Gemsboks in New Mexico?

[bpnclark]

I have been wondering for while now if anyone else sees something wrong with Gemsboks walking around New Mexico. Why are they there in the first place? Why are they walking around Public Property? Why is there a limited tag number on an animal that is not native? What’s next, Cape Buffalos in South Dakota? Hippos in Florida? Warthogs in CA?

I know feral hogs are not native, but there is no season or limit on them. I know there are other non-native goats, sheep and deer but those are usually hunted on private ranches. I know there are a lot of non-native species walking around right now, but Gemsboks?

 

[Glass eye]

The state introduced them as a game animal so why not manage them as such.
If you want to get technical, ringneck pheasants, chukars and hungarian partridge were also introduced.

 

[bpnclark]

Like I said – I know there are a lot of non-native species. But I think there is a huge difference between a ringneck pheasant and a large African antelope.

But thanks for the info. I did not know that the State of New Mexico introduced Gemsboks for the purpose of having them as game animals. Maybe in a few years they can introduce some Springboks and Eland and charge for those. Then some lions, hyenas, leopards and maybe some cheetahs. Cheetahs do very well in the Kalahari Desert (like the Gemsbok) so they should be fine in New Mexico. Plus, cheetahs will make way more $ than a Gemsbok, and we wouldn’t have a problem with any CITES permits.

 

[barel74]

I wouldn't mind some warthogs here in CA...... besides the local ones I see here in the bar

 

[Glass eye]

NM also has Persian Ibex and N. African Aoudad sheep. NM isn't the only state that did this. Back in the 60's it was a popular move to introduce exotic species for hunting. Now the popular move is to eradicate them and try to restore the enviroment to a "pre-columbian" state. Thus CA eradicating game animals on the So Cal Islands and Hawaii shooting anything that moves from helicopters.

 

[subfan]

I see nothing wrong with it. Maybe they put them on WSMR to monitor the Trinity site?

 

[brut]

There is nothing wrong with it. They are well managed and live in places not a whole lot else will. Lile said before no different than pheasants, and chucker which I doubt you will hear anyone complain about. As for me I have no plans to ever go to Africa but jumped at the idea to shoot a oryx in new mexico.

 

[scottosan]

Hey Brut,
Did either you or your dad score this year? I remember you both drew tags.
I have been putting in for that hunt for 5 years and am still waiting




And as to why there are Orix in NM. An army Colonol that spent time in Africa noticed how much the area resembled NM and brought over the animal. This was shortly after WW2 , no OK from the state or anyone else. This would never happen today, so a BIG thanks to the Army Colonol

 

[brut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (scottosan @ Jan 30 2009, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hey Brut,
Did either you or your dad score this year? I remember you both drew tags.
I have been putting in for that hunt for 5 years and am still waiting




And as to why there are Orix in NM. An army Colonol that spent time in Africa noticed how much the area resembled NM and brought over the animal. This was shortly after WW2 , no OK from the state or anyone else. This would never happen today, so a BIG thanks to the Army Colonol

[/b]

Scott we did well. It was a very fun hunt and Well Managed

We hunted the rhodes canyon and if you get lucky enough to draw the tag and want company let me know I'd be more than happy to help you out. Over all a great year arizona bull elk and nm oryx.

 

[bpnclark]

Sorry Scottosan – they might be similar, but Africa is not like New Mexico.

 

[jims]

Exotics?

If you don't like hunting "exotics" you may want to steer clear of hunting just about any big game species that walks in New Zealand...there are a gob of them! Even Hawaii has a bunch of free ranging exotics such as mouflan sheep, goats, and boars.

The exotic issue is also controvercial here in Colorado. According to past history books there were 0 mtn goats roaming the high alpine country in Colorado many years ago; however, the DOW introduced them and there are now hundreds of mtn goats roaming Colorado with quite a few big game tags available. If you are a purists then mtn goats in Colo should be considered exotic and should be eliminated!

If you look at trout species here in Colorado there is only 1 true trout that is native to our waters....the cutthroat trout. Brook trout, rainbow, and browns are all non-natives.

Whether it is a rainbow trout, ring-neck pheasant, or gemsbok you are talking about they all are non-native, exotic species here in the US. Do you eliminate them all......good question!

 

[DEERSLAM]

Hunting fair chase free roaming exotics is great and it extends my hunting seasons so I'm all for em. my .02

 

[elkguys]

I can see both side of this issue.what belongs here from time long ago should remain.But on the other side the area in nm and texas is a lot like africa terrain,it also gives lots of people a chance to hunt game they could not afford to go and pay for in africa so if you look at it that way it is a good thing.but leave the big cats in africa