An elegant, graceful antelope, the Scimitar Oryx is famous for its impressively long, ridged, sharp-tipped, and curved backward horns — which are thought to be behind the unicorn legend. Even though they are extinct in the wild, S&N Ranch’s 1,500 acres are home to the scimitar-horned oryx. These exotic animals are supremely adapted to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Region. Chase after these beautiful white and rust-colored at S&N Ranch, and maybe you’ll get your shot at a unicorn.
This guided trip is set in the Texas brush country to emulate the original habitat of the oryx. This trip is perfect for those who are seeking the opportunity to hunt truly exotic game that is nearly impossible to find elsewhere. With S&N Ranch, your every need will be met to the highest standard. Accommodations:
Oryx are mostly white with reddish brown necks and marks on the face and a long, dark, tufted tail. The white coat helps reflect the heat of the desert. Their black skin and tip of the tongue protect against sunburn while enlarged hooves enable the oryx to walk easily on sand. Dense eyelashes and strong eyelids protect against windblown sand. Both male and female scimitar-horned oryx have long and curved backward horns that grow to be several feet long.
Scimitar-horned oryx have an interesting way of coping with a shortage of water, which is why they are well suited for South Texas. They are able to tolerate a rise in body temperature by several degrees. Being able to tolerate an internal body temperature of 116 degrees Fahrenheit means oryx do not need to sweat as much, which in turn conserves water. This adaptive hyperthermia allows them to rid themselves of excess heat at night when their body temperatures can drop below normal.
Due to human disturbance, over-hunting, drought, and loss of food because of excessive livestock grazing, the scimitar-horned oryx is now extinct in the wild, though surveys show that Niger and Chad may have appropriate habitat for reintroduction, and some reintroductions have begun in Tunisia. While they may not be truly “wild” anymore, there are some South Texas ranches that host the exotic species on their property.
S&N Ranch is a family-owned and operated ranch nestled in southern Texas, perfect for the hunter looking to harvest a trophy whitetail and other exotics.
