i made a post in general big game but thought i'd post it here also.
headed down to the land cut in the morning for a couple of days fishing and nilgai hunting. i'm taking the laptop, i should be able to get service with att down there so i can keep everyone updated.

this is where we'll be, i'll be hunting the spoil island in the middle of the image, if you zoom in on the north end of the island you can see all the tracks of nilgai going to the island

http://goo.gl/maps/959wW

Happy hunting and fishing. Good luck to you Roger.

Good luck Rodger!

Have fun!

Thats awesome Roger.

What ya gonna bang it with? 300RUM?

Good luck and be safe Roger! We should be down in Kenedy co. This weekend about 7 or 8 mile south of Los olmos creek there west of Sarita. Young son had a run in with a big blue bull there last weekend of of deer season. Scared the schidt out of him LOL! Think I'm gonna just relax and enjoy the weekend! I need it!

Bob

Roger, there seems to be several islands on the west side of the IC south of Baffin Bay.

good luck!

thanks guys, i'm taking the 270, the scope on my 300rum has been giving me fits its going back to Leupold to get fix and my 300wm is without a scope.i'm going to have to do a lot of walking across those mud flats so that light 270 will be nicer to carry. i'm going to try and keep my shoots under a 100 yards if possible.

there are but only the one completely surrounded by water is legal to hunt. the other are connected to the kenedy ranch by vegetation in some way and are considered part of the ranch.

Good Luck to ya!Had me some tonight,grilled with garlic butter sauce.That nilgia is awesome tablefare!

If ya look good ya can even see the nilgai that made then tracks. Believe right around the 5th bush to the left.

hey hockey puck chuck you want to go on a wolf or bear hunt?

So I keep hearing!

stx, best of luck man, going to be a real test for a rifle, and scope. There's saltwater, then there's Baffin Bay - nothin' else quite like it.

Man, that sounds like a cool trip. Surf and turf, South Texas style!! Hope you get one of the big blue bastards!

I bought a Ruger 375 a couple of years ago in case I get a chance to hunt nilgai one of these days. I have heard they taste better than deer. How much meat do you get off a full size nilgai bull? A guy on our deer lease told me that nilgai meat is nasty. Of course he is a liberal Obama supporter so he can't be too smart. We kicked him off the lease this year because he is such a jerk. The only reason he was able to get on the lease in the first place is that he's married to my best friend's daughter.

i've had it once and it was really good, much better than deer. cows weight around 400# and bulls 7-800. never shot one before so not sure on the percentage of boned out meat.

i have read that if they are eating huisache it can give them a strong taste.

And I knew I was going to read taste like chicken---------------

Have a good trip Roger

Roger, a partition will ventilate ones heart and lungs from 300 yards.

Hope you're having a good hunt, and are safe and sound, Rog'.

Not for nuttin', and I think it's great if nothing comes of it, but you've got more faith in human beans than I do, posting specific hunting locations. In both fishing and hunting circles in these parts, posting general areas and giving advice is done, but maps and whatnot is pretty much unheard of. I'll be damned if I'd post a map of say, one of my duck honeyholes, or where a monster comm bluefin bite is on...In many places, sadly enough, there are those who will absolutely take that kind of friendly info and exploit it. Sucks, but that's the reality.

Gimme' a ring when you get back, and hope you're having fun amigo.

Whack a big one. They are darn fun to hunt spot and stalk. My second bull was killed on the Mariposa Ranch outside Falfurrias and the old Mexican cook made incredible chicken fried steak and the rest of the fixin's with it.

fixing to head out, Leighton that area is pretty much common knowledge here in tx, but not a whole lot of people are willing to do this hunt because of all thats involved in getting down there. plus its a physically harder hunt than most are use to.

OMG, the bird watching be excellent there this time of year

Anyhoo... sounds like an incredibly good time. Have you hunted this island before?

Does one need a special permit to hunt that island? I'm not that familiar with TX game regs. And is that island part of PINS?

Thanks for the link too. I'm assuming you mean the relatively long thin island? ANd when I zoomed in to the channel north of that island, between the shore and the islands it looks like I can see the trails you mentioned. Are the five dark dots animals crossing the channel? Judging from the shadows of the plants on the island, it looks like the shadows of some sort of "critter". I don't know if the link will keep the zoom level up, but here's what I'm trying to show:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=pita+island&ll=27.067839,-97.441692&spn=0.076735,0.165997&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=Pita+Island&t=h&z=13

Cool looking place to hunt anyway.
Best of luck.
Geno

they are that heavy, and you are going to use a .270? My GOD man, we all know that the .270 won't even kill a whitetail!

Happy huntin' Roger! Bring honor to the .270!

STX, dont let these guys give you any crap about your 270, it will get the job done. ive killed my share of nilgai, with a .243 and a .270. killed one with .223, just put it where it counts . good luck, getting close on that island might be a little tough.keep us all posted on how you do. P.S. hope you have help hauling it out. rio7

Good luck

Snake

Huisache can really make them bitter in the spring. Enough so that for me its not worth the effort

At some point if its easier around the mud flats with an airboat... you know where one is....

