South Texas Nilgai hunt

[TaylorM456]

Hi all! I just booked a Nilgai hunt in South Texas for Feb 2025. Probably bringing my Model 70 .300 win mag. Any thoughts or suggestions for this hunt? be it rifle, ammo, or advice?

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

 

[Green Chile]

I've done that hunt. You will want to pay close attention to the shot placement request of the guides. Nilgai are built different and much tougher than our deer. They can go a LONG ways wounded. Many nilgai have been lost by hunters. They generally do not stand around and give you a long look. Get used to shooting on sticks and don't fiddle around with your scope...leave it in the middle power setting and be prepared to shoot quickly. If it's standing afterwards, hit it again without waiting to be told. I blew big chunks out of mine with a fast 7mm and heavy bullet and did not drop it. My friend lost his that day. They are interesting animals and do not give up easily.

 

[Zinz]

Take your medium bore, if you have one. I shot mine with my .416 Rem Mag, Buddy shot his .375. Both bulls went down quickly. .300 Win Mag is plenty, though…we just wanted to shoot something heavier that day.

Enjoy the hunt! I’d love to go again, someday. Great meat, by the way.

Ed Z

 

[TaylorM456]

Thanks to you both, great advice. 300 Win Mag is the biggest gun I have, but could borrow a buddies Sako in 375 if you think it would be wiser..... ?

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Shot them with 300 RUM and 375 HH both ended up down. The 375 did not exit, between hide thickness and heavy bone dense muscle. Vitals low and up front. I have always stalked in so there is a bit of time to set up the shot, not a fan of the vehicle type hunt. Hope the wind is up and walk into it, once they spook they will not stop until you cannot see them anymore. Fun animal to hunt and an enjoyable adventure.

 

[RR 314]

Thanks to you both, great advice. 300 Win Mag is the biggest gun I have, but could borrow a buddies Sako in 375 if you think it would be wiser..... ?

Plenty are killed with .243 etc. Plenty more are lost. . .375 is a good choice.

 

[Datchew]

Good advice given. Tough animals.
300 will do it but use a tough bullet not a whitetail bullet.

A lot of guys hunt them with spotlight as they can be very scarce during daytime hours.

No accubonds or Berger vld-h. Go for a ttsx, or a nosler partition or a-frames.

Hope you have a wonderful hunt. They're tasty.

 

[Green Chile]

If I did it again (and I would), I would take a 375 or 416 with premium heavy softs. I would probably take a 416 just because sometimes you get weird angles and by God, I want an exit on that beast. I do think 7mm is a little light. I would recommend 300 and larger calibers.

 

[TaylorM456]

Good advice given. Tough animals.
300 will do it but use a tough bullet not a whitetail bullet.

A lot of guys hunt them with spotlight as they can be very scarce during daytime hours.

No accubonds or Berger vld-h. Go for a ttsx, or a nosler partition or a-frames.

Hope you have a wonderful hunt. They're tasty.

I used Nosler in 6.5PRC this year. If I take the .300 I will probably opt for Nosler. Thanks for the idea amigo.

 

[steve white]

I second the choice for 375--and exciting that it is one NA hunt where you need one.
Heck, I might loan you my Sako if you give me some of the meat....I think it might have been Jim Corbet who said it was the best venison in India.

 

[TaylorM456]

I second the choice for 375--and exciting that it is one NA hunt where you need one.
Heck, I might loan you my Sako if you give me some of the meat....I think it might have been Jim Corbet who said it was the best venison in India.

A good friend of mine shot one last year (with .300 Win Mag) and he brought over some steaks after. Pulled them at 115 degrees and lemme tell you, it was an excellent meal!

He brought home over 200 pounds of meat off his bull if I remember correctly. Plenty to share! I will post after the hunt and just PM me and ill make sure you get some!

 

[duckfish]

I have killed several with 300 win and 338 shot placement is key I
Like Barnes or swift a frame bullets if you want more info send me a message I will give you more I have gone many times great hunt

 

[duckfish]

Best bull so far

 

[WAB]

Interested in recommendations on a proper stalking hunt for Nilgai. I wouldn’t really be interested in hunting from a vehicle or spotlighting.

 

[Green Chile]

My stalking hunt was with King Ranch and I would hunt there again. We did not hunt from the truck. They have a biologist on staff, which turned out interesting. There had been a bad winter freeze and the biologist called to say he recommended rescheduling the hunt since so many nilgai had died in the freeze. It turned out to be great advice.

 

[Trogon]

I hunted King Ranch with a family member in February. We each carried .375 H&H Mags, his load was 300 grain Swift Aframe, I used Barnes 300 gn. Tsx. They recommended. 300 WM as minimum, glad we used heavier. These were not truck hunts, I did quite a bit of walking. Norias Division of the King Ranch. These things have incredible vision.

 

[Green Chile]

I also hunted the Norias division. Interesting place. If you go there, be sure to go take a look at the dunes on the coast.

 

[Trogon]

I did a birding trip there in 2017, for Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Audubon's Oriole and Tropical Parula, success for all three. Norias is an interesting area. Could have shot a Waterbuck cow in place of a bull nilgai. Good luck on your hunt @TaylorM456 !

 

[rafter3]

A fun hunt, don't wait once you get on them they don't stand long when they see you!! I use at least a 300, I used my Weatherby 338 rpm and it did the trick. They are hard to bring down but the best meat of all exotics in my opinion! I have hunted the Kennedy, King, Yturria, and East Foundation ranches and they are all good. I have always done spot and stalk not hunted from truck.

 

[dchum]

I guide for Nilgai and have done so on the king ranch for two years. Nilgai is a passion for me.

I really recommend only Barnes (gmx/CX) or swift a frame. They are not bullet proof but always give weird angles and can run a long way after a good shot. A exit really helps you and your guide track and recover your trophy.

Go right up the front leg like African game. Don’t venture too far off the shoulder.