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Oryx in NM

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 16:48
 Hey, I didn't mean that you needed a military escort because the animals are that dangerous or anything!
 I offered the impaled- jeep occurences merely as interesting supplemental information!
 
 Mark, you weren't involved in any "coyote" type activities down in Juarez, were you?   Bandito
 
 I mean I understand it's hard to find good concrete workers and all, but still.....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 16:49
so i assume that these animals hate camo then??
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 17:05
 Maybe they just don't like Jeeps!
 
 That Wikipedia page you linked to has some cool pictures of them that look great enlarged to full screen. They really are beautiful animals .  I would LOVE to hunt them. The horns are very cool, and the coloration of the pelts would make awesome wall rugs. I bet they are pretty good to eat too. Anybody ever have oryx or gemsbok?  8-shots, you out there?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BlackSwan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 17:13
I think the 'Oryx' and 'Gemsbok'  are used interchangeably - the first probably English - the second probably Dutch or German (Africaaner?) Or perhaps one is Hutu and the other Bantu - or is that from the Star Wars movie?

I don't care what we call it I just want to shoot one -  - uh the animal we are talking about. And I think a .338 Lapua would suit me just fine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 17:15
ah the .338 lapua, mike mcdonalds personal fave. thats plenty of rifle to do the job i wish you the best of luck in drawing out.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 21:47
When I lived in South Africa in the eighties I managed to get myself on a culling hunt in a Nature Reserve about 14 miles away from where we lived.  I put in a bid to the local Municipal authorities that had jurisdiction over the Reserve--which was outside the town of Potchefstroom in the Transvaal.  Nowadays I guess they call it North West.  We lived in Klerksdorp.
 
I put in a bid for Gemsbok ( Oryx) and springbuck. I offered to pay what the going rate was for trophies at the time on the game ranches throughout the country and got accepted.  We knew what the game ranches were charging by reading the gun magazines and the farm magazines every month.
 
I took a 300 Winchester Magnum Model 70 with a 4X Simmons (!!) scope and went out one day in June 1988 to go on my hunt.  We were hunting females, so we were looking for a cow gemsbok and a little doe springbuck.  It was winter, the dry season, and it was 16 degrees F. that morning. I had to scrape ice off the windshield of my pickup before driving over there.
 
Well, the ranger of the park, a fellow named Johann ( who was from Namibia ) drove me and one of the ranch boys out into the bush looking for game. Me and the hired hand were in the back--freezing--while Johann drove over hill and dale and down canyons and up hillsides.  After an hour or so, we saw three Gemsbok standing at the edge of some thorn about 200 yards away.  Johann had been idling down a dirt track downhill and had not been making much noise.  He pulled up to a stop behind a forest of thornbush and the brush was between us and the gemsbok---but they could still see us--they were watching us through that screen of bush.  Johann determined that all three were cows and said go ahead and shoot whichever one I wanted.
 
I got out of the back of that pickup and walked very slowly up to a nearby thorn tree and rested my left hand on the trunk for a rifle rest. I aimed at the cow on the extreme right.  They were all more or less facing us--a frontal shot.  Some brush in the way but not much, just thin stuff which offered more camouflage than anything else, no thick stuff that was going to bother a bullet.
 
I aimed at the base of the throat and took the shot and the cow collapsed on the spot. The other two bolted and left the country. I don't remember seeing them go, I was intent on my shot. Well, my shot took the gemsbok in the neck and she was piled up where she had been standing.  She wasn't going anywhere, but she wasn't dead yet and I was going to give her a shot in the heart where she was laying. Johann absolutely would not hear of it!!! "Don't WASTE a bullet!!"  I could not believe it!! I said I've got plenty of bullets and the animal is suffering, but he was adament!! He wound up stabbing the animal in the heart with my knife.  The gemsbok was just about done so I guess he figured she wasn't going to gore him.  This is true! I watched that man stab the animal to save a bullet and "meat destruction"!
 
We then took some pictures and then the three of us loaded the antelope into the back of the truck--without field dressing it!---and drove back to the ranch where the skinning crew took care of everything!! ( The head skinner needed a caping knife to use so I gave him the one I had brought for caping---a nice pointy little knife from Solingen, Germany.  BIG MISTAKE!!  He promptly began too sharpen my razor sharp knife by laying it absolutely FLAT on his whetstone!! It didn't look like the same knife when I got it back!)  
 
