South Texas Nilgai hunt

[375 Ruger Fan]

Boy, all this talk about hunting Nilgai has me all excited. I may have to figure out how to do one of these hunts.

Those of you who have hunted them and are out of state or had to travel. How did you do with the processing of the Nilgai? Did you have them shipped to you, did you quarter it, and had someone local process the meat? Thank you!

There's a big time meat processor and taxidermist in Kingsville. They will ship frozen with dry ice in a styrofoam box inside a heavy duty cardboard box.

Hibler Wild Game Processing – HIBLER Taxidermy, Inc.

www.hiblertaxidermy.com

 

[wesheltonj]

I'm thinking of adding a cow to my hunt and donating the bull to local food bank (assuming I get one of course). Freezer space is limited.

Thoughts?

Here is a link to all the processors in Texas that will take one. The San Antonio Food Bank is year round as they have a training program for folks that want to learn the butcher trade.

Registered Processors (Responses)

docs.google.com

 

[dchum]

Here is a link to all the processors in Texas that will take one. The San Antonio Food Bank is year round as they have a training program for folks that want to learn the butcher trade.

Registered Processors (Responses)

docs.google.com

I have had processors on that list say they are done donating for the year. Processors in the Nilgai area.

So always call ahead so you don’t get stuck with more meat than you can handle @shootist~

 

[shootist~]

I have had processors on that list say they are done donating for the year. Processors in the Nilgai area.

So always call ahead so you don’t get stuck with more meat than you can handle @shootist~

Thanks for the notes @dchum . Pretty sure I won't be adding a cow to my bull hunt, but great advice to check with processor(s) ahead of time if planning to donate to a local food bank.

I'm flying and plan to use one of the two processors in Kingsville and have it processed, frozen and shipped to my casa in Albuquerque. *Any preference on which one to use: Hilber's or El Campo*?

How are their tamales? (This native Texas gringo loves some good Tex-Mex tamales!)

My buddy is driving in from NE Texas and plans to bring ice chests. My "understanding" is the processors will chill and quarter the meat for you if needed. And if there is time, I think my outfitter will help skin and quarter, too.

 

[dchum]

Thanks for the notes @dchum . Pretty sure I won't be adding a cow to my bull hunt, but great advice to check with processor(s) ahead of time if planning to donate to a local food bank.

I'm flying and plan to use one of the two processors in Kingsville and have it processed, frozen and shipped to my casa in Albuquerque. *Any preference on which one to use: Hilber's or El Campo*?

How are their tamales? (This native Texas gringo loves some good Tex-Mex tamales!)

My buddy is driving in from NE Texas and plans to bring ice chests. My "understanding" is the processors will chill and quarter the meat for you if needed. And if there is time, I think my outfitter will help skin and quarter, too.

PM inbound

 

[Hunt anything]

Many of the outfitters have walk in coolers so you can get the meat cooled down quickly.

 

[pilar]

Nilgai are one of my favorite “Texas “animals to hunt, I worked on the Kennedy, king , el sauze ranch’s and the FDA tracking fever ticks back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s , i doubt they will let you hunt with less then a 30 caliber ( they are tough critters) but we killed a pile of them with 300wm ,30-06 , 8mm mag , 8x57 , British.303 , even.270win back before barns or mono bullets where the norm . With regular old Remington, federal, Winchester ammunition ( using none magnum probably was an advantage with that ammunition?) , treat them like African game on shot placement or neck punch them around their neck beard and disrupt the CNS

 

[pilar]

Best bull so far
View attachment 652644

That is a huge bull !!! What was the length?
This used to be the WR it may have been beaten??

 

[dchum]

Nilgai are one of my favorite “Texas “animals to hunt, I worked on the Kennedy, king , el sauze ranch’s and the FDA tracking fever ticks back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s , i doubt they will let you hunt with less then a 30 caliber ( they are tough critters) but we killed a pile of them with 300wm ,30-06 , 8mm mag , 8x57 , British.303 , even.270win back before barns or mono bullets where the norm . With regular old Remington, federal, Winchester ammunition ( using none magnum probably was an advantage with that ammunition?) , treat them like African game on shot placement or neck punch them around their neck beard and disrupt the CNS
View attachment 653974

Of course killing baby bulls like this one here is no issue for bullets you listed. But a mature bull will be 3 to 4 times the size of that as I’m sure you know.

