I had an amazing spot-and-stalk Nilgai hunt with an exceptional guide, Mando. Booked through Pierce Trophy Hunts on the Yturria Ranch. We covered nearly 20 miles on foot to find a nice cow. Shot with a 9.3x62 at 50 yards and dropped within 30 yards. It was such an exciting, challenging hunt, where we were constantly considering wind, terrain, cover, sound, etc. Mando is the man! Highly recommended.

Congrats however

Im heading their tuesday, weve got 2 nilgai and 1 oryx booked, cant wait

Good luck, Sparrish8! You'll have a blast. Beautiful country. Active, challenging, free-roaming, fair chase hunt.

Wanted to give others a sense of the landscape/terrain on the Yturria ranch (quite different from what I'm accustomed to -- the forests of northern Wisconsin and the Sierras). We hit some mild inclement weather as well.

Congrats. You have some great eating there.

congrats

Congrats Steve. If your guide put you 50 yards from a nilgai, that is impressive. Good job.

Pierce Trophy Hunts is a first class organization. I have been booking hunts with them over the past two years, mostly for Nilgai hunts. The lodging, guides and staff are second to none, not to mention the quality of the animals and the competitive pricing. I would HIGHLY recommend booking a hunt through this outfitter as I have always left excited and ready to book my next hunt.

Congratulation to the hunter on a beautiful cow! Some of the best wild game you can put in your freezer

I agree that Pierce Trophy Hunts is an outstanding organization ! They are first class! I have booked 2 Nilgai hunts on the Yturria through PTH. The lodge, food, and accommodations are awesome! The guides are very professional and experienced...they know how to put you on Nilgai! I have taken 2 Nilgai Bulls and the one I got this year made record book.

I have already book my hunt for next year. I would highly recommend this trip for the ultimate free chase hunt. It is truly tops on my list ...I am hooked on Nilgai hunting at Yturria with PTH!
Steve,
Congratulations on an awesome cow!

congrats....

Thank you all. My first trip to TX and had an absolute blast. Exceptional, challenging fair chase hunt. PTH, Yturria and Mando are spectacular. Meat is amazing. The kids and wife eat it up by the pound. I'll be back for a bull and either bring the 9.2x62 or 375H&H.

Welcome always to hunt in texas

Awesome! A buddy and I are going next weekend.

Steve,

What load did you use in your 9.3x62?

Scott,

(I'll only shoot lead-free for game that my family consumes) so...

It was the Barnes TSX 286 gr. I used the Barnes Ammo (VOR-TX). Unfortunately, Barnes is discontinuing that bullet for that ammo (in favor of a lighter one) and will discontinue sales in the US for the 9.3x62. This is highly unfortunate since I view this round as the best CXP2/CXP3/CXP4 round within 225 yards -- always accurate within 0.75 MOA in my CZ550 with truly incredible results on game and mild recoil.

So, if you don't reload (which I don't), other options are the Lapua Naturalis in 250gr or DoubleTap with a 250gr TTSX (although DoubleTap is all out of this round if you purchase directly). I've had excellent results with the DoubleTap in 7.62x39 TSX on hogs, but have never used either one of the above on game.

I think I'll need to start reloading and when I do, it'll be the 286gr TSX and I'll try to push 2450 fps or so. Otherwise, 250gr TSX at 2600 fps.

...sorry for talking your ear off.

Thanks Steve. I appreciate the feedback. I have a Full Stock CZ. I do reload. I really want to do a Nilgai hunt next year. I already have a mule deer hunt booked this year. I've had Nilgai and it's some of the best game meat available. I have 338 Federal, 350 Rem Mag and 9.3x62. All should be fine for a cow but the 338 Federal may be borderline for a bull. I like to play it safe so I'd probably lean towards the 9.3x62.

Cool! I have both the full stock 9.3x62 CZ550 and the Kevlar stock 9.3x62 CZ550. Well-built CRF rifles! Hard to go wrong with either the 9.3x62 or the 35 rem mag for a Nilgai bull. A premium slowly expanding bullet would work well. I'd plan on a 50-175 yard shot and no blood trail. As you might imagine, much of the soil in South Texas is sandy which helps with tracking and reduces noise on a stalk. Just made a batch of Nilgai stew, which was excellent. Like a rich beef.