Hunting and Outdoor Recreation in the Texas Hill Country

Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country offer superlative hunting for a multitude of species. And if hunting's not your game, the clear rivers and scenic terrain provide a wide range of outdoor activities, from kayaking to hiking to bicycling.

Kerrville Area Hunting

The old traditions of hunting, harvesting and conservation run deep in the Kerrville area. The nearby Y.O. Ranch is known worldwide for hunting, history, and preservation of the ranch cowboy lifestyle. And the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center is the training and competition Olympic Trials venue for the U.S. Olympic Shotgun team. It’s estimated that almost 10,000 hunters of whitetail deer make the trip to the Kerrville area during the winter season. And the area is a center for exotic animal hunting. A half a million dollars worth of hunting and fishing licenses are sold in Kerr County each year.

The 6493 acre Kerr County Wildlife Management Area owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is located on the scenic headwaters of the North Fork of the Guadalupe River, 12 miles northwest of Hunt, Texas. Native wildlife species found in this area include whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, javelina, wild turkey, mourning dove, red fox, squirrel, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, armadillo, ringtail, rabbit, gray fox, many species of reptiles, and native and migratory birds. Exotic hunting preserves include diverse choices in big game hunting—Axis deer, Sika, Red Stag, Blackbuck Antelope, and even Rocky Mountain Elk among many others.

Outdoor pursuits

A great number of Kerrville’s residents have discovered the area when attending a youth camp as a child, a golf tournament as an adult, or while stopping off in some of the country’s finest RV camps and facilities. As a result, outdoor recreation is readily available all over the area.

Canoe and kayak rentals and outfitters are available. Walking and biking trails are integrated into the City’s long-term plan and are available now in several public and private properties. Rock climbing and hiking opportunities abound. The city maintains two large public parks on the Guadalupe River which offer river access (in addition to all of the community parks located throughout the City). The great tubing and kayaking of the Medina River are just 30 minutes away, and the beautiful and pristine Frio River is within easy day-trip distance.

Most local kids grow up swimming in the river in the warm months, and several public indoor and outdoor swimming pools are available, as well. Swimming and wading the Guadalupe is considered a rite of passage for Kerrville kids.

Every spring, Kerrville turns out for the Easter Hill Country Bicycle Tour. Each year, more than 1000 bicycle riders from all around the state meet to experience the beautiful scenery of the Texas Hill Country. The rides are fully supported and routes vary from 20 to 100 miles in length to suit every riding taste.

Wild turkeys and other wildlife abound in the Hill Country.

The clear lakes and rivers of the surrounding Texas Hill Country offer great kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, and tubing.