Intimidating Horns and Antlers In The Hill Country

The Texas Hill Country is a beautiful place, and there are a lot of animals running around it with some rather intimidating looking horns and antlers on their heads. Given to self preservation, I always keep my distance.

The Texas Longhorn is probably the best known of these creatures. Brought over to North America from the Andalusia region of Spain five centuries ago, the Texas Longhorn is a very smart, and adaptable animal, which is capable of surviving on very little water, cactus, and brush. It was the animal that became part of the legend and lore of the "Old West" in the late 1800's, during the cattle drives up the famous Chisholm Trail. And, these magnificent animals are found on hill country ranches in abundance.

Texas white-tailed deer are smaller than deer in many other parts of the country, but the bucks still sport an impressive rack of antlers. These deer, like the Texas Longhorn, are a common sight across the breadth and depth of the Texas Hill Country all year long. They typically feed on grass, shrubs, leaves and fruit. And, the bucks festooned with their antlers, look a little menacing, especially during the rut.

And while white-tailed deer walk around my house like they own it, the day I see Texas Longhorns walking up my driveway, is the day the “For Sale” sign goes up.