The Weaver Ranch
Location and Contact Info
Fitch Rd.Raymondville, TX 78580 956-689-3823 or 956-330-6937 http://www.weavercattle.com
"The longer we owned the place the more we came to appreciate the diverse wildlife and the less we hunted." - Kent Weaver
HISTORY: Kent and G'Anne Weaver are the owners of Weaver Ranch who along with Kent's parents bought the ranch in 1985. They primarily wanted it for hunting, recreation and raising cattle, which had been Kent's hobby since the late '60's. While their daughters were still in school they spent most weekends there riding horses and working the cattle. Once they went off to college Kent and G'Anne built a home and now live on the property. They still have cattle and now share the ranch mostly with their grandkids.
In 2002 we signed on with the VLF and entered the contest with Dennis Erhart as the photographer. At the time we had no idea that Orioles, Blue Grosbeaks, Painted Buntings and all the other migrants were ever here! What an eye opener that experience was. Eventually we decided to offer our place to photographers through the Lens and Land group and developed several sites for photography. We "set aside" about 300 acres just for the photographers. The Weavers have had moderate financial success and lots of enjoyment in meeting new people and helping them get good photos.
PHOTO OPS: Today Weaver Ranch has 5 sites for photography. Two for morning, two for the afternoon and one site is just for raptors. It can handle up to 7 people in our raptor blind and the other sites will hold 3 or 4 people each. Besides birds there are quite a few reptiles such as Horned Lizards, Texas Tortoise and Diamondback Rattlers. When Kent has photographers scheduled he'll capture a large rattler and hold it for them. After the photography session it is then released as close to it's "original" location as possible. Visiting photographers have had very good luck shooting Scissortail Flycatchers while we drive around the property and if there are any nesting owls they can shoot them also.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: The Sal Vieja Wildlife Refuge is off county rd 141 just before you reach our property and Port Mansfield is 15 miles east of Raymondville.