Nilguy ???

[Curtiss Cardinal]

Yea I read One of the Redneck Twins article on them and looked into to hunting them. Right at that time it was just Doug said and almost giveaway with a paid hog hunt. I studied their anatomy and determoned tight real tight to the shoulder and one third up from the bottom to be just about ideal arrow placement. Well by the time I  had saved up the money for the hog hunt the Nilgai went from no trophy fee $25 addition to a 100/day plus a $750 trophy fee. So I've never hunted them.

[Herdbull]

Shoot whatever broad head you are comfortable with. I used a WW on one nilgai and a zepher temest on the other. But I have taken moose with the WW as well. The mature bull nilgai weigh about 550 pounds and the adult cows weigh 300-400 pounds.

[cch]

I shot a cow in Texas in 2001. They are just like African animals and you need to shoot straight up the leg and not further back. The price for them is out of sight now. I think you can hunt the king ranch for something like a 1000.00 a day now and the Kennedy ranch I think they are like 1700.00. I hunted them for 150 a day. That was the best wild meat I have ever eaten.

[Herdbull]

[Herdbull]

[Doug Campbell]

Great bull Mike    Awesome critters!

[kctreeman]

Thanks guys.  No offense Herdbull but I hope they taste better than they look.  Kind of a strange looking critters arn't they?  Did you mount the bull?  He would make a cool looking trophy.  Thanks again guys.

[Herdbull]

kctreeman Oh yes they taste great. The best! I did my own taxidery and they look good on the wall together. I really had to alter the form to fit the cow since most folks don't mount them. But they are a real trophy and at my friends suggestion I did both of them.The bulls look mystical and have a bout three or four color phases as they mature. The cows look like a deer in summer coat. They stand taller in the front than in the hind end so at times they have a gait like a hyena. They have long necks like other antelope and the cow’s looks more pronounced since they are much thinner than bulls. Rigor has set in the cow pictured, so it does not look as good. But believe me they are absolutely beautiful animals. They have cool markings on their ears and on the lowest part of their legs. They have a withers and a mane. The tail is long and has a big tufted of hair at the end. I really loved hunting these nilgai!!! Ha!

[Gene Wensel]

Most of you guys know I've hunted pretty much all over the world. Free ranging nilgai with a stickbow is right at the top of my list as far as challenge is concerned. You can't bait them, you can't call them, you can't push them anywhere for certain. They have excellent eyes, excellent ears, excellent noses, excellent reflexes, never curious, they are tough to kill and the best eating wild meat I've ever had. If they had bigger horns, they'd be famous! If they see you, its over. They are not very difficult with a rifle and many were shot by compounders at longer ranges but getting inside the 25 yard line with a stickbow is one supreme challenge. I doubt it was Barry's article that raised the prices. The King Ranch started shooting them commercially from helicopters to sell the meat about that time. Shortly thereafter Four Arrows Outfitters went belly up and the King Ranch went to only guided hunts at high dollar. Our best results were hunting them from live oak treestands when the bulls were cruising during their rut in January or setting up at fence crossings where they go under fences. The dung piles are not really productive. Nor is waterhole hunting in January. They are extremely tough animals. The bulls kill each other regularly by fighting. If you make a bad hit, they run until they die. No stopping or lying down after a couple hundred yards like a poorly hit deer, etc. Very hardy species. I truly miss being able to hunt them fair and square at reasonable rates like we used to.

[tradtusker]

Mike they are fantastic animals, my hat off to you. very interesting picture, kinda reminds me of some old Paul Schafer pics.      

[Steve H.]

These Nilgai hunts are great example of taking advantage of a unique opportunity while it exists.  Put things off for "someday" and someday never comes.

[Herdbull]

Steve , I know what you mean. For us non-residence to Alaska it will be black bear, moose and caribou going to need a guide to hunt them. I hope it doesn't happen, but you never know. Like the nilgai of south Texas, you just can't put things off.

[Steve H.]

With our bleak looking moose populations and subsistence issues, it could happen at any time.  I wouldn't be too concerned about caribou and black bear at this time however.

Zimbabwe is also a good example of a great opportunity gone away.

