Texas LAND•Spring 2017

T he TWA Connection
The Texas Wildlife Association understands
that voluntary private land stewardship is the
state’s most powerful force for conservation.
These days, it takes diverse income streams
ranging from livestock production and
hunting to non-consumptive nature tourism
activities like nature photography to keep
land in private hands.
Cathy Illg/Redcreek Ranch
Tom Ulrich/Pierce Ranch
A Case Study: Santa Clara Ranch (Starr County)
The Santa Clara Ranch, located on 300 acres about 40 miles
northwest of Edinburg, is John Martin’s favorite example of
a successful nature photography destination.
“In the mid-80s, the owner Dr. Beto Gutierrez, a native
of Edinburg, Texas, made his way back to South Texas
after a stint in New Mexico where he was practicing
medicine. When he came home, he bought 300 acres and
immediately stocked it with cattle. Soon after the cattle
market nose-dived.
He told me, ‘I bought cattle—and I lost my ass.’
I knew that while he was out-of-state, Dr. Gutierrez
had acquired the skills to become a recreational nature
photographer, so I suggested that he establish a nature
photography destination. This was in 2008. He ran with the
idea, but soon discovered that he didn’t have enough time
to devote to operating a medical practice and developing
a nature photo destination, so he brought in two fellow
photographers to help.
One, Hector Astorga, was a skilled amateur photographer
with roots in Honduras. At the time, he owned another
business, but as he began spending time on the ranch and
discovering its hidden beauty and potential, he switched his
focus. Soon, he was dedicating four to five days a week to
developing and marketing the ranch.
The first steps were identifying prime sites for photo
blinds and optimizing them for photography success. For
instance, the blinds are situated across from a pond and
partially buried so the photographers are on eye-level with any
animals or birds that come into the specially staged habitat.
Hector’s initial marketing efforts consisted of joining
photography forums and posting his stunning nature
photos with both his name and Santa Clara Ranch. The
photos caught the attention of his fellow photographers,
who began inquiring about the chance to shoot at the Santa
Clara. Hector began acting as a manager and a guide.
Eighteen months into the business, they built a lodge—
simple, clean and comfortable—so guests wouldn’t have to
navigate the 40 miles back and forth to the nearest hotel.
Over a period of three intensive years, they built it,
marketed it, and photographers began to come. Eight years
later, the Santa Clara is booked solid from March 1-July 1 with
photographers. The operation nets about $60,000 year solely
on photography and generates about $140,000 in economic
impact in the nearby rural community. I venture to say very
few 300-acre ranches generate that type of income.
To top it off, Hector has gone from being an amateur with
a passion for photography to a professional photographer,
instructor and tour guide with a global reach. In addition to
his workshops at the Santa Clara, he will be leading photo
tours to Honduras and Africa in 2017.”