shootist~
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- Joined
- Jan 9, 2019
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- 1,836
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- Albuquerque, NM
- Media
- 19
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- NRA Life Member, USPSA Certified Range Officer (inactive), NRA Certified Instructor (inactive)
- Hunted
- USA, Mexico, RSA
Nilgai Hunt – January 2025
Where: Kenedy Ranch - South of Kingsville, Texas
Outfitter: Lomas Chicas (Sam Ilse)
Dates scheduled: January 17-19 2025
Firearm: Sako A5 338 WM
Ammo: 210 grain Barnes TTSX (reload)
Sticks: Viper-Flex Quads
Lodge/Camp: None
After reading numerous posts about hunting Nilgai in the heat of South Texas I decided to book my hunt in January. Cool weather for me by golly! Best laid plans….
We were originally scheduled for Jan 20 – 22 and were getting antsy about the polar vortex moving our way - described as potentially the worst since the big one in 2014. That one took out much of the Texas electrical grid. On the Tuesday afternoon before (1/14), my hunting buddy and I decided to make the call on whether or not to cancel by the following morning.
Sam sent me a text that evening asking if we could be there to hunt starting Friday Jan 17 instead. No promises he said, but would try to set something up if possible, because of the impending weather.
Jim was driving from NE Texas and it looked like I could get my Albuquerque flights changed. Plans were made and confirmed. Wheels up Thursday 1/16 for me. Wednesday was a bit hectic, but everything came together. (Reminder to self – next time use a travel agent.)
We met Sam at the ranch check-in area at about 7:15 Friday morning. Weather was mostly cloudy and cool with a light breeze – perfect. Paperwork was signed, Texas hunting license numbers recorded, and shot placement discussed. In short order we were headed out.
Sam would guide Jim for a nilgai cow, and his son Royce would guide me on a bull hunt - at least on day one. Day two might find us hunting 2x1 (as discussed and approved while we were changing dates.) Day one would be a full day instead of the normal half day.
Royce, (a really great guy, btw) said I had the option to check zero if desired. Never a bad idea after flying IMO - and we got that done in short order.
Heading into the interior of this huge property we saw Nilgai cows, numerous deer and turkey, and a bobcat crossed the road directly in front of Royce’s Jeep Commander. The Commanders are neat and handy vehicles with a fold down front windshield. Royce had a 30-30 with red-dot between the seats and my Sako was poking out of the front of the vehicle, resting on the dash.
Coming up on a large body of water, Royce said "that's Baffin Bay". Baffin Bay is a large inlet off the Laguna Madre, which of course is ajectant to the newly renamed Gulf of America. I wet a hook across the way in the 1980s.
We were now in out hunting area.
The ”Plan,” since I’m an old guy but never-the-less wanted to hunt Spot and Stalk, was to locate groups of cows; and stalk the cows to see if a mature bull was nearby. They were in rut, btw.
On the very first stalk of said cows, and we suddenly had a huge (huge!) bull at 200 Yards crossing through the Costal Oaks L-R away from the cows. I was on the sticks and ready just before he hit a small opening.
Unfortunately, the old ones get that way because they are smart. Royce did a call (bugle?), but no joy on getting him to stop. Two heartbeats later and he was completely hidden behind thick brush. As noted on the Lomas Chicas website, they do not shoot at animals that are moving. That opens-up the hit area – especially at distance – increasing the chance for a wounded/lost animal.
After a short drive we are nearing a good-sized open area – maybe two or three hundred acres. Nilgai cows are on the far end, about a quarter mile away. Easing out of the vehicle we start another stalk – staying well inside the surrounding oak forest. The ground is sandy and damp and the walking is fairly quiet. The pic below shows how closely this area resembles Limpopo South Africa. Although there are huge open areas as well. (Jim & Sam were hunting one such).
More to come.
Where: Kenedy Ranch - South of Kingsville, Texas
Outfitter: Lomas Chicas (Sam Ilse)
Dates scheduled: January 17-19 2025
Firearm: Sako A5 338 WM
Ammo: 210 grain Barnes TTSX (reload)
Sticks: Viper-Flex Quads
Lodge/Camp: None
After reading numerous posts about hunting Nilgai in the heat of South Texas I decided to book my hunt in January. Cool weather for me by golly! Best laid plans….
We were originally scheduled for Jan 20 – 22 and were getting antsy about the polar vortex moving our way - described as potentially the worst since the big one in 2014. That one took out much of the Texas electrical grid. On the Tuesday afternoon before (1/14), my hunting buddy and I decided to make the call on whether or not to cancel by the following morning.
Sam sent me a text that evening asking if we could be there to hunt starting Friday Jan 17 instead. No promises he said, but would try to set something up if possible, because of the impending weather.
Jim was driving from NE Texas and it looked like I could get my Albuquerque flights changed. Plans were made and confirmed. Wheels up Thursday 1/16 for me. Wednesday was a bit hectic, but everything came together. (Reminder to self – next time use a travel agent.)
We met Sam at the ranch check-in area at about 7:15 Friday morning. Weather was mostly cloudy and cool with a light breeze – perfect. Paperwork was signed, Texas hunting license numbers recorded, and shot placement discussed. In short order we were headed out.
Sam would guide Jim for a nilgai cow, and his son Royce would guide me on a bull hunt - at least on day one. Day two might find us hunting 2x1 (as discussed and approved while we were changing dates.) Day one would be a full day instead of the normal half day.
Royce, (a really great guy, btw) said I had the option to check zero if desired. Never a bad idea after flying IMO - and we got that done in short order.
Heading into the interior of this huge property we saw Nilgai cows, numerous deer and turkey, and a bobcat crossed the road directly in front of Royce’s Jeep Commander. The Commanders are neat and handy vehicles with a fold down front windshield. Royce had a 30-30 with red-dot between the seats and my Sako was poking out of the front of the vehicle, resting on the dash.
Coming up on a large body of water, Royce said "that's Baffin Bay". Baffin Bay is a large inlet off the Laguna Madre, which of course is ajectant to the newly renamed Gulf of America. I wet a hook across the way in the 1980s.
We were now in out hunting area.
The ”Plan,” since I’m an old guy but never-the-less wanted to hunt Spot and Stalk, was to locate groups of cows; and stalk the cows to see if a mature bull was nearby. They were in rut, btw.
On the very first stalk of said cows, and we suddenly had a huge (huge!) bull at 200 Yards crossing through the Costal Oaks L-R away from the cows. I was on the sticks and ready just before he hit a small opening.
Unfortunately, the old ones get that way because they are smart. Royce did a call (bugle?), but no joy on getting him to stop. Two heartbeats later and he was completely hidden behind thick brush. As noted on the Lomas Chicas website, they do not shoot at animals that are moving. That opens-up the hit area – especially at distance – increasing the chance for a wounded/lost animal.
After a short drive we are nearing a good-sized open area – maybe two or three hundred acres. Nilgai cows are on the far end, about a quarter mile away. Easing out of the vehicle we start another stalk – staying well inside the surrounding oak forest. The ground is sandy and damp and the walking is fairly quiet. The pic below shows how closely this area resembles Limpopo South Africa. Although there are huge open areas as well. (Jim & Sam were hunting one such).
More to come.
