Rest assured we don’t have any lions out here at Rancho Las Norias, but we do have a growing herd of wildebeests that go about their day snorting and shuffling through our fields of native grasslands. The wildebeest, a member of the grazing antelope family, is an interesting-looking animal graced with the head of an ox, the mane and tail of a horse, and the horns of a buffalo. Something about this combination and its overall unusual look is a little intimidating and often leads people to the wrongful assumption that it is an aggressive animal. The truth is that although the wildebeest is known to be territorial, it is also very shy and usually runs away from conflict reaching stampede speeds of up to 50 mph. Read more about wildebeests here.

In their native Africa these large, graceful animals are known for their annual Great Migration through the Serengeti and Masai Mara National Parks in search of new pastures, and during which many often fall prey to lions. Here in south Texas though hunters play a key role in controlling wildebeest populations, relieving pressure off privately owned lands, and allowing non-hunters to continue to enjoy and observe these beautiful animals.

The typical mature wildebeest yields about 170 pounds of healthy, super lean, 97% fat-free meat that’s similar to venison. We hear they make tasty burgers and steaks, and you can read about one man’s experience with wildebeest steaks (complete with pictures) here during this journey to eat “52 beasts in 52 days.” That said, because wildebeest meat is so low in fat, special care should be taken when preparing it so that it doesn’t over cook and end up dry. It is also strongly recommended that wildebeest steaks be marinated for at least 24 hours before cooked. In some parts of Africa wildebeest meat is used to produce a local delicacy called biltong, which is essentially dried game meat and quite similar to our beloved jerky.

We are currently offering one (1) hunter the opportunity to hunt (1) wildebeest out here in south Texas at Rancho Las Norias. The hunt will take a day or two in order to stalk the wildebeest and get within hunting range without spooking the herd off. Please contact us for more information if you’re interested in this rare opportunity to hunt a wildebeest here at Rancho Las Norias.