Texas Ranch Journal | Summer 2023

As a local cooperative, we share profits with the Texans we serve. Our members are also owners and share in earnings, effectively lowering their borrowing cost. Because of our strong 2022 performance, we paid $127.6 million in cash and declared an additional $142.4 million in allocated equities, to our members, totaling a record $270 million in cooperative returns. In fact, since 2006, Capital Farm Credit’s combined cash returned and allocated equities for members is more than $2.4 billion Partner with a lender who really pays. To learn more, visit CapitalFarmCredit.com.

COVER PHOTO: SUNDOWN AT THE WINDMILL BY: JOSEPH RICHARDS @richardsoutdoorphoto

4 TRS TEAMS

26

ARTICLE: PUTTING A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO TEXAS ECOSYSTEM SERVICE

BY: BRITTANY WEGNER

37

RECIPE: POOR FOLKS’ BRISKET

BY: MATTI TACKETT

44

ARTICLE: FREE RANGE AOUDAD HUNTING 101

BY: CALAN AHRENS

2 BROKER, SHELDON GROTHAUS

31

ARTICLE: NOT ALL PLAYGROUNDS HAVE SWINGS

54

ARTICLE: TEXAS HUNTING LEASE AND LIABILITY WAIVER CONSIDERATIONS

BY: NATHANIEL GILBERT

3 COO, DAVE WILCOX

BY: CAPITAL FARM CREDIT

63

TEXAS COUNTIES MAP

TEXAS RANCH SALES, LLC IS LICENSED IN TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, ARIZONA, COLORADO, AND OKLAHOMA.

920 South Main Street Boerne, Texas 78006

texasranchjournal.com

Sheldon Grothaus Broker, Owner, CEO

Late spring and summer rains have finally blessed South Texas and the Hill Country. It doesn’t take much to ignite our beautiful native landscapes and make them come alive. From the black brush and guajillo hills to the knee-high native grasses and the replenishment of the aquifers, nothing is more beautiful than this painted land!

I was recently in Alpine, Texas, and attended the annual meeting of the Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association. The speaker was Margaret Byfield, speaking on behalf of the American Stewards of Liberty.

Ms. Byfield briefed the audience on “conservation programs being used to achieve Biden’s 30x30 initiative.” One must ask themselves this question when presented with the decision to opt in or out of a conservation easement. Is it truly a burdenless easement/transition or a permanent servitude? Does the conservation easement provide for continued ownership and private control of existing “private” property, or is it a relinquishment of control and rights to a government or non-profit entity to encumber a landowner with the easement holder’s conservation purpose? Most of the time, the conservation purpose seems very attractive up front, for example, protecting the land from future development, enabling a continued native state, or the financial “gain of income and/ or estate tax reductions.” Often, landowners are not presented with the “not so attractive” attributes of an easement. They may be promised that their existing private property and activities will remain intact, but if there is ever a conflict between the private property landowner and the easement holder, guess who takes priority? Correct; usually not the landowner.

This brings another thought to mind: does a private landowner need permission to make changes in regards to inhabitation, grazing, modifications, maintenance, or any improvements on their property? If so, is that really private ownership? When a property is handed down to a future generation, perpetuity is passed along as well as encumbering that generation with activity restrictions and, most importantly, the restriction of our individual liberties as private landowners!

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers & sojourners with me.” Leviticus 25:23

Broker & Owner

Dave wilcox Broker, COO

We find ourselves in the midst of a paradigm shift in the ranch market. For the last several years, we have been, without question, in a “seller’s market”. But today, many agents are seeing that the chance to find their buyers the “deal” that they have been waiting for is finally starting to present itself in ways that it hasn’t in quite some time. It’s true that ranches are still selling for record prices per acre in many regions of our state. But we are also seeing that market conditions, with economic uncertainty and steadily increasing interest rates, have left many listings on the market for longer than anticipated. This is allowing savvy agents on both sides of the transaction to put a deal together so both buyers and sellers feel good about the agreement made.

It’s always been said that “Texas chooses not to participate when the rest of the country is seeing a recession in the real estate market.” And to this, I would say, “Yes and no.” Yes, we are still in a healthy ranch market. Inventory is still low, demand is still steady, and prices are still relatively higher than in the years before.

But also, no. No, things aren’t near as crazy as they were in 2020–2021. We are not seeing the same buying frenzy as we did back then, so the overall number of transactions each month is lower. This isn’t a sign of recession or cause for concern, but it does show us that things are going to be tighter for a little while. This is really just a market adjustment, and many of us have been expecting it.

We were seeing all agents who were true pros and specializing in farm, ranch, and rural property sales have record years in the past few years. We were also seeing agents who didn’t have much of a clue on how to sell rural property fall out of bed and close a deal. The latter was not a good scenario for buyers or sellers. Experience matters. In a market like this, more than ever, experience matters.

Texas Ranch Sales has been around for over 20 years, and our experience is what keeps our clients coming back year after year. Our experience is what has our clients referring us to their friends and family to help them with their next farm, ranch, or rural property transaction. And our experience is why great agents from all over the state of Texas are joining this team. Experience matters.

If you’re a buyer or a seller and you’re looking for representation, I invite you to give me a call personally. I am happy to tell you about what we do and how our values and process might line up with what you are looking for. I’ll then make a personal introduction to one of our great broker associates in your area who is ready to help you in your quest to buy or sell.

If you’re a licensed real estate agent or broker looking for a new team, please also give me a call. I think you’ll be interested in what we have to offer. We have revamped several of our offerings in the last couple of months, and I think you’ll find that this could be the next place you want to hang your hat!

Finally, I want to take a moment to mention that our very good friend and teammate, Jeff Petska, passed away on March 5th after a long and courageous battle with cancer. No truer friend might ever be found than those of us who knew and loved Jeff. He was the original horse whisperer, and his impact on the performance horse world as well as his short career as an associate with Texas Ranch Sales will never be forgotten. Jeff was our “Rookie of the Year” in 2021 and was on his way to having a career in this game that would have really been something special. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy in his two areas of expertise will live on forever. Prayers to his wife Lisa, his kids, and everyone who knew and loved him and called him a friend.

God’s speed, Jeff!

