Spring and early summer are the best times to bowhunt Texas exotics, as the weather is nice and it doesn’t interfere with fall events. I make annual spring pilgrimages to Texas because by March, I welcome some warm weather and crave serious big-game bowhunting.
Understand, Texas has very little public land, and getting to hunt free outside of family or close friends is just not in the Lone Star State’s DNA. Landowners might complain bitterly of feral hogs destroying their property, but they will still want to be paid to hunt those hogs. Money is invariably part of hunting in Texas, yet some game species are more expensive than others.
Affordable Hog Hunting
Feral hogs typically constitute the most affordable Texas hunting. This has much to do with the aforementioned destruction, but is also due to widespread availability and hogs’ ability to multiply prolifically.
Wild hogs inspire most of my bowhunting trips south. Hog hunting is always affordable, with no licenses, seasons, or bag limits. For visiting bowhunters, private-land access can be arranged for as little as $100 to $200 a day, depending on the services provided. At its cheapest, hunters stay in a nearby motel or camp on the property and are left to their own devices. Costs obviously increase with more services, such as an available bunkhouse, maintained corn feeders, a camp cook, or fully-guided arrangements. Even with these extra amenities, hog hunts are much more affordable than any other North American bowhunt.
Axis Deer & Blackbuck Antelope
East Indian axis deer and blackbuck are the biggest draw for many bowhunters looking for challenge and excitement. While super abundant in the right habitats, they are ultra-jumpy and require solid hunting skills. They can be hunted over water during warm springs and summers or over bait for higher-odds hunts, or spot-and-stalked for the ultimate challenge. Fully-guided hunts run from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on amenities, trophy quality, and success rates.
Various Sheep & Goats
Cheaper exotics like Corsican or mouflon sheep (or mixes thereof), goats, or Merino sheep (generic wool sheep gone wild) are also available, offering relatively easy success. On many ranches, these animals are super abundant and can be hunted fairly cheaply—say $500 to $1,000, depending on trophy quality.
Free-range aoudad (Barbary sheep) are also a big Texas draw, hunted in far West Texas around Alpine and the Davis Mountains, in northwestern Texas, and at some larger southern Edwards Plateau ranches. Occasionally, aoudad are hunted over bait, but more commonly, spot-and-stalk hunts are conducted on fully guided hunts. They are supremely challenging and make mega trophies. The downside is that a fully-guided hunt on quality properties can run from $3,500 to $5,500, or more. There are many other options for Texas exotics, but these are the most popular.
Executing a Plan
Planning a Texas trip requires setting a budget and then finding a place that offers the game you want or can afford. For bowhunters on a tight budget, keep in mind that many Texas landowners/outfitters are open to trades. For instance, if you have elk, black bears or exceptional whitetail hunting available, you might find a Texan through social media willing to trade hunts.
In the past, as poor college students, we found affordable hog-hunting properties by contacting a chamber of commerce and asking whether they knew ranchers willing to host hunters. Areas around Paducah (northwest), Wichita Falls (north), Kerrville (central), or anywhere in South Texas are good places to start.
More exotic hunts, like axis and blackbuck, usually require hiring an outfitter and accompanying fees (unless a trade can be arranged). Shop around for an outfitter willing to meet your needs and expectations, and request references from past clients. Request both successful and unsuccessful hunters, as unsuccessful hunters who are still willing to recommend a hunt means the outfitter did their job, but things just didn’t work out. Though again, self-guided hunts can sometimes be arranged to reduce costs, especially if a group of hunters is involved.
Gearing Up
You don’t need specialized gear to hunt Texas exotics, as the whitetail outfit you already hunt with is ideal—even for hogs. There’s much talk about hogs and their impenetrable gristle shield, but this is sensationalism created to sell magazines. If you’re at the low end of the energy scale, simply choose a cut-on-contact broadhead instead of a mechanical. The others are no tougher than a burly mountain mule deer or Midwest whitetail.
I have a lot of fun traveling to Texas each spring. It keeps me engaged, and many Texas hunts have proven as challenging as anything hunted near home. All hogs I take are ground into breakfast sausage, and the steaks from axis bucks are unsurpassed. I get to fill in the days between fall big-game seasons, test new gear, and keep my hunting skills sharp. I highly recommend you try it yourself.
