White Sands Missle Range, Oryx ?? Kirby??

[eddybo]

I drew one of the once in a lifetime oryx hunts in August. Any special items I need to pack or any thing to keep in mind. I know several that visit this forum have made this hunt, is there anything you wish you had known before hand that you didnt expect?

I think this would be a good time to try out a 338AM...what you say Kirby? Are you going to send one out to MS in time for this hunt? (As usual...this is Paul Guy....I know you cant keep up with everyones online names)

 

[James Jones]

"eddybo" if you need sombody to pack that big gun around for ya , I may be able to fit you into my schedual , I'll even do it for free as long as you feed me

from what I've heard that hunt offers ALOT of LOOONNG range shots

 

[eddybo]

Your Welcome to tag along and we will eat high on the hog if your serious. All expenses paid if you will work the camera...and help drag

 

[jimbo300]

Congrats on drawing that Oryx tag. I imagine you could really stretch out a rifle in that country. I know you'll have an awesome hunt and do get some good footage to show us here on this site.

 

[Jimm]

congrats on the draw

I drew one of the once in a lifetime oryx hunts in August. Any special items I need to pack or any thing to keep in mind. I know several that visit this forum have made this hunt, is there anything you wish you had known before hand that you didnt expect?

I think this would be a good time to try out a 338AM...what you say Kirby? Are you going to send one out to MS in time for this hunt? (As usual...this is Paul Guy....I know you cant keep up with everyones online names)

You will have a blast ! Two day hunt ? Ours was and they fly by . We went in Sept. and it snowed in the surrounding mountains and was quite cold first part of day then you would be in shirt sleeves by noon .

The military game wardens and the state game wardens were very helpful and friendly but the base has some strict rules . No cameras on base for one thing . You have to take a pic of your trophy offbase . If caught in violation of any of the rules you are immediately escorted offbase and there may be fines on top of that . The base is literally swarming with " observers " during the hunt . They are armed with some sophisticated high power optics as well .

The problem with a really long shot is that the mirage makes it very difficult to judge a trophy . Keep in mind that some cows will have some really nice horns as well . The older bulls were in small groups apart from the cows and calves . As many as 6 or 7 together .

I watched many groups of hunters attempt to sneak on the oryx . Didn't happen , these are essentially plains animals and their eyesight and vigilance is top drawer . Once pressured they put their heads down and gallop off , for miles literally ! We followed one large group for 22 miles on the first day . Jockeying for a shot we were busted time and again . Thats their game and its not the one to play .

Give me call at 501 -448- 9150 and I can share a ton of things we learned on our hunt . I will be home by 7pm Arkansas time most evenings . One thing is that if you take a wheeler you will need to attend a sanctioned 4 wheeler instructional course to be able to use it in New Mexico . You can use the wheeler to retrieve the oryx but cant hunt off it . Without a wheeler we couldnt have gotten our animal out . Even after field dressing it we couldnt load it on the wheeler without using ratchet straps in a tedious fashion . Dragging it was out of the question as the dang thing still weighed more than three of put together . Not to mention all the washes with vertical walls that lay between us and the truck . That brings up another thing , you cant go cross country in your vehicle . Must use the roads which consist of asphalt , gravel and two tracks .

Good hunting , its a fun trip !

 

[Fiftydriver]

I will do my best to see to it that a 338 AM punches your tag in August!!!!

Getting ready to start up a batch of factory receivered rifles and then will be onto a big batch of 338 AMs and 375 AMs, including yours. Unless something drastic happens, you will have yours in plenty of time to play with it well before the hunt.

Kirby Allen(50)

 

[eddybo]

Thanks for the info Jimm, I will definately be giving you a call. I have a good friend in NM that is going to "guide" He lives right by the range and drew for Sept (I think) If we ever get access to landowner permits (as we discussed before) I will let you know.

Thats great news Kirby.....I cant wait to fire that bad girl off at a big critter. If it shoots anything like that 270AM I picked up used I know I will be happy. I am pretty accuracy conscious for a newbie, your guns are world class performers IMO.

Jimbo.....round up Adam and yall come shoot with me sometime. I am down with the flumonia right now, but would love to shoot some stuff with yall.

 

[Jimm]

Abinok aka

"Adam " is newly wed and has a new job with the police force . He is out of circulation for a spell !

As for me I am about to be covered up with spring doings . When the grass starts growing I get mowing .
Otherwise I would love to come check out your range and grill some steaks and swill some brews , all after shooting of course !

Do give me a call Edddybo , it will be easier to exchange info on the phone and you will think of more questions to ask while talking .

Scott and I also had a " guide " with us that is a friend of Scotts from elk hunting in New Mexico . The man is a top elk guide but his tactics werent the ones to use for the Oryx . By day two we had figured out a good game plan and things went much better .

Since you are going to go to all the trouble to get down there for the oryx hunt you should consider doing wht we did . Go Aoudad ( barbary sheep ) hunting on a private ranch after your gemsbok hunt . A ton of fun and they can be hunted year round and license are available over the counter . About three hundred for the license and then whatever the rancher wants for hunting but you can roam cross country in your truck to locate the animals and can hunt from your 4 wheeler as well . Lots of glassing and from the high ridges and great weather in ( February ) not so sure about August . That reminds me , I said we went in Sept. , man !! my memory is not like it useta was ! We went in February . Sorry bout that .