Dave Wilcox Chief Operations Officer

Texas Ranch Sales Team

325.226.0560

Rocksprings, TX

830.643.4281

New Braunfels, TX

956.763.0884

Wimberley, TX

936.334.6854

Liberty, TX

210.897.9263

Lampasas, TX

713.203.1099

Houston, TX

830.377.7468

Kerrville, TX

281.630.1803

Waco, TX

2022 Top 10 Award 2022 Top Listing Associate

Zac Kerbow ASSOCIATE BROKER

Matti Tackett ASSOCIATE BROKER

2022 Top 10 Award

Dino Smith ASSOCIATE BROKER

P. Craig Russell ASSOCIATE BROKER

Heather Mountain ASSOCIATE BROKER

Cynthia Thomas ASSOCIATE BROKER

Alexis Thompson ASSOCIATE BROKER

Charles Marshall ASSOCIATE BROKER

2022 The Big Deal

2022 Top Sales Associate

2022 Top 10 Award Ron Young

Asher Haack

Texas Ranch Sales Team

Texas Ranch Sales Team

210.862.8967

Hondo, TX

512.417.0913

Austin, TX

210.245.0526

San Antonio, TX

662.275.0712

San Marcos, TX

830.443.0440

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Vance Runnels ASSOCIATE

Garrett Daley ASSOCIATE

Caleb Barton ASSOCIATE

Frank Addington Jr. ASSOCIATE

Morgan Tyler ASSOCIATE

Texas Ranch Sales Team

210.378.8557 Waco, TX

830.328.0633

New Braunfels, TX

254.252.0144

Stephenville, TX

Regan Houser ASSOCIATE

Rusty Nesbitt ASSOCIATE

Christy Wideman ASSOCIATE

Parkers Branch Ranch

186± Acres | Blanco County, Texas

Hye, TX

3BR/3BA main house & 3BR/3BA guest house

Tennis courts, horse stables, & 3 metal barns

3 water wells, & a 10,000± gallon rainwater collection

3 ponds & 1.5± miles of wet-weather creek with dinosaur tracks

Cross-fenced for rotational grazing with improved grasses

MLDP qualified with thriving herds of whitetail & axis

High Ridge Ranch

658± Acres | Concho County, TX

Eden, TX

2,000± sq/ft main house & 1,900± sq/ft guest house

Newly built outdoor patio & grilling area

4,800± sq/ft barn with walk-in freezer & cleaning station

1,000± sq/ft barn

4 water wells & 4 water storage tanks

4 ponds

Exotics & trophy whitetail deer

Jahns Ranch

128± Acres | Guadalupe County, TX

Seguin, Texas

5th generation family-owned ranch

2,800± sq/ft home

2 water wells

2 ponds & a wet-weather creek

Mature oak trees & excellent soils for agriculture

Low fenced with cross-fencing

RPX RANCH

69± Acres | Parker County , TX

Mineral Wells, Texas

Luxury horse facility convenient to Fort Worth

6,114± sq/ft custom home

Free form pool & hot tub

18-stall horse barn with living quarters

Commodity barn with 2 apartments

Covered arena with roping & bucking chutes

5 pastures with shelters, automatic waters, & pipe top rail fencing

T4 Farms

Crowley, TX

63± Acres | Tarrant County, TX

7,800± sq/ft custom home

Guest apartment & barn with living quarters

Green house & chicken coop

Helicopter pad

3 electric water wells

2 ponds

PUTTING A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO TEXAS ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Brittany Wegner, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

Lady Bird Johnson had a way with words that resonates with Texans of all walks of life still today. Her work to encourage the conservation and use of native plants to restore and create sustainable landscapes brought to life so many of her views of the natural environment. During a speech at Yale University in 1967, she said, “The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”

As we consider her words, we maintain this ecological conviction to support our environment and hone in on the more critical responsibilities we must manage the diverse landscapes of Texas that provide vital goods and services that benefit all of us. Referred to as the “commodities of nature”, these ecosystem services are the set of functions benefiting human wellbeing, encompassing many life-sustaining outputs such as climate regulation, air purification, and pollination. Many of these ecosystem services are traditionally considered shared, free to society—and commonly overlooked—like clean air, clean water, and flood control provided by healthy forest, range, and wetland ecosystems.

Although an important component of natural landscapes, as well as our daily quality of life, ecosystem services typically lack formal market structures, and their associated benefits are difficult to quantify or appropriately value on paper as we weigh the benefits and costs of growth and expansion and consider natural resource challenges. How do you put a dollar value on clean air and water, for example? In some ways, these are arguably “priceless,” but, as a result, their contributions and importance are often assumed or missed altogether

by the public, government leaders, and those involved in land use decision-making. We set out to level this field, so to speak.

Promoting the long-term sustainability and stewardship of natural resources begins with a basic understanding of ecosystem services and their public benefits. Ideally, the ability to assign monetary value can illustrate the importance of their fundamental contributions to society. An analysis like this can serve to support land conservation strategies and policies to promote the conservation of open spaces and natural resources. Thus, the objectives of this assessment are to:

• provide examples of broad ecosystem services, and

• estimate their relative economic value or level of current investments to maintain their benefits.

We are grateful for the insights and support from the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as we couldn’t have achieved this assessment without their daily commitment to land and natural resource stewardship in Texas.

As a baseline for our work to promote the benefits and costs of ecosystem services, we assign a collective value in the assessment for four ecosystem service categories to include: provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services, each uniquely defined for their attributes like tangible goods, ecosystem processes, non-material benefits and ecological functions.

In the report, we cover in detail the methodologies used to assign dollar values based on market-based estimates from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) where appropriate, and willingness-to-pay estimates from established federal field-scale or operation-level conservation programs through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The market-based estimates utilize current financial mechanisms to calculate the market value of an ecosystem service. For example, food and fiber production are tangible products that are already included in a traditional market system where people regularly buy and sell these goods and services. Existing data can tell us how much a crop is worth and what it contributes to our market economy. Market-based estimates utilize this existing data—what we know we already pay—to assign values to ecosystem services. In contrast, a willingness-topay model utilizes the maximum value a consumer is willing to pay for a given good or service. For the purposes of this study, we used government payments to federal landowner incentive programs to determine the level of investment of federal government programs to conserve or protect previously identified ecosystem services in Texas.

For each ecosystem services category, the report summarizes all values to get one total ecosystem service value for the whole of Texas. The report also includes maps for each category from Food and Fiber Production to Flood Mitigation and Non-consumptive Recreation revealing trends that will ultimately provide clarity for policy makers,

conservation organizations, and land managers who can gain a better grasp of the full economic and ecological benefit Texas receives from vital open space lands—and the cost of continuing to overlook their natural contribution to society.

Taking a step back, we can now ask definitively what the cost of losing land is in Texas. By these conservative findings, it’s about $629 per acre or, when we consider that we’re losing about 640 acres per day to land conversion, it’s about $146,934,400 per year in ecosystem services value. That’s the price we pay, climbing each year, as we convert more land to accommodate population growth in Texas. At the end of the day, we need to keep farmers, ranchers, forestry owners—land stewards—on the land to grow food, conserve water and preserve wildlife habitat. Their work provides the environment where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest, and that provides benefits that we all share.

