Nilgai ?

[Guy Miner]

This seems like it would be a fun and challenging hunt down in Texas...

Are the bulls as tough as I've heard? Like it's best to go at them with deep-penetrating bullets and a reasonably powerful rifle...

Is the meat as good as I've heard? Good from both bulls and cows?

Thanks for any input, I've never hunted them.

Guy

 

[str8meat]

The wife’s dad went on a Nilgai hunt in Texas, years ago. He killed a really nice bull, I’ll try and find a picture. Took 3 rounds I believe from a 338 win mag to bring down. The meat is great as well. I can text my father in law and see if he still has the contact and forward it to you sir if you’d like?

 

[xphunter]

On my Bucket List

 

[longrangehunter]

I hear all the time how good the meat is on them. Especially if you take good care of it. I’ve thought about it multiple times.

 

[Guy Miner]

The wife’s dad went on a Nilgai hunt in Texas, years ago. He killed a really nice bull, I’ll try and find a picture. Took 3 rounds I believe from a 338 win mag to bring down. The meat is great as well. I can text my father in law and see if he still has the contact and forward it to you sir if you’d like?

If it's not too much trouble, yes, I'd like that.

Thanks! Guy

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

As a more traditional hunting focused individual, I am very curious to learn as to how these private hunts on Texas ranches work (and Africa). I have only stalked deer on public land in Wisconsin.

Does the outfitter/guide drive the clients up to the herd in an offroad vehicle and have them take a shot or does one have the option to stalk the property for animals in a more traditional sense? Do these hunts come with a 100% success rate guarantee or is it as challenging as any other open/public land hunt? Are the animals as wild and vigilant as animals would be on public land?

 

[Blkram]

There are at least a couple of threads here on the forum of others who have had recent adventures hunting and enjoying the nilgai meat. From all accounts that I have read, and seen on hunting shows, over the years, the nilgai is a challenging hunt, that you will work for it to get a good shot opportunity at one of these cagey and alert animals that like to hang out in the thickets, don't often stop for long, and have extremely keen senses of sight, sound and smell.

They do have a reputation for being hard to put down with just one shot, and cartridges of good power, and bullets of stout construction are highly recommended. That being said, I have also read of hunters using good, heavier bullets in regular cartridges such as 270/280/30-06 class have also been successful with well placed shots. (As with any animal, shot placement is key)

Guy, I hope you can go on a nilgai adventure! Should be a great hunt!

8mm Enthusiast,
As to some of the other questions regarding the outfitted hunts, that would depend on the outfitter, how they hunt, where they hunt, and what guarantees they may offer. What many do not realize, is that some of the ranches or concessions, (Texas vs Africa) is that some of these properties may be small (quarter section to a section; 160 acres to 640 acres in size (one sq. mile)), which some may referred to as a canned hunt), to very large (tens or hundreds of thousands of acres in size). Some may be high fenced, while others may have fences to contain domestic livestock, where most of the exotics and wild game can, and do, cross these fences at free will and are pretty much "free range" at their leisure. If you were to hunt an animal on a fenced property of ten or a hundred thousand acres, this is still going to be a challenge, and there may be no guarantee of a shot opportunity, let alone a harvest, and then let alone seeing one of the more alert and challenging species. And there is the local laws for hunting that will determine how and when you get to hunt. Some places you can shoot from a vehicle, where as others you cannot, and you must stalk or still hunt the targeted animal or species. Some places allow you to hunt within so many hours of a flight, where in others you cannot hunt the same day as flying. Check the laws of where you will be hunting before you go, or book your hunt.

But you must ask the questions to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for if "free range" is your goal, before you book your hunt with any outfitter. And check their references; good and bad.

While I have hunted free range game most of my life, I did hunt ranches and large concessions in New Zealand and South Africa, and even on the smallest areas of approx 16,000 acres, there was still a challenge to find the game in the thick brush, valleys, mountains and open areas mixed into the varied terrain, in order to find the targeted species. And then the added challenge of finding the older animals of the species, or trophies of a certain size, proved to be an additional challenge to these hunts. In NZ it took 6 days to find the right sized trophy fallow buck and get within shooting distance of the targeted animal for a shot. And we saw lots of fallow deer everyday. They were very spooky, highly alert, and were hard to get to within shooting distance, let alone a thousand yards most days. In South Africa, we saw quite a few kudu bulls, and I had about 6 stalks over 8 days before I got my first shot opportunity at a good bull. I missed that shot clean when presented a brief opportunity at approx 400 yards on our first stalk that day, and the second stalk did not result in a shot opportunity...but got a nice bull later that day on another opportunity (our third stalk) where a bull presented a better shot presentation at 235 yards, after we spooked him in a deep ravine, and he ran up the opposite slope and stopped to look back. It was all part of the adventure, and I wouldn't have traded any part of it for anything...well, maybe the miss...but at least it was a clean miss and I didn't lose a wounded animal!