Later I shot a springbuck--one shot at about 100 yards.  I was leaving for home by noon. I came back a couple of days later for the meat, hides, and capes, etc.  We wound up with about 250 pounds of terrific venison!!
 
As soon as I figure out how to post Photographs ( and put them Inside my computer!!Whacko ), I'll post some pictures of this hunt. Smile          --Ed
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BlackSwan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 09:29
Geez - now I really have the bug !- Thanks Ed 

Your description of you shot sounds a lot like the shot I used to kill a moose in Alberta - circa 1972 just married still in pre-med. A frontal shot across fallen forest,  off hand, with my father's Eddystone  .303 at 75 yards though the base of the neck - he dropped on the spot.

When I watch the hunting shows on TV they always seem to be using Thompson single shots and always wait for the classic side profile shot.  Where I hunt -  usually moving through the brush - that kind of profile rarely presents. A follow on shot is something to consider as well. Perhaps this is the Western, open country hunt vs the Eastern sit in a blind and wait approach.

The account I have read indicate that the animals taken in NM are usually with fairly standard american hunting rifles- usually 30-06 etc.

I have always believed that some animals 'hurt easy' and go down- others will just keep truckin.  Are Wapiti tougher than Moose - or is that just an impression? Maybe that observation is animal specific - not species wide.  I suspect the Oryx are more like Elk in this regard.

I would really like to see those pictures.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 20:11
Oryx, gemsbok...same thang.  Very tasty too.  Extremely hardy animals with a very strong will to survive.  My PH was very serious about approaching one once downed and had me shoot it several more time after I thought it was dead.  It was the only animal he did not allow Badger and Cokey to gnaw on.
 
Why not just come to Texas and hunt one any day of the year, no draw and probably less money in the long run.
 

     

     

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BlackSwan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 20:18
Yowzaa !

How do you get one in Texas??

 "You know Im' not from Texas - but Texas wants me anyway"

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 20:35
Great Stories, Ed and Chris!
 Especially nice photo, too, Chris.  I love the rock in the background!
 As far as toughness is concerned, I've read that thier adrenal glands are MUCH larger than that of an elk of similar size -probably a big factor in how fiesty they are.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 20:39
thats a $10000 picture there
They call me "Boots"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/15/2008 at 06:32

I have only now picked up on this thread. Ed’s description of hunting gemsbuck is spot on. Yes, we call them gemsbuck.

They are also hunted in the classical style of walk and stalk.

 

 The “normal” method of hunting them in the Kalahari Desert is however like a scene from Mad Max. The farmers all own various types of vehicles that have been altered to drive on the dunes, meaning most of the vehicle have been stripped away. The hunter sits or stands on the back and holds on for dear life as the driver speeds over the dunes. When the gemsbuck are spotted, the driver chases after them. At this point the shooter spends about equal time in the air as on the vehicle. After a short chase, the gemsbuck will stand on top of a dune, looking back. The driver slams on brakes and the shooter hauls him self of the hood of the vehicle (which he slammed into as the driver braked without warning) and then has about 3 secs to make a shot before the gemsbuck is off again. Distances are anywhere up to 300 yds.

 

 

Gemsbuck are tough and shots are mostly long. So the 300 Magnums are ideally suited. In my opinion any of the .3 cal will do. Shot placement is all important. I would leave the stabbing into the heart stuff to mad Dutchmen and take a wounded animal out with a back-up shot. If the animal is all but dead, I would grab its horns and use a sharp knife and sever the spinal cord through inserting the blade just behind the head into its spine.

 

Ed, you learned the hard way not to let the hired hand use your knife. I certainly never give them anything with value. Their other trick is to slip it into their pockets and unless you ask for it back, it is good-bye. This often happens, as around the skinning beers are consumed and photographs taken etc.

We can hunt gemsbuck for about $300 + dayfee of $30. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/15/2008 at 10:19
Originally posted by 8shots 8shots wrote:

I have only now picked up on this thread. Ed’s description of hunting gemsbuck is spot on. Yes, we call them gemsbuck.

They are also hunted in the classical style of walk and stalk.

 

 The “normal” method of hunting them in the Kalahari Desert is however like a scene from Mad Max. The farmers all own various types of vehicles that have been altered to drive on the dunes, meaning most of the vehicle have been stripped away. The hunter sits or stands on the back and holds on for dear life as the driver speeds over the dunes. When the gemsbuck are spotted, the driver chases after them. At this point the shooter spends about equal time in the air as on the vehicle. After a short chase, the gemsbuck will stand on top of a dune, looking back. The driver slams on brakes and the shooter hauls him self of the hood of the vehicle (which he slammed into as the driver braked without warning) and then has about 3 secs to make a shot before the gemsbuck is off again. Distances are anywhere up to 300 yds.