Scan the code to view more reports information from Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute.

Two Creek Comanche Ranch

141± Acres | Comanche, Texas

Dublin, TX

Low fenced with cross fencing

Spring-fed creek & wet-weather creek

2 ponds

3 water wells

40± acres of irrigated coastal hay fields

Manufactured home & open-concept cabin

Shooting range area

The outdoors is your sanctuary. It’s a place where you and your family can explore, relax, and simply live. What would make it all the more special is if the land you love to play on was your own. Capital Farm Credit can help you do just that. You see, we’re here for you with the knowledge, guidance and expertise in acquiring recreational land with loans that have competitive terms and rates. That way, whenever you have the urge to play, you have the perfect place to go do it. To learn more, visit CapitalFarmCredit.com.

877.944.5500

NMLS493828

Country getaways — not just for holidays

When the days get longer and the last frost has come and gone, spring days and summer nights occupy residence on our calendars. The outdoors call our name. Floating rivers, family-fishing and fighting to host the next backyard BBQ surround the upcoming months. We’re itching for it. We’re ready. But what if we weren’t only limited to spring-break and summer to inhabit country getaways. What if this perfect Texas scenery could be yours all year round—your personal country refuge. Believe it. Owning a piece of Texas can become a reality.

At Capital Farm Credit, helping you design your recreational property paradise is our specialty. Summer getaways, hunting ranches, and that perfect piece of land to retire on, only scratch the surface on our products and services. Financing your recreational property dreams are what we do any time of the year. Living in a permanent vacation is more possible than you think. It’s time to pack a suitcase.

A personal roadmap

Capital Farm Credit may be Texas’ largest agricultural lender but our passion for lending extends beyond financing agricultural operations. Our experienced lenders furnish flexible financing options for rural land purchases specifically designed for leisure, outdoor sports, and entertainment.

We specialize in rural property transactions and are ready to help you navigate through the process. We align ourselves with your reactional goals to ensure we provide the blueprint to help you reach the closing table.

“Every day we help our customers achieve their goals of owning rural property,” said Laura Martinez, relationship manager, San Antonio Credit Office. “Our products and services are created and tailored for your choice of rural lifestyle. If it’s something you can’t stop thinking about, it’s worth having a conversation.”

Cash for the trip

As a cooperative, Capital Farm Credit is owned by the same rural property owners we serve. Unlike an investor-owned bank, our members have a vote and a voice. When you borrow money from Capital Farm Credit, you join a cooperative that operates in our members’ best interests. We return a portion of our earnings to members through our cooperative returns program. This can result in significant reductions in borrowing costs.

Make memories

Over the past few years, we’ve better understood what it means to make memories and cherish moments. Purchasing recreational property not only becomes your holiday destination, it becomes a part of your family. The success of your recreational property is built on the quality time you spend on it. Land purchases can be the start of a legacy.

“We’re here to support our customers for the life of their loan,” said Martinez. “We are your team. Your goals are our goals. Our mission continues to be to help landowners achieve success in owning rural property.”

We understand the value behind your commitment, that is why we are committed to you.

Your travel partner

Capital Farm Credit is a family of experienced lenders equipped to finance your dreams of rural living and help make the most of your recreational property purchase. Our knowledge and expertise make us your lender of choice to create a retreat you can pass down for generations. With offices serving 192 of Texas’ 254 counties, we commit to serve rural communities yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Additional loan programs include:

• Real Estate Purchase & Improvement Loans

• Home Loans

• Operating Loans

• Equipment Loans

• Agribusiness Loans

• Insurance Service

If you’re interested in speaking with our advisory team, call 877.944.5500, or visit our website CapitalFarmCredit.com.

Pecos Paradise

High Point Game Ranch

1,600± Acres | Edwards County, TX

Rocksprings, TX

High fenced established hunting operation

Highest elevations in the area

4,945± sq/ft main house

1,500 sq/ft guest house & several cabins

Numerous barns, cleaning station, & catch pens

1± acre surface pond

Abundant game species & native wildlife

Red Cedar Ranch

Poor Folks’ Brisket

One of the greatest grocery store tragedies is without a doubt the cost of a good brisket. Brisket is the holy grail of barbecue, but because of how expensive the meat is combined with the fact that smoking a mouthwatering brisket is a true task AND art, many folks don’t get to experience brisket at home when they get that craving. Cue the “Poor Folks Brisket”…. Last time we were visiting our family in Brown County, our Uncle Rex said he was going to make a real treat for us, “Chuck Roast Brisket”. In true grill master fashion, he taught us how to turn one of the most affordable cuts of beef into a knock-off, delicious brisket!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Large Chuck Roast

• Salt and Pepper

• A roll of butcher’s paper

METHOD:

1. Season the Chuck Roast liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the meat into two pieces where the roast naturally separates. Allow the meat to sit and get to room temperature.

2. Crank up your pit. Use either coals or a good quality mesquite to get a nice smoke flavor and set your pit to low heat, around 285 degrees.

3. Place the meat on the pit, over indirect heat. Cook for about 1 hour, or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees. At this point, remove the meat and wrap each piece in butcher’s paper just like you would do with a traditional brisket.

4. Place the meat back on the pit for another hour or so, until the meat registers at 202 degrees internally.

5. Remove meat from the pit and rest for 30 minutes.

6. Carve/Shred the meat and serve to your liking! We did Brisket Sandwiches with all the fixings and they were absolutely decadent!

Cherry Creek Ranch

500± Acres | Kerr County, Texas

Hunt, TX

Over 700± feet of South Fork Guadalupe River

1.5± miles of year-round Cherry Creek

1 solar well

Incredible landscape

Numerous ideal homesite locations

Improved Whitetail genetics and variety of exotics released

Heart of Texas Game Ranch

711± Acres | McCulloch County, Texas

Brady, TX

High fenced with frontage

2,000± sq/ft remodeled rock ranch house

Outdoor rock barbecue area

Metal barn with apartment, walk-in cooler, and more!