Jeff

You still out and about?

the 270 and 130 gr core-lokt worked like the hammer of thor.

Pic's please!

You mean it bounced off and came back at you?!?!? Did you catch it?

Ed

I'll post up pics in a while. i need to go run an errand real quick.

Hammer of Thor .......waiting impatiently for hero photos.

LMAO Ed , Congrats STX.

Gunner

I might have to go real exotic next year on the hog hunt, and shoot a 270

You do and I will too.

Gunner

I owned one of those 270 things for about a week once.....

we got to bluff landing yesterday morning around 7:30. there was 4 of us going pat, carl and james to fish and me to hunt. we took pats 22ft stoner skiff.





it was about a 40 mile run down to the cabin which was a mile past where i was going to hunt. we got there and got our gear situated.


the other guys getting ready to fish and me hunt.


this is a view of the island, i soon found out it was a lot farther to wade across that flat than what it looked like.


got up to the island after a 500 yd wade, took off the waders and got my boots on and other gear ready and took off.
[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/562189_4217728976027_841758828_n.jpg[/img]

it was 10:40 i found a spot on the north end of the island to leave my pack and decided to walk to the south end of the island. found some interesting stuff. carl had told me that nilgai will use the same spot over and over to chit. found 3 skeletons on chit piles with spent 270 cases laying near by.
also saw lots of old tortes shells.

didn't see any animals,but lots of sign.
[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/1824_4217736696220_1287734801_n.jpg[/img]
[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/486342_4217738136256_1402692576_n.jpg[/img]
[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408773_4217734856174_95815381_n.jpg[/img]

Don't leave me hang'in brother!!!

after the 4 hr walk from one end of the island to the other end and back i did a little looking around and found this spot someone had set up.


it was on the very north end of the island facing the island to the north and over looking these spots where the deer hogs nilgai use wading across from one island to the other.



what the beach looked like.


i first saw the bull over a mile away while i was glassing, he wading across a flat. i watched him for about 30 minutes making his way closer. he eventually got out of site but i was pretty sure after seeing the game trails on google earth that there was a good chance he would come out across from the island 300 yrds north from me. around 7 i saw him as he started wading across to that island. he followed the bank on it for a while then turned and started wading strait across to me. everything was happening just like i figured, which was really hard for me to believe the way my luck runs sometimes.i got set up and watched him wade across when he was about 75-80 yrds slightly quartering away, he stop and looked my way so i let him have it on the point of the shoulder. that bull just collapsed right there like someone pulled a plug.it was 7:30. not bad for a old 700 adl with a simmons scope bought for $200. the bull was still about 30 yrds out in the water which turned out to be a good thing.


got a hold of the other guys with the walkie talkies and it was close to 8:30 by the time carl and james waded across to help me. we took some pics.
[img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/733996_4217721055829_950374601_n.jpg[/img]
[img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/535860_4217723255884_208550820_n.jpg[/img]
[img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/540748_4217714175657_796392000_n.jpg[/img]
[img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/540146_4217715135681_129277539_n.jpg[/img]

Surf Hunting for Nilgai,..who would have thought....

Nice One.!

They good eatin.?

Outstanding Rodger! Way to make a plan come together and great trophy too!

how did you get him back to dry land and your truck? tie a rope around his neck and float him out.hope he is as good eating as the last one i got. good job. rio7 P.S. >270 strikes again!!!

Congratulations. Its fun when a plan comes together. Brined nilgai.

Awesome!Glad you got one.Now you need to try some grilled with garlic butter sauce.

then the work started. there is no way a person could do this hunt solo. luckily i had two 25 yr old's to help. the bull being in the water turned out to be a good thing since it was buoyant, carl and james starting the from this spot 600rd drag.


getting it in the boat was a bitch. i don't buy that pulling a 1000lb gator in the boat stuff on swamp people. it took all 4 of us to get this 500lb animal in the boat and it was a job.




we got back to the floating cabin around 9:45 and quartered it up.

exit wound and a pic of the thick skin on the shoulder and neck.

[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/602106_4217754136656_1560359795_n.jpg[/img]

this hunt was a lot of work but cost me a total of $80 for my share of the fuel, bait and food.
it was a lot of work but worth it.

Hell ya I'm all in for $80!!!

carl told me horns over 6 1/2 inches are considered a trophy, this one had 9 inch horns.

Hell ya,..I might even go $90.!!

That is one of the more interesting hunts I've seen documented here on the fire. It ranks right up with the camel safari that was posted late last year.

Great pics, STX.

we caught some fish as well. specs and drum out of 9 mile hole and under the cabin lights at night.

Well done and well told, Roger!

Ed

anything much over 8 actually is considered a trophy. I"ve shot a couple give or take at 9. Saw one shot once a hair over 11, and thats flat long.

See your PM.

nice....thank you for sharing your hunt....

Great job Roger. Any big specks showing up under the lights? What bullet in the (as Jack O called it) beltless magnum.

only one over twenty, most just over keeper size. 130 core-lokt

south texas hunter, I know of no person alive who lives up to their billing more than you. That, is an amazing trip.

"Do they taste good?"

