Star's Ranch

Star S Ranch operates a true Texas safari in the heart of the Hill Country where the James River runs six miles through Mason and Kimble county property. Founded by the Scott family in 1996, the ranch combines decades of African hunting expertise with dedicated breeding programs to create what many consider among the best trophy hunting in North America.

The foundation is genetics. The ranch breeds for size and quality exclusively—animals that don't meet breeding standards never reproduce. Current herds include:

• •Trophy Whitetail Deer: 170" average at maturity, with regular 220-250" animals and occasional 300"+ bucks. Genetics sourced from the largest sires with widths of 30" or more.
• •African Exotics: Over 100 head each of sable antelope, kudu, and gemsbok, plus established herds of markhor, scimitar horned oryx, dama gazelle, alpine and nubian ibex, bongo, nyala, eland, roan antelope, wildebeest, blesbok, and more.
• •Other Species: Axis deer, blackbuck, fallow deer, red sheep, mouflon, red stag, and nile lechwe.

Animals roam pastures ranging from 1,000 to 4,000+ acres—true fair-chase hunting where success depends on skill, knowledge, and patience, not proximity to feeders.

The red sandy soil of the James River valley naturally mimics Southern African vegetation. Combined with six miles of river frontage and native springs throughout, the ranch provides diverse habitat:

• •James River valley: thick brush for whitetail, kudu, bongo, nyala
• •Open grasslands: gemsbok, wildebeest, blesbok herds
• •Blue Mountains & bluffs: steep terrain for ibex, markhor, aoudad
• •Monument Mountain: highest point in Mason County at 2,300 feet

The ranch is equipped for: - Rifle hunting - Bow hunting (traditional and crossbow) - Pistol hunting

Guides have years of experience hunting both native and non-native species across Texas and Africa. Hunts are scheduled for established seasons with whitetail pricing tiered into five increments based on trophy size:

The 7,000-square-foot Waterfall Lodge (completed 2014) is the centerpiece:

• •Main Lodge: 32-foot ceilings, black walnut walls, trophy displays from around the world, granite bar, back porch overlooking a waterhole where sable, kudu, axis deer, and whitetail gather
• •4 Casitas: Eight total rooms (two per building), each with three queen beds and private bathrooms
• •Accessibility: Entire facility and surrounding trails are wheelchair accessible via ramps
• •Amenities: Corporate retreat-capable with dining, relaxation spaces, and trophy preparation areas

Completed in 2013, the award-winning private airport allows clients to fly in directly:

• •Runway: 5,000 feet × 50 feet, asphalt
• •Elevation: 1,800 feet
• •Location: N 30°34'10", W 99°23'35"
• •Navigation: 242° from Llano VOR @ 34 DME; 219° from Mason County @ 14 nm

The Scott family designed Star S Ranch as a place they themselves wanted to hunt. That means no overcrowding, no daily moves between properties, and no animals imported for hunts. Every animal was born and bred on the ranch. As Dick and Mary Cabela noted after hunting here: "The hunting rivals the best hunting we have seen in Southern Africa."

No binocular math. No commercial-operation overcrowding. Just skill-based hunts on superior animals in premium habitat with facilities that actually match the quality of the hunting.

Phone: (830) 285-8753 Email: [email protected]