Oryx OIL

NMDGF is in the process of evaluating oryx data and determining the future of oryx hunting for the next four years. I've seen the other posts regarding oryx hunting and wanted to chime in on a subject that is probably going to get loud. I understand that in 1970 oryx hunting was new and a novelty. So, once-in-a-lifetime hunts were created because at the time, none of the managers knew that oryx would adapt very well to our environment and breed year-round. Fast forward to today and oryx has created an incredible amount of hunting opportunity. Yet, we still have OIL hunts on WSMR. Why? For the opportunity to hunt oryx? For the quality of the hunt?

Proposal: Phase out OIL hunts beginning with this year's applicants. If anyone has applied for OIL hunts this year or previous and not drawn, he/she get preference. However many year's it takes, phase out those hunters until every one has drawn. Let everyone know from this point forward that they have no OIL to apply for (if he/she have not applied before).

With so much oryx hunting opportunity, why do we still have OIL. If we keep it, then it should be a great hunting opportunity with little pressure!

That makes no sense at all. Limited resource - demand exceeds supply. Go look at the draw odds on the tags, you would see apps declining steadily if they were clearing the OIL backlog, odds have gotten worse, not improved.

The last thing you would want to do is introduce a preference point system to any game animals in NM. Over time that could bleed into other species/hunts. NM's pure random draw system is great. IMO... The OIL system is fair.

LAST EDITED ON Apr-27-18 AT 06:43PM (MST)[p]Yeah I am not for a point system.overall, look at UTAH! That being said if there was a way for those waiting 20 years for a tag to have more an opportunity to draw that tag.. I think it's worth a discussion at least.

Another vote for no way. Keep points out of it. I value the OIL hunt for a quality animal. If I want a quality hunt experience, get an off range tag. The OIL hunt should be for quality trophy level oryx.

There is a way to increase odds add the last 4 hunts with 100 tags each into the OIL tags. There are lots of people who have been applying for 20 yrs that would choose those for better odds.

On the original post. Bad solution period.

I agree, no point system.
There are enough people out there that have never drawn on range oryx that would love to get lower quality on range hunt and count it as their OIL hunt.

What do you consider a lower quality on range hunt?