King Ranch Nilgai Hunt

[coachwhip]

With a nasty ice storm hitting North Texas this week my dad and I headed 600 wiles south to try my luck for a nilgai on the King Ranch.

My dad was my copilot and just an observer on this hunt but had a great time getting away from the cold even for just a few days. We met our guide Jimmy at the gate and headed to the headquarters and head out for the days hunt. We made our way through the thick coastal fog to the Santa Cruz pasture for the days hunt.
The forecast called for the fog to break around lunch but I was a little worried that it might make the morning hunt a little challenging, nevertheless we saw plenty of wildlife especially several bulls around the headquarters but the area surrounding camp was a no shooting pasture.

We had made a couple stalks without seeing any bulls so we headed to some more open terrain as the fog had opened up somewhat from earlier hat morning. We set out for a longer stalk around some open coastal dune pasture with a scattering of oak mots while my dad stayed back at the truck for photos and a mid morning nap! About 30 minutes into the stalk the fog had blown back in and visibility was down to about 200-300 yards as we walked along a mot edge I glanced up in front of Jimmy and saw a silouette of a nilgai through the fog about 250 yards ahead of us! One nilgai turned to 2 and another, pretty soon we were glassing three bulls but no shooters until another bull came in with his ears pinned and tail straight out to the herd. Jimmy in a fluid motion said thats the bull you want, set the sticks up, and slid out of my way to prepare for the shot. The range was about 200 yards but the bull was walking at a descent clip. Jimmy gave the bull a quick shout and the bull stopped, glancing in our direction and I touched off the 338 win mag. The recoil knocked the bull from view but I could hear the the bullet connect I went for a follow up shot but I short stroked the bolt but by that time it was clear the 225 grain barnes had done its jobs through both shoulders. We made our way to the bull that had traveled another 200 yards before piling up, they are truly tough critters! Jimmy went back to get the truck and my dad.


I truly couldn't believe the size of the these creatures up close, a whole lot of some nice venison.


We headed back to the cooler to let the bull chill and grab a bite of lunch in Raymondville.


After a great lunch we headed back to quarter up the bull and the long drive back home. We really wanted to spend more time on the ranch but with all the ice power outages at home we knew it to get back.
Jimmy and everyone with the hunt made a great memory my dad and I could share with some great experiences on one of the game richest properties I have ever seen, I you are considering this hunt you can't go wrong with this hunt!

[stickman]

Awesome pics and recap. Do you have a link for hunt specs/pricing?

[Mike Murphey]

I love hunting these guys!

[CoolArrow]

Congrats

[bzzboyz]

Congrats. I'm headed down that way with a buddy on 3/17 to chase em' ourselves. Can't wait. I'm taking a 300 Win. mag. I've got a .375 HH but not sure how well it will do on longer shots.

[CoryW]

Cool hunt, congrats!

[longhorn_cop]

Great bull. Beautiful rifle by the way.


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[DPerez905]

Originally Posted by bzzboyz

Congrats. I'm headed down that way with a buddy on 3/17 to chase em' ourselves. Can't wait. I'm taking a 300 Win. mag. I've got a .375 HH but not sure how well it will do on longer shots.

What pastures are y’all hunting? I’ll be down there as well on the 16 and 17th.


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[Brute Killer]

Congrats!

[tradslam]

This hunt is so high on my list, what are the odds of bow killing one?

[bzzboyz]

Originally Posted by DPerez905

What pastures are y’all hunting? I’ll be down there as well on the 16 and 17th.


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Not hunting the King. It's a ranch near Ramondville.

[bzzboyz]

Originally Posted by tradslam

This hunt is so high on my list, what are the odds of bow killing one?

I don't think most outfitters will allow it. They usually won't let you rifle hunt with less than 7 mag.

[tradslam]

Well looks like its dropping down on the list. I'll have to call around and confirm that.

[Russ81]

Awesome Bull!

Originally Posted by bzzboyz

Congrats. I'm headed down that way with a buddy on 3/17 to chase em' ourselves. Can't wait. I'm taking a 300 Win. mag. I've got a .375 HH but not sure how well it will do on longer shots.

If you can reach out to 200yds with the .375 H&H take it. Anything past that I’d try to stalk closer.


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[dogman11]

Nice bull!

[Muddy Bud]

Originally Posted by stickman

Awesome pics and recap. Do you have a link for hunt specs/pricing?

Lets do a hunt Chris. Im in if you want to get a group or just need some one to go with you.

[MasonCo.]

Nice, curious on outfitter also

[coachwhip]

Thank you everyone, here is the link...
https://kingranchhunting.com/types-and-rates/

[deerwatcher51]

Congrats....that is a hunt that is still on my bucket list.

[MidlandTXHunter]

I did that last year, its a great time and well worth the price in my opinion. Spending time on such a nostalgic ranch was worth it alone.

[Slick8]

Awesome bull and great recap to a fun hunt. I keep saying it but it's on my list.

Glad to see there was no debate as to if you had enough gun or not. Curious, did you get a pass through with that round?

Tradslam, you can hunt them with a bow and on the King at that. Here's a video from one of our own taking one. Here's a TBH'r and one of the better video contributors. This is his hunt a few years back.

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=359166

[JES]

Originally Posted by tradslam

This hunt is so high on my list, what are the odds of bow killing one?

From the King Ranch website:

ARCHERY HUNTS
King Ranch conducts its fair chase archery nilgai hunts on over 35,000 acres that are managed primarily for bow hunting. Nilgai range over very large areas and are not bound to a single pasture. However, their movements, watering locations, and fence crossings are fairly predictable. They’re frequently found in areas with deep sandy soils within the largest contiguous live oak motte in the State of Texas.
The day usually begins hunting the fence crossings. These are great spots to intersect a nilgai traveling from their bedding to their feeding areas. We use ladder stands positioned downwind of a trail we have identified as an active crossing location. These are also great locations to view all types of wildlife.

One of the most popular methods is hunting in a ladder stand adjacent to a waterhole. The 15-35 yard shot opportunities are incredible when the conditions are right. A third option for the experienced bow hunter is spot and stalk style hunting. This type hunt is for those hunters that are comfortable with and capable of shots of over 35 yards. These hunts can only be attempted when the winds are at least 15 miles per hour or higher to mask the guide and hunter’s scent and movement. These hunts are very productive, usually starting in March and going all the way through Fall

[hchntr]

Originally Posted by bzzboyz

I don't think most outfitters will allow it. They usually won't let you rifle hunt with less than 7 mag.

Look at the link posted for the King ranch, they offer a bow hunt package.


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[coachwhip]

"Glad to see there was no debate as to if you had enough gun or not. Curious, did you get a pass through with that shot."


Yes complete pass through both shoulders with the Barnes, guide was surprised with the bullet making an exit, he said most of the time they will stick under the hide on off shoulder.

[NDN98]

Congrats on the hunt and thanks for the recap. Enjoyed the read.

[lab man]

Congrats. Nice recap of the hunt. Thanks for sharing.

[Radar]

I sat in one of their bow blinds a few weeks ago. It is ladder stands set up over water tanks. Most shots would be under 35 yards.

A week before I hunted, three bow hunters all killed Nilgai.

[stickman]

Originally Posted by Muddy Bud

Lets do a hunt Chris. Im in if you want to get a group or just need some one to go with you.

I’m down for bow hunt. If we rifle hunt Poco says the mariposa ranch is less expensive and just as good. Let me know Brother

[Ruben Garza]

Congrats!

[be12hunt]

Awesome. Congrats

[pilar]

I really miss hunting that area ,