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I’ve got the opportunity to hunt one or the other on the King Ranch. If you were given the chance, which would you choose and why?

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I have hunted both and nilgai will give much more of a challenge than oryx. That's with two nilgai and one oryx hunted.


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What a neat opportunity! I've hunted neither, but would really like to do a Nilgai hunt myself. In my "research" of it, a Nilgai hunt sounds pretty good. Whichever you decide on, enjoy!


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An oryx makes for a really nice mount if that's your thing.

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People rave about nilgai meat, but I prefer oryx by a pretty wide margin, if that matters at all. Sounds like fun.


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I have shot and eaten both and you cannot go wrong with either.


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Nilgai I think are a little wilder.They can run fast like a deer too.Oryx I've seen seem to be a lot tamer and maybe a little smaller.I've only killed nilgai but the oryx I've eaten was way better and very tender.Don't get me wrong because both are very excellent eating and either choice is a good one.


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Originally Posted by EdM
I have hunted both and nilgai will give much more of a challenge than oryx. That's with two nilgai and one oryx hunted.


I concur with this, only different figures...1 Nilgai and 3 Oryx.

Both are great on the table but the Nilgai wins in that department.


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Been around both. Three nilgai under my belt. Couldn’t make myself shoot the oryx. To me there were just like there. No challenge. Suppose I’m being too subjective. But nilgai, to me, give you more bang for the buck. JMHO.

Last edited by kaywoodie; 11/28/22.

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Curious. Do they still require a 300Mag or better on the King for nilgai?

Last edited by southtexas; 11/28/22.
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Originally Posted by JGRaider
People rave about nilgai meat, but I prefer oryx by a pretty wide margin, if that matters at all. Sounds like fun.

Yep. Oryx is one of the best meats in taste and texture IMO.


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Originally Posted by chlinstructor
Originally Posted by JGRaider
People rave about nilgai meat, but I prefer oryx by a pretty wide margin, if that matters at all. Sounds like fun.

Yep. Oryx is one of the best meats in taste and texture IMO.


If you want a challenge go for Nilgai, although in my one example Simitar Oryx is not a push over. If you want good eating then go for the Simitar Oryx.


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Nilgai is like Honey Badger, when it comes to high fence. He don’t give a ****!

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Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
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Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

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Kaywoodie, I have 2 Nilgai walking our North west fence looking for a hole they can use to get out, don't know where they came from? Ranch hand say's there's tracks coming up from our S.E. Gate, i didn't see the tracks wasn't paying attention, but that's 20 miles from where we are seeing their tracks now. if we see them we will kill them, don't need them here. Rio7

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Do they still require a 300Mag or better on the King for nilgai?"

That is total BS! Given good bullets, Any thing from a .243 on up will kill them if you can shoot accurately. Like elk, a double lung shot will do it. Tip- do not aim for the hump.

That said, they are a good animal to try out your African rifles on as there will plenty of meat left after your .458 Win Mag destroys enough to make a meal.

I recently shot a small Indian antelope with a 45-90 and all shoulder meat was destroyed. Through the ribs would have been better, but I was shooting left handed and blew the shot.


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Originally Posted by RIO7
Kaywoodie, I have 2 Nilgai walking our North west fence looking for a hole they can use to get out, don't know where they came from? Ranch hand say's there's tracks coming up from our S.E. Gate, i didn't see the tracks wasn't paying attention, but that's 20 miles from where we are seeing their tracks now. if we see them we will kill them, don't need them here. Rio7


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Last edited by kaywoodie; 11/28/22.

Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

WS

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Originally Posted by crshelton
Do they still require a 300Mag or better on the King for nilgai?"

That is total BS! Given good bullets, Any thing from a .243 on up will kill them if you can shoot accurately. Like elk, a double lung shot will do it. Tip- do not aim for the hump.

That said, they are a good animal to try out your African rifles on as there will plenty of meat left after your .458 Win Mag destroys enough to make a meal.

I recently shot a small Indian antelope with a 45-90 and all shoulder meat was destroyed. Through the ribs would have been better, but I was shooting left handed and blew the shot.

I don't doubt what you say. I just recall reading somewhere that most ranches, including the King, required a 300 mag minimum for nilgai, and wondered if that is still the case. Thanks,

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Originally Posted by southtexas
Originally Posted by crshelton
Do they still require a 300Mag or better on the King for nilgai?"

That is total BS! Given good bullets, Any thing from a .243 on up will kill them if you can shoot accurately. Like elk, a double lung shot will do it. Tip- do not aim for the hump.

That said, they are a good animal to try out your African rifles on as there will plenty of meat left after your .458 Win Mag destroys enough to make a meal.

I recently shot a small Indian antelope with a 45-90 and all shoulder meat was destroyed. Through the ribs would have been better, but I was shooting left handed and blew the shot.

I don't doubt what you say. I just recall reading somewhere that most ranches, including the King, required a 300 mag minimum for nilgai, and wondered if that is still the case. Thanks,

That's because most Texas outfitters (along with many other outfitters) aren't really rifle people, and don't understand how the bullet makes far more difference than the cartridge.

Have told this story before, but here it is again. About 20 years ago Winchester held a nilgai hunt on the King, to publicize the then-new .270 WSM cartridge. All together between the invited hunters and the "industry" people (there were other sponsors aside from Winchester) there were 15 of us, and we each got to shoot a cow and a bull. When the guides found out we were going to hunt with ".270s" they were alarmed--but the bullets were 140-grain Fail Safes, which penetrate and expand very similar to Barnes TSXs.

By the end of the hunt the guides were saying that "new .270" was one of the best nilgai cartridges ever....


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Which pasture of the King will you be hunting? I did the nilgai on the Norias pasture a few years back and the nilgai is the better hunt. I plan on going back soon.

Best of luck as it is not a pushover hunt!

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Over the years I have killed more than a few Nilgai, not all Bulls, using what ever rifle I had in the Jeep at the time, .223, 22-250- .243, .243A.I. .270. .308 killed 1 with 45-70 and a cast bullet out of a Ruger #1 killed 1 with my 450 Howell, it ain't the head stamp you use it's the bullet and where you put it, last one I killed i used a 6.5 CM it worked with a 127 LRX. Rio7

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