[Paul J.]

Luckily, I have a friend that has a lease on the
Kenedy Ranch. I have hunted there many times with him. The very first time I stalked within 25
yards of a bull, and 2 cows. It was the first
day of my first hunt so I past up the shot thinking there would be many others. BAD MOVE!!
I have made probably a dozen more trips down there and have never been that close again.Everytime we go we are hunting hogs deer and javilina, butI would love to be able to spend a couple weeks
just hunting Nilgai. Without a doubt the toughest animal that I have ever tried with a bow. My hats off to anyone that has been succesfull.
                          Paul J.

[Full Quiver II]

Mel & Mike,
Not sure about how you would hunt Florida Nilgai, but if they allow you to shoot cow or bull...I would not be too picky. Sorry for the length of this post. I was fortunate enough in 1998 and 1999 (July both years) to bowhunt Nilgai at Four Arrows Outfitters @ King Ranch for $75 a day. Still the best valued hunt I have ever been on. All do it yourself. There were enough animals per square mile that I actually got within 25 yards of four different animals over six days (three day hunts both years). I killed a young cow the first afternoon after setting up on a fence crossing with multiple trails. I used whitetail logic and it paid off. Water holes were never productive as the Nilgai were just too smart. In 1999, I shot a big bull the first afternoon after stalking up on one by accident. That summer, they had a lot of rain and the grass and mesquite were thick. I was stalking (more like scouting) into the wind and could smell the recent presence of Nilgai (smell like Elk). I was walking along a trail directly besides a fence and I heard what I thought was a big hog to my left. I could barely make out a big body deep in the grass under some oaks just munching away. When I saw the big hump above his shoulder blades and the bluish color, I could not believe I was within 10 yards of a blue bull. I could not see his belly due to the height of the grass, so I started at his back and went down what I thought was 2/3 of his body. I zipped a Zwickey clean through the fence and his body, but he trotted off like nothing hit him. You have to hit them low and forward. I hit him for a perfect double lung on a whitetail and never found a drop of blood. This was with a compound bow as I was not shooting traditional yet. My friend, scored on a nice bull the next morning while stalking through the mesquite. I would hunt them like whitetails and key into where you see one. They seem to feed/hide in the same areas as other Nilgai based on food/hunting pressure. So if you find one feeding on something or can establish some type of pattern (not likely) stick with it! Pay close attention to the wind and walk SLOWLY. You can stalk them if you are in an area that has alot of animals. ABSOLUTELY BEST WILD MEAT I HAVE EVER EATEN! Four Arrows is no longer open...Sorry. GOOD LUCK.

[Stykbowslim]

I hunted with the Wensel brothers on the King Ranch in '97. At the time, if memory serves me correctly, it was believed that no one ever killed a Nilgai with traditional archery equipment. Well, our group killed three Nilgai bulls. I brought this one home, Barry Wensel killed one, and so did my 16 year old son(using a compound). As others have said; a very challenging game animal and one that I would love to spot and stalk again.

 

 

[Stripstrike1]

I have hunted the King Ranch and the Yturria Ranch for Nilgai with a rifle.  Killed a cow on the King and a very large bull on the Yturria Ranch near Raymondville Texas.  I really want to hunt them with a stickbow and am looking into doing that now.  The Yturria is not hunted as hard and had more bulls.  A good guy to call and get info with prices etc. is Lendall Laxton at  www.llhunt.com.   You can also reach him at 361-573-6813.  Many outfitters in the area will not let you bowhunt them because they are so hard to kill and congrats to the guys here that have taken one with a stickbow.  For the guys that have the time and can afford it......it is a great way to extend your hunting season because I hunted them in the spring.   You will see some beautiful country and tons of animals.  Good Luck to anyone that  tries it. I remember the one thing that Lendall told me about the animals......THEY DON'T BLEED.....

[Dirty Bill]

One more animal I will never get to hunt. Sigh.  

[cch]

I got a hold of Lendall and they don't allow bowhunting for them. This really sucks. I wish I could find a place to hunt them for around a $1000.00 for 4-5 days. I just might have to go to a game farm to do it.