If you’ve ever scrolled through hunting forums late at night, you’ve probably seen the name pop up. Tusk and Tail Ranch isn’t just another high-fence operation tucked away in the Texas brush. It’s different. People talk about the genetics, sure, but mostly they talk about the experience of being out there when the sun starts to dip below the horizon and the shadows of Axis deer start stretching across the scrub. It feels raw.
Hunting in Texas is a weird, beautiful beast. Most of the state is private land, which has birthed this massive industry of managed ranches. Some feel like Disney World with camo. Tusk and Tail Ranch doesn't really fit that mold. Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country—specifically near Junction—it manages to balance that rugged, "get your boots dirty" reality with the kind of management that produces world-class trophies.
It's about the dirt. The Kimble County limestone.
The Reality of Hunting at Tusk and Tail Ranch
People show up for the hogs. Let's be honest. Texas has a pig problem, but at Tusk and Tail, it’s less about pest control and more about the pursuit. They offer year-round hunting, which is a huge draw for guys who can't wait for the traditional fall deer season to kick off. You can head out there in the dead of summer or the bite of January and find something moving.
The ranch focuses heavily on exotics. We're talking Axis deer, Blackbuck, and Aoudad. If you haven’t hunted Axis, you’re missing out on arguably the best-tasting venison on the planet. Seriously. It’s lean, it lacks that "gamey" punch people complain about with Whitetail, and it looks incredible on a wall.
Management matters here. You can't just throw a fence around a thousand acres and expect greatness. The staff at Tusk and Tail Ranch spend a ridiculous amount of time on supplemental feeding and habitat preservation. They aren't just guides; they're land stewards. When you sit in a blind there, you aren't just looking at a feeder. You're looking at a carefully curated ecosystem designed to let these animals reach their full potential.
Why the Texas Hill Country Matters
The terrain is a nightmare for your shins but a dream for the hunt. It’s rocky. It’s thorny. It’s beautiful.
Junction, Texas, sits where the Llano River forks. The draws and ridges around Tusk and Tail Ranch provide natural funnels for game movement. It’s not flat. If you're used to hunting the Midwest, the verticality of the Hill Country will surprise you. You'll find yourself glassing across canyons, trying to pick out the white spots of an Axis buck hiding in the cedar brakes. It's challenging.
It's also hot. Hydration isn't a suggestion; it's a requirement.
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What to Expect When You Arrive
Usually, the first thing you notice is the quiet. It’s that deep, Texas quiet that only gets broken by the crunch of gravel under a truck tire or the distant call of a Rio Grande turkey. The lodging isn't some five-star gold-plated resort, and that's a good thing. It’s comfortable. It’s clean. It’s exactly what a hunting camp should be—a place to swap stories, drink a cold beer, and prep your gear for the morning.
The guides are the heartbeat of the place. They know the animals. They know which buck has been hanging out by the north water hole and which one has been ghosting the cameras for three weeks.
- Semi-guided options: For the guy who wants to do his own thing but needs a nudge in the right direction.
- Fully guided hunts: Best for those targeting a specific trophy or hunters new to the Hill Country terrain.
- Night hunts: This is where the hog hunting gets intense. Thermal optics change the game.
Hog hunting at night is a visceral experience. You’re scanning the darkness, and suddenly the screen glows with heat signatures. A sounder of twenty pigs emerges from the brush. Your heart does a little dance. It’s fast-paced, high-adrenaline, and incredibly effective for local predator and pest control.
The Genetic Game
Tusk and Tail Ranch doesn't just rely on luck. They invest in genetics. When you see a Blackbuck with those tight, dark spirals or an Axis with beams that seem to touch the sky, that's the result of years of selective harvesting. They don't over-hunt their land. If the pressure gets too high, the animals go nocturnal or move to the thickest cover available. The ranch managers are smart enough to rotate areas, giving the game a break and keeping the "wild" in the hunt.
Logistics and the "Hidden" Costs
Nobody likes surprises when the bill comes. When booking at Tusk and Tail Ranch, or really any Texas ranch, you have to look at the trophy fees.
Typically, you pay a daily rate which covers your lodging, meals, and basic guide services. Then, there's the "kill fee" or trophy fee based on the animal you harvest. An Axis buck is going to cost more than a hog. A "Gold Medal" class animal will cost more than a management buck. It’s a transparent system, but you need to do the math beforehand.
Don't forget the processor and the taxidermist. Most ranches have local partners who can handle the meat and the mounts. If you’re flying in, you’ll need to figure out how to get that meat home. Dry ice and specialized coolers are your friends. Or, honestly, just donate the meat if you can't take it—there are plenty of "Hunters for the Hungry" programs in Texas that will take it.
Packing List Essentials
Don't bring your heavy mountain boots. You need something breathable but tough enough to stop a cactus spine.
- Snake gaiters: Just do it. Rattlesnakes are real, and they don't care about your weekend plans.
- Lightweight camo: Think breathable. Even in October, Texas can hit 90 degrees.
- Good glass: You’ll spend more time looking than shooting. Invest in 10x42 binoculars.
- Rangefinder: The hills can play tricks on your eyes. An 80-yard shot can look like 120 across a draw.
The Ethics of the High Fence
Let's address the elephant in the room. Some people look down on high-fence hunting. They think it’s "shooting fish in a barrel."
If you think that, you haven't hunted a large Texas ranch.
These aren't backyard pens. We're talking hundreds or thousands of acres of dense cover. These animals are born wild on the property. They have instincts. They see you, they smell you, and they leave. Tusk and Tail Ranch emphasizes fair chase within the confines of the property. You still have to play the wind. You still have to be quiet. You still have to make a clean shot.
The benefit of the fence isn't making the hunt "easy"—it's about controlling the population and the health of the herd. It allows the ranch to ensure the animals have enough food and stay disease-free, which isn't always possible on open range.
Actionable Steps for Your First Visit
If you're ready to pull the trigger on a trip to Tusk and Tail Ranch, don't just call and book the first date available.
First, decide what you actually want to hunt. If it's Axis, aim for late spring or early summer when they are in hard horn. If it's Whitetail, you're locked into the standard Texas season.
Second, check your gear. Make sure your rifle is zeroed at 100 yards at the very least. Most shots in the Hill Country happen between 75 and 150 yards, but you might need to reach out further across a canyon.
Third, talk to the ranch directly about their current animal inventory. Ranches are dynamic. A wildfire, a drought, or a particularly hard freeze can change things. Ask them: "What are you seeing on the cameras right now?"
Finally, book your flight into San Antonio or Austin. San Antonio is a bit closer and offers a straighter shot up I-10 to Junction. Rent a truck. Don't try to take a sedan into the Hill Country; the caliche roads will eat it alive.
Get your license sorted before you arrive. The Texas Parks and Wildlife website is pretty straightforward, but you don't want to be fumbling with a login on the morning of your hunt. If you're out-of-state, get the 5-day special exotic license if you aren't chasing Whitetail; it's cheaper and covers exactly what you need for Axis or Blackbuck.
This isn't just a vacation. It's an investment in a memory. When you're sitting around the fire at Tusk and Tail Ranch, looking up at a sky so full of stars it looks fake, you'll get it. The hunt is just the excuse to be there.