Guest Info

• Personal items, hunting clothes/footwear and gun are the only things you need to bring.  Everything else we have covered. There is an option for a gun rental if lodging at the 501 Ranch if you prefer to not travel with a gun.

Our team is equipped with everything we need to make your time with us as smooth and enjoyable as possible. We are always adding to and improving our gear we use in the field, things as small as hand warmers and waters in the blind to chairs, blinds, decoys and side by sides to get you to and from the blind and much more.

• We encourage bringing your own weapon that you are most comfortable with.
• For dove packages, ammo is not provided, but can be purchased in town at our local outdoor store. 
• For waterfowl packages, Migra Ammunition is provided for each hunt.

• For our 501 camp, we do have the option to rent a Benelli M2 for $100/day if needed.
• For our Charlotte & Riviera camps, we do not have an option to rent weapons.

• For dove hunting, light-weight earth toned or camo & hunting boots.
• For waterfowl hunting, weather for our area is unpredictable when it comes to the temperature. We suggest the week leading up to your trip, watch the temps for San Antonio and pack accordingly, we always suggest bringing a warm jacket that can be shed easily for the crisp mornings that turn hot mid day. Half the time our guides are picking up decoys in tshirts. Waterproof ankle to knee boots will work just fine for our waterfowl trips. It is rare that our hunts will require waders, when scouting for your trip, if it seems like we will be hunting an area that requires waders, we will be in contact the week leading up to let you know.

• Each part of the season in our area provides a different experience and a different catalog of memories to take home. We don’t book a hunt unless we know it will provide an experience that we are proud of. Early November is lighter on cranes and geese and heavier on ducks as cranes take a bit longer to make their way into our area. December and January is a healthy mix of crane, goose and duck with the option for winter dove thrown into the mix.

• For dove, we have the option for either 3 day/2 night or 4 day/3 night packages that include 3 dove hunts, some groups like to add the extra day on to their trip to enjoy more time at the ranch being able to enjoy the amenities more. 
• For the first two weeks of November we offer a 3 day/2 night package that focuses more on ducks. The majority of the time, big birds aren’t ripe enough yet so we hyper focus on the unique species of ducks that inhabit our area during that same time period. For the last two weeks of November through the end of season in January our waterfowl hunts are all 4 day/3 night packages.

• Families are more than welcome at any of our camps. The youngest we recommend in the blind is 5 years old. The minimum age of someone hunting  is based on the confidence of the hunter paired with a strong understanding of safety and guidance from their guardian. We are always honored to be a part of the foundational memories of someone falling in love with the sport we love so much along with the opportunity to experience the beauty the Lord has created for us to enjoy.

• The terrain for our hunts are on flat, easy ground with no long hikes to the blind. Depending on the hunt scenario, you will either be shuttled from your truck to the blind or you will be able to drive your truck up to the blind. In the past we have had the true honor of being able to take gentlemen, who have hunted their entire lives, on their last hunt as they retire from the sport due to physical ability and energy. We can accommodate any level of physical fitness. 

• No prior experience is needed to hunt with us. All of our guides are knowledgeable in helping build skill and confidence in guests who have never hunted before. We are always honored to be able to introduce the love of hunting to new friends. 

• 501 Camp: Primarily Mourning Dove, we catch all the central flyway puddle ducks, Sandhill Crane & Specklebelly Geese.

• We want every hunt to be a success, weeks leading up to your hunt our guides are running the roads to see where birds are at. The week prior to your arrival, we typically have a solid idea of what your hunts will look like, if for some reason we don’t have enough birds for us to feel confident in hosting your group, we will reach out to try to reschedule your hunt. This has rarely occurred in our 8 years of hosting groups. 
•  

• Federal waterfowl stamp
• Migratory game bird
• Resident or non-resident 5 day special hunting license 
• Sandhill Crane permit (If hunting waterfowl)
• Texas State HIP certification 
• Hunter’s Education Certification, unless born before September 2, 1971

• We can transport a smaller group in our guide’s trucks if needed.

• During dove season in our area, if there is a chance of rain it doesn’t typically last all day. In these cases of rain being forecasted we will adjust to either a morning or evening hunt to dodge the rain. For waterfowl hunts, we rarely have to reschedule due to inclement weather. If the weather is going to negatively impact your entire trip, we will work to reschedule.

• Meals are provided with all lodging options at each camp. 

• All of our guides are CPR certified and carry a military grade bleed kit in their truck to assist in any type of injury that may occur while in the field. Our guides are required to have their phone on them the entire time they are in the field with guests to be able to call for help if needed.
•  

• We ask that our guests refrain from bringing their hunting dog with them on their trip. As much as we would love to say “yes” because we know the bond between dog and hunter, safety of our dogs and yours is our top priority. Our dogs work day after day for months straight each year in these fields and ponds and we want to eliminate any chance of tension between them and new dogs in their space when out on a retrieve. Our dogs have also learned how to properly handle encounters with wounded cranes that can be dangerous and harmful to a dog that has never come in contact with a bird of that size. 

• For dove, we can accommodate up to 62 hunters comfortably. 
• For waterfowl we can accommodate up to 15 hunters.

• We have multiple lodging options that are handicap accessible, if this is something you are needing to request, please reach out to us so we can find lodging that would work for your needs.
• When it comes to hunting with us, experiencing the blessing of the outdoors is for everyone. We can make anything happen for anyone with any level of physical ability.