Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Nialgi hunts

I am planning a S. Texas nialgi hunt for after the new year. Please relay any outfitter/ranch experiences that you may have had with prices please.

Thanks.

That critters on my bucket list as well. Look forward to what you get for answers.

Dober

I'd take my Mashburn, how about you?

Doc and Dober,

If I were you, I would call the King Ranch Saddle Shop in Kingsville, TX. Yes, it is part of the King Ranch and this is where they book their Nialgi hunts. You want to hunt on the Norias Division of the King Ranch. The Kennedy Ranch and the Chapman Ranch plus a number of others have Nialgi hunts too. But just to hunt on the King Ranch is an experience and the deer you will see are awesome!!! You'll understand why a very nice deer hunt will be in excess of $10K on the 800,000 acre King Ranch.
The number to call is: 877-282-5777 Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm. A bull fee is around $750 and a cow fee is $300 with a $300-$1000 trophy fee. You can shoot hogs and javilas for $150
The best time to go is after Christmas when the rattle snakes are slower due to the cooler weather and you can see what stings you! The hide on a Nialgi bull is TOUGH! Buy the best knife you can afford that holds an edge. Then buy a second knife to use because the first one is going to get too dull to cut.

Sorry Dober, you will have to leave your 7mm "Coyote Gun" at home! (I hate tell you but we consider 7mm Mags as a good coyote gun in Texas and Oklahoma.) Most place, unless they have changed, require you to shoot a .300 magnum or larger.

It is an expereince and do take pictures to post for the rest of us!

For a farm raised deer?



That one has me laughing!

I hunted the Kennedy a number of years ago as a business guest "ala Texas oil". I brought a Ruger 35 Whelen loaded with 250 gr Speer's and absolutely rolled a big bull at 150 yards in one of their legendary full gallops. A lot of luck with the shot without question. Their "toughness" proved less so as I recall seeing its rear legs flip vertical as the recoil caused me to lose the finality. There he was dead. The ranch hand was so impressed with the rounds performance and having never heard the Whelen asked he if I would give him a round for his collection. Of course I did and that hunt sold me on the Whelen.

I have hunted nilgai a few times, and in my experience the Norias division of the King Ranch was indeed the best place to go. A really nifty part of the world!

If you consider a pasture that may have anywhere from 15,000 up to 54,000 acres a "farm", well then, yeah--they're "farm raised". The King Ranch is famous for its netwire fencing (that they invented), but the fences are only 5 1/2 ft tall and whitetails clear them with ease. (The nilgai go under).

You "nawhtherners" really have no idea.

For a farm raised deer?


Yes sir, $10K is just the start for a nice freaky horned deer and they quickly go higher depending how freaky the deer's horns. And the "farm" we call'um "spreads" or "pastures" can easily be 10,000 - 40,000 depending on whose spread it is.

People often get the wrong idea about "pens", even high fenced set ups. A good friend has 1,000 acres under high fence in Louisiana along the Red River in rich bottom land hardwoods. He has deer in there that he's seen maybe once or twice on a trail camera that he's never laid eyes on. It's not a cow pen with a few animals grazing about.

DF

I would love to go shoot one of those Nialgi. I know they're tough and can take multiple hits. I wouldn't hesitate in taking one with a 28 caliber 175 Partiton.

In regards to the deer you mention, are they indigenous or specially breed and fed?

I'd just soon shoot a penned up beef cow as one of these.
http://www.winnwhitetails.com/deer-sales.html

I'm with you SU, I'd hammer one in a heart beat with my Mash and a 175 Noz. Thinking he'd quickly take a long Nozler nap...grin

Dober

Native deer, feed on acorns and mast. Owner does plant clover.

DF

I sure hope you're kidding with that one........

+1 BIG TIME

Coyote rifle... Sheesh...

I can't see how that wouldn't work.

Or put another way. I wouldn't bet against it...

DF

Call Chico Barrera on the IBC Borregas lease on the King Ranch (you may have to call the King Ranch offices, but they will tell you how to contact him). If he can't fix you up, he will know who can, both on the King and surrounding ranches. I hunt nilgai across the fence from the King on the south end. I use my .280 or 7x57 ALWAYS and have used 140 TB or Partitions or 160s Partitions with never a problem. My partner uses only a 30-06 with TB, but he just got some Swift A-frames, again, never a problem. However, as stated, most of the ranches down here require a .300 or larger. My guess is you have a bunch of city slickers that can't shoot, don't know where to shoot, etc... NIlgai aren't bullet proof, but if you hit them wrong, you may be in for a long day.

That is interesting... it would seem to me that if a great hit is necessary you'd tell the hunter to bring whatever he shoots best and have it loaded w/ a premium or ultra-premium bullet.

A bad hit w/ a 300 mag won't kill faster than a good one with, say, a 257 Roberts, will it?

Rhetorical of course, stating the obvious I know, and directed at no one in particular...

I have looked at several sites and the Yuturra Ranch says only .300 Mag and up with premium bullets. My Mashburn would work to me. They aren't any bigger than a big elk and you just have to hit them in the soft spots. In my experience if you hit most anything in the wrong spot you will be in for a long day.

I also have a.375 Ruger that with 235 gr. Barnes should work.

$3 K seems to be the going rate.

Most "city slickers" would be better off with something which produces less recoil than a 300 Win Mag. I would rather take someone who shoots a 243 well than someone who has a 338 Win Mag they can't shoot well.

That would be a Nilgai ?