I am looking for a cool experience to celebrate my 40th this coming summer (June.) Been doing all the normal types of hunting for a long time, ducks/doves/quail/hogs/deer and continue to do so on a regular basis. Always lived and hunted in the East part of the state, from gulf coast to Red River. Wanting to see some different country, and shoot an animal that I would never have an opportunity to in normal life. Not a rich man's trophy, but a decent animal and a very memorable experience. Delicious meat is always a plus, but the experience and something radically different from another whitetail hanging on the wall takes priority.

My budget would be maxed out at $3k or so. Would really love to hear some of your thoughts and suggestions. Maybe something like a west tx audad hunt up in the mountains? I've never paid a guide in my life, or even considered shooting an exotic animal.

Nilgai. True south Texas.

Nilgai, scimitar-horned oryx, red deer in The Hill Country.

Not seen a Nilgai in your budget but a cool south Texas animal that I’d love to eventually hunt.

I’m thinking axis, auodad, black buck and you’re in the bottom end and might be able to find a fallow or red stag.

Auodad would be one of the cooler hunts but there are lots of conflicting opinions of how they taste (they are a goat so I tend to believe it’s not great meat, even if it it’s edible) so for that reason, I’d probably pick one of the others but I would like to kill one eventually.

Good luck!

June is a great time to hunt Axis as the rut is just getting going.

I know a few places where you can get an Axis for $3000, and the place I have hunted twice offers a buck and a doe for that. That price also includes lodging and food. Figure another $500 for tips to your guide and the cooks. Axis is some of the best game meat available as well.

Malone Outdoors can set you up with one of the following great trophies. Jacobs 4 Horn, Oryx Bull, Persian or Blackbuck on 2600 acres in Valleymills, Tx. For $1000 more we could even do a Persian Ibex

Some of this stuff is sounding pretty cool, need to do some research. I will say one additional thing.... I am definitely not interested in just sitting in a box blind and waiting on something to walk out. I do plenty of that already. I am looking for some quarry that requires some moving around!

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You can definitely find good Nilgai hunts for your budget, and I would second (or third) that recommendation, it's an amazing experience.

Nilgai hunting fun stuff as above.

Texas Aoudad in west TX mountains. Totally different terrain, weather and shooting cross canyon.

You can do a lot with 3k , I think a true west Texas free range auodad would be a blast

Why do you have to stay in Texas? Regardless, I would seek a free range animal and consider adding an additional element, like bow-hunting or traditional muzzleloader. For a different experience in your budget I'd consider a bear hunt, or pronghorn hunt. If you're going to hunt a HF ranch, I'd look at animals that not too many people have, like a Barasingha.

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DC