A packing list for a Hill Country exotic hunt: license, rifle or bow, groceries, and what to wear each season, from 30 years of NOAA weather data.
This is the list we'd hand a hunter who has just booked. It is short on gear talk and long on the things that actually go wrong: a license left to the last minute, a weapon that doesn't match the animal, a cold morning in a light jacket, no ice for the drive home. Most of it holds year-round. The clothing doesn't, so the weather below comes from NOAA's 30-year averages, not guesswork.
Papers
Buy your Texas hunting license before you arrive, and bring a photo ID and, if you were born on or after September 2, 1971, proof of hunter education. Our guide explains which Texas license you need.
You'll sign a waiver on site, and the balance is due when the hunt is complete.
Rifle or bow
Bring your rifle and its ammunition, or your bow and arrows. If you'd rather not travel with a rifle, tell us when you reserve and we'll talk about using one of ours. Either way, tell us what you're bringing, because some species at Black Eagle are rifle-only. Bring the same load your rifle is sighted in with, bring enough of it, and check your zero before the trip. If you're hunting with a bow, read our notes on bow hunting exotics in Texas.
Flying in? Under TSA rules, a firearm must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided case and carried as checked baggage only. Ammunition goes in checked baggage too, in a box made for ammunition, and it may ride in the same locked case as the rifle. Declare both to the airline at the ticket counter, and ask your airline about its own limits and fees. San Antonio International is the closest major airport; see our notes on coming in from San Antonio.
Food and lodging
Meals aren't included, so bring your own groceries. Our new lodge opens in Spring 2027. For groups larger than eight, we'll help you arrange nearby lodging.
Plan groceries for every day you'll be at the ranch, plus food and water you can carry in the field. Fredericksburg, about 25 minutes east of Harper, and Kerrville, about 35 minutes south, both have full-size grocery stores if you'd rather shop on the way in.
What to wear in winter (December to February)
Hill Country winters are mild by afternoon and cold at first light. These are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages for Fredericksburg, about 25 minutes from Harper:
- December: high 61.4°F, low 35.8°F, about a dozen nights that reach freezing.
- January: high 59.8°F, low 34.2°F, about 13 nights that reach freezing.
- February: high 63.8°F, low 38.5°F, about 8 nights that reach freezing.
That is a swing of about 25 degrees between the average low and the average high, and any given morning can run colder than the average. Dress in layers you can take off: a warm base, an insulating layer and a jacket that cuts the wind, with a warm hat and gloves for the morning. By midday most of it will be in your pack.
Pack for first light, not for the afternoon.
Spring, summer and fall
Spring (March to May): average highs climb from 71°F in March to 84°F in May, with lows from 46°F to 63°F. May is the wettest month of the year in Fredericksburg, with about 4.3 inches of rain on average, so bring a rain shell.
Summer (June to August): average highs of 90 to 94°F, with lows near 70°F. Wear light, breathable clothing, bring a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, and carry more water than you think you need.
Fall (September to November): average highs drop from 88°F in September to 68°F in November, and lows from 64°F to 44°F. Cool mornings return in October, and November averages about five nights that reach freezing, so a late-fall hunt calls for the winter list. For which animals are at their best in each season, read the best time of year to hunt exotics.
Hunter orange
Texas doesn't require hunter orange on private land, though Texas Parks & Wildlife recommends it for safety. If you like to wear it, an orange cap or vest takes little room in the bag.
The rest of the list
- Binoculars.
- Boots you have already broken in.
- Layers you can shed as the day warms.
- Gloves and a warm hat from November through February.
- A rain shell, especially in spring.
- A headlamp for the dark before first light.
- Sunscreen and a water bottle, in every season.
- Ear protection.
- A rangefinder, if you hunt with a bow.
- Any medication you need for the trip.
- A cooler and plenty of ice for the drive home.
Getting meat and trophies home
If you take a whitetail, Texas carcass rules follow it off the property. Under TPWD carcass rules, you may debone the meat as long as it stays in whole muscles, not ground, chopped or sliced. Meat from each deer travels in its own bag or container, and proof of sex and the tag stay with the meat until it reaches its final destination. Unused carcass parts that leave the property must be disposed of the way TPWD sets out. TPWD recommends, but doesn't require, the same disposal measures for exotic deer such as elk, red deer and sika. Chronic wasting disease rules can change from season to season, so check TPWD's current CWD page before you travel.
Taxidermy is at the hunter's expense. Call your taxidermist before the trip and ask how they want the cape handled and when they want it delivered, so you arrive with the right cooler and a plan.
Non-hunting guests are $150 a day, and they should pack the same way: layers, good boots, water and their share of the groceries. If you're wondering about something that isn't on this list, call Daniel at (830) 928-3161 or Todd at (409) 300-0575. Cancellations need two weeks' notice, a hunt cancelled for weather is fully refunded, and our reservation policies cover the rest. When you're ready, reserve your hunt.
