Not sure I understand your question. South Texas has Nilgai on both high-fence and low-fence ranches. We hunted a 10,000 acre low fence ranch with tons of Nilgai. If you drive down Highway 77 towards Harlingen, you will see Nilgai on the side of the road. Furthest north I’ve personally seen one was just south of the Border Patrol check station on 77. You don’t really need to stock Nilgai if you have a ranch in that area. They are already there.

There are some Hill Country High Fenced ranches which have Nilgai Hunts (shoots).

I didn't realize escaped Nilgai have established a herd in Texas. I assumed incorrectly they were all on high fenced ranches. It makes sense they are out there, just like the axis.

It's not escaped Nilgai have established a herd. It's the herd has existed on the low fence ranches of the Kennedy, King and Suerez (spelled wrong I'm sure) for decades and expanded. I'd almost venture to say most of the high fence ranches Nilgai are likely descendants of the King's herd.

Yelp historic ranch experience = King and Kennedy…

King Ranch imported in the 1920’s. Just on king there is an estimated 18k

OR were let loose from overstocked ranches.

When we dropped off our Nilgai meat at Kuby's, the man working there told me this story. He said free ranging Nilgai in south Texas for a hundred years. He even told me of fishing the bays, in a boat, and see Nilgai on islands.

If memory serves, he said they are not north of Corpus.

Furthest north I’ve seen was between Riviera and Kingsville.

They have a hard time with winters if they go very far north. In the late 90's early 2000's they used to let you archery hunt certain parts of the king for 50 dollars a day unguided. You got a bunk in a bunkhouse and told not to cross a fence, those hunts were a blast. It was kinda like trying to sneak up on a 700lb coyote.

4 Arrows. I hunted that one once. I will always regret that I never went back while we could still hunt it. I would have a blue bull on the wall if not for 4 lost hunters walking up on me to ask directions and blowing out the nilgai below me.

All this nilgai talk makes me wonder, how far have they spread? They make it near Hebronville? Are they still expanding their range?

Heard last year one was shot a few miles as the crow flys away from us and one supposedly closer was spotted.

Yes, and there are spoil islands you can hunt. I don’t see them getting much due north or northeast of 37/corpus because there is a pretty thick farm land barrier. I have seen them in north side of Baffin though

Not the stories I've read...they started on the king where they were brought in as a food source because it was believed to be too hot for cattle...hence the reason the KR folks bred the cattle Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz specifically to handle the heat down there. You won't see a single black cow on the King, they are all red and all very wild from what I saw.

It's an awesome place and something I feel fortunate to be able to experience...can't wait for Jan 2026.

King

Did a hunt last December on King Ranch, was one of their day hunts. Had a good time, shot a good bull. Buddy got one as well but it was later in the evening and a young male. My guide said he seen a good bull the morning before with a group of about 10 cows. We drove to a pipeline, got out walked about 400 yards down the pipeline and a group crossed in front of usgoing right to left. The guide didn't think they'd seen us so we hurried about another 100 yards where another pipeline crossed and the group had made a circle and was comeing back towards us. He through up the sticks and said the bull will be in the back. the cows come out and crossed in front of us the bull was about 50 yards behind them, as he appeared the guide tried to stop him 3 or 4 times he was trotting from left to right about 110 yards and the guide said if you think you can hit him running take him. I fired and he did a summersault and never got up. I was tagged out by 8am. Spend the rest of the day with my buddy while he hunted.

they are well established south of 285 from Riviera to Hebronville. Lots of culling of these animals because they are carrying tick fever up from mexico. Laguna Atascosa built a high fence on the northern boundary to try and stop their northward migration....which is futile. Hard winters are the only thing that limits their spread...very, very thin skin and can't handle the cold.

Great hunt, we did it for 4 or 5 years, Killed my Nilgai on the very last hunt that i went on, i think it was 2000 or 2001, wasn't long after that they shut it down.

Picked this guy up on a free range hunt near the King. Lots of beautiful ranches out there. Unsure on freelance outfitters.

Nice! High shoulder - so effective.

I think I decided on my nilgai rifle and load.

Rifle is a Ruger 77 Mark 2 in 350 Remington Magnum. ( McMillan stock, SWFA 3-9X42 HD)

Weighs 8.5 lbs with optic.



Load is 200 TTSX over 64 grains of TAC which is good for 2950 fps.

Definitely on the bucket list to hunt. I’ve heard you need at least a .300 win to kill one but with today’s bullets seems like a 30-06, etc. would get it done.