Hello All. I've never hunted in Texas, but will drive down from WI next month for South by Southwest in Austin. Would like to do a fair chase, free range meat hunt for Axis, Oryx or Nilgai. Any deals on a cull, doe, broken horn, etc. hunt? A challenging hunt is welcome. Looking forward to seeing what the Lone Star has to offer. Can bring a 300WSM or 338Mag for long-range or 9.3x62 or 416 Rigby for short range. Rattlers not an issue there this time of year? Any advice, recommendations or offers are very much appreciated. Thank you.

Hey Steve, Welcome to the forum! We have a section for Outfitters and guides just a little further down the list. that might be the best place to ask this question.

Welcome. There are a lot of great outfitters on here and I'm sure they will chime in shortly. The only advice I can give you is give yourself some extra time when driving down this time of year. It never fails I always get stuck in a ice storm somewhere in Oklahoma. Good luck on your search from a fellow Cheesehead!

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Welcome to the Texas hunting forum! Glad to hear your wanting to come to our beautiful state. Your 300wsm will work best for hunting here unless you do go after nilgai, and if that's the case bring the biggest caliber you have. They are tough animals. I personally would recommend axis, black buck, and/or red stag. I've heard Oryx is pretty good too, but I have no personal experience with it. If your looking for a deal I doubt Oryx is in your ballpark though as they can get pricey.

I've taken and eaten all three. Slightly different, depends on what you're in the mood for.

Axis: Mild venison, very tasty

Nilgai: More like lean beef to me

Scimitar Oryx: Somewhere in between. Not gamey, very good.

The .300 will be fine for Axis or Scimi. If Nilgai I'd go .338WM.

Axis does will be cheapest option starting around $300. You can find Nilgai cows for $800. Broken-horn or deformed-horn scimis occasionally pop up for not much more, but are rare.

Other good options are Red deer hinds, or possibly cow elk.

Red deer hinds or axis doe!

Thanks turkeykillet! Go Pack go! I'm hoping for good weather and will take a couple days to drive down.

What an awesome welcome from this forum. The advice and information is great! I have a feeling that I'll be making many trips down to the great state of Texas in the coming years! I think I'll start with Axis (also have a spot-and-stalk hog hunt lined up) and will do a Nilgai hunt in the near future. Texas BBQ, Shiner Bock, and hunting fair chase exotics ...doesn't get better than this!!

Be carefull Texas is a very addictive state. I never even get north of the border and I'm already planning my next trip!

$200.00 per day $1500 oryx broken horn or bent female $2000.00 meat addax $350.00 axis does.

rattlers in south Texas are an issue any time of year, just bring a buddy to suck the venom out, unless you sit on one, he might not want to do that

I sure second this! Welcome aboard.

Ha! Ok, I'll watch where I sit. Correct, we don't do such things in the Upper Midwest. :-)

Thanks!

Quick update: The itinerary is 1) Nilgai hunt for a couple days (9.3x62), 2) South x Southwest and plenty of beer and BBQ with a couple of friends, 3) Axis hunt for a couple days (9.3x62), 4) Guided Feral hog hunt for two days (VZ58 and 10mm handgun), 5) Backpack in and self-guided in Davy Crockett for hogs, and 6) pick up something nice for a wife on the drive back. All spot-and-stalk, fair chase, free-range hunts. Lots of high-capacity coolers and ice.

Really appreciate all of the help, information, and advice! You guys are great. I've even convinced the wife to vacation on the coast in South Texas later this year so I can repeat!

Welcome Steve. Texas certainly can be addictive. I have been blessed to live here all my life. Visited a friend in Wisconsin a couple summers back and fell in love with the place. So much that my wife and I bought a couple acres on Hall's Creek in Black River Falls to spend our summers when we retire. Hope to run into you one place or the other.

Thank you Mikel. I am chomping at the bit to get down there and do some hunting. Wisconsin is a beautiful part of the country. Amazing, relatively untouched forests, lakes and rivers. Black River Falls is fantastic! I'm jealous! Small world too -- not very far from where I live. I'm around 1 hour Northeast from you and spent half the winter taking the kids to Bruce Mound in Black River Falls. Great hunting for bear, turkey, coyote, whitetail, and waterfowl in your area.