Author Topic: Where to hunt wild exotics that doesn't break the bank? (Read 3515 times)

1187VX2 · « **on:** June 05, 2006, 02:05:08 PM »

OK I've been on a few game ranch hunts over the years (in TN & MO) and mostly decided that it wasn't for me. The Catalina goat did seem a little wild, but the rams really didn't. I have no desire to hunt what seems like barnyard animals.

Then again there are a lot on months out of a year when I can't hunt deer or turkey here in S. Illinois.

And then I read about Nilgai & Aoudad. Most accounts make them out to be wild animals. So game ranch doesn't have to mean animals that are less than wild.

So I guess the next question is, how do you find hunts for exotics where the animals are wild? Is it as simple as the whole 'free ranging' thing? Or is it size of the operation/acreage or whether the animal was born there instead of being released there?

Are some species always going to be pretty wild no matter where you hunt them, or does supplemental feeding &/or familiarity with humans tame them up pretty fast?

And what about pricing? Looked into Nilgai & Aoudad a little - crap! I didn't really want to spend $3000 (or even $2000) to hunt one animal.

In short, I'd really like to find affordable exotic hunts for game animals that are wild and don't asscociate seeing me with getting fed. Is that out there? Someone please tell me where. Thanks.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2006, 12:26:44 AM »

Axis deer in Florida at Brady Ranch. Great hunt in my opinion and they are better than any other met I have eaten. They also have a lot of other animals there, I took a water buffalo there.

http://www.bradyranch.com/Main.html

GeneRector · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2006, 07:25:44 AM »

Howdy! Come to Texas! There are numerous exotic game ranches in the Hill Country, West Texas, and South Texas, as well as, many others around the state. Most have websites, so check it out! Also, they have many hunts listed on eBay. Some of the ranches are huge, so many of the animals are pretty much free-ranging. In the Hill Country of Texas I have a friend that says Axis Deer are free-ranging where he lives in Blanco, Texas. He waits until they come across his property and occasionall shoots one. He says the meat is excellent. Anyway, I am sure you will find what you want eventually. Most of the ranches offer exotic does at very low prices. Good Luck!

1187VX2 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2006, 07:41:46 AM »

I assumed the answer would involve Texas, but this Brady Ranch has me thinking - due to it's location, it probably wouldn't be to hard to incorporate a little hunting time with a Florida family vacation.

After reading through the Brady website I'm guessing they aren't an operation that buys their animals - they have a breeding population instead? I'd assume that's way better. Redhawk, can you verify that?

Anyway looks very interesting - I'll have to call them for pricing.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2006, 09:38:28 AM »

Quote from: 1187VX2

I assumed the answer would involve Texas, but this Brady Ranch has me thinking - due to it's location, it probably wouldn't be to hard to incorporate a little hunting time with a Florida family vacation.

After reading through the Brady website I'm guessing they aren't an operation that buys their animals - they have a breeding population instead? I'd assume that's way better. Redhawk, can you verify that?

Anyway looks very interesting - I'll have to call them for pricing.

You are correct, they have a breeding stock of Axis deer. And I think there Water Buffalo. I think the Brady ranch is a class act. I will go there just to get the Axis deer meat. You can shoot a doe for $300.00 and any Axis buck no matter the size for $1500.00. The price is very reasonable, my buddy did a family vacation to Orlando and then he went on an Axis deer hunt and they sent his meat to his house frozen.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2006, 10:58:48 AM »

The Brady claims to have the largest herd of axis in the US. They raise them primarily to sell the meat to markets and restaurants that sell it to their customers. They also allow hunting there as well.

Getting a wild hunt from exotics is a complicated thing. It's not a matter of just one factor. Some of the critters just aren't gonna be wild no matter where they are. Corsican rams are an example, they are really just barn yard sheep when you get right down to it and most all of them are raised a large part of their life in such an environment and fed by humans so they have no fear of humans.

Others are pretty wild by nature. Mouflon are quite wild by comparison and unless held in really small pens and fed daily by humans will remain quite wild. Auodad and black buck antelope are generally speaking quite wild also. Fallow by their nature are not all that wild even in a free range situation and if in a situation where they know their food comes from man just won't be that wild. Axis are more wary than whitetail deer given equal circumstances.

So it's a combination of what the animal is, how it's been raised since birth and how it's being fed in the current situation. Only truly large ranches sell only game bred on site in the wild. The rest buy their animals and each batch might be different in how they were raised and thus how wild they are.

ahunter55 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2006, 05:51:05 AM »

I have bowhunted several operations for a variety of animals in Texas & Oklahoma over the past several years. I have also Bowhunted Sika Deer in the state of MAryland-they have wild, free ranging from many years ago. Tough Bowhunting but with a little research with the DNR or a few outfitters you can have a very reasonable hunt. Axis are tough-I took one a couple years ago & in 16 days of Bowhunting Exotics had just one chance at the Buck I took. Meat IS delicious. One other at the top of the list for me is the Red Deer-smaller version of our Elk.
Good luck in your venture-Exotics are a blast but you are right-some faciulities are just a little to easy BUT NOT ALL, that is for sure.

