NM Oryx

[subfan]

I found out I drew a NM Oryx hunt. I am stoked! For those of you that applied and don't want to wait till the 10th, check your CC. That's how I found out.

 

[Colorado Bob]

Which range did you draw ? I hunted the Stallion this past year---1/31 & 2/1. Lots of oryx. I posted my story & photo on a couple other forms. I'm kind of a computer neophyte-----can you cut & post it here?

 

[subfan]

Not sure if I drew my 1st choice or not. I know my CC was hit HARD...

 

[subfan]

I was blessed to draw my first choice, Rhodes Canyon in Dec. I believe that is the only 3 day hunt. The rest look like 2 day hunts. I am in the research phase so any help is appreciated! Come on December

 

[subfan]

Bob,

You should be able to cut and past it here. Not sure about photos though.

Did someone from White Sands accompany you?

Is it true that the butchers and taxidermists were waiting for business outside the gate? If you did not use them, where did you have you Oryx processed?

 

[Colorado Bob]

subfan----I hunted the Stallion Range. It was a good fun hunt, lots of oryx. Yes, there are taxidermist at the gate & I'm pretty sure there were a couple meat processors there also. Practice on long shots & use enough gun. They are pretty tuff. I bought mine back to Durango to my local taxidermist & had it processed here also. Just had a roast tonite-----IMO it's better than elk !! And that's saying something !!

Is your hunt an early one? Mine was the last one, I think. Oryx were pretty spooky, closest hunting would be pronghorn. I used the same tatics/style hunting oryx as I do with pronghorn.

Good luck-----Be patient & get a good one !!


Subfan-----I hunted with my wife. I also met Clynt (UThunting) from Monstermuleys there & we hunted together. Take a buddy---you'll need help in loading the oryx. Clynt's hunting story is also on Monstermuleys.

 

[subfan]

Bob,

There is one hunt in Nov. that is before mine which is Dec. 28-30. The hunt for mine has 110 tags and there is a youth hunt going at the same time for 20 tags.

I keep hearing the meat is awesome.

I might rent a pick-up truck when I get there, I take it El Paso is the closest big town?

Thanks for the information!

 

[Dave in LB]

Mike Carlsbad isn't too far and it's a fairly big city for NM. If you are Looking at flying in EL Passo may be the best but it's a 2-3 hour drive from El Paso to Carlsbad and a another 30-60 minutes to Whitesands. If I thought I'd be in NM for Christmas/newyear I'd try to meet you down there or have you fly into ABQ. Heck i could even ferry your gun(s) at that rate.My FIL just found out he may be fighting cancer again so who knows we could be in ABQ. Just a few thought.

 

[subfan]

Heck Dave, I'd love to have you come along. You were like a good luck charm last time we hooked up and your brute strength was appreciated. Speaking of which, I should be getting Brutus back sometime this month.

 

[Dave in LB]

Wow your taxidermist turned that around pretty quick. You'll have to post photos of the mount. As to the good luck charm comment I appreciate the thought but my lack of success as a hunter may prove other wise. Or maybe I'm just throwing myself on the grenade for the boys

I told my wife about this post and my comments and she seemed to think flying into El Paso and renting a truck is the way to go. I can't imaging it's all that much closer from El Paso than ABQ. I guess which ever destination is cheaper would be the one to fly to. All things being equal we will most likely make Christmas 04 a beach Christmas. Would definately be fun to help you haul out another trophy.

 

[subfan]

Reality set in

The tag came in the mail Friday, the wife is demanding the $1500 on the charge card

and I am working on loading up some 200 gr. Accubonds for my 300 WSM

 

[OzarkRidgeRunner]

I just found this thread through Google. Had some friends stop by and they wanted to see pictures of an Oryx after seeing my 32 1/4" horns. I did a skull mount.

I share your excitement. I got mine on the Stallion range. 125 yard shot. Running full tilt. 7 witnesses. VERY COOL!

I wish the same thrill for all of you who are going for Oryx the first time.

I used to think that Elk steaks were the best there was. Until I ate Oryx.

I left NM that winter.

I am also a former wild game butcher. I have a couple of tips that are unique to the early Oryx hunts to help preserve your meat. Let me know if you want to hear them. I don't want to be too pushy on my very first post here.

I am temporarily in NC. For 2 or more years yet. I miss MO, NM, & CO where I spent most of my short life. (I am 32 years old)

 

[OzarkRidgeRunner]

You might want to check into the insurance regs, etc. for using a rented truck. When I hunted they were pretty strict on some of those details.

Be SURE to study the diagrams over and over for where to shoot for a clean kill. These critters ain't like deer & elk.

