Close the Distance
Bowhunting exotic game on Concho County rangeland. Purpose-built brush blinds, elevated stands, and strategic feeder placement set up for 20-30 yard broadside shots. Your guide knows the blood trails, the terrain, and the recovery. This is archery hunting built for bowhunters from the ground up, not a rifle setup with the caliber swapped out.
Book Your Archery HuntArchery Infrastructure Built for the Shot
Most Texas outfitters bolt a bow rack onto a rifle operation and call it archery-friendly. We don't. Five Aces maintains dedicated bowhunting setups designed from the ground up for compound and crossbow hunters.
Blind & Stand Setups
- Brush Blinds: Ground-level natural blinds tucked into senderos and brush lines, positioned downwind of feeders at 20-25 yards
- Elevated Box Blinds: Archery-height stands (8-10 ft) with shooting windows sized for full draw, positioned over cleared shooting lanes at 25-30 yards
- Strategic Feeder Placement: Feeders positioned to present broadside and quartering-away shots, not head-on approaches
- Cleared Shooting Lanes: Trimmed lanes eliminate deflection risk between you and the animal
Recovery & Field Support
- Blood Trailing Expertise: Our guides know the terrain intimately and handle the track for you
- Wait-and-Track Protocol: We follow proper wait times based on shot placement before beginning the track. No premature pushes
- Full Field Care: Field dressing, skinning, caping, and quartering included with every package
- Walk-In Cooler: Immediate cold storage for your harvest
- Shooting Range: Sight in your bow on-site before you hunt
Best Species for Bowhunters
Not every exotic is an ideal bow target. These species feed predictably, hold still at feeders, and offer the broadside presentations bowhunters need for clean, ethical kills.
Axis Deer
The #1 archery exotic in Texas. Axis feed consistently at dawn and dusk, presenting calm broadside shots at 20-25 yards. Trophy bucks 28"-33"+. Year-round availability with peak rut June-August (bucks most active). Among the best-tasting venison you can hunt.
- Predictable feeder patterns: high-percentage bow shots
- Moderate body size: well within compound bow range
- Year-round, no closed season
Fallow Deer
Palmated antlers, challenging temperament. Fallow are more nervous than axis. They require dead-still blind discipline and absolute scent control. When they commit to a feeder, they offer clean 25-30 yard shots. Three color phases: white, spotted, and chocolate.
- Unique palmated trophy: unlike any other Texas exotic
- Year-round availability: no closed season on private Texas land
- Rich, tender venison prized in European kitchens
All species from our full hunt packages price list are available to bowhunters. These are the species we point most archery hunters toward.
Bowhunting Questions We Get Asked
What type of bow setups do you accommodate?
Compound bows and crossbows are both welcome. Our blinds have shooting windows sized for full draw on a compound bow. If you shoot a crossbow, let us know ahead of time so we can place you in blinds with optimal window height and clearance.
What broadhead type do you recommend?
Fixed-blade broadheads (100-125 grain) are ideal for exotics. Mechanicals work but can struggle on the thicker-skinned species like oryx and gemsbok. For axis and fallow, either style is effective. Bring at least 6 broadheads. You may get multiple shot opportunities.
What's the typical shot distance?
Most of our archery setups are dialed to 20-30 yards. Brush blinds tend to be closer (18-25 yards), while elevated stands offer 25-35 yard shots depending on the lane. Your guide will confirm exact distances at each setup so you can verify your pins.
How do you handle blood trailing and recovery?
After the shot, we evaluate the arrow (pass-through, blood color, debris) and follow wait-time protocols: 30 minutes minimum for double-lung, 4-6 hours for a suspected liver hit, and overnight for gut shots. We don't push wounded animals.
Can I bowhunt any species on your price list?
Yes. Every species we offer is available to bowhunters at the same pricing as rifle hunts. However, we steer archery hunters toward species that offer cleaner, closer bow shots: axis, fallow, blackbuck, and rams. Larger, tougher animals like gemsbok and oryx are doable with heavy-draw compounds (70 lb+) and excellent shot placement, but we'll have an honest conversation about what's realistic for your setup.
Do I need a hunting license to bowhunt exotics in Texas?
Yes. A valid Texas hunting license is required to hunt exotic animals on private land, regardless of weapon type. There is no archery-specific endorsement needed for exotics. You can purchase your license online through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
Ready to Draw on Something Real?
Tell us what you're hunting, what you're shooting, and when you want to come. We'll match you with the right blinds, the right species, and a guide who speaks your language. You get archery setups that produce, without the rifle-hunter runaround.
Book Your Archery Hunt