Texas Hill Country exotic hunting
Everything hunters ask about hunting exotics in the Texas Hill Country: seasons, timing, cost and how a hunt actually runs.
Do exotic animals have a hunting season in Texas?
No. Exotic species in Texas are legally private property, so there is no closed season, no bag limit and no state tag. Safari Specialists Group hunts axis deer, blackbuck, fallow, aoudad and other exotics in the Texas Hill Country 365 days a year. You still need a valid Texas hunting license.
When is the best time to hunt axis deer in the Texas Hill Country?
Axis bucks are in hard antler and rutting from roughly May through August, which is the peak window for a mature trophy. Because axis herds are not fully synchronized, hard-antlered bucks can be found in every month of the year.
What does a Texas Hill Country exotic hunt cost?
Lodging, meals and guiding are $350 per hunter per night and $250 per night for a non-hunting guest. Trophy fees are separate and depend on the species: axis $6,000, blackbuck $5,000, aoudad $6,500, fallow $8,500 and scimitar-horned oryx $8,500 are among the most commonly booked. The full 2026 price list is on the pricing page.
How far is the Hill Country operation from an airport?
The Kerrville base is about an hour from San Antonio International Airport and roughly two hours from Austin-Bergstrom. Most hunters fly into San Antonio and drive.
South Africa plains game safaris
What to expect on a South Africa plains game safari, from the best months to travel to which species belong on a first-safari list.
When is the best time for a South Africa plains game safari?
The South African winter, roughly May through September, is the prime window. The bush thins out, days are cool and comfortable, and game concentrates near water, which makes spot-and-stalk far more productive.
Is South Africa a good choice for a first African safari?
Yes. South Africa is the most common entry point for a first safari because game density is high, the lodges and infrastructure are well established, English is widely spoken, most plains game areas are malaria-free and the cost is far lower than a dangerous game safari.
What plains game species can I hunt in South Africa?
Kudu, gemsbok, impala, blue wildebeest, blesbok, nyala, bushbuck, zebra, waterbuck, eland, springbok, warthog and sable are all available, with Cape buffalo for hunters after dangerous game. A typical seven to ten day plains game safari takes four to six animals.
Do I have to bring my own rifle to South Africa?
No. Rifles can be provided on request, which lets you skip the airline firearm permit process entirely. Hunters who prefer their own rifle can bring it, and Safari Specialists Group walks you through the temporary firearm import permit.
Planning, guides and trophies
The practical side of booking a hunt: rifles, non-hunting guests, trophy care and shipping, and who is guiding you.
How are trophies handled after the hunt?
Field care, skinning and caping are done in camp. For Texas hunts the crew coordinates with local taxidermists. For South Africa, trophies go to a dip-and-pack facility and a shipping agent handles export to your taxidermist at home.
Can I bring a non-hunting spouse or family member?
Yes. Non-hunting guests are $250 per night in Texas, including lodging and meals. Safari Specialists Group is family run and hosts families regularly.
Who guides the hunts?
Dalton Bannister, the owner, has guided full time since 2010 and was raised in the hunting business. Turner Bannister started guiding at eleven, apprenticed in Mozambique at seventeen, and is a United States shooting team member and PSCA Pro with more than a decade of guiding.
Do you still hunt West Texas?
Yes. West Texas aoudad, elk and mule deer hunts are still offered, with aoudad at $8,500 one-on-one and $7,500 two-on-one, and elk and mule deer priced on request. The Hill Country exotic and South Africa safari programs are the main focus.
