SOUTH TEXAS HUNTING LEASE

[45MAN]

PDM IS AN APPROX 11,000 ACRE, HIGH FENCED, RANCH IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. IT IS A RIFLE ONLY HUNTING LEASE. THE LESSEES GET TO HUNT ABOUT 1/2 THE RANCH, AND THE REST ARE REFERRED TO AS FAMILY PASTURES. SINCE OUR PERMITTED HUNTING AREA BORDERS THE FAMILY PASTURES, AND SINCE THE FAMILY PASTURES ARE LIGHTLY HUNTED, THESE AREAS ACT AS A RESERVE FOR THE REST OF THE LEASE HUNTING AREA.

WHITETAIL, TURKEY, JAVELINAS, HOGS, NILGAI, ORYX, ELAND, ZEBRA AND RED LECHWE ABOUND. ALSO PRESENT ARE WATERBUCK, BLACKBUCK, NYALA, KUDU, SABLE, ROAN AND MISC. DRIVING AROUND AND JUST GAME VIEWING IS QUITE A TREAT.

MY PERMITTED BAG FOR THIS SEASON, WHICH GOES TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, IS 2 DOES, 2 SPIKES, 1 MANAGEMENT BUCK, 1 TROPHY BUCK, 2 NILGAI COWS, 1 TURKEY, 1 JAVELINA, UNLIMITED HOGS, and LEGAL LIMITS ON DOVE, DUCKS AND GEESE (NO QUAIL HUNTING). THE PONDS ARE ALL MOSTLY DRY SO THERE MAY NOT BE A WATERFOWL HUNTING BUT THAT COULD CHANGE AFTER A GOOD RAIN.

SHOWED UP AT THE LEASE THIS MORNING, FINISHIG UP TRAILER SUPPLIES AND FURNISHINGS, TAKING RIFLES UP, HUNTING EQUIPMENT,  MAKING MY BED, etc. TRIED TO PLUG IN MY TAIL GATE FEEDER. GUESS WHAT? NEW PICK-UPS DO NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG IN! WAS GOOGLING AND THERE ARE ADAPTERS, SO GOING TO RAYMONDVILLE AFTER LUNCH TO GO LOOK FOR ONE.

IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND I WILL USE THIS AS A SEASON LONG THREAD FOR MY SEASON AT PUNTA.

[45MAN]

FORGOT TO ADD THAT AS FAR AS LITTLE CRITTERS GO, WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO SHOOT COYOTES ($150 BOUNTY). I NEED TO CHECK, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A BIGGER BOUNTY ON MOUNTAIN LION.

[pacecars]

How many members do you have in your lease and is it exclusive or do you have to share your portion

[Burnston]

You know what, Rey? I've always said you and I need to be better friends.

[45MAN]

THERE ARE 10 OR 12 LEASE MEMBERS (I NEED TO COUNT 'em). MY BAG IS EXCLUSIVE TO ME, THE OTHER LEASE MEMBERS HAVE THE SAME BAG EXCEPT THAT ONLY ABOUT 1/2 OF US WILL GET A MANAGEMENT BUCK.

FIRST KILL:


link

GOT THIS LONG SKINNY SOW THS AFTERNOON. USED A MARLIN 336 IN 35 REMINGTON WITH HORNADY 200gr FLEX TIP AMMO. RIFLE HAS A VARIABLE BURRIS WITH  EUROPEAN CROSSHAIRS (SPECIAL ORDER). IF IT WAS AT MY RANCH (NOW SOLD) I MAY HAVE NOT BOTHERED WITH HER BUT RULE IS YOU NEED TO RETRIEVE 'em AND BRING THEM TO CAMP. I TOLD THE SKINNER (ESTEBAN) THAT I DID NOT WANT ANY OF THE MEAT. AFTER HE EXAMINED HER HE DECIDED SHE WAS enferma (SICK) SO TO THE GUT PILE SHE WENT.

THIS AFTERNOON I SAW HOGS, JAVELINAS, TURKEY, DEER, NILGAI, LOTS OF ORYX, RED LECHWE, A BLACKBUCK, WATERBUCK FEMALES AND 4 IMPALA.

[seminolewind]

I look forward to reading this post as the season progresses.

