USA: Texas Nilgai Hunt With King Ranch

Short Track said:
I'm doing this hunt in March. Do I need sticks? or does the guide provide them? Curious about the short sleeves in March... My last TX Aoudad hunt, I needed snake boots and leather gloves for the final stalk. The thorny cactuses (cacti) were beyond comprehension. Is this similar ? I came home and had to pull 100 thorns out of my boots. My guide had prickers in his backside. Needed needle nose pliers! & duck tape. I forget how he got them out ? Is this a road hunt ? What about butchering and meat shipping home UPS ?
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I brought sticks as a backup but my guide had sticks. It was pretty hot when I was there in March, I went with a light weight, tan cotton shirt and was fine. Snake boots were recommended on my hunt, however we didn’t run into any due to the heat of the day. Also don’t run into anything prickly, so that was a non issue as most of the area is flat. It was spot and stalk with a truck, we drove to an area, stalked through for a bit, then the guide went back for the truck and we moved on. There are local places that will process meat and ship but I’d hate to guess the cost….. I boned out the meat myself there and transported it home myself.
 
Short Track said:
I'm doing this hunt in March. Do I need sticks? or does the guide provide them? Curious about the short sleeves in March... My last TX Aoudad hunt, I needed snake boots and leather gloves for the final stalk. The thorny cactuses (cacti) were beyond comprehension. Is this similar ? I came home and had to pull 100 thorns out of my boots. My guide had prickers in his backside. Needed needle nose pliers! & duck tape. I forget how he got them out ? Is this a road hunt ? What about butchering and meat shipping home UPS ?
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King ranch has one of the largest collection of rattlesnakes I have ever seen. Growing up in South Louisiana, I have a high tolerance for ole no shoulders, but I would not dream of hunting the King without snake boots. There will be occasional prickly pear, but little cactus compared to aoudad country further northwest. Most thorns will be on the mesquite.

Think of it as an African safari hunt. You will be hunting a gigantic pasture of 50K acres. You will try to spot bulls from the vehicle and then attempt a stalk to get in as sure a range as possible. Or you will leave the vehicle and approach open areas known to the guide on foot. Be aware though that your only chance of a bruiser bull may be 300 yards. The grass and brush can be both tall and thick. A bull that runs a hundred yards can be easily lost.

There is an outstanding meet processor in Kingsville who can handle both the taxidermy and meet shipment.
 
The snake boots help protect your shins with the cactus and all the other sharp things walking in the brush as well as snakes. Hope for a good and consistent firm wind to help on the stalks.
 
375 Ruger Fan said:
What an excellent hunt! You packed a bunch into one day. A 9 inch Nilgai bull is really, really good. Nilgai hunting in south Texas is almost like PG hunting in Africa.

Just curious, did you notice much of the border invasion issues while in south Texas? I've been wanting to do another Nilgai hunt, but have been reluctant to go down there until things improve a bit. Might have to wait a couple more years until the new guy or gal is in the Whitehouse.
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You have nothing to worry about.
 
What do these things taste like?? I killed an old Oryx Bull. Meat was not tender at all. Like a tough old Bull. Family spit it out. They went back to eating deer.
 
What a great hunt! Hunting the Norias division is an incredible intro to Texas hunting.
Congratulations

The Norias is the largest of all the 4 King ranch divisions and is the place where the Nilgai were first released close to 100 years ago. Makes it all the more special.

No more than 45 nilgai were released on two separate occasions in the 20s-30s on the Norias.
Hard to believe the free range coastal herd is now nearing 40,000 animals.

I had the pleasure of guiding Nilgai for years just north of the Norias on the Encino division. Glad yalls guide was excellent. Sounded like some really fun stalks.
 
Short Track said:
What do these things taste like?? I killed an old Oryx Bull. Meat was not tender at all. Like a tough old Bull. Family spit it out. They went back to eating deer.
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They taste great. Best hamburger ever
Here’s some medium rare back strap.

Can’t wait to see what OP thinks of the meat. He was heading back to PA heavy! Two great bulls.
IMG_3023.jpeg
 
I love the meat, tastes like good beef. Just don’t overcook it or it’ll get tough. For ground, I don’t even put any fat in the mix, I just throw a little olive oil in the pan to brown. I’ll definitely be going back for more!
 
