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By Chester
Moore, Jr.
The Y.O. Ranch has been involved in the exotic hunting business for more than forty years. When there were only a handful of ranches offering hunts for non-native species, the Y.O. was helping define what exotic hunting was about.
Back in the early 1970s, the ranch (like the few others offering exotic hunts) popularized hunting for species like mouflon sheep, blackbuck antelope and axis deer. In addition, the Y.O. was pioneering management programs for native species such as whitetail deer and javelina. Since that time, however, the exotic hunting industry has gone through many, many changes.
In the state of Texas alone, there are presently a couple dozen exotic species thriving on several hundred ranches. And there are many more of each species than ever before-now, there are greater numbers of certain exotics here in Texas than exist in their native countries. The importation of exotics has allowed American hunters access to species they would never have had a chance to pursue otherwise, and the Y.O.-the king of exotic ranches-offers a choice selection of such animals.
The aoudad sheep is a fine case in point. While not really a sheep (science can't figure out how to classify it,) the aoudad is native to northern Africa. The aoudad is (without question) the most intelligent and hardest to hunt of the exotics. They're extremely intelligent and have great senses of sight, hearing and smell. Lots of hunters have been frustrated trying to take an aoudad and have said they are as hard-or harder-to hunt than a trophy whitetail.
One of the wildest aoudad stories I've ever heard comes from a Y.O. ranch tour guide. Apparently, the ranch was preparing to sell of some of its exotic stock, including a big aoudad in a one-acre pen with tall grass. It took them more than 30 minutes to find the sheep in the pen-that's how well the animals can remain hidden.
Another challenging species is the blackbuck antelope, an animal many hunters like to call "the most exotic of exotics."
Blackbuck, native to India and Pakistan, were imported in Texas in the 1930s. Now, they are more numerous in Texas than in their native countries; in fact, several shipments of blackbuck have been sent to India to help conserve the species there.
Blackbuck prefer open, grassy country and have incredible vision. As they are able to pick out objects from a long distance, hunters are often forced to make long shots to bag one like they would on a pronghorn hunt.
For bowhunters who wish to take a blackbuck, the most effective way is to locate a dung pile. Blackbuck are territorial, defecating in several large piles every day. These piles can be huge and easy to recognize; the archer who puts in some stand-time over one of these piles can usually score on a blackbuck.
Axis deer are the most numerous exotic species in Texas. Like the blackbuck, they are native to India, where their senses were honed dodging tigers and leopards.
With a beautiful orange coat and white spots-along with a huge rack of horns-the axis buck is recognized as the most beautiful deer in the world. One of the most impressive things about the axis is their rut: they rut in the summer, putting up impressive territorial displays and letting out screams not unlike bugling elk.
Sika deer are another popular exotic species that are very abundant on the Y.O. Wary, intelligent animals, these deer quickly turn nocturnal when pressured by hunters. Sikas are very close relatives to elk, and the two species have been known to interbreed. Some ranchers even refer to sikas as "little elk."
The Y.O.'s additional exotic species include fallow deer, scimitar-horned oryx, Catalina goat, ibex goat, waterbuck, lechwe, gemsbok, red deer and a score of others.
With the increase in the number of exotic hunting operations, as well as the growing numbers of species available to hunt, prices have gradually gone down to the point where more hunters can afford to participate.
Some of the more affordable exotics include unusual sheep like corsican, mouflon and merino; all have increased in popularity among Texas hunters. Exotic ram hunters can now pursue the "Texas Slam," a quest to bag the top four species of exotic sheep (mouflon, corsican, Hawaiian black and Texas dall ram.) That can cost a hunter upwards of $50,000 to complete-if not more.
You also have the "Grand Slam" for indigenous North American sheep (Rocky Mountain bighorn, Stone's sheep, dall sheep and desert bighorn.) You can get the exotic "Texas slam" for less than one-tenth the price and many of the animals are just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than those included in the "Grand Slam."
I recently hunted the Y.O. with legendary rock performer/bowhunter Ted Nugent and received first-hand experience as to what this ranch is all about. Nugent, who has hunted all over the world, said the Y.O. is a special place to him.
"The Y.O. is like a magical hunting ground. I don't think I've ever been to a place that had such a diversity of quality exotic and native game. You Texas guys might have to contend with me moving down here if I keep hunting the Y.O. This place just does something to me," Nugent said.
While on the hunt, Nugent bagged several impressive animals including whitetail deer, fallow deer, sika deer and wild turkey.
"One thing that really stands out to me is the number of sika deer this place has. These critters are all over the place and I don't think I saw any small ones. Every one I saw was a real quality animal," Nugent said.
Nugent hosts an annual hunt for his pro-hunting/pro-Second Amendment organization, Ted Nugent United Sportsmen America
(TNUSA.) He said that the Y.O. is the perfect place to expose many of the hunters who don't live in Texas to the Lone Star State.
"This place has first-class accommodations, first-class guides and most importantly, first-class critters. You can't beat it," he said.
And you can't beat the Y.O. for introducing non-hunters to the sport. Unlike many other hunting organizations, TNUSA involves many non-hunters who got into the sport because of Nugent's passionate stance. At this year's Y.O. Nugent Hunt, two of the participants had never hunted before-they decided to take part because of Nugent.
"It's a real honor to be able to expose people to hunting for the first time. There is no purer pursuit in life. You can rest assured of that," Nugent said.
For information on TNUSA call 1-800-343-HUNT.
Copyright ©
2000 by Chester Moore. All rights reserved.
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