I am thinking about putting in for the Draw in New Mexico for hunting Gemsbock. The tags are not cheap, but trophy fees in Africa are $1,000 plus airfare so I am saving a little money.

Has anyone done this?? Were you hunting with an outfitter or by yourself? Places to stay and such. I have googled these topics but haven't found much. Thanks,

New Mexico F&G, maybe? Should be able to point you in the right direction then contact the area Biologist.

I seem to recall M 1-Tanker or another from the Military who posts here that has done this in N.M.

Tried a search on it here yet?

DB

What will your total costs be for a NM Gemsbok hunt?

Gemsbok trophy fees in Namibia average about $575; South Africa, avg. about $950.

I would personally consider a 10 day hunt for 5-10 species, including 1-2 Gemsbok in Namibia. That might set you back $8K, including trophy fees and airfare, but would be one helluva hunt!

I've hunted them once myself and been on two other hunts. The hunting is what you make it. In good areas of the Missle Range, you can probably shoot a nice oryx from the truck within the first couple hours of the hunt. On the other hand, if you choose to, you can make it a great spot and stalk hunt as I did.

M-1 Tanker had a heck of a time getting his, but he wasn't in one of the areas that's designated for trophy hunting. As I understand it, they (the Army) had been hammering his hunt area pretty hard before his hunt and most of the animals had moved on.

I don't think there are outfitters on the Missile Range (public draw) hunts, though you can buy landowner tags (private) through an outfitter. I've seen these go for up to 4 grand though. If you actually draw a tag on the Missile Range, you won't need the outfitter anyway. Game is plentiful, they provide you with maps, and you're on your own. I think success rates are near 100% (99-99%) for on-range hunts, so there's no reason to worry. Where you stay would have more to do with what hunt area you draw a tag in. You could stay in Las Cruces, Alamogordo, or Socorro.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested in talking more about it.

quote:

Originally posted by sierrabravo45:
I am thinking about putting in for the Draw in New Mexico for hunting Gemsbock. The tags are not cheap, but trophy fees in Africa are $1,000 plus airfare so I am saving a little money.

Has anyone done this?? Were you hunting with an outfitter or by yourself? Places to stay and such. I have googled these topics but haven't found much. Thanks,

I went on this hunt when I lived in NM. Great hunt, great fun. Odds are against you getting drawn but you can't get drawn without applying. You do not need a guide. They supply maps and the USFWS biologist will tell you where to look for them. I saw dozens after about 10am. It is a huge area and you will not see other hunters.

We hunted by driving the roads, then climbing up higher to glass. Made several stalks before connecting.

Success is about 100%. It is a lot of fun.

quote:

Originally posted by CanadianLefty:
What will your total costs be for a NM Gemsbok hunt?

Gemsbok trophy fees in Namibia average about $575; South Africa, avg. about $950.

I would personally consider a 10 day hunt for 5-10 species, including 1-2 Gemsbok in Namibia. That might set you back $8K, including trophy fees and airfare, but would be one helluva hunt!

I got a Gemsbock in RSA last year. I was thinking it could be fun to do it in the US also.

In that case, go for it!


Cheers,
CL

Mate join up here and go for the jugular on this site

http://wassonhuntingservices.com/phpBB/index.php?sid=ab...a1b11c23ba65a3a186e6

I drew an Oryx tag here in NM back in 1991--first and only time I applied.

Hunt back then was only 2-days long but most people filled their tags the first day. Army provided plenty of help in pointing us in the right direction to find them including a two-hour briefing on range rules and Oryx anantomy. They also had a bunch of range-riders who helped track wounded ones, which there were a few.

I shot mine in early afternoon; a big cow with horns just over 39". Spotted her from the road and stalked. Used my .300 Win Mag with 200 gr. Nosler partition. One shot through the shoulder and heart and she went right down. I seem to remember I got a little over 300# of the best tasting game meat I've ever had.

All-in-all a great hunt.

