Larry Zielke 03 April 2010 . . . → Read More: LATEST KILLS AT THE RANCH]]> Congratulations to these guys!

Larry Zielke 03 April 2010 40 LBS

IMPORTANT NOTE: DUE TO OPERATIONAL . . . → Read More: 2009/10 HUNTING DETAILS]]> The 2009-2010 NASK Hunting Instructions and details for Escondido Ranch are now posted. You can download them from the following links, or under the download section of this site. Please read the entire instruction carefully. If you have questions, please contact the ranch at 830-373-4419, or the MWR ITT office at 361-516-6449.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DUE TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, HUNTING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AT NALF ORANGE GROVE IN 2009-2010.

2009-2010 ESCONDIDO RANCH DETAILS

Ranch Schedule
Escondido Ranch will open for 2009-2010 hunting seasons on 18 September. Details regarding specific hunting seasons for all game are detailed below.  Please note the below dates that the ranch will be closed during the seasons.

                                25-29 November (Thanksgiving)
                                23 December – 2 January (Christmas & New Years)

                                27-28 March 2010 (NAS Kingsville Air Show)                                                                

Archery Only Season
Archery only deer season is scheduled for 3 October – 6 November.
Please Note: No trophy bucks will be harvested during archery only season.

Special Youth Hunt
Our special Youth Hunt is scheduled for 31 October & 1 November. A special draw will be conducted for one antlered deer prior to the hunt for all youth hunters that are present.

Wounded Warrior Hunt
Escondido Ranch will once again host the Wounded Warriors. This great event is tentatively scheduled for 11-15 January.

Antlered Deer Hunt Periods & Draw Dates

First Hunt Period:             7 November – 24 November
                                                *(Draw date: Wednesday 7 Oct. 0700 at MWR ITT Office, Bldg 3766)

Second Hunt Period:      30 November – 22 December
                                                *(Draw date: Wednesday 28 Oct. 0700 at MWR ITT Office, Bldg 3766)     

Third Hunt Period:           2 January – 31 January (Antler season ends 17 January)
                                                *(Draw date: Wednesday 2 Dec. 0700 at MWR ITT Office, Bldg 3766)

*Deadline for entering any given draw is close of business the day prior to the scheduled draw.

Fees

Big Game Hunt Fee (per day)   $100
Small Game/Bird Hunt Fee (per day)  $50
Trophy Buck Kill Fee   (Active Duty) $300    (Retired/DOD) $450
Management Buck Kill Fee  (Active Duty) $250    (Retired/DOD) $325
Doe Kill Fee  (Active Duty) $50    (Retired/DOD) $75
Hog/Javelina Kill Fee  (Active Duty) $50    (Retired/DOD) $75
Bobcat/Coyote  (Active Duty) $50/25    (Retired/DOD) $75/25

INSTRUCTIONS
NASKINGINST 1710.27E – revised 09.04.09 – Official hunting instruction.
NASKINGSNOTE 1710 - Official Deer Tag Draw guidelines for 2009-2010.
KING’S HUNT CLUB - revised .1.25.09 – King’s Hunt Club Membership Form

Congratulations MNC Bowman, MN2 Harrington and Christian.

Week of 30 Mar - 5 . . . → Read More: Turkey Hunt]]> There were five turkey’s shot last weekend. 

Congratulations MNC Bowman, MN2 Harrington and Christian.

Week of 30 Mar - 5 Apr, 09

Participation in the MLDP program requires a written Wildlife Management Plan (WMP) approved by a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist. 

There are . . . → Read More: Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP)]]> The Managed Lands Deer Permit (MLDP) program allows land owners involved in a formal management program to have the state’s most flexible seasons and increased harvest opportunities.  The program is incentive based and habitat focused.

Participation in the MLDP program requires a written Wildlife Management Plan (WMP) approved by a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist. 

There are 3 levels of MLDP’s (Levels 1, 2 & 3).  Higher levels offer more flexibility for the land owner, but also have more stingent requirements such as keeping reliable harvest records.  Providing good harvest data, including accurate ages of harvested animals as determined by tooth wear is a requirement of the program.  This is easily accomplished by removing a jawbone from every harvested deer.

An application for a Level 2 MLDP was submitted in mid March to TPWD and is currently awaiting approval.

Requirements for Level 2 MLDP include the following:

1) The approved WMP must include deer population data from the current year and the preceding year, complete deer harvest data (including age, weight and antler data) from the preceding year and must identify at least 2 recommended habitat management practices that are being conducted or are being conducted on the property.

