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