 

[sako2]

Our fellow member on here Tackdriver hunts them a lot. https://forum.nosler.com/threads/nilgai-ribs-on-the-smoker.47821/

 

[Guy Miner]

As a more traditional hunting focused individual, I am very curious to learn as to how these private hunts on Texas ranches work (and Africa). I have only stalked deer on public land in Wisconsin.

Does the outfitter/guide drive the clients up to the herd in an offroad vehicle and have them take a shot or does one have the option to stalk the property for animals in a more traditional sense? Do these hunts come with a 100% success rate guarantee or is it as challenging as any other open/public land hunt? Are the animals as wild and vigilant as animals would be on public land?

Dunno much about it yet myself. Mostly I've hunted public land or large cattle ranches in the northwest, but it looks like I may be able to hunt Texas in 2026 and beyond. I'll post up about it here on the forum for sure. Everything I've read about nilgai hunting is that it's done on vast properties that may or may not be high-fenced. Some are truly free-range on the limited amount of public land in Texas. Also that they're wary, and getting a shot opportunity typically requires careful stalking.

I'm absolutely not looking to shoot some animal caged in a small pen...

With the reputation the bulls have of being tough hombres, it might be a great excuse for me to use one of my heavy bullet loads for the 30-06, or a 250 - 270 gr load for the ol' 375 H&H. I haven't hunted with the 375 in quite a while...



The 260 gr Nosler AccuBond at about 2650 fps sure worked well on black bear and shot accurately even out at 300 yards. I'd enjoy putting the ol' Ruger to work again.

Guy

 

[salmonchaser]

I like the 375 for Nilgai.

 

[diverdown]

This seems like it would be a fun and challenging hunt down in Texas...

Are the bulls as tough as I've heard? Like it's best to go at them with deep-penetrating bullets and a reasonably powerful rifle...

Is the meat as good as I've heard? Good from both bulls and cows?

Thanks for any input, I've never hunted them.

Guy

Guy, a good friend of mine (retired Deputy Sheriff) travelled to Texas to hunt Nilgai. He took his 06 and Nosler 180 grain partitions. The bullets worked perfectly and he brought home some excellent tasting meat. (I've had my fair share) I don't know the range the animal was taken but everything worked well for him. Talking to your outfitter would solve any questions you may have.

 

[JD338]

Guy,
Nilgai is also something I would like to hunt as well. From what I have read, they can absorb a lot of lead. Your 375 H&H Mag would definitely be fun.

JD338

 

[xphunter]

It will be a XP-100, chambered in either: 7mm SAUM, 7mm Dakota or 300 SAUM, if I get to go in the future.
I guess the 375 H&H Blaser pistol would be option too.

 

[RL338]

I curious about one of those too. To bad it would be a long haul back to Central WI. One of these would surely be a show stopper on a Nilgai.

 

[Blkram]

A long drive isn't always a bad thing....unless you are tight on time. Make it part of the adventure! Do some sightseeing along the way.
(I guess having once been a truck driver, it doesn't bother me.)
It was 3200 kms (1988 miles) one way to southern Colorado for my father/daughter hunt last fall. It gave us time to have a nice visit and see some country together that we hadn't seen before (Montana, Wyoming and Colorado). My Mom was born in Boulder, and I had never been before.

 

[SJB358]

I’d love to have to eat as well. From all I’ve heard it’s a premium meat. I’d be ears for a hunt as well. I’d take a bull or cow. The freezer isn’t prejudiced.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

There are at least a couple of threads here on the forum of others who have had recent adventures hunting and enjoying the nilgai meat. From all accounts that I have read, and seen on hunting shows, over the years, the nilgai is a challenging hunt, that you will work for it to get a good shot opportunity at one of these cagey and alert animals that like to hang out in the thickets, don't often stop for long, and have extremely keen senses of sight, sound and smell.

They do have a reputation for being hard to put down with just one shot, and cartridges of good power, and bullets of stout construction are highly recommended. That being said, I have also read of hunters using good, heavier bullets in regular cartridges such as 270/280/30-06 class have also been successful with well placed shots. (As with any animal, shot placement is key)

Guy, I hope you can go on a nilgai adventure! Should be a great hunt!

