Nilgai Hunt Help - Laguna Atascosa

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone had any tactics for the Laguna Atascosa area. We are down here now and would love to understand how they move a bit better and if walking the roads is better than getting into the bush. We pushed 9 miles today and saw 2 but it was brutal and would have been worse pulling one out from that far.... There are 3 of us down here and we are just looking to improve our odds.

Any help?

I know nothing about it but wish you the best. All I can say is keep the wind in your face, move slow and quiet, and try to find the slightest elevation and glass meticulously out ahead of you.

Thanks man! It's definitely been fun so far. We have seen a ton of Javeliva! Never seen them before now. They also have a fantastic whitetail population down here, I think we have seen 12 so far just today.

I forgot to mention for any one curious. We are looking at 3 tactics right now.

Walk and glass the flats
Find recent scat pile and set up 100 yards from it
Hit the bush and stalk slowly in

Nilgai are rutting right now. They are going to be visiting their poop piles several times a day. Don't disturb the piles, they will abandon them if disturb. Find one that has fresh poop and camp on it. You will have success.

Stalking might find animals, but they will bolt and you'll only end up will a hurried shot on a running animal.

Glassing will work, but be prepared for a long shot.

If you see a cow, get ready - they'll be a bull along presently.

The two times I hunted them, we drove around scouting - and even on a HF property they always seem to zig when we zagged. They had an annoying habit of visiting poop piles right after we left. Can't tell you how many times we circled an area only to find fresh nilgai tracks over our tire tracks that were laid down not 20 minutes earlier.

you need to put in some miles walking, but also take time to sit down and just be patient.

we saw most of them up at the top of 3 and top of 8. but I didn't go to 1 or 6 to hunt

but you had to cover ground and then find a spot to hang out for a few hours.

if you walk the roads only, you will be a sad hunter...

on my archery hunt in nov, I saw 28 nilgai, had 4 in bow range, with another dozen inside of 200 yds.

very tough critters, but worth it....

by now, they are probably skittish as all heck from being pushed around since November.

good luck to you

Thanks for the tips. I am actually at the very top of unit 3 while posting this. Got a great view of 2 scat piles 75 yards out. Sitting under a mesquite tree until dusk.

Walked 6.5miles today so far

hang in there, the number of hunters will dwindle each day.

we had days where I walked 15 miles and others where I sat on a chair for 12 hrs straight

I got a couple questions for you guys. What is the success rate on these hunts? How hard is it to get drawn? Also can a nonresident apply?

Well. I got one!!!

[img:center]https://i.reddituploads.com/cc9ec866b687...616cbf1656a78b5[/img]

Walked 9.2 miles total today, found fresh scat and sat under a mesquite tree. Turns out it didn't matter, I heard a ruckus behind me and walked around a point where 3 Nilgai and a cow were hanging out, ran back got my shooting stick and went around the corner again and they had moved quite a ways off. Ended up taking a near 300 yard shot and he dropped like a rock. Blew his heart out. I was super pumped and had to calm down for about 30 minutes I was so excited. He never moved so went and checked and he was done. It was near sunset so went ahead and starting gutting etc. Buddy came up with a cart and we began the grueling journey back.

Ended up being 255 pounds dressed! Still have one day left.

@Turkeykillet - Odds seem pretty darn good. There were 4 others harvested today and we still have tomorrow. 6 the first day. It is supposed to be great weather tomorrow so hoping to see how it turns out. Would love to get one more.

Congrats! How about them backstraps!

Congrats odwraca! What cartridge did you use?

Congratulations on a hard won trophy and some good groceries.

Congrats on your success, some fine groceries

Posting the pic from your link

Congratulations!!

Thanks everyone!!! Also thanks for posting the image. Hard on mobile.

I used a 30-06 150gr Hornady Whitetail we are back at it now. Hoping for another.

awesome... you are winning the internet this weekend

Congrats! Lots of hard work paid off. Great field story!
Diane

Good luck!! Fill the freezer!!

Congratulations. It's been fun following along and reading the advice that you where given. I wonder how much that helped in your success?

Thanks again everyone. The advice definitely helped, I was worried at first that I was moving around too much but the tips here really confirmed we were doing the right things.

Congrats on a great public lands trophy

Congrats on a great bull. Good ole 30-06 does it again.

Great eats right there, Have hunted there many times. Archery used to be an easy draw with gun hunts taking a few years. Not sure how it is done now.

Thanks!!!

Last post update. Here is the cow my buddy harvested today, 30-06

[img:center]http://m.imgur.com/NF2WyzW[/img]

Hopefully the image works from mobile this time.

Bah. I don't know what I am doing wrong there.

I will be at the Teniente track on the 10th hoping to pull it off as well.

What he said!

Here you go

Awesome! Dang good groceries!