Winter 2016

The Rancho Estrella is divided into four
pastures: the Brush Pasture, the Front
Safari Pasture, the Back Safari Pasture
and the House Pasture. The exterior
and interior fences are high to facilitate
wildlife management. Miles of allweather
and quick-drying ranch roads
provide easy access.
Managed for wildlife for almost three
decades, the Rancho Estrella is home to
white-tailed deer, bobwhite and scaled
quail, Rio Grande turkeys, javelina,
dove and feral hogs. While quail hunting
occurs regularly on the ranch, the native
population has been supplemented with
pen-raised birds to keep the numbers stable.
In addition to healthy populations of native
game, the ranch has a full complement of
desirable exotics: sable antelope, scimitarhorned
oryx, axis and zebras.
The well-managed brush country habitat
is supplemented with protein feeders as
well as winter and summer food plots. The
ranch has 24 protein feeders ranging in
capacity from 1,000–2,500 pounds as well
as 18 quail feeders. To facilitate hunting,
there are 30 Atascosa deer blinds and 30
1,000-pound corn feeders strategically
located throughout.
In addition to wildlife, the ranch is wellsuited
for cattle. The new owners can
choose to run their own herds or lease out
the grazing for an additional income stream.
There are two sets of cattle pens: one on
the Brush Pasture and a newly constructed
set that can be accessed from the remaining
three pastures.
Water for wildlife and livestock are plentiful.
The Rancho Estrella has nine water wells;
two of which are run on solar pumps and
the remainder on electric submersible
pumps. There are also four stock tanks, three
of which are supplemented by water from
the wells. The other relies on rainwater. Plus,
there are more than 30 wildlife waterers
scattered throughout the property.
Rancho Estrella is designed to entertain
large numbers of family, friends, colleagues
or clients, providing opportunities for both
camaraderie and privacy. The scope and
scale of the facilities can handle special
events. For instance, the focal point of one of
the dining rooms is a 24-foot mesquite table.
There are two separate compounds to
house guests, one in the Brush Pasture and
one in the House Pasture. At each location,
there is a combination of a main lodge as
well as apartments and casitas. The smaller
quarters offer partial kitchens and private
baths. The Brush Pasture Compound, which
reflects the style and tradition of South
Texas, also has a swimming pool and a
series of common areas designed to bring
people together. There is a master plan in
place outlining potential expansion of the
House Pasture.
The owner’s home is located at the Brush
Pasture compound. It is a four-bedroom,
four-bath house with half baths attached
to the kitchen and family room. While it
is central to the compound’s design, the
owner’s home includes a separate wing
where the family can gather privately.
There are two modular homes for staff.
The ranch’s infrastructure is also designed
to support ranch work and entertaining. For
instance, there is a 10x25 walk-in cooler
for storing game and kennels for housing
the ranch’s bird dogs. Guests can enjoy
shooting skeet from both a high and lowhouse.
A watch tower near the owners’
home provides a view of Mexico’s Sierra
Madre Mountains.
The ranch has been both a hunting
destination and a corporate retreat. If the
new owner chooses, Rancho Estrella could
easily be transformed into a commercial
hunting operation.
Brush country. Grassland savannahs.
Camaraderie. Privacy. Rancho Estrella
provides an opportunity for the best of all
worlds.
To schedule a private showing and make
Rancho Estrella part of your world, call
Howard W. Hood at (830) 739-3815.
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