8mm Enthusiast,
As to some of the other questions regarding the outfitted hunts, that would depend on the outfitter, how they hunt, where they hunt, and what guarantees they may offer. What many do not realize, is that some of the ranches or concessions, (Texas vs Africa) is that some of these properties may be small (quarter section to a section; 160 acres to 640 acres in size (one sq. mile)), which some may referred to as a canned hunt), to very large (tens or hundreds of thousands of acres in size). Some may be high fenced, while others may have fences to contain domestic livestock, where most of the exotics and wild game can, and do, cross these fences at free will and are pretty much "free range" at their leisure. If you were to hunt an animal on a fenced property of ten or a hundred thousand acres, this is still going to be a challenge, and there may be no guarantee of a shot opportunity, let alone a harvest, and then let alone seeing one of the more alert and challenging species. And there is the local laws for hunting that will determine how and when you get to hunt. Some places you can shoot from a vehicle, where as others you cannot, and you must stalk or still hunt the targeted animal or species. Some places allow you to hunt within so many hours of a flight, where in others you cannot hunt the same day as flying. Check the laws of where you will be hunting before you go, or book your hunt.

But you must ask the questions to ensure that you are getting what you are looking for if "free range" is your goal, before you book your hunt with any outfitter. And check their references; good and bad.

While I have hunted free range game most of my life, I did hunt ranches and large concessions in New Zealand and South Africa, and even on the smallest areas of approx 16,000 acres, there was still a challenge to find the game in the thick brush, valleys, mountains and open areas mixed into the varied terrain, in order to find the targeted species. And then the added challenge of finding the older animals of the species, or trophies of a certain size, proved to be an additional challenge to these hunts. In NZ it took 6 days to find the right sized trophy fallow buck and get within shooting distance of the targeted animal for a shot. And we saw lots of fallow deer everyday. They were very spooky, highly alert, and were hard to get to within shooting distance, let alone a thousand yards most days. In South Africa, we saw quite a few kudu bulls, and I had about 6 stalks over 8 days before I got my first shot opportunity at a good bull. I missed that shot clean when presented a brief opportunity at approx 400 yards on our first stalk that day, and the second stalk did not result in a shot opportunity...but got a nice bull later that day on another opportunity (our third stalk) where a bull presented a better shot presentation at 235 yards, after we spooked him in a deep ravine, and he ran up the opposite slope and stopped to look back. It was all part of the adventure, and I wouldn't have traded any part of it for anything...well, maybe the miss...but at least it was a clean miss and I didn't lose a wounded animal!

Understood. Depends on the outfitter and the property. From your message it sounds like their is plenty of opportunity to hunt truly wild animals on large properties. Definitely seems worth it if you can find the right scenario especially considering how difficult it is to draw big game tags these days. Nilgai has peaked my interest.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Dunno much about it yet myself. Mostly I've hunted public land or large cattle ranches in the northwest, but it looks like I may be able to hunt Texas in 2026 and beyond. I'll post up about it here on the forum for sure. Everything I've read about nilgai hunting is that it's done on vast properties that may or may not be high-fenced. Some are truly free-range on the limited amount of public land in Texas. Also that they're wary, and getting a shot opportunity typically requires careful stalking.

I'm absolutely not looking to shoot some animal caged in a small pen...

With the reputation the bulls have of being tough hombres, it might be a great excuse for me to use one of my heavy bullet loads for the 30-06, or a 250 - 270 gr load for the ol' 375 H&H. I haven't hunted with the 375 in quite a while...



The 260 gr Nosler AccuBond at about 2650 fps sure worked well on black bear and shot accurately even out at 300 yards. I'd enjoy putting the ol' Ruger to work again.

Guy

Sounds like a great opportunity to use the legendary 375 H&H!!!

 

[Shakeyjake]

Keep us posted on the details of this hunt. I am in the middle of raising teenagers, so it may be quite some time till I can afford a hunt like this. In the meantime I will have to live vicariously through you guys! LOL

 

[Blkram]

Keep us posted on the details of this hunt. I am in the middle of raising teenagers, so it may be quite some time till I can afford a hunt like this. In the meantime I will have to live vicariously through you guys! LOL

I guess that is why so many of buy the books and magazines, and/or watch the hunting shows/videos;
so we can live vicariously through the adventures of others until if, and when, we can do so ourselves!

I also enjoy learning about the new animals, locations, rifles and cartridges, and people, that these stories and videos bring into our awareness. It broadens our own little worlds!