, realizing there are a lot of hunting clubs in Texas.

It seems like a huge property to have only that few members, unless I'm missing something. I have a friend who looked into doing something like this in a different state and the biggest obstacles he came across were liability insurance and working out dues/quotas that aligned to state and federal requirements.

Earlier this year I visited the Horn, Fin & Feather club in South Texas while on a Nilgai hunt and those folks run a slick operation, you might want to reach out to them for advice/guidance.

I guess there are. I just never thought about it that way. For 60 years, I've been on various leases,
I've never been in a Hunting Club. lol

To set up a "formal" club, you could set up an informal partnership, or set up a corporate like structure without going through the gyration of incorporating or filing partnership papers. I wouldn't consider a hunting club as a non profit.

Now if you and the rest of the group want to donate hunts to veterans or special needs children, and create a non profit, you have a lot of hoops to jump through. Especially if you have fundraisers to raise money for these donated hunts. A lawyer to set up the non profit corporation is your first step. Both the most states and the IRS want this, you also have to file paperwork with the IRS for non profit status. Without the IRS 501 status any fundraising is not deductible to the donor and the "gift" is probably income to the recipient.

I think you need a lawyer and an accountant, both need to be familiar with organizing non profits. Screw this up, and your nightmares might just be starting.