Can anyone recommend an outfit for Nilgai in S. Texas? To be honest, I'm not interested in anything over about $1500, and I don't need anything near "luxurious accomadations." I just need something to get me through to next June...

Looks like you could hunt two days and pay the kill fee on a bull at the King Ranch for $1500. I'd sure like to make a trip down there, but no-can-do while I'm saving for Namibia.

I looked around a bit, and the King Ranch looks like the best deal going.

RSY

King Ranch is about your best hunt for the money. I have looked at several hunts with other ranches and outfitters.
Besides that they have some big bulls on the King and they are very good table fare. It can also provide you with some good practice for a plains game trip.

Yep, The King looks like the best bet. besides, what's better than huntin' where they originated (in Texas, anyways).

Thanks to all of you for the replies.

I have hunted Nilgai on the King ranch many times and it is as good as it gets...Its high fenced, all 10 million acres of it

I have not hunted in the last several years but I know a lot of folks who have and its still great...It was $600 per bull and as many cows as you wanted to shoot for $150 each last time I hunted, about 1998 I think. They also have some Eland or did, but I don't know if they are hunting them....it has gone up in price but I don't know how much...Give them a call.....

I know you can hunt Eland bulls for $1500 near Waco and cows for less...Mac knows about that, they hunt them with double rifles..Now there is the best meat in the world IMO.....

The King Ranch that I know of is not 10 million acres but more like 825,000 acres. Unless things have changed it has never been under high fence. If I am wrong somebody correct me.

I took my Nilgai on the Kenedy Ranch, which borders the King. Very large property, no high fences. I have a contact for hunts there if you want.

Looking at their webpage, it says the season this year for Nilgai was Feb 1 to April 30, 03. Is the hunting of Nilgai regulated by the State?

No, exotics are not regulated by the state.

RSY

Havent lived there for a while, but the only part I ever remember that was Hi Fenced was between the Chapman Ranch and King ranch and a little section along the Rivera/Fal FM road. But its a big ranch and they could have put hi fences in many places.

I wouldnt mind going down south and shooting a blue bull, have not shot one in years.

I was under the impression that a lot of the big bulls had been shot, but that country had a ton of um and they can grow.

I thought the hunts on the Kennedy and King were both going for 2500. Guess I better look again.

Much of the King ranch is under high fence, some on the hiways for obvious reasons, guards at the gates, other parts are not, depends on the need...When I said 10 million, that was with tongue in cheek and that is the reason for the wink face and funny faces...It is actually near a million acres, but remember the Kennedy is/was part of the King Ranch but donated to the Catholic Church and managed by the King ranch, I believe it is across from the La Norias...and that Kingsville, Texas is a substantial city inside the King ranch and that was donated...

Many changes have come about since the bean counters have taken over the managment of the ranch, and none of them to the good..They had the best foreman/manager in the world and he was a family member but they feared he was getting to strong and ended a dynesty, a long time history of tradition, what a shame...

My grandfather was a Texas Ranger on the King Ranch and I have a 1902 photo of him and two rangers dragging the bodies of dead mexican bandits to a pile where they were burned...It took place at the La Norias raid, which was well documented in history...

The Nilgai hunting is fantastic and you will probably see a hundred whitetail bucks and several in B&C class size...I have seen a couple of bucks in the 170 to perhaps 190 catagory there.

You might also check with the Mariposa Ranch, borders the King Ranch between Falfurias and Robstown, another big family-owned ranch.

www.mariposaranch.net