Nilgai are an exotic to Texas like most of the other exotics. My thinking is that it's a type of antelope that's as big as a medium sized cow. Most of them are down around the King Ranch but some ranches have had them brought in to their place. Unfortunately, I don't have them on my place but I have eaten them at a wild game dinner. Good flavor but are as tough as your red wing boot leather. I mean you have to do some serious tenderizing to get it to go down the hatch. There is no hunting season or bag limit on them unless dictated by the landowner. Landowners/Biologists set the rules on them. I'm not sure of what some of the ranches charge for them but it can't be that much.

Hello Mike, If your going to be around Austin on the 18th, give me a call when you get in to town. I have to go back to work at the fire department on the 20th of November. I'll have to work 4 shifts and then I'm off for most of December. If you want to try to sqeeze a little hunting in before I go back to work that will be fine. Or if you want to wait until December that's fine too. My phone number is 830-446-1242.

Something to think about: I think that it's important for good communication efforts so, here I go. I've been hunting the last 2 days and have seen some pretty nice hill country bucks. I'm not good at judging Boone and Crockett scores on the hoof but a couple of these bucks are outside the ears. My guess is they range from 120-140. They range in points from 10 and down. Now, that's just here were I live. I haven't had a chance to go to my ranch in Encinal yet, to even see what's running there but I know for fact there are deer that score alot higher there.

I love to fish too so, how have you traded in the past? I don't want to insult you in any way because I don't know what a fishing trip goes for now days. I've always done it myself down at the coast. I've never been out of state fishing.

I live in Boerne Texas and on a 160 acre farm. Interstate 10 goes thru the middle of my place.

So, here's what I propose. You and your wife come to my place for a weekend of hunting on me. That's everything from staying in my home and meals. All you need to do is get here, bring your artillary or I have sniper rifles of my own to let you use, and your cooler to take your meat back home with you. Did I leave anything out? Oh, hunting license too.

As far as my going fishing, I was thinking about the same type of arrangement. Trying to keep the cost of these experiences to a minimum is what my trading plans are.

Oh, I think it's important for you to know a little about me so that you don't think I'm a serial killer or something. I'm a Fireman for the City of Round Rock Texas. I am a Captain on A-shift, Truck 1. I'm in charge of the daily operations of Fire Station 1 on A-shift. I've been a fireman for 17 years and have made it my carreer. I have about 10 years to go until retirement. I am married and have 2 children. My daughter just recieved her masters and my son who is trying to get out of high school.

I've lived on my farm since I was born, 45 years ago, and I'm a carreer Farmer/Rancher as well.