STAFF REPORT
Blackbuck antelope and axis deer have made a home of the Ruby Ranch since 1961, when Cecil Ruby introduced the nonnative species to a 3,800-acre, tall-fenced area of his sprawling estate west of Buda.
From 1972 until his death in 1993, Ruby leased the grazing and hunting rights to the legendary Y.O. Ranch, headquartered west of Kerrville. When Ruby died his heirs divided the family land, with a portion being developed into the Ruby Ranch subdivision, and half maintained as the Dahlstrom Ranch.
Exotic hunting continues to this day at the Dahlstrom Ranch, which is protected from development by a conservation easement and has introduced several new exotic species – red deer; fallow deer; aoudad, red and Corsican sheep; and Dama gazelle, which are native to the Saharan desert.
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The ruminants of Ruby Ranch:
Blackbuck antelope Small, isolated populations of these corkscrew-horned ruminants exist in the plains and open woodlands of their native India and Pakistan. Though they were once widespread, extensive hunting and habitat destruction have left them near endangerment. More than 80 percent of the blackbucks in Texas inhabit the Edwards Plateau region. Cost to shoot a blackbuck buck at the Dahlstrom Ranch in Buda: $1,500
Axis deer Native to India, where they are known as the “chital,” axis deer were introduced into Texas in the early 1930s. The deer are known for their white spots and three tines on each antler. Traveling in herds that can exceed 100, their leader is usually an old, experienced doe. Axis are anatomically more similar to elk than to native deer of Texas. Cost to shoot an axis buck at the Dahlstrom Ranch: $2,000
Fallow deer A rarer sight for Ruby Ranch residents, these medium-sized, rangy deer inhabit the area’s creek bottoms and can hop the tall fence separating the subdivision from the game reserve next door. They are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and the Middle East and are widespread on the British Isles, where they were introduced by the Romans around 2,000 years ago. Cost to shoot a fallow buck at the Dahlstrom Ranch: $2,500
Sources:
Sources: Texas Tech University’s Natural Science Research Laboratory; and Flatrock Wildlife, which manages hunting at the Dahlstrom Ranch