[45MAN]

HUNTED WEDNESDAY MORNING (11/8/23). HUNTING IS MOSTLY DRIVING AROUND. BLINDS & FEEDERS ARE PERMITTED BUT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THEM AFTER THE SEASON SO NOBODY PUTS UP BLINDS NOR FEEDERS.

SAW SOME OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS AND SOME GAZELLES. LUCKY ME I ALSO SAW A COYOTE, A YOUNG FEMALE, THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET A QUICK SHOT OFF ON, PROBABLY UNDER 100 YARDS, WITH MY MARLIN 35 REM. HERE IS MY 2nd KILL:

link

NOT VISIBLE ON THIS SIDE BUT I TOOK OUT PART OF HER BACK. TOOK HER UP TO THE FRONT GATE SO THE GATE KEEPER COULD VERIFY THE KILL FOR MY $150 REWARD, gonna USE IT TO BUY AMMO.

THE UBS TO 12V CIGARRETTE LIGHTER CONNECTION WAS A BUST, NOT ENUFF JUICE TO POWER THE 12V MOTOR, SO YESTERDAY I TOOK MY TRUCK TO AN OFF ROAD SHOP AND THEY WIRED ME A CIGARRETTE LIGHER CONTRAPTION OFF THE WINCH IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. GLAD TO GET THE TAIL GATE FEEDER SITUATION SORTED OUT.

GOING BACK TO PDM NEXT TUESDAY (I HOPE).

[pacecars]

Are you allowed to carry a pistol while hunting?

[bigbrowndog]

The coyote probably paid for the gas, and BS of dealing with no cigarette plug in at least.

Trapr

[bula]

I look forward to this being an ongoing thread. Thanks for sharing. Oh, how big are Nilgai ? Recipe ? lol. 

[seminolewind]

Riding around shooting coyotes and getting paid for it? I could go for that.

[45MAN]

Nov 9, 2023 7:42:46 GMT -5 pacecars said:

Are you allowed to carry a pistol while hunting?

YES. MY USUAL FIELD REVOLVER IS A RUGER 45 COLT "PERFECTED BISLEY" BY BOWEN (5.5" BARREL) THAT I FITTED AN XTRA TIGHT CYLINDER TO, DAMN FINE SHOOTING HANDGUN. I USE TOP BRASS HEAD STAMPED CASES, FEDERAL 155M PRIMERS, 21.5grs OF VV N-110, AND A COMMERCIALLY CAST, POWDER COATED, 250gr RNFP BULLETS BY BLUE BULLETS (CHRONOED ON 1/25/23 IN 60 DEGRESS TEMP. @ 1,244fps), MAKES A GREAT FINISHER. WHEN COW NILGAI HUNTING I UPGRADE TO A 5 SHOT 5.5" NIMROSESQUE 45 COLT RUGER BISLEY BY BRAD SHERMAN USING 320gr RNFP BLUE BULLETS IN TOP BRASS BRASS, FED 155M's AND 23.5grs OF 296 (CHRONOED @ 1,241fps, SAME DAY, SAME TEMP), A GREAT FINISHER LOAD FOR BIGGER ANIMALS THAT MAY BE FACING THE WRONG WAY. ALSO, KEEP A SPEER 45 COLT SHOT LOAD IN THE CYLINDER FOR RATTLERS THAT MAY BE TOO CLOSE.

[45MAN]

Nov 9, 2023 9:01:34 GMT -5 bula said:

I look forward to this being an ongoing thread. Thanks for sharing. Oh, how big are Nilgai ? Recipe ? lol. 

bula: THE BULLS CAN GO 600lbs PLUS, THE COWS 400lbs PLUS. THE MEAT HAS THE FLAVOR AND TEXTURE OF BEEF JUST A LOT LEANER, PROBABLY CLOSER TO RANGE BEEF. NO SPECIAL RECIPES, USE IT FOR HAMBURGERS, MEAT LOAF, STEWS, SINCE ITS LEAN NOT REALLY FOR GRILLI'in.

[bigbrowndog]

Makes great dried sausage, 100% Nilgai no pork, makes for a great trail snack.

Trapr

[kelye]

Sounds great, Rey!