Horse stalls & equipment lean-to

2 water wells & rural water

Multiple duck ponds

San Francisco Creek Ranch

48± Acres | Medina County, Texas

Castroville, TX

Electric gated entry

5± miles from Castroville

3,400± sq/ft main house & 1,300± sq/ft man cave

Barn, workshop, RV hookups, walk-in cooler, & processing room

2 tanks, 1 with a natural spring

Wet-weather San Francisco Creek

Low fenced with scattered mature Oak trees

Equipment negotiable

Circle S Ranch

270± Acres | Medina County, Texas

Hondo, TX

Low fenced

3BR/2BA House

About a mile of wet-weather Hondo Creek frontage

1 Edwards water well & 2 water storage tanks

Small field for farming

Diverse terrain with large oak trees

Convenient to San Antonio

Free Range Aoudad Hunting 101 TIPS AND TRICKS

Barbary Sheep (Ammotragus lervia) or otherwise known as Aoudad, are originally from the dry mountainous areas of Northern Africa. Their first introductions into Texas came in the 1940’s onto various hill country game ranches in Kerr and Llano counties. Years later, Aoudad were released in the Palo Duro Canyon area, then subsequently released in several areas in the Trans Pecos region of Texas. Long story short, they have been thriving well with numbers estimated to be in the 25,000 range in the Lone Star State. With the rise of the Aoudad population, we have also seen a rise in the interest in both in state and out of state hunters for these wary creatures that call west Texas home.

Every year, I personally guide upwards of forty free range Aoudad hunts in far west Texas in the Chinati and Davis Mountain ranges. Aoudad sheep have become extremely well adapted to the environment of western Texas which mimics their native lands. These creatures bound off rock cliffs, scale up mountain sides, and live in areas that you would think no animal could thrive. This is what makes the Aoudad a challenging hunt and a reasonably cheaper “sheep” hunting option compared to Bighorn, Dall, or Stone sheep. An Aoudad has great eyesight, a keen sense of what is going on around itself, and by far one of the best noses I have seen on an animal, much like a Cape Buffalo. So, if you find yourself out in far west Texas hunting these wonderful African animals, here is a few tips and tricks I have developed through the years and from my own experiences.

Calan Ahrens : Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife

Playing the wind and terrain

When hunting Aoudad, the wind is either going to make your hunt or break it. To many times I have been on a stalk after a shooter ram, get within six or seven hundred yards and then have the wind ever so slightly switch to my back. Few moments later, the entire group of Aoudad nonchalantly pick up their heads, form into their “group huddle” and move straight up the mountain side. The main thing to remember when hunting these animals is if the wind is wrong from one direction, DO NOT approach from that direction. You will be sadly distraught when you finally get into position to take a shot, only to find the sheep have left long ago because they smelled you on the way to them. Instead, view your options and study the terrain. It might be possible to come from a different direction in which the wind is in your favor or maybe if the wind is going to switch you can wait to make your move. Don’t force a situation unless it is necessary. It is always easier to back off and try again, rather than pushing sheep off and having to find new ones. Using terrain to your advantage is another big key in Aoudad hunting. Sometimes you are above the Aoudad and it is easier to make a move on them, other times they are straight above you 1000’ and you need to hike around them and spend three hours to get into position. Study the terrain and use it in your favor. Many times coming in from the low land up to the base of a mountain, I will use creek beds or drainages to conceal myself and gain several hundred yards. Using these drainages helps break up your movements and a will keep you hidden until its game time. One thing to avoid is sky lighting or silhouetting. Aoudad can pick out movement quickly if you are up against the sky with nothing behind you to break up your body.

Shooting and shot placement

Every hunter I have had in camp over the years has mentioned to me that they would love to be able to shoot prone, off their backpack, and on a sturdy surface. In a perfect world, I would really enjoy having that opportunity! But, as much as I would like that, it just isn’t always feasible. Months before coming on a sheep hunt, I recommend that clients practice shooting at the range on a set of three-legged shooting sticks. Ideally shooting 100-200 yards in three positions; standing, kneeling, and sitting. Being able to do this and having some practice will help if you in the event you get into a situation such as having a shooter ram 150 yards away staring at you and can’t get prone on the side of the mountain to take a shot. Regarding shot placement, I always recommend shooting these big burley rams square in the shoulder. Breaking down that impact shoulder with a solid bullet ensures that animal to not run up the mountain and makes it a heck of a lot easier to get a follow up shot in if needed. Also, a .300 paired with a 180 grain Nosler or Barnes bullet is my favorite Aoudad rifle/bullet combo. NO BALLISTIC TIPS. I have seen way too many rams wounded with ballistic tips.

Being in the elements

Aoudad hunting in the mountains can be a physical and mental challenge, and being in the desert elements elevates that. Always keep five to six bottles of water in your day pack if possible. The last thing you want happen is to be on a stalk and you run out of water and get dehydrated. The desert will take the moisture out of you very quickly, so be sure to keep hydrated. Also, sunscreen and chapstick will be your best friends on a sheep hunt, you’ll thank me later. Lastly, a good pair of well fitted hiking boots and trekking poles go a long way. Take care of your feet and knees, we only have two of each and no one likes to have blisters on their feet from poorly fitted boots.

Judging rams in the field

I’m sure if you asked one hundred different people on how to judge an Aoudad you would get two hundred different responses. The main thing I look for when judging Aoudad rams is overall body size and their chap hair quality and or length. Typically, we are looking at sheep over a thousand yards away through spotting scopes and there are at times several hundred sheep in a group. So, scoping out each individual sheep can be difficult and time consuming. I like to start off looking at the rams that have the biggest overall body size, then look at their chaps. Nine times out of ten, if a ram has a big body and has great chaps, he is worth looking at closer. When judging a ram’s horns, always judge the mass first. A young ram with little mass will sometimes appears long, until you walk up to it. Look for mass to stay relatively thick all the way throughout the horns to the tips. You will see a lot of older rams with broomed off or tipped horns as well. Younger rams will have mass that dwindles past the first quarter of their horn length. Another decent rule of thumb that has worked for me on judging if a ram is 30” or better is if their horn tips begin turning parallel with the ground, that’s a good indication he is right at 30”. If the ram is well past the parallel mark, get the gun out!

I hope these few tips and tricks help you in the field on your next Aoudad adventure and remember to always keep the sun at your back and the wind in your face.

By:

Calan J. Ahrens General Manager/CEO Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife, LLC.

