They can be quite tough I would say 30.06 minimum with a semi heavy bullet like the swift a-frame og nosler. But the 270 can do the job sure but I would go bigger if you have a bigger gun like 375 H&H
Cheers,
Andr�
Posts: 2293 | Location: The Kingdom of Denmark | Registered: 13 January 2004
The 270 is quite a popular caliber in africa and the trajectory is nice and flat for the long shots on springbok and impala etc. That would be my pick. If it makes you feel any better then a freind of mine worked as a assistent PH in Zim and he used a 270 combined with a 375 H&H Since a safari is quite expensive a CZ in 375 is not a bad investment. You can get very light bullets for it 200 grn and 380 grn if you want. The 375 H&H can kill everything on this planet. Well mabey not the blue whale but just about everything
Cheers,
Andr�
Posts: 2293 | Location: The Kingdom of Denmark | Registered: 13 January 2004
Oryx are tough critters. Yes, of that selection the 270 would work best with proper bullets. I can't imagine packing a .35 Rem or a .44 lever action carbine on any type of hunt involving oryx, (that would be like trying to plow snow with a VW Rabbit). For about the trophy fee of an oryx you can by a much more suitable rifle.
Posts: 3293 | Location: Western Slope Colorado, USA | Registered: 17 August 2001
Quote: Oryx are tough critters. Yes, of that selection the 270 would work best with proper bullets. I can't imagine packing a .35 Rem or a .44 lever action carbine on any type of hunt involving oryx, (that would be like trying to plow snow with a VW Rabbit). For about the trophy fee of an oryx you can by a much more suitable rifle.
Yea, if I was going on safari (if only I had the $$) I would "invest" in a better suited gun, but I may have a chance to chase these critters out here in west texas on the cheap, so buying a new gun is not really an option. What should I expect while chasing an oryx, and are they really that good to eat? and how much meat do you get off one? and any other tips you might have are appreciated.
Use your .270 and select a heavy for caliber, premium bullet. NP or Swift A-Frame or TBBC or a bonded core bullet. Shoot it in the boiler room and be prepared to shoot it again, imediately, if required. Have fun. They are very good to eat!
scimitar horned oryx are white with a rust colored neck and (mostly) white face. Their horns are long like the gemsbok but curve to the rear, thus the name. Sorry, don't have digital pic of the latter.
I live in El Paso and have hunted the Texas side of MacGregor for mule deer. Didn't see a single deer but did see quite a bit of oryx sign. The game ranger told me that they have 100% success on the Oryx.
Posts: 245 | Location: El Paso, TX | Registered: 19 May 2004
Quote: Lubbockdave and myself are applying for an on base hunt for gemsbok. They have a few permits for civilians on the TX side of base.
The animals you have in White Sands, McGregor Range, and Stallion sight, are GEMSBOK (Giant Oryx) The Simatar Horned Oryx, is extinct in every country in the world except the USA, and all are privately owned!
The Gemsbok is a very hardy animal, and requires a REAL rifle! A rifle no smaller that a 338 Win Mag would be my choice, and I lean toward the 375 H&H with a 300 gr Nosler Partition. Be very careful when walking up on a downed Gemsbok, because they are very dangerous animals, and have killed more than one careless hunter! An insurance shot on a downed Gemsbok is reccomended!
Posts: 14634 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: 08 June 2000
Oryx, or gemsbuck, is one of the antilopes that can turn nasty if wounded (bushbuck being the other one?) so select a gun with a good heavy bullet -min 30-06.
Posts: 2213 | Location: Finland | Registered: 02 May 2003
The Ft Bliss Range Riders who oversee the hunts on base require a 30/06 loaded with 180gr premiums as a minimum. They do allow 7mm mag though. New Mexico only requires 6mm or larger. But since this hunt is on Ft Bliss the Range Riders have their own stipulations.
Posts: 3156 | Location: Rigby, ID | Registered: 20 March 2004
Have absolutely no idea of the trophy fee in Texas or other areas in the USA where the oryx have been introduced as exotics. Can anyone tell?
