An elegant, graceful antelope, the scimitar-horned oryx is famous for its long, ridged, sharp-tipped horns curving back over its shoulders — thought to be the origin of the unicorn legend. The species is extinct in the wild, and South Texas ranches are among the places that now hold it. It is well suited here. Oryx tolerate a rise in body temperature of several degrees rather than sweating it off, which conserves water, and they shed the excess heat at night. Their white coat reflects the sun, their black skin and tongue tip resist sunburn, and their enlarged hooves carry them over sand. Three days, guided, in brush country that stands in for the habitat they came from. The ranch is 1,500 acres of South Texas brush country, family owned and operated. There is lodging with air conditioning and food on site, and meat processing is included. A valid Texas hunting licence is bought separately by the hunter. Bookings go through their Instagram, @sn.ranch.
