Our Exotic Wildlife: As you stroll the scenic trail from our upper compound to the riverfront park, will see an impressive aviary where our unusual Ayam Cemani Chicken and graceful Tangerine Dove nest as continuing to the river you may spot the graceful fallow deer and rare Armenian mouflon sheep that call Campo Rio Ranch home. Raised on our working exotic ranch, these remarkable animals roam freely through our pastures occasionally offering guests a rare and unforgettable wildlife encounter just steps from the Nueces River.
Fallow deer are popular, non-native exotic deer in Texas, known for their diverse colors (spotted, white, chocolate) and distinctive palmated antlers, with large populations established on ranches, especially in the Hill Country. Huntable year-round with no seasonal restrictions, the prime hunting is typically September through February.
Armenian mouflon (Ovis gmelini gmelini) is a wild sheep subspecies native to the South Caucasus and parts of the Middle East. Often referred to as the Armenian red sheep, it is considered a probable ancestor of both the European mouflon and modern domestic sheep. They have a short-haired, reddish-tan to dark brown coat.
Ayam Cemani (pronounced “ah-yum che-MA-nee”) refers to a rare, all-black chicken breed from Indonesia, known for its unique genetic condition called fibromelanosis, which causes black pigmentation in its feathers, skin, organs, and even bones, though its blood remains red and eggs are cream-colored.
A Tangerine Dove is a popular color mutation of the Ringneck Dove (Streptopelia risoria), known for its vibrant, rusty-orange body with a distinctive violet-purple head and chest, often paired with a silvery neck ring, making it a striking and sought-after pet bird.
Axis deer, or Chital, are beautiful, spotted, non-native deer from India now thriving in Texas, especially the Hill Country, prized for their meat and trophy antlers, but also competing with native wildlife due to their adaptable diet of grasses and browse, leading to hunting opportunities and ecological management efforts.
Our Native Wildlife: The Texas Hill Country is rich in wildlife, featuring iconic animals like White-tailed Deer, Armadillos, Feral Hogs, Bobcat, Grey Foxes, Porcupines, Raccoons, unique species such as the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler, the native Guadalupe Bass, and the nocturnal Ringtail Cat, Brazilian Free-tailed Bats, alongside numerous birds such as Wild Turkey, Roadrunners, Painted Bunting reptiles such as Texas Horned Lizard, Turtles and Snakes.