In Namibia the trophy fee for an oryx whould be between $ 600 to $ 900 at places wher you stand a good chance of actually getting a good one. In South Africa the fees would range from about $ 700 to around $ 1200 for wild born free ranging - i.e. NOT put-and-take oryx. Oryx is good eating, provided the animal was relaxed and at ease before the fall of an "instant or near instant" killing shot and the carcass was properly handled from then onwards. But then most of our South African plains game is very good eating under such conditions. IMHO bushpig is tops with mountain reedbuck with and springbok contesting for or sharing the second possition in the best table fare competition . Then eland,oryx and black wildebeest share a third place in the same competition . I really wish I could once taste a properly hunted and treated whitetailed deer, just to compare what people describe as a "gamey" taste with our plains game. In my considerable experience any wounded or inproperly treated animal will tase, well, not as good as it could!
Regards,
Verewaaier.
Posts: 1799 | Location: Soutpan, Free State, South Africa | Registered: 19 January 2004
New Mexico Game and Fish charge $109 for resident and $1600 and some change for non-residents. Unless it is a depredation hunt, the NM tag is a once-in-a-lifetime tag. On the TX side they are considered exotics and they are not controlled by the state game dept. Strictly subject to land owners prices in TX. Fort Bliss where I am stationed has 30 tags that NMG&F allows active duty soldiers the opportunity to draw for at resident prices since that part of base is located in NM. They also offer a few tags on the TX side each year by drawing. They have a few each for soldiers, civilians, and youth.
I was fortunate to draw a NM soldier tag. The bad part is you have to wait for the ranges to not be in use since it takes place in the range impact area. The TX side hunts are in the training areas and conducted in DEC each year.
Posts: 3156 | Location: Rigby, ID | Registered: 20 March 2004
The oryx was some of the best meat I had while in Namibia, only the zebra was comparable. We ate a lot of smoked oryx in sandwiches and for finger food, was excellent. The trophy fee on my hunt was only $380 for an oryx, lower than what some others have said.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
Have absolutely no idea of the trophy fee in Texas or other areas in the USA where the oryx have been introduced as exotics. Can anyone tell?
In Namibia the trophy fee for an oryx whould be between $ 600 to $ 900 at places wher you stand a good chance of actually getting a good one. In South Africa the fees would range from about $ 700 to around $ 1200 for wild born free ranging - i.e. NOT put-and-take oryx. Oryx is good eating, provided the animal was relaxed and at ease before the fall of an "instant or near instant" killing shot and the carcass was properly handled from then onwards. But then most of our South African plains game is very good eating under such conditions. IMHO bushpig is tops with mountain reedbuck with and springbok contesting for or sharing the second possition in the best table fare competition . Then eland,oryx and black wildebeest share a third place in the same competition . I really wish I could once taste a properly hunted and treated whitetailed deer, just to compare what people describe as a "gamey" taste with our plains game. In my considerable experience any wounded or inproperly treated animal will tase, well, not as good as it could!
Regards,
Verewaaier.
Verewaaier,
If there was a way to send you some I would-still got a little from this past season, including a whole backstrap if interested. One shot kill, deer never knew what hit him and dropped on the spot-gutted within 20 minutes of hitting the ground and ice in the cavity within the hour and to the processor's freezer with in 2 hours. Most of the deer I take are like this...I can recall only a handful that did not drop right away(or with in 20 yards)and I have only shot 2 while they were running-(young and stupid) BUT if you want some really good eating you should try a MULEDEER! Had my 1st taste of that this year and man OH man that is GOOD stuff.
seriously, if can figure out a way to get it there, I'll send you the back strap...
Thank you everyone for the "down and dirty" on the oryx-I never even knew they existed in Texas or even what they were, so this has been quite a 2 day education!! And Thank you Bill for introducing me to this and for the chance at a hunt for one of these! I had no idea...
. Then eland,oryx and black wildebeest share a third place in the same competition 
. I really wish I could once taste a properly hunted and treated whitetailed deer, just to compare what people describe as a "gamey" taste with our plains game. In my considerable experience any wounded or inproperly treated animal will tase, well, not as good as it could! 