Ahrens Ranch & Wildlife, LLC. operates on over 600,000 acres of Texas servicing landowners and hunters needs from exotic game capture/ management/sales, ranch/wildlife consulting, professional hunting, and much more.

www.ahrensranchandwildlife.com

Twisted Horns Ridge

72± Acres | Medina County, Texas

Hondo, TX

3BR/2BA rock & stucco main house

1BR/1BA guest house

8 luxury rental cabins

Edwards water well & 4 water storage tanks

Low fenced with excellent ranch roads

Stunning views

Sombreto Ranch

275± Acres | Navarro County, Texas

Wortham, TX

High fenced

3,700± ft of wet-weather creek

4 ponds

Numerous hunting blinds & feeders

Electricity is easily accessible

Bordered by a 1,400± acre solar farm

High Yield Ranch

30± Acres | Parker County, Texas

Springtown, TX

Turnkey equestrian facility in the heart of horse country

Convenient to Fort Worth & Will Rogers Coliseum

3 lit, covered arenas & an outdoor arena

24-stall horse barn, 11-stall shed row barn, & shops

6 paddocks & 9 pastures

3 dwellings

Sandy loam soils

Ag exempt

Rancho Hermosa

140± Acres | Victoria County, Texas

Victoria, Texas

Low fenced with cross fencing

Cleared, raw land

3± acre pond

1 water well & 40± gallon pressure tank

30± head of cattle will convey

Plentiful hay with rainfall

Guadalupe Ranch

2,542± Acres | Zapata County, Texas

Zapata, TX

Located in the heart of whitetail deer country

Access via easement

Low fenced & partially high fenced with cross fencing

5 ponds, 1 of which currently holds water Electric services are pending

Large neighboring ranches

Will consider subdividing Minerals are negotiable

Texas Hunting Lease and Liability Waiver Considerations

BY NATHANIEL GILBERT

Hunting Leases in Texas seem simple enough: an individual or group pays a certain amount to enter the property for hunting. Often, leases are drawn up with this very simple idea in mind, and the landowner and the hunters sign the document with very little backand-forth. For years, decades even, no problems may arise and the relationship between the parties continues peacefully.

But what happens when problems arise? All too often in my practice, I receive calls from landowners who, having leased to individuals and groups throughout the years for hunting with no issue, have all of a sudden run into a group that presents several problems. Hunters harassing, moving, or providing unauthorized supplemental feed to cattle on the property, hunters bringing multiple other individuals who are not on the lease onto the property, staying on the property for weeks at a time during non-hunting seasons, or even attempting to curtail or limit landowner activities on the property such as fixing fences and clearing brush because such activities might affect the hunting prospects in some way.

Don’t get me wrong, hunting leases are by and large a good thing, and I encourage landowners who do not hunt and do not have family that hunt, to seriously consider having hunters on their property in some capacity. However, serious consideration must also be given to the documents that the parties sign—Gone are the days of handshake agreements and simple, one page, lease agreements. This is not necessarily because society has become more litigious and less trustworthy, but more so that land ownership and hunting itself have become much more complicated and intricate.

Consider, for example, my client on the Colorado front range, where waterfowl hunting has become more and more popular by the year. This client owned and farmed several irrigated circles of corn, and was approached by an individual who wanted to lease the property for goose hunting. The landowner agreed and they signed an agreement (without consulting an attorney) that allowed the hunter to “construct any commonly used blinds or structures,” and carried no limitations on guests of the hunter on the property. Well, imagine the surprise the landowner experienced when he saw a backhoe in the middle of his cut corn digging a large pit for 10 hunters to hunt from. My client had no idea that goose hunting had evolved since his experiences as a child to where it is now standard practice in the area to hunt from pit blinds in the middle of the corn field, and to do so with more than just your immediate family.

To be clear, the hunter in this situation did not do anything intentionally nefarious or malicious. The two parties simply did not have a “meeting of the minds”; they failed to talk about what it was they both thought a hunting lease was and what certain kinds of hunting meant to them. Each party had a different definition in their mind about what “goose hunting” and “blinds” meant to them. Each party had a different idea about how many people it was usual or common to hunt with. The situation was eventually resolved amicably, but just think how simple the conversation could have been that would have avoided the situation in the first place!

When you are looking to lease your property for hunting, there are several considerations that we want to take into account

TERM: GIVE YOURSELF AN OUT

Hunting leases often have 10 year terms or have automatic renewal clauses. This is a give and take situation. Hunters who know that they will be leasing the property for at least the next few years may have more invested in the property remaining a good place to hunt, whereas the hunter who does not have that security in returning to the property may not necessarily care about proper herd or habitat management. As a landowner, the longer term may be attractive in terms of not having to search for a new lessee again as well. But what if on year 2 of a five or ten year lease agreement, we find out that the hunter is not as trustworthy or conservation-minded as we thought? Has your lease been thoroughly drafted to provide an out for the landowner to use to terminate the lease? These kinds of provisions vary in their construction, and will depend on what the landowner truly wants out of the relationship—if the landowner fails to receive the benefit of the lease, the lease must be terminated.

Think about what you want on your property, and what you don’t

It is absolutely imperative that you consider what you want on your property before you enter into a hunting lease. I normally always advise a sit-down meeting with the people that you are considering entering into a lease agreement with before signing any documents. Ask what their goals are, how often will they be hunting, are they looking to do anything besides hunting (trapping, fishing, birdwatching, trail riding, etc.), and, will they be bringing anyone else. Tell them what you’re looking for, what your concerns are and what your dealbreakers are. Ask your neighbors—call your local extension office and ask if they know of other landowners in the area who have had hunters on their property and talk to them about what happened and what they wish they would have thought about.

Some clients don’t want night hunting for predators or hogs, others want to specifically require this as an additional condition for access in the name of predator and nuisance species management. Either of these conditions can be constructed best meet the management goals of the landowner, and failure to abide by these particular clauses is cause for termination, if your lease provides such abilities.

Landowners in Texas, for example, have a vested interest in hog population control on their property; very few property managers in our state have the mindset of maintaining a healthy population of feral swine. If your lease provides that the hunters on your property are responsible for managing the hogs on the property, then efforts must be made by the hunters to do so, and the lease should require them to maintain records of those efforts.

Whitetail deer hunting is, obviously, the main attraction for most hunting lease opportunities. Hunters have visions of big, mature bucks hanging on their wall, and will pay a premium for the chance to kill one. But does must also be taken on a property with a mind for management. Requiring harvest records and the taking of a certain number of does in a year is a common clause in hunting leases.

BIGGEST BENEFIT BESIDES MONEY

Supervision: Number one question from landowners in the hunting presentations that I do revolves around preventing trespassers and poachers. Number one way to prevent this: let someone on there to hunt. If you have 500 acres that you are only on in the summer for cattle, you can bet there will be trespassers on it. If you let a few guys hunt, they will be out there and supervising the property—People who want to trespass on a property are far less likely to do so if there are constantly trucks in the driveway.

LIABILITY CONCERNS

Statutes Protecting Landowners in Texas

The statutes in Texas Civil Practice Code provide a great deal of benefit to landowners, and are worth discussing in detail. However, for the sake of this article, I will touch on them briefly and then allow for you to do your own research on those protections. Texas’ Recreational Use Statute, Chapter 75-001 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, covers those landowners who allow access to their property for recreation but charge no more than 20 times the ad valorem taxes on the property for the past year. There are some additional requirements, but this is the basic premise for liability protection under the Statute.