Red Leg said:
King ranch has one of the largest collection of rattlesnakes I have ever seen. Growing up in South Louisiana, I have a high tolerance for ole no shoulders, but I would not dream of hunting the King without snake boots. There will be occasional prickly pear, but little cactus compared to aoudad country further northwest. Most thorns will be on the mesquite.

Think of it as an African safari hunt. You will be hunting a gigantic pasture of 50K acres. You will try to spot bulls from the vehicle and then attempt a stalk to get in as sure a range as possible. Or you will leave the vehicle and approach open areas known to the guide on foot. Be aware though that your only chance of a bruiser bull may be 300 yards. The grass and brush can be both tall and thick. A bull that runs a hundred yards can be easily lost.

There is an outstanding meet processor in Kingsville who can handle both the taxidermy and meet shipment.
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Who is this processor? I’m going in a couple of weeks.
 
+1 for Hibler . Great taxidermy work and processing.
 
B375 said:
Who is this processor? I’m going in a couple of weeks
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Joe hiblers - HIBLERS TAXIDERMY

The old man passsed away recently and was pioneer in south Texas taxidermy, the rest of his family had been running it so no worries on quality going down!

The work is not cheap but I wouldn’t have anyone else mount a Nilgai. They mount more Nilgai than anyone in the world and they turn out fantastic Nilgai shoulder mounts. (There are a lot of crappy Nilgai mounts

Make sure to get Italian sausage links and ask for your back strap to be cut into 2 -2.5 inch steaks.

Good luck, and make sure to check out the show room at hiblers. One of the sons does bronze sculptures of wildlife and they are incredible
 
I'll put in a good word with El Campo Processing, also in Kingsville. They work with a local charity organization to provide donated meat to local families in need. It is absolutely free to the hunter as the charity, Fish for Life, covers all processing costs. I live 40 miles away in Corpus Christi, and El Campo does most of the processing for my package hunters that live in other states. They will ship frozen.
 
buck wild said:
I'll put in a good word with El Campo Processing, also in Kingsville. They work with a local charity organization to provide donated meat to local families in need. It is absolutely free to the hunter as the charity, Fish for Life, covers all processing costs. I live 40 miles away in Corpus Christi, and El Campo does most of the processing for my package hunters that live in other states. They will ship frozen.
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El campo makes great sausage too! Good folks! I take a lot of does there to fill the freezer

They are just processing only, as you know!
So if I was doing a cow/meat hunt I would definitely just take it there!

Just nice for Hiblers to cover both ends and be a top notch taxidermist and processor all in on place, makes it easy to drop of a gutted bull and not deal with caping and quartering.
 
+1 for El Campo and especially their Jalapeño Cheese Link sausage. Indirect heat on the BBQ to just bring it to the recommend 165° F. Excellent. Wish I had more made.

And I'll put in a plug for Brenda Baird Taxidermy. She did a great job on my Jan-2025 Nilgai - and the price was reasonable.
 
Hiblers has done several mounts. All top quality. No complaints on their meat processing.

El Campo does a good job of processing too. Quality wise they are on par with one another.
 
No rattle snakes. Blistering heat, and it wasn't even hot out. I could not have done this hunt in May - Oct. The heat was getting to me. I did see something crawling up my arm. Maybe a tick, I couldn't squish it. So I flinged it off. all in all. good hunt. can't wait to get the meat. Hiblers picks up once a week. Then I'm having it shipped. So it'll be 2 weeks until I get the meat back.
 
Short Track said:
No rattle snakes. Blistering heat, and it wasn't even hot out. I could not have done this hunt in May - Oct. The heat was getting to me. I did see something crawling up my arm. Maybe a tick, I couldn't squish it. So I flinged it off. all in all. good hunt. can't wait to get the meat. Hiblers picks up once a week. Then I'm having it shipped. So it'll be 2 weeks until I get the meat back.
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Don’t be stingy with the story and pictures!

Glad you got some meat! Congrats and sounds like you enjoyed it besides the whole tropic zone heat and humidity lol
 
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