KING SPRINGS RANCH







Flaxy & Bronc


FAMILY HISTORY


Ranching has been my family's way of life as far back as the late 1800's when my paternal great grandfather (Dr. Clayton), Ozona's country doctor, first bought land in Crockett County. And about the same time, my maternal great grandfather (Dunlap) bought his first sections of prime ranch land right on the Pecos River in southern Crockett County. My grandmother and her brother now own the Pecos River Ranch. My mother and her brothers and one cousin are next in line. My paternal grandfather passed the land down to his children, my great aunt and uncles, and grandfather. My grandfather acquired more land in the early 1900's, in Pecos County (Fort Stockton Ranch) and Terrell County (King Springs Ranch). My father took over operation of the ranches at a very early age and operated them until his recent death. My sisters and I now own the beautiful King Springs Ranch in Terrell County, and are very fortunate indeed. My husband operates King Springs Ranch for my sisters and me, and does a fine job. My great-grandfather would have been proud to know him. I, like my great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, will continue the ranching tradition, and pass it down to my children. Guess you could say its in our blood....and we will get down and dirty with the best of em!






4E Longhorn heifers on King Spring Ranch



TEXAS LONGHORN CATTLE


The symbol of our country's untamed western heritage. The wide sweeping horns of the Longhorn cattle characterize the dramatic difference between other domestic and imported beef breeds. What makes them unique is that the Longhorn was fashioned entirely by nature, right here in North America. Their ancestors were first introduced to this continent over five hundred years ago by the Spanish army and Catholic missionaries. Over the centuries the breed has been shaped by mother nature through the well-known process of natural selection, or "survival of the fittest." Hardy, aggressive and adaptable, the Texas Longhorns were well-suited to the rigors of life on the ranges of our southwestern United States. They survived as a primitive animal on the most primitive of ranges and become the foundation stock of that region's great cattle industry.

The Texas Longhorn is extremely adaptive to the harsh desert climate close to the Mexican border, here in West Texas where King Springs Ranch is located. To add to the heartiness of this breed, my husband breeds the Longhorn heifers to a mean looking Mexico bull (Corriente), we call "Western". Longhorns and Mexican Corriente cattle thrive in this environment, where other breeds do not do very well. The calf crop of this crossbreeding is sold as rodeo stock. We also have a herd of beef cattle on the ranch, mostly Brangus crosses, we breed to a nice Gelbvieh bull, so all of you can enjoy thick juicy steaks at supper time!!! tee hee



Bronc and oldest son working the brangus cross cattle.






HUNTING



Hunting is a major part of the King Springs Ranch operation. The country is leased yearly to hunt wildlife during their respective seasons. Whitetail Deer, javelina, dove, quail, and turkey are some of the wildlife hunted on King Springs Ranch. During their stay, guests stay in a newly built bunk house with all the modern conviences, or they can stay at the hunting camp, which also has modern conviences.
Whitetail and Blacktail (mule deer) deer are the two hunted species of deer found here in West Texas. Whitetail deer is the main species of deer at King Springs Ranch. They are smaller and much more aggresive than the easy going mule deer, and much harder to hunt. In areas, where rainfall is minimal and food is scarce, the whitetail deer, aggressive as they are, will take over the area, causing the less aggressive mule deer to move on.
King Springs Ranch has a feed program to boost the growth and population of Whitetail deer. But, nothing can replace the effects of "God's Water", the much needed rainfall to provide sustanance for the wildlife. Gravity feeders, filled with 15% protein pellets and corn mix supplement the deer's diet for premium antler growth and to add fat. Hunters bring automatic corn feeders during hunting season to bait the deer. Whitetail deer, ideally, is hunted in stands and blinds around these deer feeders. Skill, stealth, a little luck, and a good aim will net a hunter a nice trophy buck! (8 points or better)
If you are interested in a hunting lease, visit our hunting page. Hunting at Kings Springs Ranch



HORSES


Here she is! My pride and joy, AQHA registered 4 year old mare....and my name sake.....tee hee


Bronc rides a nice brown quarterhorse mare named Muffin. (Yes, I named her...hehehe) Bronc is a heck of a horse trainer, and Muffin was one of his colts.


Our sons have 2 great quarter horses they use to work cattle as well as show in horseshows; a palomino mare, Maggie, belongs to our youngest son. For as far back as I can rememeber, he has wanted a "yella" horse...so his daddy found him one. And our oldest son rides a chestnut mare, named Zena. When working cattle, Bronc and I have found that horses from Mexico are better equipped to handle the rocky cliffs and canyons that makeup a large portion of the land. We have a great Mexican pony we call "Mex" that runs the ranch...tee hee. Poor Muffin and Flaxy have a tough time on the rocks...hehehe


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