Texas Hill Country WildlifeTexas: Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Harper, Mountain Home, Vanderpool, Medina, Tarpley, Leakey and Bandera April 13 through 21, 2007. We are staying in Kerrville at Kerrville Schreiner City Park that was the former Kerrville Schreiner State Park. $15 per-night for FHU plus a $5 per-day entrance fee (but you can purchase an annual pass for $25 which we did). Kerrville Schreiner is located within the city limits on the Guadalupe River and has everything one could want in the way of Hill Country Ambience. With that said there are probably 12-RV-Parks in Kerrville that are very nice plus they have good location as well. Many of these private parks are located on the Guadalupe River as well.
Exotic game ranch in the Texas Hill Country
This picture was taken at a small independent exotic animal rancher. He had about 2-acres enclosed with one of those 15' tall fences to keep these critters in, after all they are expensive critters. I think these are audad and are highly prized by hunters for their fine horns. It takes from 2 to 3 years for males to develop horns like these big males have. At the RAZ exotic animal auction we saw these mature males fetching around $600 each. The females and babies were from $100 to $300 each. I was getting information from a ranching family sitting behind us at the auction. They said that hunters paid from $1,000 to $1,200 to shoot one of those males with the nice hornes. The lady of the family was providing me information while the men (her husband, son and and older man that was probably one of their father) were either bidding and totally engrossed in the auction. She said I should return in February (hunting season). The big game hunting places would be buying anything with good antlers or horns. I didn't understand that statement since hunters can hunt exotics anytime. It is only native game like white tail deer and turkey that are regulated with a hunting season.
Extic goat
I am not sure but this looks like some kind of exotic goat. This one was inside a fenced area where he may be fair game for the right hunter.
I overheard a conversation between two buyers seated next to us at the auction. One commented "that orix appears to be blind in one eye" the other buyer replied, "that is ok, he won't see the bullet coming from that side". They both laughed and I chuckled. So it is in the world of big game hunting.
Axis deer in the Texas Hill Country
These axis deer are part of a group containing upwards of 20-animals feeding in a goat pasture. No these aren't pinned deer, they are completely wild and roaming the countryside. There are so many axis deer around Kerrville, and Junction that the state is considering methods to reduce their population.
Trophy axis deer
This is a trophy axis deer we spotted in one of those big game hunting preserves. This big boy has to keep both eyes open for city slicker desk jockeys that ride a desk job then head to the Hill Country big game hunting ranches for an opportunity to shoot this trophy axis deer as it walks to the feeder in front of his hunting blind. The fine folks at the ranch actually drive the city slicker out to the nice comfortable hunting blind in a ranch vehicle then stop back by in a couple of hours to pick them back up and of course load the trophy animal into the vehicle. Back at the ranch headquarters it will be time for pictures. Then ranch hands transport the trophy to a large walk in cooler until the taxidermist drops by and picks up the animal. Of course some of the animals will be handed over to a wild game processor that will do the cleaning and butchering chore. After the obligatory pictures it is time for the city slicker to sit down to a meal at the lodge fit for a true champion, that he is.
Axis deer & other exotics including audad and exotic goats
Take your pick. This picture captures several varieties of exotic goats, sheep, axis deer and probably audad. Hunters may be able to identify more.
Black buck
Black buck running at a distance. Picture quality is not up to par but snapping a picture of these wild creatures is a bit difficult. I wanted to get a picture of their horns that are prized by hunters. Black buck horns have spirals.
Black buck
These prize black buck are posing. You can see the spirals in these horns and better understand why they are prized by hunters wanting a good trophy.
Exotic goats
I think this is a type of Spanish goat. Possibly a Corsican. These are usually a meat goat but the rams that have impressive horns get sold to the hunting lodges. I stopped in an upscale taxidermy shop in Junction, Texas. The owner told me that most Spanish goats were sold to the meat market. The exceptions were the ones he proudly displayed on his wall waiting for owners to pick them up. I have to say the horns on these goats were as impressive as other mounts with much more exotic names.
Guinea fowl
Guinea fowl are a common ranch fixture. It seems every ranch has a flock of Guinea fowl along with free range chickens and roosters.
Bighorn sheep
Is this a big horn sheep? I am not sure but it would make a nice mount.
Exotic animals on one of those Texas Hill Country exotic game ranches
This is a picture of mostly axis deer but a careful examination will reveal an audad and possibly several species of goat.
Exotic animals on one of those Texas Hill Country exotic game ranches
Again, mostly deer. I think I recall spotting fallow deer in this group but I can not pick them out now.
Exotic animals on one of those Texas Hill Country exotic game ranches
This group appears to be axis deer unless that light colored one on the right side is a fallow deer.
If you enjoyed this Travel Adventure you might like some of these: Texas Hill Country Fences & Gates Willow Loop Scenic Drive north of Fredericksburg Kerrville, Bandera, Hunt & Ingram; Texas Wildlife of the Texas Hill Country Click here for more Texas Travel AdventuresUntil next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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