So if you are going for a trophy please use a very though bullet to increase your odds. Something we all want to do on a hunt

 

[Bush Buck]

In my experience the bulls and cows really don’t taste much different. Even old and young, rut no rut,

They are all clean and nice red meat.

And check with local processor and or food bank about accepting a whole Nilgai / donations

It’s a shame but many turn down and local processors will no longer do donations later in the year ect ect

I agree with dchum. I've hunted and eaten both. They are both good eating if shot well and properly cared for - and bulls have much bigger back straps!
The reason to hunt the cow is to keep hunting with a lower trophy fee.

 

[Zinz]

Speaking of good eating… tonight was Nilgai fajitas in S Texas deer camp.

 

[dchum]

Speaking of good eating… tonight was Nilgai fajitas in S Texas deer camp.

View attachment 654148

Un discada! Bueno bueno

 

[Datchew]

I'm thinking of adding a cow to my hunt and donating the bull to local food bank (assuming I get one of course). Freezer space is limited.

Thoughts?

I think I have room in my freezer. I'm here in San Antonio and ready to assist. Lol

Have a great hunt!!!

 

[Hunt anything]

@Zinz , is that an old disc blade you’re cooking on?They make great woks.

 

[Zinz]

is that an old disc blade you’re cooking on?They make great woks

That’s exactly what it is. It’s a standing apparatus with a disc for the fire and a bigger disc to cook on. We’ll throw it in the back of the hunt truck and have a remote lunch when we’re on the far reaches of this place. It works great.

Ed Z

 

[Hunt anything]

I’m going to steal that stand idea for mine. I’ve just used a propane burner for a heat source.

 

[shootist~]

Barns 210 TTSX in a 338 WM worked well for me two days ago. Pics in the Bullet Performance thread. (My outfitter got us in just before the big storm hitting tonight btw).

A fresh Barns something from a 300 WM recovered from a big bull being quartered at the cooler yesterday did too. Both perfect mushrooms.

Heart is even lower and more forward than expected. My outfitter, Lomas Chicas, aka Sam Ilse, (as well as my guide).both say the money shot is center of the shoulder for a broadside shot. "The neck shot, if the spine is missed, is a lost animal." There is a frontal option too if necessary.

 

[Buffalo1]

Just took a nice bull 2 weeks ago, just north of Raymondville.
Used a 30.06 with a Barnes 180 gr. bullet. 87 yd. broadside shot and got a pass through. Travelled 31 yds and dropped.

Shot placement is the key. Same aim point as African plains game.

 

[dchum]

Barns 210 TTSX in a 338 WM worked well for me two days ago. Pics in the Bullet Performance thread. (My outfitter got us in just before the big storm hitting tonight btw).

A fresh Barns something from a 300 WM recovered from a big bull being quartered at the cooler yesterday did too. Both perfect mushrooms.

Heart is even lower and more forward than expected. My outfitter, Lomas Chicas, aka Sam Ilse, (as well as my guide).both say the money shot is center of the shoulder for a broadside shot. "The neck shot, if the spine is missed, is a lost animal." There is a frontal option too if necessary.


View attachment 659283

Congrats my man. I was worried about the rain in your forecast. So glad you got squeezed in and got it done!

That is a stunning bull and check a lot of boxes. You should be very happy. Great shooting. Would love to hear more about the hunt!

 

[shootist~]

Congrats my man. I was worried about the rain in your forecast. So glad you got squeezed in and got it done!

That is a stunning bull and check a lot of boxes. You should be very happy. Great shooting. Would love to hear more about the hunt!

Thanks! My guide had a plan for my spot and stalk request, and it worked better than even he expected. I'll do a brief write up in a day or two.