Oryx (Gemsbok) hunt

opticspecialist

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Jan 8, 2010
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Louisiana
Hello everyone,
I'm going on a hunt in New Mexico in May for Oryx (gemsbok) and I'm curious what gear/clothing, i'll need, how to prepare myself, stories about your hunts etc. any advice would be appreciated and I look forward to your recommendations and stories from your hunts. thanks in advance.
 
Never hunted those things yet..... But I lived in NM for a few years. Windy and possibility of rain. Should not be too cold but the nights will be cool. I would surely plan to later my clothes and fairly light. Good luck. I am putting in again this year.
 
elaborate fellas on the conditions a little more fellas, and I hear you need a pretty stout caliber as well, what do you guys think
 
My buddy shot one 3 times with a 300. And finally dropped it. All 3 shots were good center and shoulder shots. The animals are just awesome!!!!

Weather windy, up to 30 mph I would say. Temps to 30s at night and 80s in the day. It may be beautiful!!! But that's the worst.
 
Just completed an Oryx hunt on Sunday.In may you will encounter wind ,lows at night of 40 to 50,daytime highs of 85 to 100.Need to know if you are hunting on range or off.If you are on range it should be a fairly easy ,mainly driving hunt.If off range bring your hiking shoes and be prepared to do some serious tracking.It is a great sporting hunt off range that requires some serious work.
Rifle : I,ve shot 5 Oryx with .375--.264 Mag--.270 Win.All have been one shot kills..375 shooting 270 gr. Hornady--.264 with 120 gr. ballistic tip and .270 130 gr. ballistic tip.Sundays kill was with the .270- 150 yard shot off hand.Bullet struck center of shoulder and stopped bulging the hide on the center of the off shoulder.

The off range Oryx are really spooky and hard to approach.I had several herds at 800 to 1000 yards; but there was always brush and bunched up critters that kept me from pulling the trigger.The bull I took was a small 32 " animal ;but there were several real trophies with him.I would have shot a big one if it had been the best shot;but I was not really looking for a mounter.If you would like to talk details give me a call at 575-894-8765. Charles
 
May will be okay weather for the most part. Still have cool nights but days can be warm to hot. You will be hunting in the basin so expect greasewood and mesquite, cactus, sand, rocks...beautiful country! It doesn't look all that rugged but once you get into it, you will realize it is and distances can be very long.

You can get some wind and it can be pretty strong at times. We haven't had a lot this year yet so who knows if it will hit or not. Around here we always say if it doesn't blow in March and April it will blow allthe way to August which isn't much fun.

A buddy of mine has taken 3 and all the stories about them being tough are true. Last one he got was at 200 yards with a 300 Winny Mag and he heart shot the old boy, big hole in the heart and the thing still ran in a big circle for 75+ yards. They are good eating, kinda like strong beef to me. I've never been lucky enough to get a tag but been on a couple of hunts with others. You need good optics too and plan to look for them a lot. You would think they would stand out like a sore thumb but they blend in very well.

These you shoot through the shoulder, not behind it like we are used to. Their heart is forward of where we usually think. Bulls will be around the 500/550 lb area for larger ones and cows 300-400 lbs. Cows generally have thinner but longer horns.

Stalking is tough too, they are very aware of their surroundings and when in a larger group have lots of eyes looking around. There are fewer of them these days and I know people who have been on the trophy hunt and either taken an immature one as the only one they saw or gone home empty handed.

Good luck!
 
I hope I draw the off range again this year.Since I live here I can spend 30 days hunting.Not many chances to do that any more.The herds have been impacted by hunting pressure and the oryx have gone into the hardest areas to hunt.If you are willing to search for these areas it can still be a great hunt.
 
I took a nice bull last September at the Stallion range. What a fun hunt. The animals have incredible eye site much like antelope. We had some running from us at 5,000 yards. I took a heavy 33". I stalked it for about 800 yards in no cover open country. shot it at about 300 yards with a 7mag 168 I heard it hit hard. It bucked up and ran 20 yards and looked back. Gave it another on the other shoulder. Ran again for 30 yards and dropped! These things can take the lead! When dressed out, I hit the heard and both lungs with the 2 shots. Tough Animals!
 
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