Outfitter Review – Y.O. Ranch Headquarters: A Texas Hunting Destination
Driving along the dirt road past 100+-year-old buildings with the sun beating down, I could see why the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters is called the “Africa of Texas.” The legendary ranch consists of 11,000 acres of thriving exotic animals native to the African continent, who live amicably alongside the native whitetails. It’s no wonder hunters from across the globe travel to this rugged slice of Texas to hunt safari-style at the Y.O. I would soon learn that the ranch is much more than an outdoorsman’s vacation destination – it is a landmark of Texas history.
History
The Y.O. is known today as “America’s Original Game Ranch.” The ranch was born in 1880 when Charles Schreiner, a Texas Ranger and immigrant from Alsace Lorraine, purchased the Y.O. brand and cattle from a gulf-coast cattle rancher. He paid for the new acquisition with money he earned driving more than 300,000 longhorn cattle to Dodge City, Kansas. Schreiner settled the Y.O. on a 69,000-acre plot of land located 40 miles west of Kerrville. In 1914, his youngest son, Walter, inherited the ranch. When Walter died in 1933, his wife Myrtle took over the management of the ranch. Myrtle made a strategic decision that would forever change the landscape of the ranch. In 1943, Myrtle Schreiner leased the ranch out for whitetail deer hunting. This made the Y.O. the first ranch in Texas to lease land for hunting. Importantly, it provided a new and profitable revenue stream.
The person most responsible for making the Y.O. into the legendary game ranch it is today was Myrtle’s son Charles Schreiner III. When he took over operations in the early 1950s, Charlie III (as he was known, or simply “Three”) was approached by the curator of the San Antonio Zoo. The Zoo had a surplus of animals, he explained, and the curator suggested that Charlie III take some to the Y.O. Ranch and see how they would adapt. Charlie III introduced several African species to the ranch, including blackbuck antelope, axis deer, sika deer, fallow deer, and aoudad sheep. He found that these animals survived and thrived in central Texas. The effort was so successful that, soon, overpopulation became an issue, so a management program was implemented to control the heard size.
Hunting profits for exotics soon became one of the primary revenue sources for the ranch. Other exotics were introduced, all of which came from zoos. Some species were hunted, while others were kept and bred for conservation purposes. In addition to introducing exotic animals to the Y.O. Ranch, Charlie III also brought back Longhorn cattle from the brink of extinction. If it were not for the actions of Charles Schreiner III, the iconic Texas landscape would look very different.
In 2015, Byron and Sandra Sadler along with their partners Lacy and Dorothy Harber purchased part of the Y.O. Ranch and renamed it the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters. Today the Headquarters consists of 11,184 acres and has seen extensive renovations to roads, lodging, brush clearing, and infrastructure. The Sadlers and Harbers are dedicated conservationists, members of Safari Club International, National Rifle Association, Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club, Exotic Wildlife Association, as well as myriad other organizations serving and protecting the wildlife community.
Hunting the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters
Since the Y.O. Ranch is one of the original game ranches in the country, it makes sense that hunters from around the world would travel here. The landscape of the ranch resembles parts of Africa and some call it “Africa in Texas.” Driving through the ranch to the main headquarters you see a wide range of exotic animals, including various species of sheep, Addax, Eland, Pere David’s deer, water buffalo and wildebeest, not to mention Texas native species.
We talked with Eric White, Chief Operating Officer of the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters, to learn more about the hunting and accommodations available. From the start of our conversation, we saw that conservation is at the forefront of everything done at the Y.O.
Eric has seen the Y.O. evolve over the years since the 1980s when he first came to the ranch. Upon his first visit, he immediately noticed the quantity and quality of wildlife on the ranch. Even during a hot Texas summer, he was astonished to see whitetail grazing openly in the middle of the day. This is due to the numerous water tanks and other water sources that have been added to the ranch over the generations. The size of the whitetail on the property is also surprising for such an arid location, and this is due to a careful management program. It is not uncommon for the hunter to see 200+ inch deer roaming the 11,000 acres.
If you are looking to come to the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters for a hunting expedition, then Eric has some recommendations for you. First is to be open to taking various species rather than focusing on just one type. You might come to hunt for an axis or whitetail, but consider what other types of animals you might be interested in if the opportunity presented itself. For example, Eric told the story of a hunter who came to the ranch to hunt whitetail; however, while he was out stalking, he saw a great kudu bull. At that moment, he decided to pass on the bull, but after talking with his guide, he figured that he really did want that kudu. He spent the rest of his trip looking for that bull, but they never saw it again. However, the hunter did book another trip to come back and was successful in bagging the kudu. The moral of the story is to be open to other animals so that when the opportunity presents itself, you are ready to take it.
Second, there are several ways to hunt on the ranch. The majority of the time, you will hunt “safari style.” That is, you will drive around until you spot something, then get out and stalk until it is within range. Because the ranch is so large, there is a lot of ground to cover, and the animals can cover it quicker than you can on foot. Also, there isn’t one specific area where certain animals hang out. So, while you can sit in a blind and hunt, your best way to see more animals and have better odds is to scout them out. Make sure to dress appropriately for the season and terrain.
Eric and his team can accommodate hunters at all levels, from the novice to the experienced hunter and everything in between. If you are a new hunter, your guides will take you to the range and make sure you are familiar with your firearm. If you do not have one, then they can provide one for you to use. When it comes to stalking the animals, listen to your guide. They want you to be successful and enjoy your stay. The guide can dress the animal and prepare it for the processor and taxidermy if necessary. They will even send it to a processor or taxidermist for you.
Accommodations and Activities at the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters
The other half of the hunting experience at the Y.O. are its unparalleled accommodations. It is hard to describe how unique and special they really are. The buildings seem like they have been in existence since the 1800s, and indeed some of them are from that time, but they have been tastefully updated with modern amenities. You have your choice of 11 different cabins and houses that can sleep more than 50 people. Of note is an original Pony Express cabin (1850s), the first schoolhouse in Kerr County (1852), and the Hey House, which has been on the property since the 1890s.
The Y.O. Ranch Headquarters has more to offer than just hunting. There are day trips available, as well as overnight stays for non-hunters. Visitors to the ranch can rent a UTV and explore the vast grounds, shoot sporting clays, go on a wildlife tour, swim in the crystalline pool, or kick back and enjoy the Texas hill country.
The Y.O. Ranch Headquarters also makes a great family destination. Eric told us that the entire Cabela family was at the ranch to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Dick and Mary Cabela. There were more than 50 people who attended the event, including numerous grandchildren. The Cabela family said it was one of the best experiences they have ever had because they could do so much together as a family.
In closing, the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters should be a bucket-list destination for any hunter. The Y.O. has it all – great accommodations, beautiful exotic game, a plethora of whitetail, and activities for the non-hunters, too. It’s a vacation and a safari wrapped up in one, with a side of incredible Texas history. And the conservation work of the Y.O. Ranch has given Texas its great reputation for being a top hunting location in the world.
Jeremy Mallette is co-founder of International Sportsman. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he has spent more than a decade in the outdoor industry, from hiking and camping to silencers and hunting. His father taught him to shoot at age six, and he received his first firearm at age eight — a 1942 Colt Commando .38 special revolver. He enjoys yearly trips to Kansas for pheasant hunting, spending time with his children at the deer lease, and collecting unique firearms.
Holsters
