Sunday, July 28, 2013

Texas Hunting Ranch Guide And Tips

By Maryanne Goff


Texas hunting ranch trips are popular among both in-state residents and those from outside largely because of the abundance and variety of native and exotic game. Trophy Whitetail hunts rank right at the top. Many properties also offer shed hunts, waterfowl hunting, fishing and the chance to bag Rio Grande turkey, wild hogs and other exotic game.

It helps that there's no limit in the Lone Star State on bagging depredating feral hogs or nuisance predators such as foxes and coyotes. Most of these huge ranches are spread across hundreds or even thousands of acres with plenty of lakes, ponds and streams. This means waterfowl, dove and fish that guests can shoot down or hook themselves are also on the menu.

Camping in the outdoors is certainly a possibility, but not required. Most properties offer excellent accommodations. The rest of the arrangements, including meals and transport within the property, will be handled by the ranch.

Most whitetail hunts offer the chance to take home a single mounted whitetail buck complete with its antlers as a trophy. The ranch provides the rifle and ammunition, if required. They will also take care of field dressing, cold storage and caping, so that guests only have to lock and load, pull the trigger, and then take home the mounted trophy.

The hunting license and stamps and permits needed have to be obtained directly by the guest, or acquired with assistance from the tour operator. In any case, it's not so hard to get hold of the required paperwork. Just remember to take care of it prior to arriving at the property, or immediately upon arrival.

The main regulation that needs to be followed is to keep firearms cased outside private property. This means making sure the rifle is in its case and locked when driving on county roads or when carried in public places. Guests must be willing to sign a form that releases the ranch from any liability for injuries sustained on the property, including during hunts.

Shed hunting refers to collecting the antlers that deer shed from time to time. It's not as easy as it sounds, because the antlers are quickly gnawed by squirrels and other creatures in the wild. The key to it is to know where and when it's going to happen, so these expeditions are usually led by a guide from the ranch. The exact time varies based on local conditions, but February and March are usually the ideal time for shed hunts.

The only thing left to decide is the choice of the Texas hunting ranch. Most will offer all of the above mentioned possibilities, but there are certain differences between ranches in south, east, west, north and Central Texas. For example, the brush in South Texas teems with native game, while the Hill Country is much better for deer hunters who know what they are doing. In any case, there are hundreds of ranches all over the state that welcome recreational hunters and provide all the facilities and assistance needed.




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