Bobcat Ridge Ranch

Located near the historic community of Palestine, Bobcat Ridge Ranch offers convenient access via well-maintained rural roads typical of the region. It lies within practical driving distance of Tyler (50 miles), Dallas (110 miles), and Houston (120 miles), offering both regional and major commercial air service. Smaller airstrips, suitable for private aircraft, are accessible within the area, and commercial flights are readily available through Tyler and Dallas-Fort Worth. There are 13 miles of Neches River frontage, thus positioned uniquely amongst distinctive beauty and geography within the East Texas timber corridor. The historical Texas State Railroad tracks a portion of the northern boundary, where vintage steam and diesel locomotives take passengers through the Piney Woods Route between the quaint East Texas towns of Palestine and Rusk on a 50-mile round-trip experience.

The surrounding region is defined by timber tracts, managed forests, and recreational properties, creating a peaceful and private setting suited for outdoor living. Properties neighboring Bobcat Ridge Ranch are focused on forestry, rural agriculture, and wildlife management. The nearby town of Palestine provides essential services, including lodging, dining, healthcare, and retail. The region is known for its outdoor lifestyle, pine forest landscapes, the dogwood bloom, and proximity to lakes and seasonal attractions. Scenic features such as upland ridges, bottomlands, and views of the Neches River contribute to the ranch’s scenic and recreational value.

The climate in the Palestine area typifies East Texas, with mild winters, warm and humid summers, with highs in July and August between 80 and 90 degrees, ensuring a lengthy growing season. Average lows in January are in the 30s to 40s, with an average in the mid-50s. Annual rainfall levels are generous at about 46 inches per year. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year, with the dry season typically being in July. The long growing season and stable precipitation patterns promote vegetation productivity and provide a favorable environment for both timber and wildlife management.

The ranch is protected under a Working Forest Conservation Easement, ensuring long-term ecological conservation and land stewardship.  The Texas Forest Service is the acting conservator of the easement, aiming for continued forestry excellence and open space protection. The most notable restriction is the prohibition of any future division of the ranch. The 13 acres surrounding the lodge complex are not under the easement, allowing for some additional infrastructure development.

The ranch is currently enrolled in TPWD’s Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP), extending the whitetail season and management flexibility.  

Improvements on Bobcat Ridge Ranch reflect advanced design, functionality, and guest comfort. The main lodge complex serves as the heart of the property and accommodates up to 23 guests in luxury. The ranch includes an integrated suite of recreational and operational infrastructure, such as a five-stand skeet range, rifle and pistol ranges, and well-appointed dog kennels. Additional guides’ quarters are adjacent to the lodge, offering a perfect nexus between guests and guides. The entire compound is supported by on-demand generators. A network of 65 professionally designed hunting stations, each paired with cool-season food plots and elevated blinds, supports one of the most sophisticated whitetail management programs in the region. The processing building includes freezers and refrigeration. Roads, food plots, and support facilities are thoughtfully laid out to serve both short-term and generational operational needs and recreational.

The property’s water resources are headlined by its 13 miles of Neches River frontage, providing aesthetic value, ecological stability, and riparian habitat. In addition, 146± acres of sloughs and wetland features contribute to seasonal water availability and habitat diversity. The Working Forest Conservation Easement allows for the development of a future 20-acre lake near the lodge, creating opportunities for enhanced fishing, waterfowl habitat, and additional recreational use. 

There is a water well at the lodge servicing the entire compound. 

Some commercial water rights have been reserved by prior ownership. 

All oil and gas rights are believed to have been reserved by prior ownership.

2024 Ad valorem Taxes in Anderson County totaled approximately $33,879.19.

The Neches River supports a diverse species list, including largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, and crappie. The obvious varying species of sunfish, gar, and carp are also present. The extensive river frontage offers fishing to all ages to enjoy. The allowance of the construction of a 20-acre lake grants an owner the opportunity to design something special, targeting their specific desires in a trophy lake. 

Renowned for its exceptional whitetail program, Bobcat Ridge Ranch is managed to produce mature, South Texas genetic bucks uncommon to East Texas. The development of the program began in 2003, when game fencing was constructed on all upland boundaries (not along the river), and much of the native whitetail population was thinned for four consecutive seasons. In 2007, South Texas deer were captured and released for six consecutive years, ensuring a genetic dominance of superior quality. Now the ranch averages approximately 25 mature buck harvests per year, demonstrating the efficacy of its management program over the last decade, while not over-harvesting the potential for future trophies. Habitat features, including extensive timber cover, sloughs, riverine corridors, and planted food plots, support not only whitetail deer but also strong populations of Eastern wild turkey and other native species.  

The ranch participated in the Super Stocking Program of Eastern Wild Turkeys in the Neches River Corridor in the early 2000s. While there is no current season for turkey in Anderson County, the ranch’s population is dependable and thriving. The aggressive prescribed burn program benefits the turkey and other upland game species as well. 

Feral pigs are abundant and thrive in the corridors of major waterways such as the Neches River. Most land management plans would include aggressive approaches to minimize these populations. The improved quail habitat has made significant strides in recent years. As is common practice on southeastern quail plantations, timber stands approaching their final thinning are harvested at a predetermined basal area, creating a tree canopy ideal for upland game birds such as turkey and quail, which ensures both food and cover from predators. There have been a few landowners in the region who have dedicated resources to reestablishing native Bobwhite quail through trapping and relocation, with measurable success. However, many stewards would enjoy the sporting experience of releasing farm-raised birds, and the satisfaction of the habitat work, and certainly, it is more economical, even at a large scale. 

Bobcat Ridge Ranch offers year-round recreation beyond hunting and fishing. Guests can explore the property via hiking trails, truly endless ATV routes, and scenic ridge tours. On-site shooting amenities, including a skeet range and rifle/pistol ranges, provide additional activities. With its rich natural diversity, the ranch offers wildlife viewing and nature tourism, while its location affords easy access to East Texas lakes, forests, and parks for boating, hiking, and seasonal exploration.

In the fall of 2025, the 15-year lessee, a corporate entity, sold its interest, resulting in the termination of all hunting operations and client-based activities. Consequently, Bobcat Ridge is currently without a tenant. At present, the seller has elected to keep the ranch unleased to maintain greater market flexibility. Should a buyer wish to secure a new tenant, it is strongly anticipated that attracting a replacement, potentially at a higher lease rate, will be readily achievable.