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Springtime in Texas can be one of the most exciting times of the year for guiding hunters who are getting outdoors and “shaking the cobwebs”, so to speak off their hunting gear. The anticipation and excitement leading into a Texas hunt from a few long Winter months can be just what hunters need to fill that void during the “off season” in most of the Country at this time of year. It’s turkey season here in Texas from mid March through early May when you factor in both the North Zone and South zone for turkey hunting here in the state of Texas. We have turkey hunting properties in both the North and South zones.
Combine that with exotics like Axis Deer, Blackbuck Antelope, Rams, and plenty of wild hogs, there is lots of opportunities for hunting here in Texas during Spring. Our ranch has free range exotics, lots of wild pigs, and plenty of Rio Grande turkey’s. During this hunt we are after Rio Grande turkey, a big axis buck, and some wild hogs.
Rio Grande turkey was priority #1 on the list for Keith Thompson, a experienced bowhunter from Pennsylvania going after several animals on his first hunting trip to the Lone Star State. Things started to heat up not long after Keith arrived in camp when we headed North of the lodge to go after a long beard. With several animals on the hunters hit list we wasted no taking action on what we didn’t realize at the time, was going to be a trip we’ll both never forget.
Arriving at the property around 4PM we decided to hunt a large oak flat bordering a powerline that’s always loaded with turkey’s. We where setting up in a cluster of oak trees and when the first gobble broke out and it was just over the ridge from us. We just set the decoy’s and hadn’t even got set up yet and we where scrabbling to sit down and dig out our calls. Some yelps got the bird to respond and now the wait begins.
After 30-45 minutes the bird finally broke over the ridge and stared a hole in our direction. He didn’t move for like 15 minutes and then started easing his way around in a large 80 yard circle, This bird wasn’t going to be easy. When we thought all was lost a hen come over the hill and directly to our turkey decoy’s. That was all it took and the long beard chose to follow, although still out of range taking the long way around. Another 20 minutes passed by and the tom was hesitant to commit, however, the strutter decoy we had with a real Rio turkey fan set over a hen decoy got the best of him and he finally strutted straight for the set up. The hunter made a perfect shot and got his first Rio Grande gobbler. This bird really worked us over as we where pinned down in the same position cramping up for almost a hour with the birds in sight, sometimes the hen was less then 10 yards from us. We where both really glad to get the bird and literally limped our way out to get him after cramping up so badly in awkward positions waiting for a shot. Bird 1 down, first afternoon.
Next on the list was a large axis buck we’ve been seeing on one of the properties. He’s been hitting one of the feeders pretty regular but the winds where not the greatest so we hunted another spot hoping he would show there. After a couple hunts without seeing the buck we finally got the right wind to hunt his hot spot and we made this one
count. He did make us wait him out thinking he wasn’t going to show, however when the first little buck showed up I told Keith that buck is usually in the group of axis deer with the big buck. Sure enough, 10 minutes later another buck walked out into the clearing with the target buck right behind him. We both noticed him at first glance and it was go time. The buck offered a shot and the Hunter made in count and harvested his first ever axis deer! I could tell by now he was really enjoying this “off season” hunt in Texas!
Next up was some pig hunting and possibly another turkey if it offered a good bow shot. I tried to get him to go after a blackbuck or ram as I had a cull buck and ram I wanted harvested but he was sticking to his plan of a axis, turkey’s, and hogs which was fine by me. The big axis was already down along with his very first Rio and it was have fun time here in Texas after that.
There is one set we have on a property not far from our lodge that has water and food so we decided to sit there for the afternoon hunt. We always see turkey’s there and it’s a perfect set up for a South wind archery hunt. We arrived and got set up by 3PM and It didn’t take long after getting in the blind to hear some gobbling close by. A few calls and the long beard was n his way.
When the turkey walked by the blind at 25 yards the hunter wasted no time dropping the bird in his tracks with a well placed Rocket expandable broadhead. The turkey didn’t even take one step and was down for good. These large expandable heads are great for turkey’s. The hunter walked out and grabbed long beard #2 and settled back into the blind. A few more gobblers strutted by the blind before sunset as well as another large axis buck fed at 25 yards in front of the hunter. Now it was pig time and soon he would find out just how exciting hog hunting in Texas can get.
Once the sun set things started to heat up as pigs started hitting the water and whatever food was left over. The first group come in and was circling the feeder when the hunter took the shot and watched the hog drop under the arrow. On video you can watch the pig drop and even turn away before the arrow reached the hog, otherwise he would have made a perfect shot. Before he could knock another arrow more pigs come running into the feeder. This time it was a group of smaller pigs. When they group offered a shot he anchored one right where it stood. The pig started squealing and sent more pigs into a frenzy. Several more pigs come running in from different directions, Robin Hood was in beast mode as pigs started laying blood trails in every direction. There where 3 dead pigs within sight of the blind and more pigs showing up. The only problem now was the hunter was out of arrows. All he could do was sit there and watch until dark, pig after pig in front of his blind as close as 10 yards.
Darkness settled in and the hunt of a lifetime was coming to a end. The hunters first trip to Texas closed with a epic shootout on wild pigs. He harvested a big axis buck, 2 Rio Grande long beards, and 3 pigs. With this type of action Texas is one of the hottest “off season” hunting destinations in the Country. We are located in the #1 turkey hunting County in the state, as well as located in the middle of the largest free range axis heard in the world. If your anxious to get out into the outdoors and get after some exotics, turkey’s, or wild hogs, Texas in the place to be! Exotics can be hunted year round so you can enjoy hunting opportunities anytime your schedule permits. Come see for yourself why Texas is one of the most fun hunts you will ever experiences, and it probably won’t be your last hunt in the state of Texas, you will be hooked on TX hunting.
