Last week, I was fortunate to hunt with some new friends at Laguna Vista Ranch in Pearsall, TX. I have wanted to hunt Laguna Vista's property for some time now, and I will be the first to say that it was worth the wait....and I cannot wait to return for another trip!

Our group had a very successful trip....taking 7 trophy animals over the course of 4 days. Laguna Vista is one of a select few properties in the U.S. that holds a federal CITES permit for hunting Red Lechwe. The ranch has a substantial amount of wetland areas, that provides ample natural habitat for their breeding Lechwe herd. I have wanted a Lechwe for a long time, and was finally able to cross it off my bucket list! I shot a nice old bull off the sticks at 180 yards after a day and a half of unsuccessful stalks.

I also managed to get a great OLD Blackbuck ram with 4 curls....which I just couldn't pass up. The other guys took several animals including Blackbuck, Axis, Pure European Mouflon, Scimitar Oryx, and Bison. The ranch hosts quite a few species of game, but does not utilize feeders like most ranches do. Instead, they have several hundred acres of irrigated fields which provide year-round nutrition for the animals on the ranch....and also provide a much more natural and challenging hunting experience.

I hope you guys enjoy the photos...

Very nice pictures Wade.
Thanks much for sharing them with us.
George

Looks like you had some good sport. That is a Kafue lechwe and it looks in really good condition.

Impressive animals!

You always take such great photos Wade.

Nice bull, looks like you used your world famous MGA enhanced 300 WSM Browning.

Waidmansheil!

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Looks like you had some good sport. That is a Kafue lechwe and it looks in really good condition.

Well unfortunately most of the Red Lechwe in Texas have been crossed with Kafue Lechwe at least to some degree. However USFWS still considers most of them as Reds and requires the permits for hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
You always take such great photos Wade.

Nice bull, looks like you used your world famous MGA enhanced 300 WSM Browning.

Waidmansheil!

BWW,

Actually I hand painted that rifle myself!

The rifle with the MGA paint job you're thinking about is my Remington Sendero 300 Win. I actually just got some fancy new glass for it....a Leupold VX6 4-24x52mm with CDS turret! Just ordered the turret and I'm waiting on it to come in the mail.

Some nice photos there all right, mine are a bit messed up, what type of Lechwe is this one ?

That one looks more Kafue to me....but I'm not a Lechwe expert. I will say that either way....that one is a DAMDY!!

Beautiful animals.

Thanks Eland, I was thinking that was a large one, there are some on a property I guided on in the NT of Australia & some were out in the wild in Kakadu .

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
You always take such great photos Wade.

I agree! Great pics as always!

Was that the Knowltons place? If so I went to school with Jeds wife Kim. Great people

quote:

Originally posted by drummondlindsey:

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
You always take such great photos Wade.

I agree! Great pics as always!

Was that the Knowltons place? If so I went to school with Jeds wife Kim. Great people

Drummond,

Yes it is the same place...but the Knowltons sold it to the current owners about 3 years ago. I haven't met Jed, but I've heard he's good people.

Awesome jackrabbit photo!