I drew nothing and spent most of the fall in court spending ten's of thousands of dollars in a custody battle with my son's monther. I needed something for the freezer and couldn't get enough time off to get out of state for a cow elk hunt. So I booked a Nilgai hunt on the Kennedy ranch on the only free day the outfitter had, just before Christmas. The ranch is part of the Kennedy estate and the trust states NO native game can be hunted, I saw some BOMBER white tails. Its about 225,000 acres under low fence - big place.
Nilgai are about 700lb antelope that are native to india, the second largest antelope on earth next to the Eland. On the King ranch in the 20's in South Texas they were having trouble keeping cattle alive in the harsh terrain and imported some. They got loose and there are tons of these in South Texas now, nearly all on private property on the large ranches. Estimated over 100,000 running loose.
Morning was overcast and foggy, it rained over night. We spent the day driving pipline cuts and stalking openings on foot. When you see one, you have a few seconds before they get gone, have to make a quick call to shoot or not. We saw a few VERY large bulls and quite a few cows, most of the big bulls on the run. I chose to shoot my 300 win mag w/ 180 grain Barnes TTSX, he reccommended I shoot his barrett .416.
Nilgai have a very thick hide, I had no idea how thick. It's like over an inch thick toward the front of the body, so they are very well armored. I was instructed to shoot them just like archery hunting, have to sneak one in the boiler room, can't blast through the shoulder or the brisket. If its head on and their head is up you can put it under the chin, otherwise broadside or quartering away, no quartering towards even slightly. I was also told you rarely if ever get a pass through unless shooting 50 cal solids, slugs either blow up or end up lodged in the hide on the opposite side.
We passed on 400 and 500 yards shots at much bigger animals for that reason. Could probably get one in the kill zone but they run off in the brush and then who knows if you ever find them.
We hunted hard all day and at last light caught 2 at a water tank at about 100 yards. I shot once broad side and once quartering toward, the second bullet went into the same entry hole! Couldn't do that again if you paid me.
Hide is at the tannery, skull is getting Euro mounted. Burger and tenderloins are delicious, on par or better than elk!
Nilgai are about 700lb antelope that are native to india, the second largest antelope on earth next to the Eland. On the King ranch in the 20's in South Texas they were having trouble keeping cattle alive in the harsh terrain and imported some. They got loose and there are tons of these in South Texas now, nearly all on private property on the large ranches. Estimated over 100,000 running loose.
Morning was overcast and foggy, it rained over night. We spent the day driving pipline cuts and stalking openings on foot. When you see one, you have a few seconds before they get gone, have to make a quick call to shoot or not. We saw a few VERY large bulls and quite a few cows, most of the big bulls on the run. I chose to shoot my 300 win mag w/ 180 grain Barnes TTSX, he reccommended I shoot his barrett .416.
Nilgai have a very thick hide, I had no idea how thick. It's like over an inch thick toward the front of the body, so they are very well armored. I was instructed to shoot them just like archery hunting, have to sneak one in the boiler room, can't blast through the shoulder or the brisket. If its head on and their head is up you can put it under the chin, otherwise broadside or quartering away, no quartering towards even slightly. I was also told you rarely if ever get a pass through unless shooting 50 cal solids, slugs either blow up or end up lodged in the hide on the opposite side.
We passed on 400 and 500 yards shots at much bigger animals for that reason. Could probably get one in the kill zone but they run off in the brush and then who knows if you ever find them.
We hunted hard all day and at last light caught 2 at a water tank at about 100 yards. I shot once broad side and once quartering toward, the second bullet went into the same entry hole! Couldn't do that again if you paid me.
Hide is at the tannery, skull is getting Euro mounted. Burger and tenderloins are delicious, on par or better than elk!