The legislature went a step further in liability protection for landowners with the “Agritourism Act”. This Act protects landowners in the same vein as the Recreational Use Act, but with additional requirements. To receive protection under the Agritourism Act, landowners must place conspicuous signage on their property that contains language specified by the statute, that warns of potential dangers and injuries. Landowners may also fulfill the obligations of the statute by requiring each invitee to the property to sign a document containing additional statutorily specified language. Premade, heavy-duty signs meeting the requirements of the statute are readily available and clients should be advised to purchase and display these signs at entrances as well as staging areas for dangerous activities such as the shed where ATVs or rooms where firearms are stored.

LIABILITY WAIVERS

If someone will not sign a liability waiver, then they have no business being on your property. Period. End of story. Ok, maybe not… The “lawyer behind the desk” advice is to have everyone who is not immediate family sign a liability wavier prior to entering your property. I know this is not necessarily practical, but it is the advice nonetheless. My job when I am working with clients is NOT to assume that everything will be fine and everyone is generally nice. My job is to best prepare my clients and their assets to survive the worstcase scenario when it comes to their property. The advice that we, as attorneys, give to our clients is reliant on Murphy’s Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong, and at the worst possible time.

Liability Waivers in Texas are generally enforceable, but must be express and conspicuous. Essentially, this means that it must state, expressly, that it is a waiver of negligence or injury, and not be a hidden clause or otherwise “inconspicuous” to the person signing the waiver. So, the waiver cannot be in the fine print of the lease, and it must be clear as to what the individual is waiving.

Going beyond the basic requirements, liability waivers should be an opportunity for individuals to fully appreciate and understand the risks that they are undertaking by participating in ranch and hunting activities. Tell your hunters about the hazards that exist on the property and make sure they understand those risks. Make sure that you give your hunters an opportunity to ask questions about those risks and that you take the time to go through those possible risks with them.

Hazards in hunting are, often times, not so obvious. If you are looking to have hunters on your property, it is imperative that you do a complete risk management audit on your property. For example, tree-stands and elevated blinds are one of the most popular parts of hunting, and also, the most dangerous.

A Wisconsin survey of injuries related to hunting found that over a 6 year period, 24 patients were treated for hunting related injuries at one Level 1 Trauma Center. Of those injuries, 16 were from falls and only 8 were firearm related. Another study in Ohio over a 10 year period found falls to be the cause of 50% of hunting related incidents, with firearms accounting for only 29%. Any discussion with regarding the mitigation of liability must include a deep dive on elevated structures and fall risks.

destroy any elevated structures that are not structurally sound, and to eliminate all “homemade DIY” elevated hunting structures. Just recently on social media, pictures were making the rounds of hunters glassing for deer from the top of grain bins, silos, barns, and other elevated structures and my only thought was how I hoped that the landowners had good liability waivers that identified which structures, if any, were allowed to be used by the hunters on the property.

As I stated at the very beginning of this discussion, I will always recommend Hunting Leases to clients with property suitable for this purpose. Numerous benefits for landowners accompany having honest hunters on the property and with the right documentation and preparation, very few drawbacks to go along with them.

If you choose to allow hunting from tree-stands or elevated structures on your property, you must take full stock of the variables involved in order to reduce the risk to your hunters, and your overall liability exposure. Typically, my advice to landowners is to remove and

Licensed in Texas, Colorado, and Kansas www.longilbert.com

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Halanski MA, Corden TE. Wisconsin Firearm Deer Hunting Season: Injuries At A Level I Trauma Center, 1999-2004. WMJ. 2008 Feb;107(1):20-4. PMID: 18416365.

Crockett A, Stawicki SP, Thomas YM, Jarvis AM, Wang CF, Beery PR, Whitmill ML, Lindsey DE, Steinberg SM, Cook CH. Tree Stands, Not Guns, Are The Midwestern Hunter’s Most Dangerous Weapon. Am Surg. 2010 Sep;76(9):1006-10. PMID: 20836352.