 

 

Gemsbuck are tough and shots are mostly long. So the 300 Magnums are ideally suited. In my opinion any of the .3 cal will do. Shot placement is all important. I would leave the stabbing into the heart stuff to mad Dutchmen and take a wounded animal out with a back-up shot. If the animal is all but dead, I would grab its horns and use a sharp knife and sever the spinal cord through inserting the blade just behind the head into its spine.

 

 I want to go even if I just get to ride. Sounds fun.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/15/2008 at 15:45

Lots of times on these threads there have been fellas wanting to go to Africa for the hunt of a lifetime. And I certainly agree with them...I loved South Africa and hated to leave in 1988. I have often been on the verge of remarking about not letting "the boys" TOUCH your gear, but I didn't want to sound like a reactionary bigot. But the fact remains, DON'T LAY ANYTHING DOWN ANYWHERE and, truthfully, "they" will DESTROY anything they get their hands on!! Not necessarily deliberately, but, most definitely it will be destroyed! I once had some boys move furniture out of a second story flat. The boys laid a beautiful refrigerator down on its side and slid it down an entire flight of concrete steps!! When it got to the bottom they were all smiles....they had all been such a bunch of cooperative help!!  The refrigerator now looked like it had gone through a sawmill!! (What the hell, I still gave them a tip of about 50 Rand or so for "helping" me so much...............Sad)  

I knew I was in trouble when that fellow needed a knife---but I wanted to have my trophy caped out.....so.............Stare  I was glad I got the knife BACK!!

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 03:48

Roadbuilders had to build this road right through the center of a small down, when they were confronted by this huge rock. They could not simply blast it away, as the blast and falling rocks would demolish the town itself. So they put the job out to tender. All kinds of amazing tenders came in: Drill holes and pour water in it and freeze it $50 mill. Sound waves to shatter the rock $35 mill and so on. Our local hero van der Merwe came in with a tender $5000. Amazed they accepted it. Van had one condition, he works alone at night. So the next morning they get there and the rock is in a million pieces. That night at the pub his best mate asked Van, how did you do it? Easy, he replied, I just took one of my boys, put him on top of the rock and gave hime a four pound hammer and two ball bearings. I then told him to smash the ball bearings, but whatever he does, he must not damage the rock!!!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 04:55
Hey, 8 shots, I have been intending to ask you to tell us some van der Merwe stories!!Roll%20on%20Floor%20Laughing       ( In this country we call them Aggie jokes----a reference to the good old boys at Texas A&M University-------or Winnsboro* High School!! Shocked hee hee ) 
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 05:11
This same Van also put in a tender to build the Euro tunnel. All the tenders were around $100billion, except for van $100 000. So the Tunnel Board called him in and said, ok he has the contract, but is he sure he has everything covered. Yes, he says, All I will do is put a team of boys on the English side with picks, shovels and wheelbarrows, and the same on the French side. I'll then tell them to dig untill they meet up. Impossible, says the Board. You will need surveyors etc, what if they don't meet up. Stop complaining, says Van, then you will have two tunnels for the price of one.!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 15:17
Hunting the gemsbuck sounds like John Wayne in the movie Hatari.   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 17:06
Originally posted by Ed Connelly Ed Connelly wrote:

-----or Winnsboro* High School!! Shocked hee hee ) 
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2008 at 17:22
Originally posted by 8shots 8shots wrote:

........................  The “normal” method of hunting them in the Kalahari Desert is however like a scene from Mad Max. The farmers all own various types of vehicles that have been altered to drive on the dunes, meaning most of the vehicle have been stripped away. The hunter sits or stands on the back and holds on for dear life as the driver speeds over the dunes. When the gemsbuck are spotted, the driver chases after them. At this point the shooter spends about equal time in the air as on the vehicle. After a short chase, the gemsbuck will stand on top of a dune, looking back. The driver slams on brakes and the shooter hauls him self of the hood of the vehicle (which he slammed into as the driver braked without warning) and then has about 3 secs to make a shot before the gemsbuck is off again. Distances are anywhere up to 300 yds........................

 
Nilgai is hunted the same way here in Texas, pretty wild deal.
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