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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122077
01/09/21 03:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,243 |
Nice. Was this the Management hunt?
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122125
01/09/21 03:44 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,438
twdjr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,438 |
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122310
01/09/21 07:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 7
Robspinn
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 7 |
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122361
01/09/21 07:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 11,283
Pope&Young
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 11,283 |
Outstanding and congrats Looking forward to the hunt details for each
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122380
01/09/21 08:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 39
LCSmith
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 39 |
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122582
01/09/21 11:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,085
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,085 |
Congrats on the 2 bucks! Had to be a great trip for you.
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: Son of a Blitch]
#8122780
01/10/21 02:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 18,785
HuntingTexas
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 18,785 |
Congrats!!! What a beautiful place to hunt!
" In God We Trust "
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Re: Live from the King Ranch **Updated**
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122874
01/10/21 03:55 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
OP
Extreme Tracker
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OP
Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
We had a great experience hunting the King Ranch. I had got my name on the list back in 2014 and told them I was interested in coming for a cull, management, or a trophy hunt — score was not necessarily as important to me as getting a chance to see and experience a historic ranch and walk away with a mature buck. I got the call this past fall that my name had come up and that they had an opening for me and my business partner Snake. Was given a few options on dates and booked it. Cull hunts are one day hunts per hunter and do not include any meals or lodging. It is my understanding that is not the case with management bucks and certainly not the case with trophy hunts, which apparently take a very long time to move up the list (if ever). We were told culls are 5.5/6.5 year old 8 or 9 points grossing <130 or an old 10 pt 7.5 years+. They were very strict on their field judging and age estimation. If a buck was borderline, the buck got the benefit of the doubt. The truck is finding a cull that is nice but not too nice. Needless to say due to amazing genetics and strict management plan, there are not a ton of options, but we did see over a dozen or more bucks that fit the criteria. We save too many to count young bucks and numerous bucks 140-150. Biggest buck we saw was a 160 class clean 6x6 that was simply gorgeous. Snake and I made the 9 hour drive down from DFW on Thursday and stayed at the Holiday Inn in Raymondville as we were going to be hunting the Norias Division, the southernmost of the King. We met our guide Steve at the Norias Gate at 6am. After introductions, waiver signing etc we loaded up. Hunting is conducted by truck — driving the ranch roads, glassing, and few opportunities of getting out and spot and stalking. We did not hunt in blinds, over feeders, or over corned roads/senderos. Snake was the shooter for the first day and I was an observer/spotter. Only he was allowed to bring a rifle and I rode in the back seat. We started off in the West Saltillo pasture just east of Norias HQ at first light. Came across an amazing looking heavy horned 9 pt but he was prob in the 140s so he got the pass. We drove throughout that pasture which was fairly open with tall grass, live oak motts and scattered mesquites. I unfortunately didn’t bring the charger for my good camera and was stuck with just using my iPhone. A few acorns were still dropping from the oaks and the majority of deer were said to be held up in the more densely treed pastures to the east so we then moved on to the East Saltillo and Frijol Pastures where we began seeing more and more deer. Bucks were on does and could care less when we rolled up on them. Nilgai were around every corner and rutting hard as well. A small cull we came across in the oaks and a management 10 pt at a feeder We spotted a nice 9 pt deep in the oaks so we got out to put a stalk on him. We wove our way thru for a couple hundred yards but couldn’t get a clean shot and he slipped away. We came across 5 bucks feeding under some oaks and Snake picked the one that he liked. He connected and dropped him with his 280ai — a 100 yd shot needles through the oaks. He taped out in the mid 120s. Because Snake tagged out early, they let my “1 day” hunt start with that afternoon and the following morning if necessary. We headed back to the East Saltillo and Frijol given the numbers of bucks we had seen earlier. We saw a few more smaller culls that were nothing special. Then we came around a bend in the road and saw my buck about 200 yds out. I got out of truck but before I could get positioned, he moved off into the brush. We set off on foot and stalked into the thick Live Oaks. Again, the trees were so thick that we couldn’t get a clear shot. After bumping him a couple times and a couple hundred yards, the buck doubled back slowly in the direction of the road. We skirted around him and got back to the road before he did. We spotted him about 150 yds away on the edge of the road which gave me time to get prone in the middle of the road snd wait for him to step out in the open. He did. Took my shot with my 280ai at about 130 yds. He went about 50 yds and piled up. He scored roughly 125. Overall an amazing experience. Our guide was professional, courteous, knowledgeable, and a great guide. Every aspect was highly organized. I highly recommend doing this hunt.
Last edited by RedSnake; 01/10/21 04:00 AM.
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122884
01/10/21 04:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,435
TLew
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,435 |
Thank you for the recap. That’s an awesome experience, and while I have a tinge of envy, I’m 100x more excited for you to have been able to do it. I hope you shoulder mount those for the stories!
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8122888
01/10/21 04:11 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 11,283
Pope&Young
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 11,283 |
Thanks for the hunt recap, sounds like you guys had an awesome time hunting great deer country Congrats again to you two
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8123546
01/10/21 08:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8123818
01/10/21 11:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,351
Judd
#1 Creedmoor Fan
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#1 Creedmoor Fan
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,351 |
Very cool, heck of a trip.
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8123904
01/11/21 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,351
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,351 |
From someone who knows, awesomeness right there.
Did you see any dunes?
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8124446
01/11/21 01:34 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794 |
Congrats on two really nice 'cull bucks' and a great hunt.
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8124512
01/11/21 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 34,183
Buzzsaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 34,183 |
hoping to get a nilgai late this year!!
beautiful country
SPACE FOR RENT
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125326
01/11/21 10:04 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,430
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,430 |
Well done on all accounts!
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125690
01/12/21 01:07 AM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 124
SB9969
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 124 |
Great pics and story. Thanks for sharing. This was awesome to see and read.
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125725
01/12/21 01:28 AM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,880
sbushee
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,880 |
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125733
01/12/21 01:36 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,663
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,663 |
That’s awesome!! What historic ranch are you hunting next year?
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125888
01/12/21 03:18 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,627
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,627 |
yeah, didnt he hunt the Waggoner last year(or before?)
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: freerange]
#8125904
01/12/21 03:30 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,663
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,663 |
yeah, didnt he hunt the Waggoner last year(or before?) Yes, I admire the heck out of it. Think it’s really cool.
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#8125906
01/12/21 03:31 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
OP
Extreme Tracker
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OP
Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
That’s awesome!! What historic ranch are you hunting next year? Haha. Right?! Definitely been on some cool ranches the last few years. I’m open to suggestions for next time, amigo!
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125912
01/12/21 03:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
That’s awesome!! What historic ranch are you hunting next year? Haha. Right?! Definitely been on some cool ranches the last few years. I’m open to suggestions for next time, amigo! http://melloncreekoutfitters.com/
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: stxranchman]
#8125936
01/12/21 03:56 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
OP
Extreme Tracker
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OP
Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
That’s awesome!! What historic ranch are you hunting next year? Haha. Right?! Definitely been on some cool ranches the last few years. I’m open to suggestions for next time, amigo! http://melloncreekoutfitters.com/Looks like a great place
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Re: Live from the King Ranch
[Re: RedSnake]
#8125971
01/12/21 04:21 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 456
raiderJ
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 456 |
Great read, thanks for sharing
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