"Well, this 'n' will, he's already marinated".

going to keep it on ice for a few days then finish cutting it up.

Nice job, Roger. A most interesting hunt for sure. We also want to hear how it eats now. Thanks.

OUTFREAKINGSTANDING BROTHER! WAY TO GO ROGER!

Yes, way to go. miles

Leighton there was still a lot of ducks down there, plan on January. i saw a lot of deer tracks, there are a lot of islands on the east side of the cut to hunt as well that are easyer to get to. there have been some big bucks killed down there.

+ 1 Mega-cool beans!!

Outstanding Roger! Very cool and way to make it happen.

If Choke Canyon ever fills up we'll have to give the ducks hell!

I'd like to get a canvas back one of these days.

Helluva job stx, and many, many thanks for sharin'.

That is as tough an environment for a firearm as there is. Amazing; long action, blued-heavyweight, non-premium bullet, budget scope, and run-of-the-mill chambering - takes a legitimate trophy.

In my mind, it's not the rifle, or the scope, or the headstamp, or the bullet - it's the hunter. In this case, a stx -- south texas, for those who don't know -- hunter.

Absolutely! Good opportunity there to get the king of ducks.

Jeff your handy work was all round there. i bet you've been within sight of where i shot this bull.

thanks.

When you get a date, I'll be jumping on a jet, brother. Bring that great luck with you in a couple months.

So cool, buddy. Wicked happy and proud for ya!

thanks' and i hope the luck holds while i'm there.

nice.

That was tremendously cool.

Neat hunt, congrats!

So is this where the 2014 24HCF hunt will be next year? That'd put a little sport into it!

Yes Sir, Penescal was that job. Supposedly another phase in planning. Don't hold me in too low a regard for what they do to the scenary - they aren't my idea. I just give 'em a place to stand.

Roger, which direction and how far were you from the IC entrance to 9 mile hole. Are those turbines the ones most north and by the IC and just south of Baffin Bay. I have a friend who has a fishing house and camp just east of the northern most turbines and a few cuts up the IC from 9 mile hole.

the cabin is 8 miles in the cut,we were across from nine mile hole.we were a mile and a half south of that channel, the island i hunted is west of the entrance.

Congratulations on the nice nilgai. You did a great job narrating the hunt.

Great story and pictures thank you for sharing

Waidmannsheil Roger! Well done!!

Well done Roger...well done.

yeppers.

I appreciate the purity of that hunt. Waders for hunting...who knew? Uh Roger, that's who.

That is totally badass! I thought you might jinx yourself by telling us about it ahead of time but noooo...

You're the Shrapnel of Texas!

terrific story! Congrats!

one other pic i wanted to post.

Man that's just great .thanks

NICE! Glad to see you got some good taco fixins there.

Cool hunt, congratulations.

Yep. that's a nice one,
Roger. Good work!

I taught the man everything he knows about waders! lol

Wonderful job.

Old Saw: "plan your work and work your plan".

Seems that's a good idea for hunting, too.

Thanks for the story and pics too. Hope the fish were tasty too.

Geno

My gosh what a great story.

Anyhow Rog, here's my latest acquisition, .54 caliber. Its good for 75-80 yards easy. You're welcome to borrow it any time.



Birdwatcher

mike that gun would of done the job at the distance i shot this bull at.

I'll admit one thing, I'm pretty dang sore this morning.LOL a couple of hunts like that will get you in shape. sure as hell beats sitting in a blind all day though.

Way to go Roger!! A trophy for the .270 Hall 'O Fame.

Great story, great pictures and I am proud as heck for you Roger. I am past the point where I could physically ever do something like that but I am sure happy there are those that can and do like you.

Way to go Roger! A well told story of a great hunt and a heck of a trophy.
Congrats!

Mark

WTG STX great hunt and story, congrats

Awesome story and a great hunt.

Wow

Great hunt

Congeats

Snake

Good job, Roger! I'm jealous! Let us know how the steaks eat...

Yep Roger, nice job! Now, I'm going to surf over to a educational site and learn to say what it is that you have kilt..

Hmmmm, Boselaphus tragocamelus... just as I thought..

Wait a minute, I see a nipple
that ain't no flinter

going to have to give away some of this meat, don't have enough freezer room.

Throw everything else out!!!

Wow, there's a problem I haven't had. If you can't give enough away, and have the time to stop by that meat processor place we used for the pigs, I'll send you a check to have 20-30 lbs. of sausage made, plus shipping of course. Just trying to help out!

When I was passing through Raymondville there was a pick-up with three gutted nilgai in the back in the drive through at Wendy's in a long line. Problem was it was 101* and those boys seemed to be in no hurry to get to the cooler. Think I'll pass on those three.

There's a Wendy's in Raymondville??? The world is gone to hell!

Yeah, it's close to the Whattaburger but on the other side of the highway from Mickey D's.

this can be arranged

Congrats Roger. Looks like a helluva of a good time.

thanks, going to throw some nilgai steaks on the pit tomorrow.

Congratulations! Your account of the hunt was good reading and the pictures added to it. I have never eaten nilgai but have always been told it was excellent table fare.