I was wondering if some of you African hunters could identify an animal for me. Over on the reloading section of this site, under the 333 OKH data is a photo of a group of animals running through the desert. For some reason I want to call them some type of Oryx, but really have no idea and am probably way off here. They just hit me as being quite striking in appearance.

For sure it's Oryx

Also called Gemsbok

Regards,

Terry

Yep, those are the ones. Thanks for the info and the link, as you can tell I'm a nimrod when it comes to African species. Those just really appeal to me. Thanks again.

There are different oryx-species.. Correct me if I`m wrong but the "normal" ones like in the picture is the gemsbok oryx.
The map you made a link to, T.Carr, showed a green spot up north in Etiophia and surrounding countries. Isn`t that the beisa oryx..?
And we also have the fringed-eared oryx (Tanzania).
Another question: is the scimitar-horned oryx really a oryx (I remember reading that the name actually is misleading, and that it belongs to another group).

These are definitely Beisa Oryx. Notice the black stripe through the eye doesn't connect to the black spot on the nose. It always does on the Gemsbok. This is the easiest way to tell the difference. Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Se. Sudan. Funny though to see them with so much true desert in the background as where I've always hunted them was semi arid. Must be the northern end of the Danakil Desert, the Ogaden, or maybe in Somalia.

Rich Elliott

[ 06-05-2003, 17:42: Message edited by: Rich Elliott ]

Thanks for that interesting bit of information Rich.

Starting at the top of Africa, we have the Simatar Horned Oryx, which is the smallest of the Oryx clan. Ending with the largest of the Oryx known mostly by the name Gemsbok, or secondly, as Giant Oryx, in the south! Each subspecies as you go south from North Africa, gets larger. The world's largest population of Simitar Horned Oryx, is in the State of Texas, they are quite rare in much of their origenal range, in North Africa!

The picture, posted here, was most likely taken in the White Sands Missle Range, of New Mexico, where they were stocked way back in the early 60s, by the New Mexico Game Dept. They were stocked in areas where there was little other game, because of lack of water. The Gemsbok, require very little water, and get most of their moisture from the food they eat. They thrived in these areas, where very few African lion, and Leopard live! Now they have to be thinned at times.

The Gemsbok are tough animals, and quite dangerous when wounded. One should never approch a downed Gemsbok without an insurance shot. These guys are real sword fighters with those long sharp horns.

Yeah, the NM G&F is working them over pretty good right now. They estimate a population of about 5,000 animals and have a target population of about 1,000 animals. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect them to do so well here. At the time of introduction, they expected to have a "huntable" herd by 2000. Now they kill nearly 1,000 a year and can't seem to get the population down to where they want it. They're encouraging the harvest of cows now, and estimate that they'll need to kill something like 600 cows per year to keep the population stable, more if they want a reduction.

I'd like to see 'em all over the state so you could buy a tag over the counter instead of applying for your once-in-a-lifetime tag. I've already killed mine for this lifetime, but would love the opportunity at another.

Looking at the back, backleg and stomach I would say Oryx Gasella but in the face as Rich says a Beisa Oryx. Confusing????



[ 06-05-2003, 21:55: Message edited by: cchunter ]

See how on the Gemsbok the black nose and face patches meet down at the bottom. The critters in the picture are Beisa Oryx. Their face and nose patches don't meet. I am wondering where that picture was taken though. Probably the Northern Danakil Desert.
Rich Elliott

Man, you guys are good! Thanks to all that posted additional info. I had no idea that Oryx were running around in New Mexico, have been checking them out on the New Mexico F&G site. Sounds like a great hunt if you can get picked, shoot, I could drive there in a day.....

TH, it's $1500, but if you put in and get drawn I'll try to point you in the right direction. If you want to talk NM oryx, drop me an email.

A word of caution.... Don't think that all you have to do is apply and you will receive a NM oryx tag. I've been applying since the early 80s and I can't get drawn. (Any questions about why I don't buy Lottery tickets?)

By the same token, my son got drawn the first year he applied and my wife get drawn after about three attempts. There are some private hunts where the land owner has tags but they go for quite a bit more $$. The good news on those is that you don't have to draw a tag.

The success rates are virtually 100% on oryx hunts. BUT this is still a hunt vs. a "shoot." I've been on four oryx hunts with others and I'd characterize the hunt to be very similar to a pronghorn hunt. (Which by the way inhabit the same territory. If you are lucky enough to get drawn to hunt oryx on White Sands you are very likely to see some bruiser ("Book") pronghorn.) Oryx are a blast to hunt!! And they are, by far, the best eating wild meat you'll find in North America.

[ 06-09-2003, 19:02: Message edited by: Crosshairs ]

My father and buddy have taken two oryx on the off-range depredation hunts in the past six weeks. Definitely a hunt to consider.

[ 06-10-2003, 23:54: Message edited by: Badboyz ]

[ 06-10-2003, 23:55: Message edited by: Badboyz ]