MONTE VERDE RANCH

878± ACRES

COLFAX COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

Eagle Nest, NM

Incredible views of Eagle Nest & Wheeler Peak

Located at the headwaters of Eagle Nest Lake

5,500± sq/ft historic home & 2 additional houses

American & Cieneguilla Creek

8,200-9,000± foot elevation changes

Incredible elk, black bear, mountain lion, & mule deer hunting

Low fenced with cross fencing

Set up for a yearling operation

SUMMIT PRAIRIE

9,020± DEEDED ACRES

640± BLM ALLOTMENT

9,660± TOTAL ACRES CROOK COUNTY, OREGON

Prineville, Oregon

Prestigious mountain meadow property

6,220± irrigated acres

2 lakes

Miles of rivers and creeks

New fencing

Summer grazing for 1,400± pair

Abundant wildlife

LOP hunting tags available

RUSSELL RANCH

7,677± DEEDED ACRES

320± BLM ALLOTMENT

7,997± TOTAL ACRES

CROOK COUNTY, OREGON

Prineville, Oregon

4 homes with breathtaking mountain views

Various sheds, shops, and barns

Incredible cattle & equestrian facilities

3 domestic wells, 2 irrigation wells, 25,000± gallon tank

28± acre irrigation pivot, horse pastures, & timber

Y-BELL RANCH

435± ACRES

2,775± ACRE BLM ALLOTMENT

CROOK COUNTY, OREGON

Prineville, Oregon

8,863± sq/ft main home

2,775± acre BLM lease

1 Guest and the manager’s homes

40± acres of flood irrigation

Incredible equestrian facilities

Numerous equipment and hay barns

POD reservoir to canal & pivots for irrigation

Majestic views of the Cascade Mountain range

SCAN FOR MAP VIEW OF TRS LISTINGS

TEXAS COUNTIES

LONE HILL RIVER RANCH

319± ACRES

BANDERA COUNTY, TEXAS

Medina, TX

Medina River frontage

Hilltop views with ideal homesites

1 well & electricity

3 ponds & wet-weather creek

Grazing pastures with large cypress trees

Low fenced with cross fencing

Dirt ranch roads & trails

MANVEL ACRES

5± ACRES BRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS

Manvel, TX

Frontage on CR 48

4BR/2BA brick home

900± sq/ft pole barn

1 water well

1 pond

DOUBLE D RANCHETTE

20± ACRES BURNET COUNTY, TEXAS

Burnet, TX

1 hour from Austin or Fredericksburg

Remodeled 4BR/2BA/2HB home

Low fenced & cross fenced

1± acre pond

1 well & storage tank

WALL RANCH

114± ACRES BURNET COUNTY, TEXAS

Bertram, TX

Low fenced with cross fencing

Electricity & access to city water

2 stocked ponds

½± mile of South Fork Gabriel River

100% minerals convey

OAK DRAW RANCH

190± ACRES

BURNET COUNTY, TEXAS

Kempner, TX

100+ year old Live Oaks

Large draw surrounded by hilltops

Areas of dense vegetation

360-degree views

Several ideal homesites

Excellent hunting opportunites

O-KALLY VALLEY RANCH

200± ACRES

BURNET COUNTY, TEXAS

Kempner, TX

360-degree views

Several ideal homesites

Beautiful valley with lush grasses

55± acres left untouched

Wet-weather creek with 100’ bluff

Excellent hunting opportunities

PIPKIN RANCH

82± ACRES

CALDWELL COUNTY, TEXAS

Lockhart, TX

Prime commercial investment

5± miles from Lockhart

Low fenced

Flat & grass covered 95% pasture & 5% brush

Unrestricted acreage

SOUTH PAW RANCH

59± ACRES

COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS

Farmersville, TX

6± acre conservation lake

3BR/2BA modular home

Loafing shed, lean-to barns, horse pastures & trails

Rolling countryside

Mature hardwoods & pecan trees

ROLLING OAKS RANCHETTE

20± ACRES

EDWARDS COUNTY, TEXAS

Rocksprings, TX

4,000± sq/ft Mediterranean-style main house

1,200± sq/ft guest house

Covered parking, storage, & equipment shed

Edwards water well with water lines throughout

Mature oak trees

AXIS RISE RANCH

133± ACRES EDWARDS COUNTY, TEXAS

Rocksprings, TX

800± sq/ft unfinished cabin

High fenced with 1 side low fenced

Small storage building

1 well & electricity

2WD ranch roads throughout

Ag exempt with abundant wildlife

5F RANCH

160± ACRES EDWARDS COUNTY, TEXAS

Rocksprings, TX

Gated rock entrance

Newly constructed 1,800± sq/ft metal building

Outdoor covered bar area & pool

Low fenced

Small set of deer breeding pens

Elevations from 2,100’-2,300’

