Anyone ever taken an Oryx?

5RWill · December 20, 2011, 10:21 AM

Love these animals they're absolutely gorgeous IMO. Supposedly hard to kill and elusive to track also.

Thinking of trying to plan a trip around the spring of either this or a Elk. Mainly i just want to go on a Big Game hunt outside of freaking MS. Man i get tired of hills and delta land.

PTS1 · December 20, 2011, 11:33 AM

I have taken a scimitar hormed oryx here in Texas. You can find those gemsbock here in Texas on private ranches or in New Mexico on public lands, however you have to be drawn to get a tag to hunt those in NM. Here in Texas, you will pay 6,000 and up for a qualtiy gemsbock. Can take them anytime of the year. Good Luck!

warbirdlover · December 20, 2011, 04:25 PM

The only two game animals not found normally in the US I would want are the red stag and the kudu. I can't see shooting elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hippos and smelly alligators or crocodiles. I'd shoot an American buffalo though. How do you hang an elephant on the wall?

jgcoastie · December 20, 2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

How do you hang an elephant on the wall?

Well, for starters, you'd need a pretty dern big wall...

langenc · December 20, 2011, 05:24 PM

Have not shot one. we dont have em in MI

FrankenMauser · December 20, 2011, 08:14 PM

I believe my father dropped his Oryx, Gemsbuck, and Kudu with a .300 Weatherby. I can't recall the bullet he used in the hand load, though.
His were in Africa (along with 4-5 other "trophies" and a few pests).

I understand the appeal to "hunt" these animals in the U.S., but you won't find me doing it. It's more a point-and-shoot scenario, than an actual hunt.

If I wanted a canned hunt, it would be pretty easy to "hunt a dingo" and just shoot my Australian Cattle Dog while he was sleeping.

Jo6pak · December 20, 2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

I understand the appeal to "hunt" these animals in the U.S., but you won't find me doing it. It's more a point-and-shoot scenario, than an actual hunt.

If I wanted a canned hunt, it would be pretty easy to "hunt a dingo" and just shoot my Australian Cattle Dog while he was sleeping.

There are actually wild, free roaming herds of Oryx in the southwest U.S. Don't recall the details of how or why, but I remember seeing a show on the OUtdoor channel a while back where guys were suing spot and stalk to hunt them in N.M. Supposedly they are pretty wary and hard to get close to.

mapsjanhere · December 20, 2011, 09:21 PM

Oryx are widespread on the White Sand Missile Range in NM. Unfortunately, the number of tags is very limited, and they are "once in a lifetime" tags in an area with no scouting (I did mention it's on a top secret military base), so you better be prepared to pay a decent guide to make sure you get a shot off. So far I' 0 for forever on the draw.

5RWill · December 20, 2011, 09:46 PM

I would want a actual stalk not a go on the range shoot a ranch raised animal. Thats not a hunt. Will have to do some searching likely wont come till i'm out of college.

mapsjanhere · December 21, 2011, 10:35 AM

Deadline in NM for the wild oryx draw is Mar 28 2012. Good luck
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publ...012BIgGame.pdf

Jack O'Conner · December 23, 2011, 01:39 PM

Not me. But Outdoor Column writer for our local paper hunted oryx last year at New Mexico's White Sands Missle Range. He hired a local guide. His rifle was a 30-06 shooting 180 grain Premium bullet. He made a two shot kill at approx 225 yards. His animal was male yet he observed females with very long horns but slightly less mass. No kidding.

Jack

Art Eatman · December 23, 2011, 01:53 PM

There are free-ranging Oryx in southwestern New Mexico, with a restrictive permit system.

The O2 Ranch, south of Alpine, Texas, now has a small herd of Oryx. Maybe twenty or so. They're in the east pasture of the ranch, some 100,000 acres. I don't know of their future plans for any hunting.

I've not heard of any "penned" Oryx, other than possibly some breeding operation with sales to open-range ranches.

The O2 Oryx apparently aren't given to jumping sheep/goat fencing. I've seen them standing in the pasture alongside Hwy 118, counting cars.

nonothing · December 23, 2011, 10:08 PM

They're definitely interesting, but as for "elusive" I don't know how much that holds true. During training in N.M. near white sands on Fort Bliss we saw quite a few and very close up. There's a few that hang around so much that they're well known to the staff out there, as they have broken horns from trying to fight M1151 armored Humvees

lt dan · January 4, 2012, 09:39 AM

i have taken a couple of them. they are simply majestic. they are notoriously unforgiving to the slightest shot misplacement. i know a couple of hunters that will take them with smaller than a 270w, but i believe the 270 to be the minimum. the local Oryx tends to present longer shots- 250yards and beyond.

it was this elderly gentleman's first Gemsbuck(Oryx) hunt. i "guided" him and he took it at 220yards with my 300H&H.

JerryM · January 4, 2012, 09:50 AM

I took one on a 1/lifetime hunt. I found them just as difficult as deer under similar circumstances. It is not like shooting cows in a pasture.
Jerry

450NE · January 14, 2012, 06:29 PM

I took one in Namibia. They are excellent eating and are served in the nicer Windhoek restaurants.

trooper3385 · January 18, 2012, 09:12 PM

I killed one in South Africa a couple of years ago with a 300 win mag. They are very tough tough animals and shot placement is the key with the Gemsbok, as with any animal, but even more so with the Gemsbok. They can be very aggressive, especially when wounded. People are killed every year by them in Africa. The females actually have longer horns than the males and can sometimes score higher than the males. The males have more mass to there horns and are constantly sharpening them, that's the reason the females can have longer horns. They are beautiful animals and make excellent mounts.