2) Every harvested deer, (buck and antlerless)  must be tagged with an appropriate Level 2 MLDP.

3) The landowner must accomplish at least 2 habitat management practices specified in the WMP within 3 years of initial permit issuance.  The habitat management practices and harvest management must maintain the habitat in a stable or improving condition.

Benefits of a Level 2 MLDP include:

1) The Level 2 MLDP will allow us to more effectively manage our doe populations by preceeding the standard rifle season by approximately 4 weeks and extending it until the end of February.   By lengthing the doe rifle season, our hunters will have additional opportunites to harvest does.   Harvesting does helps us keep our doe/buck ratio and deer density (deer/acre) in check.

2) Level 2 MLDP also allows for the harvest of any antlered deer by a youth during the Youth-Only hunting season in late October.  Last year Escondido Ranch participated in both statewide Youth-Only hunts.  With a Level 2 MLDP, we may be able to offer some youngster the opportunity to harvest a nice buck!

Check back later for the status of the MLDP for Escondido Ranch.

Escondido Ranch would like to thank MGySgt Arturo Garcia and Veteran Navy Pilot LCDR Bob Pariseau for . . . → Read More: WOUNDED MARINES HUNT]]>
Escondido Ranch hosted a group of wounded Marines from Brooke Army Medical Center from 13-15 January. The guys definitley made the most of the trip …taking seven nice doe, a huge feral hog,  two Bobcats, and a 120 1/4 class Boone & Crockett buck. 

Escondido Ranch would like to thank MGySgt Arturo Garcia and Veteran Navy Pilot LCDR Bob Pariseau for bringing out the Marines.  We very much appreciate the opportunity they gave us to host these great Americans.  

Successful Hunters:
Zach Briseno – Trophy Buck (122 1/4), Doe (100 lbs), 2 Bobcats
Jose A. Martinez III - 3 Doe
Joseluiz Ruiz – 1 Doe, 1 Hog (180 lbs)
Andrew Quansnitshka – 2 Doe

Zach Briseno - 122 1/4 Boone & Crockett

Joseluis Ruiz Jr - Ferrel Hog (180 lbs)

Each year we conduct an annual wildlife survey to help determine harvest numbers for the coming year.  The entire ranch is flown in late Febuary when the leaves have dropped from the vegetation to ensure the best visibility from above.  Check back for our 2009 results in March.

Rich Riddle Natural Resources . . . → Read More: HELICOPTER SURVEY]]>

Each year we conduct an annual wildlife survey to help determine harvest numbers for the coming year.  The entire ranch is flown in late Febuary when the leaves have dropped from the vegetation to ensure the best visibility from above.  Check back for our 2009 results in March.

Rich Riddle
Natural Resources Program Manager

Jeff Connor bagged his 16-point whitetail on Saturday 10 Jan 2009. Jeff’s big buck had a gross Boone & Crockett score of 155 1/4. Ranch staff estimates that Jeff took this monster at around 0930. The big ones are out there folks! . . . → Read More: JEFF CONNOR TAKES TROPHY]]>

Jeff Connor bagged his 16-point whitetail on Saturday 10 Jan 2009. Jeff’s big buck had a gross Boone & Crockett score of 155 1/4. Ranch staff estimates that Jeff took this monster at around 0930. The big ones are out there folks! Congrats Jeff!

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) of Naval Air Station Kingsville manages this commercially developed hunting ranch. Escondido Ranch is located 90 miles from Kingsville, Texas. The ranch has lodging accommodations for over 70 guests with a 13 room lodge, separate cabin and seven large (29 ft) . . . → Read More: ESCONDIDO RANCH – SOUTH TEXAS JEWEL]]> ESCONDIDO RANCH

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) of Naval Air Station Kingsville manages this commercially developed hunting ranch. Escondido Ranch is located 90 miles from Kingsville, Texas. The ranch has lodging accommodations for over 70 guests with a 13 room lodge, separate cabin and seven large (29 ft) campers. Each room in the lodge is furnished with a full size bed, bunk bed and a refrigerator. There is also a large cook house adjacent to the lodging area that has 4 BBQ pits, 2 ovens and a gas grill. The cabin and campers each have there own complete kitchens and bathrooms. All of these lodging and accommodating features are conveniently situated on nearly 6,800 acres of prime Texas hunting land. The year round wildlife management program on Escondido is designed to make your stay both enjoyable and successful.