I was still single, living with my uncle's family in NW NM. I came in the house whooping like a little kid. My aunt guessed right away I had drawn out.

I packed some of the best steaks in dry ice and took them back to WV that winter. Grilled them up for the family of the girl I wanted to marry. It worked. I got her and they still talk about those Oryx steaks.

(I used a borrowed 8mm Mag. One shot kill. Right through the shoulder blade.)

Don't forget...

 

[subfan]

I'll take all the information I can get. Do share, don't be shy around here

Welcome aboard

 

[OzarkRidgeRunner]

Thanks.

Buy a bunch of those cheap styrofoam coolers. The big ones. Fill them all up with ice before you head out.

When you tag (notice I didn't say if!) you will of course gut the critter right there.

Now the Oryx is built kinda weird compared to deer, elk, etc. And there is a lot of meat in the neck area you don't want to go to waste. (The neck area is a lot bigger than on an elk.

So after you gut the critter and load it up, break out the ice. Open several bags and shove them down the Oryx's throat. Yeah, I'm serious. Also shove as much as you can UP the throat from inside the body cavity.

Next pack the body cavity with ice that is still in the bags. Just put the whole bag in.

Next, repack the throat area one more time.

Now place several full bags of ice between the front legs and tie the legs together. Repeat with the back legs.

Cover with one of those cheap brown and silver tarps from Wal-Mart. Put the silver side OUT to reflect the sun. (use the tarp to cover the coolers until you kill one)

This may seem like a lot of bother but trust me... it is well worth it. I used about 25 bags of ice. That was cheap compared losing this precious meat from a once in a lifetime hunt.

I hunted the Stallion Range in late Sept. and it was blazing hot. I heard of 3 hunters that lost their meat on that hunt. My parents had just moved from MO to Belen NM (just south of Alb.). We headed up to their place. Took us 2 hours. By the time we got there the Oryx was completely chilled. I placed my hand on the shoulder. Cool. On the rump. Cool. On the neck area. Cool.

So basically you are cooling the meat down instantly, rather than waiting until you get it to a cooler. I use this technique now for any hunt I go on unless it is really cold already. (Like a December cow hunt in CO)

Your meat will be on it's way to taste better than you can imagine.

I have seen TONS (literally) of meat lost or have the taste ruined by poor handling. I worked in a wild game butcher shop in Aztec NM for almost 18 months total. Some critters were so bad you could smell them when the truck pulled up outside.

I think that it is criminal to waste meat like that. I do realize things happen sometimes. But I am talking about losing it because of neglect, etc. I know there is more to a hunt than the meat. But it is an important part of the hunting experience. I love the smell of a fresh deer or elk carcass.

Comments or disagreements welcome.

Above all, have fun. I had more pure FUN on my oryx hunt than any big game hunt I ever went on. Others may have been more satisfying in other ways. But none were as FUN. The Army guys were there to help you have a good time. It was a highlight of my hunting career.

 

[OzarkRidgeRunner]

Here's a pic. BTW, I never did fnd out how the 32 1/4" horns compared... trophy? or just a nice set? doesn't really matter. The memories WERE trophy!

 

[Dave in LB]

Ozarkridgerunner,

Great tips. Like Subfan said don't be shy around here, and if you have tips like this to share by all means let us have it. I never thought about stuffing ice into the animal that way. Did you have a long haul back to your vehicle or were you able to drive right up to it and haul him out? I would think it would be difficult to cary the carcass with all that ice in it very far, or do you chill the meat them haul it out? Thanks again for sharing.

 

[OzarkRidgeRunner]

The Army Rangers? (mounted Army) came up o my kill area quickly. They visually cleared a path for me to drive right to the Oryx. (looking for ordnance, etc.) I gutted it on the spot, then loaded it, and then is when I packed it with ice. If you have to quarter and pack out a critter my tip won't help much. But when you can load up soon it is a meat saver.

BTW, the Army guys helped me load up, etc. They were of an attitude that as long as you played by the rules, they were there to help you enjoy the hunt in any way possible. Admired my rifle, told me stories, etc.

 

[subfan]

Man, I can't wait to go

You have a mount done?

Thanks for the great tips!!!!!!!

 

[scr83jp]

I've been on line with a former Cal resident who relocated to NM and has hunted Oryx he admits the nonresident tag for Oryx is way too expensive being about 15 times higher than resident tags.I put in for a predation tag at White Sands a couple of years ago but wasn't drawn and received my $1500 tag fee back.After that I kept receiving info from ranches that had tags and hunts starting at $3600 and up plus the tag fee.