 yards from a feeder, but those were simply meat harvests for the ranch owner trying to cull some does for him. I had fun with my friend, but it wasn't a real challenge except the Black Bucks were hard to get.

The Axis doe I shot was the best tasting game animal I have ever tasted,

 

[HairyScandinavian]

^Axis is very good. There's good ranches and bad, just have to weed through to find one that's more of a hunt style. Lots of people just want meat so you end up like you said at the feeder...

 

[RWT]

@HairyScandinavian is 100% correct. I have friends with 180 acres high fenced and they are petting zoo’s. I could practically shoot center to corner if the tower blinds were tall enough. They do sell 60-70 hunts a year and I see guys showing up in full camo to sit in a blind and shoot at a feeder. Very Pavlovian. I ve hunted that way growing up and now consider it selective harvesting.

IMO You likely need to be west of Junction TX and look for more spot and stalk/ safari style hunts. You could also look at Arrowhead Ranch in the valley. Had fiends hunt there a few years ago and it was a drive around until you find them then put on a stalk. Similar to antelope hunting from what I hear. Granted they could drive you in circles on the place but it is 10K acres.

 

[4BarN]

Check out the King Ranch in South Texas for nilgai.


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[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Nilgai meat quality cannot be overstated, by far the best game meat I’ve had. Bull hunts seem to range 3500-5500 but you can typically add a cow on for not much more…. That’s a lot of meat.

 

[Theringworm]

I’ll 2nd the King Ranch for Nilgai. West Texas Hunting Org is who I would recommend for a free range axis or aoudad hunt. The ranches he hunts for aoudad are extremely large, low fence and rugged. They take big trophies off those places. I did as well with him. He has excellent reviews. Look in the sub forums on here for additional feedback/info.

 

[Steve from GA]

As has been pointed out, a guided Texas hunt does not automatically mean a high fence, canned hunt. Plenty of outfits offer free range/low fence hunts. Comparatively speaking, there is very little public land in Texas, hence the number of outfitters offering hunts. King Ranch definitely has a good reputation.