OAK BLUFF RANCH

183± ACRES

EDWARDS COUNTY, TEXAS

Rocksprings, TX

Turnkey hunting ranch with views for miles

Modular home & cabin

Metal barn & 3 sheds

1 well & electric

Loaded with native wildlife & free-ranging exotics

THE SUNSET RANCH

10± ACRES ERATH COUNTY, TEXAS

Dublin, TX

Low fenced

4BR/1BA house

3-stall horse barn & RV hookup

1 water well

Rolling terrain with manicured pastures and Post Oaks

HACIENDA DE ALI

51± ACRES FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS

Needville, TX

Under an hour from Houston

Gated entrance on FM 442

7,075± sq/ft custom

Mediterranean home

2,100± sq/ft guest house

3± acre lake

RIGGS RANCH

173± ACRES FRIO COUNTY, TEXAS

Pearsall, TX

Ranch land & commercial tracts

On the corner of HWY 581 & FM 1582

3,000± sq/ft home

Horse arena, working pens, & 3 older barns

3 water wells

2 ponds

G2 RANCH

1,105± ACRES FRIO COUNTY, TEXAS

Pearsall, TX

13,000± sq/ft main lodge & additional accommodations

Commercial kitchen & dining facilities for 150± guests

Rooftop golf range, putting greens, & shooting ranges

2 stocked fishing lakes

RIVERBEND RANCH

3,434± ACRES FRIO COUNTY, TEXAS

Pearsall, TX

Both sides of Leona River frontage

2BR/2.5BA main house

Guest house

Numerous barns, shops & cattle improvements

2 lakes & several ponds

2 irrigation pivots

Managed native deer

TRES MOLINOS RESORT

119± ACRES GILLESPIE COUNTY, TEXAS

Harper, TX

Highly profitable & luxurious ranch resort

20± minutes from Fredericksburg

Multiple long & short term rentals

6 RV hookups

150 x 250 rodeo arena

Completely turnkey business

COTHERN’S TROPHY OAKS RANCH

144± ACRES GOLIAD COUNTY, TEXAS

Refugio, TX

5,039± sq/ft custom home

Guest house, foreman’s house, & cabin

Outdoor entertainment spaces

3 wells & 3 ponds

4 deer breeding pens

Trophy Whitetail & exotics

SANTA GERTRUDIS HEIGHTS

36± ACRES GUADALUPE COUNTY, TEXAS

Marion, TX

4BR/3BA/2HB custom home

Equipment barn, hay barn, & pole barn

100% open pasture

Located within Marion ISD

Will divide

SAN MARCOS RIVER 45

45± ACRES GUADALUPE COUNTY, TEXAS

Luling, TX

Outstanding commercial or residential property

250± feet of San Marcos River frontage

Wet-weather creek with culvert bridges

18± acres and be zoned for commercial use

MUNK RANCH

100± ACRES GUADALUPE COUNTY, TEXAS

Kingsbury, TX

Development potential

Low-fenced with great brush to pasture ratio

Set of working cattle pens

One well & electricity nearby

Seasonal creek

Three ponds

Ag exempt

LAZY H RANCH

120± ACRES HAMILTON COUNTY, TEXAS

Hamilton, TX

Low fenced & cross fenced 2 ponds

4,000± feet of wet-weather creek

Great grazing pastures

Mature trees

Ideal for development

HIDDEN PINE RANCHETTE

5± ACRES HARRISON COUNTY, TEXAS

Harleton, TX

Stunning 2,348± sq/ft custom home

366± sq/ft detached man cave

30x40 steel shop

Secluded by mixed timber

Located within Harleton ISD

Convenient to Lake O’ the Pines

MYSTIC RIDGE ESTATES

20± ACRE TRACTS

KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

Kerrville, TX

23 land tracts available

Outstanding 30-mile views

All lots are 20+ acres

Underground utilities County specified chip-seal roads

PEBBLE RIVER RANCH

1,200± ACRES KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

Hunt, TX

Dividable

½± mile of S. Fork Guadalupe River

1.5± miles of Cherry Creek

1± mile White Oak Creek

Improved Whitetail genetics and variety of exotics released

WHISTLING OAKS RANCH

165± ACRES KIMBLE COUNTY, TEXAS

Junction, TX

1,250± sq/ft main house & a hunter’s cabin

750± sq/ft metal barn & several storage buildings

Shared water well & windmill water well

Wet-weather creek

Rolling hills with mature oak trees & trails throughout

PINTO DRAW RANCH

202± ACRES

KINNEY COUNTY, TEXAS

Brackettville, TX

1,430’-1,638’ elevations with panoramic views

1BR/1BA cabin

Kitchen building & barn

420’ submersible pump well & 1,100’-gallon tank

Single-phase electricity

BURTS RANCH

1,919± ACRES

KINNEY COUNTY, TEXAS

Brackettville, TX

2,520± sq/ft main house

Guest & foreman’s house

High fenced

3 barns

4 wells & 12± miles of underground water lines

2 ponds

B & B RANCH

647± ACRES

LIBERTY COUNTY, TEXAS

Hardin, TX

Low fenced with cross fencing

Improved roads & a hay barn

Municipal water & electricity

1 pond and 2 wet-weather creeks

Improved pastures with dense hardwoods & pine trees

PONTOTOC RANCH

121± ACRES

MASON COUNTY, TEXAS

Pontotoc, TX

Early 1900s farmhouse

2 electric wells

1 stock tank, ½± mile of Pontotoc Creek

Flat pastures for grazing & hay production

Large Oaks across rolling terrain

Low fenced with cross fencing

QUAD A RANCH ON BRADY CREEK

490± ACRES

MCCULLOCH COUNTY, TEXAS

Brady, TX

9,000± sq/ft main home

1,600± sq/ft guest cabin

3 ponds & Brady Creek

Pastures for grazing & hay production

Mature tree coverage

Low fenced with cross fencing

THE POSTON RANCH

216± ACRES

MCLENNAN COUNTY, TEXAS

Axtell, TX

Low fenced with cross fencing

2,000± ft of wet-weather Williams Creek

6 ponds

Rural water with a water meter

Improved pastures & scattered trees

Abundant wildlife

SILVER SPUR RANCH

24± ACRES MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Natalia, TX

2,900± sq/ft house In-ground pool

10-stall horse barn

Round pen & riding arena

Irrigated pastures

Stocked ¾± acre pond

3 producing oil wells with

HONDO NORTH RANCH

30± ACRES MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Hondo, TX

Partially high fenced

1,500± feet of Hondo Creek

Large oak trees

Rolling terrain with excellent brush coverage

Electricity available at frontage

SAN GERONIMO RANCH

110± ACRES MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Rio Medina, TX

1± mile of San Geronimo Creek

30% cultivated farmland

1 pond

2 low fenced pastures

Mature tree coverage

Great hunting opportunities

OAK VIEW RANCH

160± ACRES MEDINA COUNTY, TEXAS

Hondo, TX

Beautiful elevated views

High fenced

Dense tree coverage

Rolling terrain

New electric meter

Excellent hunting

NOCONA HILLS LAKEFRONT

9± ACRES MONTAGUE COUNTY, TEXAS

Nocona, TX

Within Nocona Hills Residential Community

2,370± feet of frontage on Nocona Lake

Shared HOA water source

Incredible shared amenities

Water, electricity, & high-speed internet available

OMAHA LAND AND CATTLE

1,252± ACRES

MORRIS & TITUS COUNTIES, TEXAS

Omaha, TX

3BR/3BA modular home overlooking a lake

Multiple stocked lakes

Miles of creeks & numerous ponds

Gently rolling terrain

Manager’s house, barn, working corrals & pens

Great duck & Whitetail deer hunting

PECOS RIVER FLATS

664± ACRES

PECOS COUNTY, TEXAS

McCamey, TX

Raw, flat land with easy access

Pecos River frontage

Low fenced

Electric lines run through ranch

ATV trails

Loaded with native wildlife

TUNAS CREEK RANCH

666± ACRES PECOS COUNTY, TEXAS

McCamey, TX

3,500 sq/ft home with attached apartment

200± feet of Pecos River

2± miles of Tunas Creek

3 irrigation wells

Low fenced with cross fencing

ABLA FARM & NURSERY

73± ACRES POLK COUNTY, TEXAS

Livingston, TX

35,000± California olive trees

2 shop buildings, 6 greenhouses, & potential store

1± acre stocked pond for irrigation

2 wells, 2 septic tanks, & Orchard

Drip System

Utility easements & access to power throughout

2 BAR S RANCH

459± ACRES REAL COUNTY, TEXAS

Camp Wood, TX

Stunning hilltop views

80’-120’ elevation changes

Several ideal homesite locations

1 well & electricity

2 wet-weather creeks

Low fenced

Abundant native & exotic wildlife

COWPER RANCH

1,524± ACRES RED RIVER COUNTY, TEXAS

Detroit, TX

Over a mile of Red River frontage

Rich fertile land for crops or pasture

55-60” average yearly rainfall

Superb waterfowl hunting

Great river and bow fishing

FRANKLIN DRIVE-THRU SAFARI

240± ACRES

ROBERTSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Franklin, TX

5,000± sq ft main house with pool

7 guest cabins & additional housing

Large gift shop

Reptile & bird houses

100+ different species

WHITE WING FARMS

277± ACRES

RUNNELS COUNTY, TEXAS

Ballinger, TX

Good homesites with elevation changes

New electric water well

½± mile of wet-weather creek

1± acre pond

Livestock pens & old camp/barn

OAK MOTTE RANCH

1,124± ACRES

SUTTON COUNTY, TEXAS

Sonora, TX

4BR/2BA modular home

Well-maintained low fencing

1 well, storage tank, 3 troughs, & a pond

Rolling terrain

Open grazing for cattle

Area known for trophy axis deer

DOS CAÑONES RANCH

14,138± ACRES

TERRELL COUNTY, TEXAS

Sanderson, TX

Elevation ranges from 2,000’- 2,400’

2,750± sq/ft main house

Guest house & 2 cabins

3,300± sq/ft barn

6 water wells supply storage tanks & water troughs

Miles of creeks & 3 ponds

SABINAL RIVER RANCH

600± ACRES

UVALDE COUNTY, TEXAS

Sabinal, TX

Furnished 4BR/3BA ranch house

Shop with 2BR/2BA apartment & covered shed

1.5± miles of Sabinal River frontage

5 Ponds

2 Electric wells

Improved Whitetail & some exotics

PECOS RIVER RETREAT

35± ACRES

VAL VERDE COUNTY, TEXAS

Pandale, TX

1,200± feet of Pecos River

4BR/2BA/1HB home

1 well, electricity, & fiber optic

cable

Low fenced

Incredible West Texas topography

Complete privacy with no light pollution

ALUM CREEK RANCH

28± ACRES WILSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Stockdale, TX

Custom 2BR/1BA main house

1BR/1BA studio-style guest cabin

Horse barn & equipment barn

Tilled riding area

878± ft of live water Alum Creek

2± acre pond

100 year-old Live Oaks

SEGURA RANCH

500± ACRES

ZAPATA COUNTY, TEXAS

Zapata, TX

Excellent hunting opportunities

Over a mile of road frontage

Low fenced

Single-phase electricity

5,000± gallon storage tank

1± acre pond