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Lopez Ranch Properties

Affordable Hunting Packages in Texas: What You’ll Really Pay

Hunting Packaging

Affordable hunting packages in Texas can range from simple day hunts to multi-day guided trips with lodging and meals. The final cost depends on the animal, season, ranch location, guide support, lodging, meals, licenses, and whether the hunt is private or shared. A cheap hunt is not always the best value. The better question is: […]

Helicopter Hog Hunting: What to Expect on Your First Hunt

Helicopter hog hunting

Key Takeaways Helicopter hog hunting gives hunters a fast, high-adrenaline way to experience Texas ranchland from the air. A first-time helicopter hog hunt usually starts with a safety briefing, gear check, aircraft instructions, firearm guidance, and a planned flight over approved private land. The experience is faster, louder, and more active than a traditional ground […]

Do You Need a Hunting License to Hunt Wild Quail in Texas?

feature image for the blog about quail hunt license

Yes. To hunt wild quail in Texas, you need a valid hunting license plus an Upland Game Bird Endorsement, and proof of Hunter Education if you were born on or after September 2, 1971. This applies to residents and non-residents alike, on private land and public land. A resident license runs $25, and the endorsement […]

Do You Need a Hunting License to Hunt Hogs in Texas?

Feature image for the blog about helicopter hog hunting

Usually, no. On private land with the landowner’s consent, you do not need a Texas hunting license to hunt feral hogs, and that applies to residents and non-residents alike. A license is only required on public land. Either way, there’s no hog tag, no bag limit, and no closed season on private property.   This […]

Texas Quail Species: All 4 Birds and Where to Hunt Them

Quail Species

Four species live in Texas. Three of them you can hunt. Here’s how to tell them apart, what each one does when your dog gets close, and where you’ll actually find them. Written by Pete and Eliseo, hunting guides at Lopez Ranch Properties. Both grew up on the ranch, went to school in Zapata, and […]

Quail Hunting in South Texas: Where to Find the Best Wild Birds

Feature image for the blog about wild quail hunting in south texas

The best wild quail hunting in Texas is in the South Texas brush country. The region’s dense native cover holds stronger, more stable bobwhite numbers than anywhere else in the state, which is why serious upland hunters keep pointing their trucks south. The season runs November through February, and the birds here are wild, not […]

Wild Quail Hunting Season in Texas 2026-2027: Dates & What to Expect

Texas Hunting Season 2026-2027

Wild quail hunting season in Texas runs statewide from November 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027. Unlike some species, it doesn’t split by zone , every county in the state opens and closes on the same calendar. What sets South Texas apart isn’t extra hunting days; it’s the brush-country habitat that produces bigger, healthier coveys […]

Texas Dove Hunting Packing List: What to Bring on a Guided South Texas Hunt

dove hunting boots

Key Takeaways Start with legal items first: hunting license, Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, HIP certification, and hunter education proof if required. Your core dove hunting gear should include a legal shotgun, proper shells, eye protection, ear protection, and a vest or field bag. South Texas can be hot during early dove season, so water, sunscreen, […]