The entire west boundary of the ranch adjoins the Encino Division of the King Ranch. The south boundary and a portion of the east boundary adjoin the Santa Fe-East Ranch. Given the size of the two large adjoining ranches and the other large nearby holdings, ranches in this immediate area very rarely become available for purchase.

The topography of the French-Ball Ranch is characterized as coastal plains country with scattered natural lake depressions. Elevations are in the range of 35 to 45 feet MSL. The soils are a mixture of fine sand and loamy fine sand. The ranch has a desirable mix of open prairie and large scattered motts of mesquite and huisache. Typical grasses include little bluestem, big bluestem, sea coast bluestem, coastal sacahuista, switchgrass, indiangrass, hooded windmill grass, witchgrass, bahiagrass, etc. Forbs include western indigo, dotted gayfeather, croton (desirable quail feed), lantana, camphor daisy, etc. Scattered prickly pear and tasajillo are also common. The coastal sacahuista is concentrated around the natural lake beds. The sacahuista has been controlled through periodic prescribed burns. The natural scattered tree canopy forms an almost perfect blend of open and wooded country, offering great protection and viewing opportunities for wildlife, while having large open areas for livestock. The ranch is fenced and crossfenced into two pastures. The fences are of typical barbed wire construction and are in good condition.

The French-Ball Ranch is very well watered. Water features include three wells equipped with electric submersible pumps, four windmills and several drinking troughs. The water wells range in depth from approximately 480 to 500 feet. The windmill cylinders are set at depths from 40 to 160 feet. The submersible pumps are set at depths of 160 to 200 feet. Reportedly, each submersible has the capability of yielding approximately 50 to 100 gallons per minute. One submersible provides water to the headquarters. The other two submersibles are tied to an extensive network of underground water lines. These 2-inch water lines provide water to approximately 32 quail drinkers scattered throughout the ranch. As previously stated, there are numerous natural lake beds scattered throughout the ranch. During times of average rainfall, these lake areas provide a haven for migratory birds. Three lake beds are tied to the water line network and hold water year around.

The French-Ball Ranch headquarters are located in the southeast quadrant of the ranch. The headquarter improvements are situated in an attractive, manicured setting with large mature trees, including palm trees. Structural improvements include two single-wide mobile homes for the ranch foreman and guests. The owners home is a larger, double-wide, mobile home with large covered deck. Other improvements at the headquarters include a steel frame covered shed with an enclosed shop area and game cleaning room, frame gun storage and gun cleaning building, frame storage building, a grain bin with auger and a small set of livestock pens. An additional covered shed with attached storage building and dog pens are located northwest of the headquarters.

Game species include white-tail deer, nilgai, quail, dove, turkey, waterfowl, feral hogs and javalina. During the current ownership, no commercial hunting has occurred on the property. The quail have been hunted only two times in the past five years.

The mineral estate was reserved many years ago. There is scattered oil production in the southeast portion of the ranch. One section of land, where there is mineral production, is State Mineral Classified. Royalties from the production on this section will be reserved by the seller. Once these wells cease to produce and are capped, the royalty interest will revert to the surface owner.

The French-Ball Ranch is located approximately 90 minutes from Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The nearest public airport, capable of handling larger private aircraft, is Brooks County Airport at Falfurrias, approximately 20 miles north of Encino. This airport has a 6,002-foot asphalt runway with 100LL and Jet-A fuel available.

If you are in the market for a quality, turn key, quail hunting ranch, this listing deserves your attention. For more information, please call Sam Middleton or Chad Dugger.