The game and fish offices in that part of New Mexico keep a list of ranchers that allow tresspass hunting for a fee .

Goldurn it , just thinking about it makes me want to do it again !!

Holler at me EB ,

Jim Brown

 

[captacademy]

This is a great hunt that you will really enjoy. Shots here can be well over 500yards. I have been on this hunt 3 times and have used a 300Wby Mag, 375 H&H and a 338-378 WBY mag. All animals taken were one shot kills with these mentioned rifles.

NM Game and Fish, as well as the military do have excellent optics and watch the hunters from high vantage points, as stated by another poster.

Take a great spotting scope and you will be able to shoot as far as your abilities and rifle will allow.

Remember, the cows usually have longer and more slender horns than the male oryx. The oryx bulls have larger bodies and thicker horns.

Again, this is a great hunt. If you have any further question, send me a PM.

 

[Jimm]

They also have some other

This is a great hunt that you will really enjoy. Shots here can be well over 500yards. I have been on this hunt 3 times and have used a 300Wby Mag, 375 H&H and a 338-378 WBY mag. All animals taken were one shot kills with these mentioned rifles.

NM Game and Fish, as well as the military do have excellent optics and watch the hunters from high vantage points, as stated by another poster.

Take a great spotting scope and you will be able to shoot as far as your abilities and rifle will allow.

Remember, the cows usually have longer and more slender horns than the male oryx. The oryx bulls have larger bodies and thicker horns.

Again, this is a great hunt. If you have any further question, send me a PM.

Attachments as well ! Speaking about the bulls that is . A couple of them swinging freely , course the angle of the dangle is important to see all that . On the horn thing , the bulls seem to have rings further up the horn than the cows , further and heavier .

Jim B.

 

[Troutslayer]

You will have a blast ! Two day hunt ? Ours was and they fly by . We went in Sept. and it snowed in the surrounding mountains and was quite cold first part of day then you would be in shirt sleeves by noon .

The military game wardens and the state game wardens were very helpful and friendly but the base has some strict rules . No cameras on base for one thing . You have to take a pic of your trophy offbase . If caught in violation of any of the rules you are immediately escorted offbase and there may be fines on top of that . The base is literally swarming with " observers " during the hunt . They are armed with some sophisticated high power optics as well .

The problem with a really long shot is that the mirage makes it very difficult to judge a trophy . Keep in mind that some cows will have some really nice horns as well . The older bulls were in small groups apart from the cows and calves . As many as 6 or 7 together .

I watched many groups of hunters attempt to sneak on the oryx . Didn't happen , these are essentially plains animals and their eyesight and vigilance is top drawer . Once pressured they put their heads down and gallop off , for miles literally ! We followed one large group for 22 miles on the first day . Jockeying for a shot we were busted time and again . Thats their game and its not the one to play .

Give me call at 501 -448- 9150 and I can share a ton of things we learned on our hunt . I will be home by 7pm Arkansas time most evenings . One thing is that if you take a wheeler you will need to attend a sanctioned 4 wheeler instructional course to be able to use it in New Mexico . You can use the wheeler to retrieve the oryx but cant hunt off it . Without a wheeler we couldnt have gotten our animal out . Even after field dressing it we couldnt load it on the wheeler without using ratchet straps in a tedious fashion . Dragging it was out of the question as the dang thing still weighed more than three of put together . Not to mention all the washes with vertical walls that lay between us and the truck . That brings up another thing , you cant go cross country in your vehicle . Must use the roads which consist of asphalt , gravel and two tracks .

Good hunting , its a fun trip !

Do you mean that you shot this thing then got it out whole on an ATV and took it "off base" for the pic? Or is tbe no cameras allowed policy not really enforced?

 

[Slopeshunter]

Maybe my memory's not correct, but I recall from reading Jimm's story about the hunt that they took the picture off the base. Me thinks.

Do you mean that you shot this thing then got it out whole on an ATV and took it "off base" for the pic? Or is tbe no cameras allowed policy not really enforced?

 

[Jimm]

You got it

Do you mean that you shot this thing then got it out whole on an ATV and took it "off base" for the pic? Or is tbe no cameras allowed policy not really enforced?

right the first time . Gutted it on the base where it fell . Ratchet strapped it onto the wheeler with 4 straps acting as winches . That took forever but the three of us could not pick it up !! Thing is as big as a cow !

A funny thing happened when I drove the 4 wheeler out of the bed of my truck . The oryx was strapped on the wheeler taking up most of the seat and hanging off the rear and when I backed down the ramp the wheeler stopped at the bottom and flipped over onto its rear and the oryx kept it from going on over . There I sat like a rocket pointing at the moon and the wheeler still running ! My buds panicked but I wish they had taken a pic before they righted me . !!

Then we drove to Alamogordo and took the pic off a county rd. just outside town , then skunt it on the ground .

They are very serious about the camera /video thing . Not even cell phones with camera capability . Those guys were as friendly and helpful as can be but they are professionals and mean what they say .

Jim Brown

 

[eddybo]

It is disturbing to me that I cant carry my phone as it is also a camera. It also runs exbal. Guess I better find a PDA dedicated to running my ballistics program. At least I got a heads up on this here. I would have been very disapointed if I hadnt known this before I arrived.