Our group has been going to different ranches in TX for the past six years and this year (Jan-12) we went to Diamond ‘C’.

We arrived on Thursday, hunted Friday – Monday, and left on Tuesday morning. Weather conditions were from one end of the spectrum to the other with ice frozen in mud holes the first day to 70+ deg temps the final day.

Skyler and company (Shane, Jesse, and Sara) have built a new lodge and I believe we were the first group to say in it (it was not 100% complete, but close enough). Let me say this place was NICE with a large open area, two bathrooms with walk in tile showers, and bedrooms with bunk beds to sleep 4 per room. The adjacent building (old lodge) was being converted into a ‘mud room’ with individual lockers for each hunter to store all their gear, outer layers, etc. They were also in the process of completing a laundry room, wet-bar, and finishing scoring the floors while we were there. I say all this because the lodges is extremely nice, new, and clean and I would not hesitate to take my (slightly germ-phobic - hehe) wife.

Sarah prepared meals at their house and brought over. The meals were terrific and there was more than enough food every time we ate (the kitchen was not complete during our stay). We had muffins, donuts, or cinnamon rolls before the hunt, a hot breakfast ~10:30a, hot lunch ~2:00p, and dinner ~7:00p. We actually asked to skip the 2:00p meal as we could not function we were so full (the food was too good to not eat if in front of us)!!

Now to the good stuff- our group did the ‘safari package’ which is a buck, doe or ram, and two pigs. The ranch is divided into two sections: the low-fence section, where the lodge is located, is where the majority of the pigs are as well as a few rams, fallow, and black buck. This allows for some stalking during midday in between sits. There are ~6 stands/ blinds on each section of the property. Everyone in our group had at least one shot at a buck with several of us taking multiple animals.

I am not great with words, but I would like to emphasize this is not simply a pick out which animal you want to kill deal. Skyler and Jesse will hunt you where you have the best chance to see a specific animal (axis, black buck, etc) but these animals are as aware & alert as whitetails where I hunt. Honestly, I never got drawn on a deer until the last day.

We wound up with 14 animals between six hunters over four days in the cooler on the final night: nine pigs; two black buck; one sika buck; one axis doe; one red deer doe. We went there the hunt (and hopefully tear-up a few arrows) and we all had a great time. Let me stress again, we spent the majority of the daylight hours sitting in a blind/ stand or stalking the low-fence area. This was not simly a pick and shoot deal.

It’s my opinion the best place we have been- food, lodging, quality & quantity of animals, and just plain ol’ good people running the place! I guarantee you will not be disappointed with any aspect of your time spent at Diamond ‘C’.

A couple other random things: We went to and from the blinds/ stands in a side-by-side ATV. We hunted feeders and/or trails (more successful on trails). Even if you have no desire to shoot a pig it is worth going and sitting at a pig blind just to watch. Skyler will work with you on ‘tweaking’ your package… say for example you would rather take a bull elk of red stag if the opportunity arose…