El TECOLOTE RANCH 2004 Lone Star Land Steward of the Year for the State of Texas,  awarded by the  Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society 2004 & 2006 Grand Prize Winner Valley Land Fund Wildlife Photo Contest  with photographer, Rolf Nussbaumer 2002 Lone Star Land Steward of the Year for the South Texas Plains Region,  awarded by Texas Parks & Wildlife This private 4,000 acre ranch is located in  Hidalgo County and Kenedy County and  adjoins the famous King Ranch in Texas.   The Whitetail Deer Management Program  is directed by technical biologists from the  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

A field of benne (sesamum orientale) commonly referred to as sesame seed
- planted to attract wild birds - in full bloom during August 2004 at El Tecolote Ranch.

El Tecolote Ranch is home to a large herd of whitetail deer.  Other mammals enjoy the ranch as well, including:
bobcats, coyotes, javalinas, badgers, armadillos, Black Buck and Nilgai Antelope.  Among the birds spotted are 
greenjays, buntings, bluebirds, goldfinches, woodpeckers, grossbeaks, tanagers, dove, 
quail, cardinals, pyrrhuloxia, orioles, titmice, raptors, vultures, hawks and owls.  
There is an ongoing study at the ranch of the ferruginous pygmy owl - with thirty five 
banded during Spring 2004.  The ranch features a flowing stream, three acre lake, 
fifty foot tower that affords magnificent views, birding trails, scrub thickets and meadows.