El Monte Gringo Ranch

El Monte Gringo Ranch is located in western Hidalgo County, along paved FM 681, approximately 5 miles north of McCook and 22 miles northwest of Edinburg, just west of Highway 281. There are private and commercial airports nearby.

Known for its highly fertile sandy loam soils, Hidalgo County is generally a mix of tillable farm ground and productive cattle country. El Monte Gringo shares the same soil types, and the robust habitat and food plots exemplify its excellent dirt. The dominating soil type of the property is Brennan and Hebbronville fine sandy loam throughout with some areas of Cuevitas/Delimita-Randado Complex. There are several ponds that have been created in the more loamy clay soils. The ranch is blessed with these well-known red dirt iron rich soils that grows excellent forage value plants. Surprisingly for the county, there is gentle roll throughout with elevation ranging from 200’-275’. The sloping trends higher on the western portion of the ranch and slopes downward to the northeastern portion with soil transitions throughout. While driving the ranch the mixed brush composition was extensive with several tier 1 selection species providing excellent browse forage values for the large game species. With 17 different species of brush that were observed, the diversity is top-end and is deep rooted to sustain the already amazing deer herd. Furthermore, the grass species on the ranch are great for both quail and cattle.

Prior to the current ownership, El Monte Gringo was already being groomed over decades to be a top-end hunting operation. Food plots were created to grow the famous high protein Lablab plants. Large water wells were drilled and the habitat was manicured in a way to focus heavily on producing top-end whitetails. This management effort has continued over the years to produce a top-end trophy whitetail herd. The ranch averages 20 bucks harvested over 200” annually. The ranch is divided into 3 pastures and each managed individually with all the same goals in mind. Along with the whitetail herd, there are populations of Nilgai, Blackbuck, Axis, Red Deer, Gemsbok, Springbok, Wildebeest, fallow and Scymitar. Other than a large Nilgai population, none of species are overwhelming in a way that would impact the natural browse. The dove hunting on the ranch is exceptional. There are 6 food plots totaling 105 acres of tillable ground used for spring and summer forage. Some of these plots could be used as dove fields but the owner has never needed to have this amenity for his commercial dove hunters. There is a healthy population of turkeys on the ranch to enjoy during the spring. The kicker to this ranch is a strong population of quail. There are several areas where running dogs would be great while you could improve the pasture with quail lanes if desired. With timely rainfall this year, the quail population is very strong. Since its inception, the ranch was built as a commercial hunting operation, which has proven to be a tremendous success. The ongoing business operation could be used as a stand-alone income producer, or it could be used to supplement the operational expenditures of the ranch. The ranch could be used as a corporate and/or private family hunting retreat. Most of the ponds on the ranch have been stocked with different species of fish in each pond. There are ponds that have striped bass and crappie and others with largemouth bass and crappie. All have forage fish and are a great attribute for the guests all year long.

Being wildlife focused, the landowner runs a cattle herd to manipulate the grasses as well as provide supplemental income. Although the 105 acres of food plots are used for wildlife forage production, you could provide farm income planting grain crops if so desired. As mentioned above, the soils are very rich and fertile on this ranch and would make for great farmland.

With a ranch as well slated for fun and enjoyment as this ranch is, the lodging and amenities follow suit if not take it to the next level. The Main Lodge is 18,000 square feet newly built in 2021/2022. It has 14 bedrooms in total and can sleep 24 in individual beds. Capacity is quite a bit more if you housed couples and kids. The design work and trim outs are top of the line and eloquently detailed. The 1st floor is built for entertainment and dining. There are several areas for games, seating areas, a beautiful stone bar, commercial kitchen and large open dining room. Step outside of the game room and you will have to decide if you want to jump into the pool or hot tub or sit by the outdoor firepit. A conference center was built for their corporate retreat guests next to the swimming pool area and is used extensively. The “Owner’s Home” is in the same compound across the house lake and is roughly 4,500 square feet. It was very nicely appointed and built in 2014 and has been maintained to a great degree. The home has 4 bedrooms downstairs and 1 upstairs that is traditionally used as bunk room for guests, kids or his hunting guides. Review the pictures and you will understand the top-end finishings of both homes. It is important to note that the owner is conveying all blinds, feeders, grain bins, furnishings and equipment on the ranch minus personal mounts and artwork, 1 personal vehicle and 1 personal UTV. The furnishings in the home are of great value and the equipment needed to operate the ranch are all in place to keep the ranch running. Adjacent to the Main Lodge is a covered barn and working area with both a commercial walk-in cooler and a walk-in freezer next to the game cleaning area. There are several washrooms and storage rooms for lodge maintenance. In short, the ranch is fully equipped to run as it stands and it will convey in the same manner.

El Monte Gringo is extremely well watered with 12+ ponds and lakes with water piped to each of them. There are also a few rain caught water holes throughout. The support system for the water system is a series of wells scattered throughout the ranch all with electric hook up. There are 7 operable water wells on the ranch with 10 more cased wells that have electricity immediately nearby. All they would need is a submersible pump. With so much access to water at this time, the necessity to upfit those bores has not been of importance. Of note* 2 of the water wells have irrigation capacity. 1 has a 10HP pump and another has a 5 HP pump. Although the owner is not irrigating his fields, there is enough water on the ranch to do so and he has in the past.

There is electricity throughout the ranch.

There are no owned minerals. The ranches minerals are unleased and there is no production on the ranch.