1187VX2 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2006, 07:58:09 AM »

ahunter55 - Red Deer - now you're talking. I think I'd enjoy hunting about anything wild, but the head gear that the Red Deer carry make them very high on my list too.

Have you hunted them? If so, where and was it enjoyable and not too easy?

Also, what sets Shiloh apart from other ranches? Is that a good place to hunt anything or just the wilder species?

markc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2006, 02:49:17 AM »

While hunting some semi tame sheep with a handgun in Texas, an out of state judge came in with a very nice red deer from a neighboring ranch. The story they told made it sound like a hard hunt for a wild non tame deer. Anyway, he booked his hunt through Thompson Temple in Barksdale Tx. I believe Temple's daughter schedules and guides deer hunts somewhere out there. You can contact them through their web site. I do not have their web address handy, but their contact number is (830)234-4120.

ahunter55 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:36:14 AM »

I have taken a Red Deer & a Axis at Sweetwater Creek Bowhunting.
I have been there 5 times-my last trip I saw several animals but never had a shot at anything.

1187VX2 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2006, 07:08:35 AM »

I think I've narrowed it down to Red Deer at Hunt's bowhunting ranch. Looking at September - Can't resist.

NONYA · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2006, 07:23:24 AM »

wait till you can spend 3500$ and go on a guided elk hunt in MT,wild as it gets.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2006, 12:48:28 AM »

Quote from: NONYA

wait till you can spend 3500$ and go on a guided elk hunt in MT,wild as it gets.

I believe this is the Exotics Hunting & Game Ranching fourm.

1187VX2 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2006, 02:43:20 AM »

I do want to hunt elk out west someday - with the age that my kids are, I think I can maybe pull that off around 2018 or so, maybe.

In the mean time, I'm going to try something that doesn't require quite as much time or $$.

I do believe there are exotic hunts out there that will be so close to that 'fair chase' theme that you & the game won't know the difference. I've been to crappy ranches before and by all accounts Hunt's isn't one of those. If it is, lesson learned. If not, maybe I'll find a form of hunting that is enjoyable & within reach.

ahunter55 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2006, 03:54:56 AM »

I have been on 30+ Elk Bowhunts in Colorado & New Mexico BUT I still enjoy going after something that I cannot afford to Bowhunt in another country. Maybe it's not as "WILD" as some want but that is each persons individual choice. I have had the "WILD" for Elk, Black Bears, Caribou, Mule Deer, Whitetail, hogs & many more & mostly unguided & on public ground. I have lived in the Colorado Mountains for 6 straight months in a tent & 2 months in Bear country Boundary Waters tenting-tell me about "WILD". I enjoy the Exotic Bowhunting lot's.
Sorry-had to vent.

ahunter55 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2006, 03:57:52 AM »

I have been to Hunts filming for my own Exotic Video. Ricky is a great guy & will make your stay enjoyable. He does have some very good Red Deer. Good Luck.

Greenhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2011, 06:11:39 PM »

Wild Hill in Vt is good and affordable
High Adventure Ranch in MO is good too.
I like them both. they are big spreads and they treat you right.

Mohawk · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2011, 01:58:07 PM »

Most folks want a 90 percent success rate. Don't care who you are.... if you spend 4K on a hunt then something should be coming home. I think folks want experience not the hunt. I once hunted the same stand for four years before I got a forkhorn whitetail buck, it was free.. Rolling out 4 G's aint so accepteble and the game should be there.

drdougrx · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2011, 03:45:03 PM »

Kind of an old thread.....

But, I also don't think there are many affordable exotic hunts out there...maybe but.....what's affordable? Certainly not a $2000 deer or sheep for most folks.

Not at Wild Hill for sure....been there every year since I don't know when.....prices are not bad but like most things are creeping up some. Shot my first hog there in 84 for $365 (that's a hog, 3 days of food and lodging and guides). Today it's $750 for the same thing.

Mohawk's right....at a ranch and for 4k...I'd better not get skunked....unless of course we're talking a real wilderness experience......diff story....

T.R. · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2011, 04:05:19 PM »

Double D Ranch is located in the "hill country" of southern Ohio. Danny & Dee are excellent hosts and their guides are TOPS, too.
I had a great time hunting a very wild red stag in heavy snow with my 30-30 carbine.

For outstanding budget hunts, I suggest click on the CURRENT EVENTS regularly. www.ddranch.com

TR