Author Topic: Texas exotics in the summer?  (Read 901 times)

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Offline bigbore442001

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Texas exotics in the summer?
« on: April 03, 2004, 08:36:31 AM »
I was looking at my new school calendar and discovered that we won't be starting until August 30th. Wheeee!

Anyways. About 11 years ago I went on an handgun antelope hunt in New Mexico that was around the 3rd week in August. It was fun and an experience I'd never trade off for all the tea in China.

I was thinking about doing a similar hunt and then a though arose. I remember reading and hearing about some cheap exotic hunts in Texas during the hot summer months. I began to ponder on this and ity seems more logical to shoot an exotic antelope such as a nilgai or maybe something similar for the same price as a guided antelope hunt in the New Mexican desert. Also, it is a day's drive closer or better to home.

Any suggestions on this idea? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Offline Tom

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ok, lots of choices.
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2004, 09:19:37 AM »
You coud do it a lot cheaper.   There are free ranging Nilgai for approx. $900 at the King ranch.  Its a historic place also, they have a museum there, a gift store.   The Nilgai would be great meat and lots of it.

You can go as cheap as $180, call 830-234-4120 for weekend hunts on that.   About 20% of the rams there make Records of Exotics.
Their meat is not as desireable as the Nilgai, a large antelope.

There's lots of choices as exotics/hogs/javelina can all be hunted in Texas year round with an out of state over the counter $45 5 day liscense.

Offline denvas

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Texas exotics in the summer?
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2004, 07:57:30 AM »
Depending on whether what your heart desires agrees with what you pocketbook can afford. You can hunt anyof the hardhorned animals year round. This includes all of the African species (sable, waterbuck, kudu, eland, etc.), bovine species (river buffalo, water buffalo, American buffalo, watsu cattle, etc.), all of the sheep and goat family (Corcicans, Mouflon, Catalina goats, Black Hawaiians, marhkor, etc.), several of the Asian families (blackbuck, nilgai, etc) and feral hogs. However, the only member of the deer species that will be hardhorned and thus huntable during the summer months will be the axis deer. Research the outfitter offerings on the internet and ask a lot of questions, just as you would in preparing for any other big game hunt. Don't be lured by claims of record book sized animals unless you are into putting your name in record books. Be more concerned with the quality of the animals you will be hunting rather than the quanitity, i.e. study your chosen species well enough to be able to judge their trophy quality on the hoof, do not take a guides word for it, rather use his statements as a guideline. Also make sure the hunting method is one you are comfortable with, don't show up expecting to hunt out of a vehicle and then have a bad hunting experience because you find out you have to hike up and down some pretty stiff hills. Make sure the lodging and meal arrangements are to your liking and ask about all costs involved, i.e. kiil fee, lodgiing, guide fees, cleaning fees, cold storage fees, transportation feesm etc. If you do your homework up front your should have an enjoyable trip and should be able to harvest the animal of your dreams.
Denvas
May the wind always blow in your face and the sun always shine over your shoulder. Then your prey will be unable to smell you and unable to see you until after they hear the crack of your shot!