Texas in April Advice

keh&h

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I am heading to the US with my wife on Holiday next Month and have a week in Texas in the middle of the Month with no plans. I would like some advice on great outdoors activities and if there are any good quality rifle activites/training that could be interesting. I am used to iron sights and my 375/458 but am quite keen to meet like minded people (passion for firearms, nature and africa) and would enjoy some training with a scoped rifle for distance shooting etc.

I have a week to burn and thought members might have good advice for an African guide in the US for the first time.
 
You didn't say where you are staying in Texas. Please remember Texas is a huge state. You can hunt exotics on private ranches, Fallow deer, Nilgai, Oryx and Blackbuck are all very popular. Turkey are in season during April and wild pigs are always available to hunt. Whitetail deer will be out of season and not huntable. Hunting the exotics is much like high fence hunting in SA, it can get very expensive though. Many ranches are in the Hill Country of Texas.
 
Not sure of your budget, as mentioned exotic hunting is great but it can be quite expensive. There are dozens upon dozens but check out Ox Ranch, G2 Ranch and FTW Ranch (which has the type of training you mentioned you were interested in). I think just their websites would give you an idea of what is offered and the pricing. Let us know what you end up focusing on.

People do hunt Aoudad, Nilgai and Turkey this time of year in Texas, among all the other exotics.
 
You can always go after a wild hog with a knife and hounds. If you’re feeling froggy. :cool:
 
Like the others have said. Exotics, turkey, and hogs are always fun. The fishing on the coast for redfish and sea trout, shark, and maybe even a tarpon if you go far enough south should be pretty decent in April.

I would recommend hitting up south padre island for a few days and enjoy the beach and some inshore fishing for redfish and trout. Eat good seafood, maybe rent some paddle boards and go visit the sea turtle sanctuary. April should be late enough in the year to avoid most of the spring break crowd. Pro tip: Wanna Wanna beach bar has an excellent turbo pinacolada and ceviche.
 
That is a huge opportunity….. fish/hunt….weather should be pleasant but potentially unpredictable/turbulent. It’s a big state…. Lots of options.really just depends on time/budget/desires. If you want to knock down some turkeys, hogs, maybe exotics…..reach out to Erik @gizmo
 
There are a few different top notch training facilities for rifles, FTW, Tac Pro, and Rifles Only. Each has a different focus and feel, but all offer solid training in precision rifle and long distance.

Other non-hunting activities: Texas is a global level destination for birders, “twitchers” in the UK, in April to observe bird migration from South America to North America. It is for bird migration what East Africa is for mammal migration.

The fishing on the coast can be quite good in April if the winds are calm.

Big Bend National Park is a remarkable place to visit, but will use several days. It is remote, wild, and beautiful. I have seen mountain lions there on two occasions, once with cubs. Bears are present there most of the time, but hard to see.

Hog hunting is always open year round. Please shoot some.
 

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Spending a few years hunting out west then back to Africa!
mebawana wrote on MB_GP42's profile.
Hello. If you haven't already sold this rifle then I will purchase. Please advise. Thank you.
jbirdwell wrote on uplander01's profile.
I doubt you are interested in any trades but I was getting ready to list a Sauer 404 3 barrel set in the 10-12 price range if your interested. It has the 404J, 30-06 and 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. Only the 30-06 had been shot and it has 7 rounds through it as I was working on breaking the barrel in. It also has both the synthetic thumbhole stock and somewhere between grade 3-5 non thumbhole stock

Jaye Birdwell
 
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