San Miguel Creek Ranch - McMullen County, Tilden, TX
Forming the western boundary and the namesake of this amazingly diverse and unique ranch is the San Miguel Creek. A snaking deep draw lined with oaks, elms, hackberries and bull mesquites, you will see why San Miguel Creek is an oasis in the desert. Not only does this ranch have the jungle of San Miguel Creek, but it also has an incredible creek-fed lake system providing endless potential for fishing, waterfowl and recreation. When you traverse this property, you won’t be able to get your mind off the opportunities to grow trophy white-tailed deer, fish in the lakes and hunt ducks and dove in and around the lakes. Coupled with the diversity of the habitat, this is a must-see property.
Location
Located 1 hour south of San Antonio, 1½ hours northwest from Corpus Christi, 2 ½ hours south of Austin and 3½ hours southwest of Houston, you may not find a better offering with proximity to major cities while getting the opportunity to be in one of Texas most sought after wildlife regions. With Tilden being only 12 miles to the south and Jourdanton 18 miles to the north, you are close to great local cuisine, fuel, and grocery.
Topography, Rangeland & Habitat
The San Miguel Creek Ranch is located in the brush country of northern McMullen County comprised of largely mixed brush species that are prime for wildlife health and nutrition. In viewing this property, you will note that it is some of the richest and most diverse brush that you will find anywhere in the region. Coming from the higher elevation areas with mixed brush and falling down to San Miguel Creek will make you feel as though you have entered a jungle of large canopy trees lining the riparian zones. It is so rich with diversity on this property, it excites the mind with the opportunities that abound. From old growth “Bull” mesquites to Guayacon, Texas Ebony, Lime Prickly Ash, Persimmon, Guajillo, Blackbrush and Granjeno in the upper regions of the ranch to the large trees along the creek , the land thrives with the highly palatable flora to naturally grow and sustain healthy populations of trophy whitetails while roosting large groups of Turkey along the creek.
The soils on the ranch lend to the healthy species count but also have roughly 30 feet of elevation change and a separate wet weather creek bed aside from San Miguel Creek. You will notice great diversity while you traverse the ranch.
Wildlife
As stated above, the immediate area this ranch sits within has been known statewide as a trophy buck producing area. McMullen County is Boone and Crockett producing country. There is no question that managed appropriately, this ranch will get you there. This ranch has been lightly managed over the past 20+ years for whitetail deer with MLD level 3 status and a conservative approach to harvest. With that in mind, you will have a great mature deer herd and the opportunity to manage how you see fit to grow the quality and quantity of deer you seek.
Aside from the excellent deer population, there are Turkeys, Bobwhite Quail, Dove, Hogs and Javelina consistent with the area. When full, the lakes will also house great populations of ducks for winter hunting. Don’t lose site of the great dove hunting this area of the state offers for those storied South Texas tank hunts.
Improvements
The San Miguel Creek Ranch has newly constructed and maintained roads, 2 12’ Atascosa Blind and 4 spin cast feeders. With a blank slate of opportunity, you can choose your build site and get started on the ranch of your dreams.
Water
This ranch is so diverse in its riparian and lakebed opportunities. San Miguel Creek is traditionally a wet weather creek, but it does have pot holes that stay year round. The 2 large lakebeds, named Live Oak Lake and Turkey Lake, on this ranch can be filled to 20 and 40 acres respectively with dams on the southern ends to provide great depth after rainfall events.
There is 1 artesian well on the property centrally located.
Electricity
Electricity comes in near the front gate and is available on the eastern side of the ranch in areas.
Minerals
Surface Only Sale
Area History
McMullen County is rich in history with famed cattle trails, routes to and from Old Mexico to San Antonio, Historic cattle ranches and founders. In 1870 Ralph “Rafe” Franklin settled on 40,000 acres in northern McMullen and southern Atascosa Counties to run sheep and goats and later to build a cattle operation. He built his ranch headquarters on SanMiguel Creek. To this day, the Franklin family owns an adjoining ranch while this ranch and several surrounding were part of the historic Franklin Ranch.