ABC Bow Hunting Ranch

[Olphart]

We arrived at the ABC Bow Hunting Ranch on Friday, 9/24 and left on Sunday morning, 9/26. Our team of 5 meshed together very well and the weekend was a fun and productive experience. Our trio arrived on Friday morning and after a quick trip to town for lunch, we did a quick check of the feeders. Two Colorado guys arrived later in the day after a 12 hour drive. Adam is a very experienced shooter/hunter while Brad had just started. My youngest son, Robert, and his friend, Trevor, and I rounded out the group.

For those that haven't been there, the hunting area includes fenced acreage that contains 7 stands and feeders. It has a rocky creek that splits the property, ending in a pond on the northern end. The owner also has a "slaughter pen" of about 4 acres next to the hunting area where the owner had a few hogs and allowed the group to push the hogs to an area where another team member could get a shot from a tripod in a corner. We productively did this several times. There are accommodations not far from the hunting area that include a mobile home with sleeping room for 6, plus a newer, smaller, and very nice second trailer for another 2 hunters, if I remember the bed count correctly. Both trailers have showers, hot water, A/C and heat, but most of the cooking is on outdoor pits. A pig cleaning area is at the nearby barn/shop building, which is between the camp and the hunting area gates. The owners' grandson and friends were great help in finding and cleaning the pigs. Ollie (the lead dog) and his two companions were also helpful in locating wounded animals.

I had pigs come in to my chosen stand 3 of the 4 hunts, which was probably the most of anyone. I only connected once, but we couldn't locate that pig on Saturday night. I learned that after my group had departed on Sunday, the other two guys were able to collect the two pigs that Robert and I wounded Saturday evening with the use of the tracking dogs. The Colorado boys went home with full coolers. If I have the count correct, they took home 9 pigs, with the heaviest around 165 pounds. My son gave his pig to Trevor, which I think was around 60 pounds.

Since then, I've added a light to my bow sight to remedy one problem and I've learned a valuable lesson about shooting from a taller stand. We all had a blast and the Texas guys would welcome the chance to share another hunt with the Colorado guys (really Wisconsin and Kansas transplants) in the future.

[TexaswBOWhunter]

Congratulations to everyone that killed animals, nothing like spending time with your kids out in the woods hunting

Glad your experience was better than Erik, Lee and the rest of their group, which I seriously doubt the owner over there would make that type of mistake again this soon.....

As for that ranch, I will never step foot on it or support it in any way after the way they treated our TBH brotheren...

[WyoHunter]

Congrats to all!

[firexd]

interesting, but still happy you had a good trip

[Aggiebowhunter03]

Sounds like fun. Where is ABC Ranch?

[Olphart]

Aggie, its just outside San Saba.

[mesquitecountry]

The owner also has a "slaughter pen" of about 4 acres next to the hunting area where the owner had a few hogs and allowed the group to push the hogs to an area where another team member could get a shot from a tripod in a corner. We productively did this several times.

I'm very much an advocate of high fences and hunting and using them as a management tool. But this right here is morally, ethically, and just plain wrong to me. That is truly canned hunting. I'm sorry but that is pathetic.

I'm not judging that you did the hunt or am in anyway bashing you. It is your money and you can do with as you please. I'm saying that as a landowner, and outfitter, I am disgusted to be on the same level as an outfit like this. Morals must take a precedence in this day and age and this place has continually slapped other outfitter's in the face. We all suffer because of shenanigans like this. Landowner's and outfitter's work hard to protect and conserve wildlife. A "slaughter" pen is nothing but another black eye on our sport and a pathetic attempt to "save face."

Disgusted I am.

[FIRSTSHOT]

x2 ^^^^ MC

[BOWERIK]

I'm very much an advocate of high fences and hunting and using them as a management tool. But this right here is morally, ethically, and just plain wrong to me. That is truly canned hunting. I'm sorry but that is pathetic.

I'm not judging that you did the hunt or am in anyway bashing you. It is your money and you can do with as you please. I'm saying that as a landowner, and outfitter, I am disgusted to be on the same level as an outfit like this. Morals must take a precedence in this day and age and this place has continually slapped other outfitter's in the face. We all suffer because of shenanigans like this. Landowner's and outfitter's work hard to protect and conserve wildlife. A "slaughter" pen is nothing but another black eye on our sport and a pathetic attempt to "save face."

Disgusted I am.

Well said....that will be all.

[Ground Checkin' Heavies]

I'm very much an advocate of high fences and hunting and using them as a management tool. But this right here is morally, ethically, and just plain wrong to me. That is truly canned hunting. I'm sorry but that is pathetic.

I'm not judging that you did the hunt or am in anyway bashing you. It is your money and you can do with as you please. I'm saying that as a landowner, and outfitter, I am disgusted to be on the same level as an outfit like this. Morals must take a precedence in this day and age and this place has continually slapped other outfitter's in the face. We all suffer because of shenanigans like this. Landowner's and outfitter's work hard to protect and conserve wildlife. A "slaughter" pen is nothing but another black eye on our sport and a pathetic attempt to "save face."

Disgusted I am.

I believe that about sums up my thoughts!

[double lung]

I find it comical that we were not offered the chance to "hunt" the slaughter pen and y'all were given the opportunity to do so.

Could it be a attempt to cover up any wrong doing by the landowner?

Olphart, did y'all pay extra to hunt the slaughter pen?

[Heath]

Slaughter pen?

This guy needs a new marketing person. Terrible.

[Dr. D]

I'll just say that's about what i expected.....trying to do damage control.....too late. Glad you had a good time Olphart. I will NEVER go back, period. And will continue to tell our story.

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

Yep after the review a few weeks ago from the few guys that went and now hearing about how they set up for yall to kill pigs Im embarresed at the fact this guy even calls this place a hunting operation.

4 acres seriously. Might as well let yall hunt here.


Nothing against yall but it sounds like a pathetic attempt to make himself look good that again is a EPIC FAIL in my mind.

Think I will sell hunts to kill pigs in my figure 6 trap next time Im at the ranch.

[outdoordaddy]

Congratulations to everyone that killed animals, nothing like spending time with your kids out in the woods hunting

Glad your experience was better than Erik, Lee and the rest of their group, which I seriously doubt the owner over there would make that type of mistake again this soon.....

As for that ranch, I will never step foot on it or support it in any way after the way they treated our TBH brotheren...

x2...you treat someone right and they will tell a few close brothers. Treat someone like crap and they will tell everyone!