A New Mexico gemsbok hunt sounds interesting.Would any of you gentlemen,please give the address to send off, for an application.Any help regarding how and where to apply for would be appreciated,thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by RAJ:
A New Mexico gemsbok hunt sounds interesting.Would any of you gentlemen,please give the address to send off, for an application.Any help regarding how and where to apply for would be appreciated,thank you.

Here ya go Dude:
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/hunting/index.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
I drew an Oryx tag here in NM back in 1991--first and only time I applied.

Hunt back then was only 2-days long but most people filled their tags the first day. Army provided plenty of help in pointing us in the right direction to find them including a two-hour briefing on range rules and Oryx anantomy. They also had a bunch of range-riders who helped track wounded ones, which there were a few.

I shot mine in early afternoon; a big cow with horns just over 39". Spotted her from the road and stalked. Used my .300 Win Mag with 200 gr. Nosler partition. One shot through the shoulder and heart and she went right down. I seem to remember I got a little over 300# of the best tasting game meat I've ever had.

All-in-all a great hunt.

The years have jaded your memory, a cow oryx barley weighs 300 pounds. With 50% loss in dressing you couldn't have got 300 pounds of meet from her.

Better save your pennies for that hunt if you're a NR...

I think when its all said and done you could have gone to RSA and hunted one + or dang near...

For a non-resident the tags are just over $1500. Including travel and other expenses you are right around $2000. Airfare alone to Africa would be not very far below the 2k mark. While it cant compare to a true African hunt, hunting oryx in NM is still very rewarding. Some people who hunt on White Sands simply rive around until they see an animal and shoot it from the truck. While others take full advantage of the opportunity and make the hunt a great experience by making a good stalk. Just like with any hunt, it is what you make out of it. The abundance of animals makes it a relatively easy hunt with a near 100% succes rate. Also certain areas are much easier to hunt than others. In some areas the terrain is flat and open with very little brush and spotting the animals is very easy. Where I hunted mine on Ft Bliss the terrain is relatively flat but covered with 4'-6' high sand mounds that are coveed with a scrub brush. The mounds range from a few feet across to 100 yards. And the disanc between mounds seldom is greater than 50 feet. Hunting that stuff is very tough. We would drive around and use our binos and spotting scope to look for the black "V" of their horns jutting above the mounds. If you think that is easy you are way off base. And that doesnt even take into consideration their amazing eyesight. While out spotting before my hunt I got busted on a lot of stalks from a few hundred yards out on several occasions. And all they were able to see would have been my head, but it was enough.

My hunting partner drew and went down this past January; also several other people from our area have drawn previously. He has taken one nice bull on his RSA trips, but said this was every bit as much fun. He got a very pretty 37" cow with unique horn tips, after an exciting stalk in the greasewood washes. Ours over here in the U.S. are much heavier haired, and make a beautiful mount. Outfitters are allowed on WSMR now, but the total number of people in vehicle is still limited.

NM Gemsbok Hunt

Positives

1. you get the meat
2. shorter trip than flight to Africa
3. close to 100% fill of tags

Negatives

1. no cameras allowed on military base(including camera phones
2. only 1 species to hunt
3.it's not Africa

Desert Ram thank you very much for the link to the NM game and fish.Appreciate your help.

I drive through there everyday, the herds are still there, in fact I saw a bull today that would probably go 36-38" just walking along the fence. They are a bit more spooky than before as they have been hunted pretty hard the last few years. I have been on 3 hunts, and have killed a 39" cow, and I would not say you could get 300lbs of meat, but they are sure bigger than 300lbs on the hoof. It is a fun hunt, if you take someone with you to enjoy, and the G&F, and missile range security are great guides to help you, and they WILL do everything they can to help. If you are caught with any camera, you are escorted off the base, and will be banned for life, so DO NOT chance it..If I can be of assistance let me know. I would pick any hunt that has the most tags to give out, as there are good Oryx in all parts of the range..The stallion would be the hardest to get to, and the other hunts would be easier to get to, but expect alot of driving.Things happen fast, and it is tough to see the difference between a 36-38inch animal,. so take your time...It is far from easy, but is fun. Do not put in for depredation hunts unless you know the area, as they can be tough, off the range..

