USA: Nilgai Hunt

[Hunter4lifejimmy]

I am a long time lurker and new member. I took my first guided hunt this week. I have long had a dream to take a nilgai. Last year I started talking to different outfitters. I finally decided to go with double shot outfitters. After a long wait I made trip to South Texas Monday morning. My guide was Cody Taylor. We met at the Kennedy ranch. After a trip to the gun range we began my hunt. We looked at close to a hundred nilgai the first afternoon. We made three stalks. On the last one I missed a shot on a big bull. Needless to say self doubt was in full swing the next morning. After looking all morning we finally started seeing nilgai about noon. The problem was they could see us 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away. We made one failed stalk. There was too many eyes in that group. Finally we found a a group of 5 cows, an immature bull and a big one. We made a short stalk. I got on the sticks and started getting ready. He turned from broad side to facing me looking left at the cows. I took the shot and thankfully he dropped. As we walked up to him I was scared that he was going to run of. But thankfully he was dead. After a prayer of thanks I finally got to touch my trophy. Needless to say I was truly humbled. It was a great experience and it could be very addicting.

 

[Hunter4lifejimmy]

 

[Hunter4lifejimmy]

 

[Hookboy88]

Nice one. They are on my list

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Congratulations! A South Texas nilgai hunt is very much like an African PG hunt. Enjoy the great tasting meat, some of the best game meat going.

 

[Red Leg]

Well done! You took a great bull.

 

[Hunter4lifejimmy]

Thanks. I can’t wait to get the meat back.

 

[Short Track]

I hunted south texas. Not Kennedy, but a neighboring ranch. Lost all my meat due to a combination of negative events, from the processor, all the way to UPS failing. Total waste of a trip and hunt. Everything went in the garage. I told the taxidermist to refund my money, and throw away the hide. I want literally no memory of the trip.

 

[Red Leg]

I hunted south texas. Not Kennedy, but a neighboring ranch. Lost all my meat due to a combination of negative events, from the processor, all the way to UPS failing. Total waste of a trip and hunt. Everything went in the garage. I told the taxidermist to refund my money, and throw away the hide. I want literally no memory of the trip.

Always use a competent outfitter. King Ranch is a great place to book a hunt. I have never had an issue during or post hunt. https://kingranchhunting.com/types-and-rates/

 

[Short Track]

Always use a competent outfitter. King Ranch is a great place to book a hunt. I have never had an issue during or post hunt. https://kingranchhunting.com/types-and-rates/

Who did the butchering post hunt?? Did they tell you it takes their butcher 2 months to process an animal??

 

[Red Leg]

Who did the butchering post hunt?? Did they tell you it takes their butcher 2 months to process an animal??

I always use Hibler if I am having something processed in Kingsville. Never an issue, and their taxidermy work is excellent. That said, most of the time I bring a couple of ice chests (six-hour drive) and have it processed locally. With respect to time, an incredible amount of game is taken to processors here in Texas. As a result, the animal will typically go into a freezer until its number comes up to be processed. A quality processor will only work on one animal at a time rather than batching. My local guy here in central Texas is superb, but he will work 300+ deer and will also take six-weeks to a couple of months to get to my order. That is the same for any nilgai I might bring him. For me, using a local processor is a convenience rather than time issue.

 

[Short Track]

I always use Hibler if I am having something processed in Kingsville. Never an issue, and their taxidermy work is excellent. That said, most of the time I bring a couple of ice chests (six-hour drive) and have it processed locally. With respect to time, an incredible amount of game is taken to processors here in Texas. As a result, the animal will typically go into a freezer until its number comes up to be processed. A quality processor will only work on one animal at a time rather than batching. My local guy here in central Texas is superb, but he will work 300+ deer and will take a couple of months to get to my order. That is the same for a nilgai I might bring him. For me, using a local processor is a convenience rather than time issue.

So the animal is frozen, then defrosted, then butchered?? Is this normal in Texas? I have hunted all over the USA & Canada. If I do not request the carcass to be hung, butchering is completed within days. 3-4 days at the absolute most. Now I'm hearing Texas butchers takes months to process a carcass. I have never in my life heard of this before. Freeze and defrost at a butcher shop... Is this typical ???

 

[Red Leg]

So the animal is frozen, then defrosted, then butchered?? Is this normal in Texas? I have hunted all over the USA & Canada. If I do not request the carcass to be hung, butchering is completed within days. 3-4 days at the absolute most. Now I'm hearing Texas butchers takes months to process a carcass. I have never in my life heard of this before. Freeze and defrost at a butcher shop... Is this typical ???

Yes, very common in Texas during the normal hunting season. Frankly, I much prefer it to an animal left hanging by a busy processor for some indeterminant length of time in a cooler.

 

[Short Track]

I have never heard of a butcher freezing a carcass before, then defrosting it to cut, then refreezing it.
ok, news to me. Can't say I am thrilled.

 

[Hunter4lifejimmy]

I have not gotten my meat from Hiblers yet. I have checked on it regularly and they have kept me informed on what’s going on I have already paid a deposit. I plan to drive down and get it when ready. I’m anxiously waiting the results.

 

[Red Leg]

I have never heard of a butcher freezing a carcass before, then defrosting it to cut, then refreezing it.
ok, news to me. Can't say I am thrilled.

That's fine, don't be. But your processor handled your nilgai exactly like the majority of game is handled in Texas. Here processors are slammed with a lot of game animals. The venison is in no way affected. As I noted above, I much prefer it be frozen quickly until processed and then refrozen rather than hang for an uncertain period of time.

 

[Red Leg]

I have not gotten my meat from Hiblers yet. I have checked on it regularly and they have kept me informed on what’s going on I have already paid a deposit. I plan to drive down and get it when ready. I’m anxiously waiting the results.

Heck of a bull in the photo. Are you having him mounted?

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Love a good Nilgai hunt! One of my favorite things to do is chase those bulls. Nice job.

 

[dchum]

Wow awesome bull! Mature with great bases.

Cant ask for much more, hunting that open country on the Kennedy makes for hard stalks. Way to stay with it and be positive. You obviously got rewarded

I have not gotten my meat from Hiblers yet. I have checked on it regularly and they have kept me informed on what’s going on I have already paid a deposit. I plan to drive down and get it when ready. I’m anxiously waiting the results.

You will be fine. They handle every corporate lease on the king ranch and ship frozen meat all across the country.

I just had some Hibblers jalapeño cheddar sausages links tonight from my bull in November. Yum!

Would love to know what rifle and ammunition you used to kill that fine bull.

Cheers from South Texas

 

[dchum]

I hunted south texas. Not Kennedy, but a neighboring ranch. Lost all my meat due to a combination of negative events, from the processor, all the way to UPS failing. Total waste of a trip and hunt. Everything went in the garage. I told the taxidermist to refund my money, and throw away the hide. I want literally no memory of the trip.

Way to keep it positive on this guys nice hunt report where he got a great bull and hunted an awesome historic ranch.

on the “other hunting site” you said you shot it up the ass and that Nilgai are “not a trophy and just as ugly as turkey”. So why did you even have it at a taxidermist.

You’ve been complaining on multiple hunting sites for months about your Nilgai hunt. Give it a rest.