December 20, 2011, 10:21 AM	#1
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	Anyone ever taken an Oryx? Love these animals they're absolutely gorgeous IMO. Supposedly hard to kill and elusive to track also. Thinking of trying to plan a trip around the spring of either this or a Elk. Mainly i just want to go on a Big Game hunt outside of freaking MS. Man i get tired of hills and delta land. Last edited by 5RWill; December 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM.

December 20, 2011, 08:14 PM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,775	I believe my father dropped his Oryx, Gemsbuck, and Kudu with a .300 Weatherby. I can't recall the bullet he used in the hand load, though. His were in Africa (along with 4-5 other "trophies" and a few pests). I understand the appeal to "hunt" these animals in the U.S., but you won't find me doing it. It's more a point-and-shoot scenario, than an actual hunt. If I wanted a canned hunt, it would be pretty easy to "hunt a dingo" and just shoot my Australian Cattle Dog while he was sleeping. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

December 20, 2011, 09:21 PM	#8
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Oryx are widespread on the White Sand Missile Range in NM. Unfortunately, the number of tags is very limited, and they are "once in a lifetime" tags in an area with no scouting (I did mention it's on a top secret military base), so you better be prepared to pay a decent guide to make sure you get a shot off. So far I' 0 for forever on the draw. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

December 21, 2011, 10:35 AM	#10
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Deadline in NM for the wild oryx draw is Mar 28 2012. Good luck http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publ...012BIgGame.pdf __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

December 23, 2011, 01:39 PM	#11
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,982	Not me. But Outdoor Column writer for our local paper hunted oryx last year at New Mexico's White Sands Missle Range. He hired a local guide. His rifle was a 30-06 shooting 180 grain Premium bullet. He made a two shot kill at approx 225 yards. His animal was male yet he observed females with very long horns but slightly less mass. No kidding. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

December 20, 2011, 11:33 AM	#2
PTS1 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2006 Posts: 246	I have taken a scimitar hormed oryx here in Texas. You can find those gemsbock here in Texas on private ranches or in New Mexico on public lands, however you have to be drawn to get a tag to hunt those in NM. Here in Texas, you will pay 6,000 and up for a qualtiy gemsbock. Can take them anytime of the year. Good Luck!

December 20, 2011, 04:25 PM	#3
warbirdlover Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 2,324	The only two game animals not found normally in the US I would want are the red stag and the kudu. I can't see shooting elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hippos and smelly alligators or crocodiles. I'd shoot an American buffalo though. How do you hang an elephant on the wall?

December 20, 2011, 05:24 PM	#5
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	Have not shot one. we dont have em in MI

December 20, 2011, 09:46 PM	#9
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	I would want a actual stalk not a go on the range shoot a ranch raised animal. Thats not a hunt. Will have to do some searching likely wont come till i'm out of college.

December 23, 2011, 01:53 PM	#12
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	There are free-ranging Oryx in southwestern New Mexico, with a restrictive permit system. The O2 Ranch, south of Alpine, Texas, now has a small herd of Oryx. Maybe twenty or so. They're in the east pasture of the ranch, some 100,000 acres. I don't know of their future plans for any hunting. I've not heard of any "penned" Oryx, other than possibly some breeding operation with sales to open-range ranches. The O2 Oryx apparently aren't given to jumping sheep/goat fencing. I've seen them standing in the pasture alongside Hwy 118, counting cars.

December 23, 2011, 10:08 PM	#13
nonothing Junior Member Join Date: August 16, 2011 Location: Chesapeake Va Posts: 8	They're definitely interesting, but as for "elusive" I don't know how much that holds true. During training in N.M. near white sands on Fort Bliss we saw quite a few and very close up. There's a few that hang around so much that they're well known to the staff out there, as they have broken horns from trying to fight M1151 armored Humvees

January 4, 2012, 09:39 AM	#14
lt dan Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2008 Location: south africa Posts: 328	i have taken a couple of them. they are simply majestic. they are notoriously unforgiving to the slightest shot misplacement. i know a couple of hunters that will take them with smaller than a 270w, but i believe the 270 to be the minimum. the local Oryx tends to present longer shots- 250yards and beyond. it was this elderly gentleman's first Gemsbuck(Oryx) hunt. i "guided" him and he took it at 220yards with my 300H&H. __________________ If youth is wasted on the young, then Africa is wasted on the Africans Last edited by lt dan; January 4, 2012 at 09:48 AM.

January 4, 2012, 09:50 AM	#15
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	I took one on a 1/lifetime hunt. I found them just as difficult as deer under similar circumstances. It is not like shooting cows in a pasture. Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

January 14, 2012, 06:29 PM	#16
450NE Member Join Date: July 24, 2008 Posts: 22	I took one in Namibia. They are excellent eating and are served in the nicer Windhoek restaurants.

January 18, 2012, 09:12 PM	#17
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 814	I killed one in South Africa a couple of years ago with a 300 win mag. They are very tough tough animals and shot placement is the key with the Gemsbok, as with any animal, but even more so with the Gemsbok. They can be very aggressive, especially when wounded. People are killed every year by them in Africa. The females actually have longer horns than the males and can sometimes score higher than the males. The males have more mass to there horns and are constantly sharpening them, that's the reason the females can have longer horns. They are beautiful animals and make excellent mounts.