Oryx Judging

muley505 · Apr 21, 2018

My brother drew an OIL oryx tag on Rhodes this year, and I was going to see if I could start a thread of oryx photos with the length measurements for field-judging purposes. Since it is an OIL tag, we would like to be a little picky if possible. I like to get a feel for size beforehand so I can try to help judge accurately when the time comes. If you happen to have an on-the-hoof photo too, that would be even better. Thanks a lot for the help.

264mag · Apr 21, 2018

You should be receiving lots of info and pictures of the Oryx Hunt .

iccyman001 · Apr 22, 2018

264mag is correct. You'll be getting tons of information pushed you way from the biologist. If you don't get some here soon, PM me and I'll forward you the judging email I received a few years ago.

mozey · Apr 22, 2018

I don't have any on-the-hoof pics, but here is a 39 5/8" McGregor Range cow:

And this is a 36" Rhodes Canyon bull the my buddy took (which when we checked it through the gates was the second biggest taken on that hunt):

Hope this helps...

nmyotebuster · Apr 23, 2018

A good "rule of thumb" is an oryx's "face" is about 12" long, so a 3:1 ratio of face to horn is where what most consider trophy size ( 36" + ).

That is how we have "field judged" on the fly.

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Teach your kids to hunt now, and you won't have to hunt for them later.

muley505 · Apr 23, 2018

Thanks for the help. Hoping for a big one.

Moehunt · Apr 23, 2018

Be careful with the proportion of head to horns. A brownie?s (immature) small head size relative to small horn size has similar proportions to mature animals. Picking out the biggest in a group of brownies is a good way to shoot a 24? oryx.

Another way to judge is when the oryx horns are above the shoulder hump when it's head is down grazing. Even with hump is 36ish. A bull?s Horns are thicker and carry more mass, but on average tend to be shorter than cows. I recommend taking the first day of the hunt to look at and compare as many as you can to develop your eye for the big ones.

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 23, 2018

>Be careful with the proportion of
>head to horns. A brownie?s
>(immature) small head size relative
>to small horn size has
>similar proportions to mature animals.
>Picking out the biggest in
>a group of brownies is
>a good way to shoot
>a 24? oryx.
>
> Another way to judge
>is when the oryx horns
>are above the shoulder hump
>when it's head is down
>grazing. Even with hump is
>36ish. A bull?s Horns are
>thicker and carry more mass,
>but on average tend to
>be shorter than cows. I
>recommend taking the first day
>of the hunt to look
>at and compare as many
>as you can to develop
>your eye for the big
>ones.

Also the bulls rings are more prominent than the cows.

Moehunt · Apr 24, 2018

I did an internet search and found lots of great photos and judging techniques. I was wrong on my last post. A head down oryx with horns even with the hump is estimated at 30? not 36?

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2018/67750c58663ead7a04d0788944b57f81f59e3.jpeg

BigDaddyL · Apr 24, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-24-18 AT 12:09PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Apr-24-18 AT 12:09?PM (MST)

This is mine from the depredation hunt last year. She scored 33" on both sides.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos_2018/90587toddoryxv1.jpg

Bowdeadly · Apr 24, 2018

Just shoot the 1st one you see and then let us taxidermist's add how many inches you want it to be. LOL.
On a serious note, don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a monster Oryx if the other side is broken. We can cast a new horn. You don't know how many stories I hear about oh he was a monster but was broken on one side then come home with a 28 incher. I guarantee my wife won't be passing up a big bull on her hunt this year if one side is busted off. Good luck on your hunt.
Regards, Geno

muley505 · Apr 24, 2018

Thanks again to all who posted. I appreciate the feedback. I have seen some very impressive oryx horn repairs, so I'll definitely keep that in mind.

ixsolracxi · Apr 24, 2018

My daughter drew the youth hunt this year on her second try...she's super excited to hunt an oryx on range this time around and more determined to kill one...too bad we can't scout the range...good luck to all that drew...

Mnbearhunter123 · Apr 25, 2018

>I don't have any on-the-hoof pics,
>but here is a 39
>5/8" McGregor Range cow:
>
>

>
>And this is a 36" Rhodes
>Canyon bull the my buddy
>took (which when we checked
>it through the gates was
>the second biggest taken on
>that hunt):
>
>

>
>Hope this helps...

Great animals!! Thanks