Lee

First of all I don't think the success rates are even above 90 any more, and I would guess it closer to 75%. Still high though considering. They are hunting the hell out of these animals as game and fish doesn't want them off of the military range and the military doesn't really want to manage them any way. So they are getting much spookier. While it is sure possible, I wouldn't count on being able to drive around and shoot one from the truck. I have two uncle with unfilled tags. One was this last year. The other hunted with me when I had my tag about 4 or 5 years ago (I think). My uncle convinced my dad to put us all in for the broken horned animal hunt since it was easier to draw. Bad Idea.. They are hard to find, especially since thats what we were looking for. I ended up shooting a cow with two broken horns at 200 yards on the run as that was the only broken horned animal I was in shooting range of. (I did have several opportunities at animals with perfect, long, symmetrical horns) Thats how it goes though.

It's been a couple years since I was last there, so I can't comment on the current state of things. I hunted in 2000, went with a buddy in 2001, and went with my wife in 2002. Each hunt could have ended within the first two hours of the hunt. Both my buddy and my wife had only one-day hunts (just after 9/11). My wife had a non-typical tag a passed on a 37" X 15" bull before the sun came up. She wanted one with curved horns. We saw a number of animals that qualified for the non-typical, stalked one that looked like a bighorn sheep a number of times (big bull with her was always in the way), and finally got a nice big cow at about 4:30. Of the 50 hunters on that hunt, only one did not kill, and he had a number of opportunities but wanted a 40 incher. I could easily have killed a nice 34" or so cow by 8am on my hunt, and my buddy passed up several in that range before taking a 38 incher at about 1pm. There are plenty of animals there, and if you're willing to hunt 'em, you should do fine.

You're right though, they're really hammering them. If you get a tag, be prepared to hunt hard and take a long shot. With the right preparation I see no reason that one would not stand a very realistic chance of taking a good animal. If things get tight though, you may have to settle for something less than true trophy. I'd rather take a 32 incher than go home with my once in a lifetime tag not filled.

Oh yeah, gotta watch those cameras. I left mine outside the fence with my taxidermist, who sets up shop just outside the gate. You can take pictures out there, and the scenery isn't too bad for a hero shot.

Put in for the tag, if you get it I'll keep your camera and bring it to you when you call from your cell phone to tell me of your kill. All I have to do is drive over the hill. I like to see dead oryx anyway, so it's a good excuse.

Here are some pics from my hunt on Fort Bliss last fall and also from DesertRam and I doing some pre-hunt scouting.

If you look in the backgroud of the photos you can see the small hills I was mentioning. They can come in real handy for concealing you on a stalk, but can also make it a royal pain finding the animals in that maze.



Here is my 36" bull I took last fall.



A very nice cow that let us take some nice pics.


A busted horn old worn out cow that was with the one above.


And be sure you watch out for these little guys while in the area. This one was too full from a recent meal to want to move across the road. If you look close you can see the bulge of his recent victim.



I used a CZ 550 375 H&H and did not feel over gunned. Those critters die hard!!! I know a lot of people have taken them with 30/06 and smaller but I wouldnt go without anything smaller than a 300 Win Mag with a 180gr premium bullet.

The Ft Bliss Range Riders who have taken taken a few hundred of the critters betwen the 3 of them over the years all use either a 338 WM or 45/70 loaded hot in Marlin lever actions. I watched them shoot one 5 shots with a 338 anf partitions all in the boiler room and it still went almost a mile ith heart and lungs shot up and a busted front shoulder.

Bill, I was just thinking of those pictures. I'm still bummed that I missed out on your hunt.

The only way to know if you'll like it is to try. The worst that happens is that you'll get the rejection card!

Here's mine from Africa, an old 34 bull and a 37 bull with scimitar horns.