A few weeks ago, a friend and I hunted the bow pasture at the Rancho Encantado. Given the fact that we were the first hunters of the season and the favorable moon phase, we were pretty excited about our prospects.
As expected, the ranch is absolutely beautiful and very well maintained. The accommodations were above average. I especially liked the fact that the hunters’ cabin had a very cold air conditioner and a no windows. Needless to say we slept well.
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We hunted hard arriving out the blinds an hour before sun up and staying until around 11:00 a.m. And then returning at 2:30 or 3:00 and hunting until night.
The box blinds are very well made, however, they had windows which made noises when opened and shut. Also, the chairs were a bit noisy as well. The ranch manager recommended that we leave the windows closed until we saw an animal we wanted to shoot. As jumpy as the game was in the bow pasture, opening the windows without detection would be a difficult task.
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We hunted three full days. On the first day, I saw a very large Axis buck ($1,500—no thanks) and a large Russian Boar (there are no feral hogs anymore). As I opened the window, the buck ran off as did the boar, but the boar came back after a while. I would have shot him, but didn’t want to pay $1 per pound (for a dad gum hog).
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The following days proved very slow as I saw the same group of Russians over and over again as well as some very young does and a few very young bucks. My buddy had the same results.
Overall, we had a good time and I got a lot of reading done (Flags of our Fathers is a great read). The cost to hunt is $150 per day and bucks are $500.
After one of our hunts, the ranch manager took us to Brittingham’s hanger where his office was located and showed us a nice 8 that was found dead in the bow pasture. So, I am sure there are some great bucks in that pasture, but I think they are extremely wise.
I think it is a great place to try out for the chance of harvesting a great South Texas buck.
As expected, the ranch is absolutely beautiful and very well maintained. The accommodations were above average. I especially liked the fact that the hunters’ cabin had a very cold air conditioner and a no windows. Needless to say we slept well.
ll.JPG
We hunted hard arriving out the blinds an hour before sun up and staying until around 11:00 a.m. And then returning at 2:30 or 3:00 and hunting until night.
The box blinds are very well made, however, they had windows which made noises when opened and shut. Also, the chairs were a bit noisy as well. The ranch manager recommended that we leave the windows closed until we saw an animal we wanted to shoot. As jumpy as the game was in the bow pasture, opening the windows without detection would be a difficult task.
blue.JPG
blue2.JPG
We hunted three full days. On the first day, I saw a very large Axis buck ($1,500—no thanks) and a large Russian Boar (there are no feral hogs anymore). As I opened the window, the buck ran off as did the boar, but the boar came back after a while. I would have shot him, but didn’t want to pay $1 per pound (for a dad gum hog).
blue3.JPG
The following days proved very slow as I saw the same group of Russians over and over again as well as some very young does and a few very young bucks. My buddy had the same results.
Overall, we had a good time and I got a lot of reading done (Flags of our Fathers is a great read). The cost to hunt is $150 per day and bucks are $500.
After one of our hunts, the ranch manager took us to Brittingham’s hanger where his office was located and showed us a nice 8 that was found dead in the bow pasture. So, I am sure there are some great bucks in that pasture, but I think they are extremely wise.
I think it is a great place to try out for the chance of harvesting a great South Texas buck.
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