woodruffhunter
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 3,690
I just want to thank all of you on MM who offered advice for my 2011 oryx hunt (especially Kevin and stinkystomper).
I had learned about this hunt a while back and my friend Kevin suggested I apply for the Stallion Range. With difficult draw odds, I never expected to draw. I was lucky and drew the last hunt of the year on the Stallion Range.
After months of preparing, asking a lot of questions, I was ready to go. We left Northern Utah/Wyoming at 3:30ish Thursday morning. We drove all day and arrived in Socorro later that evening. It sure was nice getting there a day early. It allowed us to rest and get a few additional things ready for the hunt.
I was allowed 3 guests on my hunt. I decided to take my son, dad, and Tony- AKA stinkystomper. My friend Kevin, who suggested the hunt, was there as well. His friend had drawn a tag.
Tony was nice enough to drive down to Socorro and stay with his family. That next morning we left our hotel and picked him up. We then headed for orientation. After orientation, we were off to hunt. I will say that I am impressed with Gilbert, the base, and the NM Fish and Game. They were very friendly and treated us well!
As I am sure all of you know it was a two day hunt. Therefore, there was pressure to get a good oryx as soon as we were able. Right from the start, we saw a few good oryx. Tony glassed up a small herd and we thought we might be through, early. However, some other hunters bumped the oryx and we had to go try a new place.
We saw other oryx throughout the day. They were very nervous and would not stay still. It was difficult getting on them to say the least. Finally, I had a chance at a great bull later that afternoon. I won't go into detail but I was totally disgusted with myself on missing out on a great bull.
So, Saturday we came back with nothing. I was starting to feel the prssure for the next day hunt. We were able to start hunting right away the next morning and immediatlely we were able to glass up 2 broken horned oryx. I decided that I want to get up on them to get a better look. I actually was pretty happy that hese were some of the few that I found before Tony did...
As we were walking through the Yucca, we would stop and glass the terrain. As we were glassing, Tony spotted about 8 oryx moving our way. We pushed ahead, hoping to cut them off. We came to a good point, stopped and set up the shooting sticks. Tony said there were three shooters and some juveniles. I raised the gun and quickly found them in the scope. They were about 450 yards away. Two of the big ones left my site, and the other shooter was milling around and feeding with three juvenile oryx. I kept trying to steady the rifle, and hoping the oryx would position for a good shot. Finally, it stood quartering away and I got the gun steady and squeezed off a shot. I thought I heard a hit but wasn't sure.
I don't think Tony thought I hit it lol... If I had hit one, I think that he thought I shot one of the juveniles. He pulled up his glasses and it was down and still trying to get up. We moved quickly and I stopped at about 100 yards and shot again to finish it.
I learned a lot on this hunt. These oryx are extremely difficult to see in the Yucca. Tony helped a great deal, helping us learn about hunting oryx. I really appreciate how he was able to find them (glassing); Thanks!!
I had learned about this hunt a while back and my friend Kevin suggested I apply for the Stallion Range. With difficult draw odds, I never expected to draw. I was lucky and drew the last hunt of the year on the Stallion Range.
After months of preparing, asking a lot of questions, I was ready to go. We left Northern Utah/Wyoming at 3:30ish Thursday morning. We drove all day and arrived in Socorro later that evening. It sure was nice getting there a day early. It allowed us to rest and get a few additional things ready for the hunt.
I was allowed 3 guests on my hunt. I decided to take my son, dad, and Tony- AKA stinkystomper. My friend Kevin, who suggested the hunt, was there as well. His friend had drawn a tag.
Tony was nice enough to drive down to Socorro and stay with his family. That next morning we left our hotel and picked him up. We then headed for orientation. After orientation, we were off to hunt. I will say that I am impressed with Gilbert, the base, and the NM Fish and Game. They were very friendly and treated us well!
As I am sure all of you know it was a two day hunt. Therefore, there was pressure to get a good oryx as soon as we were able. Right from the start, we saw a few good oryx. Tony glassed up a small herd and we thought we might be through, early. However, some other hunters bumped the oryx and we had to go try a new place.
We saw other oryx throughout the day. They were very nervous and would not stay still. It was difficult getting on them to say the least. Finally, I had a chance at a great bull later that afternoon. I won't go into detail but I was totally disgusted with myself on missing out on a great bull.
So, Saturday we came back with nothing. I was starting to feel the prssure for the next day hunt. We were able to start hunting right away the next morning and immediatlely we were able to glass up 2 broken horned oryx. I decided that I want to get up on them to get a better look. I actually was pretty happy that hese were some of the few that I found before Tony did...
As we were walking through the Yucca, we would stop and glass the terrain. As we were glassing, Tony spotted about 8 oryx moving our way. We pushed ahead, hoping to cut them off. We came to a good point, stopped and set up the shooting sticks. Tony said there were three shooters and some juveniles. I raised the gun and quickly found them in the scope. They were about 450 yards away. Two of the big ones left my site, and the other shooter was milling around and feeding with three juvenile oryx. I kept trying to steady the rifle, and hoping the oryx would position for a good shot. Finally, it stood quartering away and I got the gun steady and squeezed off a shot. I thought I heard a hit but wasn't sure.
I don't think Tony thought I hit it lol... If I had hit one, I think that he thought I shot one of the juveniles. He pulled up his glasses and it was down and still trying to get up. We moved quickly and I stopped at about 100 yards and shot again to finish it.
I learned a lot on this hunt. These oryx are extremely difficult to see in the Yucca. Tony helped a great deal, helping us learn about hunting oryx. I really appreciate how he was able to find them (glassing); Thanks!!
