NMPaul
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Zach has the July off range hunt. This was the first weekend we could really get out.
Sean generously offered to let us hunt one of his honeyholes again. I would not go into his spots with out checking with him.
We headed out Friday night to camp close to the hunting area. Friday night we had about an hour to glass and get camp set up.
Sat morning there had been a recent sprinkle of rain so we had some great tracking conditions.
Sure enough we saw where they had crossed a road into some thicker country. We followed that pair of tracks about 2.5 miles before we lost them in the rocks. After getting back to the truck we were driving to another glassing spot. We cut some tracks on the road that crossed our tire tracks within the last couple hours.
Off we went. This time we went about 4 miles and again lost the single set of tracks in a grassy rocky area. At this point Zach had about enough of tracking.
We took a short break in the middle of the day and decided to try some new country. During out break there was again a slight thunder shower.
Sure enough after getting into this new area there was a pair of tracks through the road that could not be more than a couple hours old. Off we went. This time about a mile into it I decided that they had seen us on their back trail and were running. We went over the top of 2 mountains, but, we were not losing the trail. Zack has made a couple of shots over 500 yards so I felt confident that even if we caught site of them a ways off Zach could make a shot.
We followed these animals a long ways and we were not losing the tracks this time. I finally called it after crossing 2 mountains and it was starting to get late. We were now 2 miles from the truck. We found a old road and started heading back.
At this point we had hiked over 10 miles, were foot sore, and had not seen an gemsbuck all day. We were talking about what we would try in the morning because it was already after 6:00. We came around a corner and the truck came into site.
All of a sudden Zach said theres one. Sure enough coming down the ridge right towards the truck was a single oryx. Zach threw up the bog pod, dialed in the scope. I estimated it to be between 250 and 300 yards. Hold dead on with the 300rum.
She saw us and turned around and stood broadside. Boom, she stumbled and took off at a full run up the ridge and over the top.
We found the where the shot was, and immediatelly found lung blood. We were pumped. We crested the hill and there she was about 150 yards away piled up under a cedar. He hit her high for a oryx, but, took out both lungs and she was blowing blood out of both sides.
Of all the oryx hunts we have ever been on, this was the best. We were beat, and run down after hiking over 10 miles that day (thank God I had lost 37 lbs in the last few months). It was just dumb ass luck that this oryx was coming down the hill right above the truck after we had seen nothing all day. If there had been a guy in a chicken suit coming down that ridge I would have been less surprised. Seeing that 500lb animal coming down to cool.
Zach made a great shot that I doubt I could have made. She measured 33" on the long side, had gnarled bases, and was the 2nd fattest I have ever processed. We got the truck within 300 yards and had an easy pack out. Had the tenderloins tonight.
Also, those guys with oryx tags that are wanting to get them taxidermed, the last 3 oryx I have cut up were missing much of their ears. During the big freeze we had a couple years ago most of the oryx had part of their ears freeze off.
To be able to hunt an African animal for the price of a tag and a few tanks of gas is an awesome opportunity.
Here is one for Olbuzztail. This guy got a bullet to the head. 13 rattles.
Healthy horny toad.
Got lung blood!!
nice shot.
Look at the size of that rump. Some serious meat there. Best tail I have seen on an oryx also. May finally have one of those african fly swatters done.
Zach with the glory load right before dark.
Sean generously offered to let us hunt one of his honeyholes again. I would not go into his spots with out checking with him.
We headed out Friday night to camp close to the hunting area. Friday night we had about an hour to glass and get camp set up.
Sat morning there had been a recent sprinkle of rain so we had some great tracking conditions.
Sure enough we saw where they had crossed a road into some thicker country. We followed that pair of tracks about 2.5 miles before we lost them in the rocks. After getting back to the truck we were driving to another glassing spot. We cut some tracks on the road that crossed our tire tracks within the last couple hours.
Off we went. This time we went about 4 miles and again lost the single set of tracks in a grassy rocky area. At this point Zach had about enough of tracking.
We took a short break in the middle of the day and decided to try some new country. During out break there was again a slight thunder shower.
Sure enough after getting into this new area there was a pair of tracks through the road that could not be more than a couple hours old. Off we went. This time about a mile into it I decided that they had seen us on their back trail and were running. We went over the top of 2 mountains, but, we were not losing the trail. Zack has made a couple of shots over 500 yards so I felt confident that even if we caught site of them a ways off Zach could make a shot.
We followed these animals a long ways and we were not losing the tracks this time. I finally called it after crossing 2 mountains and it was starting to get late. We were now 2 miles from the truck. We found a old road and started heading back.
At this point we had hiked over 10 miles, were foot sore, and had not seen an gemsbuck all day. We were talking about what we would try in the morning because it was already after 6:00. We came around a corner and the truck came into site.
All of a sudden Zach said theres one. Sure enough coming down the ridge right towards the truck was a single oryx. Zach threw up the bog pod, dialed in the scope. I estimated it to be between 250 and 300 yards. Hold dead on with the 300rum.
She saw us and turned around and stood broadside. Boom, she stumbled and took off at a full run up the ridge and over the top.
We found the where the shot was, and immediatelly found lung blood. We were pumped. We crested the hill and there she was about 150 yards away piled up under a cedar. He hit her high for a oryx, but, took out both lungs and she was blowing blood out of both sides.
Of all the oryx hunts we have ever been on, this was the best. We were beat, and run down after hiking over 10 miles that day (thank God I had lost 37 lbs in the last few months). It was just dumb ass luck that this oryx was coming down the hill right above the truck after we had seen nothing all day. If there had been a guy in a chicken suit coming down that ridge I would have been less surprised. Seeing that 500lb animal coming down to cool.
Zach made a great shot that I doubt I could have made. She measured 33" on the long side, had gnarled bases, and was the 2nd fattest I have ever processed. We got the truck within 300 yards and had an easy pack out. Had the tenderloins tonight.
Also, those guys with oryx tags that are wanting to get them taxidermed, the last 3 oryx I have cut up were missing much of their ears. During the big freeze we had a couple years ago most of the oryx had part of their ears freeze off.
To be able to hunt an African animal for the price of a tag and a few tanks of gas is an awesome opportunity.
Here is one for Olbuzztail. This guy got a bullet to the head. 13 rattles.
Healthy horny toad.
Got lung blood!!
nice shot.
Look at the size of that rump. Some serious meat there. Best tail I have seen on an oryx also. May finally have one of those african fly swatters done.
Zach with the glory load right before dark.
