First I want to thank everyone for the suggestions, PMs, and emails, should have asked earlier before the final weekend. Last Saturday I tried around Bingham and started coming down with some type of stomach bug within the first hour of daylight, had to go home, spent rest of weekend in bed. Decided to try it one more time today, plan was to hit my usual spots on NW corner, then head south to some other places suggested. Almost didn't make it cause I only got about 2-1/2 hours of sleep, took all my will power to get out of, and stay out of bed.
Well I was overdue for a break and got one. After a 2 week lack of sign in that particular spot, two of the three first crossings had tracks coming off the range, and none going back, as far as I could tell. Sun was still not quite up, so after glassing 5-10 minutes I took the road going back to the water tank where I thought the oryx might be hanging around. Stopped about 1/2 mile from the tank to take a look, but then caught movement out of corner of my eye in other direction, small group of 4-5 running off at 100-150 yards. Almost took an offhand shot, but grabbed the shooting sticks out of the truck. Settled crosshairs on back of the neck of largest oryx running straight away at 200+ yards. Not a great shot, but all I had, and they were disappearing into the yucca, tried to hit neck or rake backbone. I missed, but for whatever reason the oryx turned 90 degrees to the right (maybe bullet whizzed by left ear?). Anyway, now I had a broadside shot more in the open, albeit running full bore at ~250 yards.
Lucky break #2, put about 1 body length of lead in front of the critter (felt good for some reason, 40 years of duck hunting?). When I pulled the trigger, big thump, oryx cartwheeled into a big cloud of dust, never moved another muscle. Bullet went right in the shoulder, pulverized both legbones just below the shoulder blade. Wow! Later ranged at 245 yards. OK, very happy I hit it, but it was luck to nail it right it the shoulder, and kill it instantly.
Here's a pic, nice cow; 38" X 36-1/4".
