I'm thinking about putting in for the draw, any input greatly appreciated. Seems like off base and guided is my best chance of pulling a tag. Thanks in advance.
Steve

Steve, I lived in Alamogordo for five years and saw quite a few of them when on the missile range for various special events. It seemed there was a pretty high success rate for nearly all the hunts. If I could have my choice, I would hunt in Rhodes Canyon. I like the terrain for stalking and saw more oryx there than anywhere else. If you should get a tag there, be sure to read up on Gene Manlove Rhodes, after whom the canyon is named. He is buried up near the top, with "Paso Por Aqui" on his native stone marker -- after one of his best loved stories.
That said, the oryx continue to spread and I would often see them early in the morning along Highway 54 as I drove through Fort Bliss on the way to see my back surgeon in El Paso.

Steve:

It is a great hunt and I enjoyed mine very much. I drew as a non-resident the first time I applied, which
was very lucky. I killed mine on day 2 of 2. There were a lot of animals and in my opinion, it should
be no problem to kill one on the range.

It was worth it to me. It is a bit pricey, but still worth the cost in my opinion.

I drew a NR tag years ago for the Stallion Range. That was when NR got 10% of the tags.I would do it again but it was an 'OIL" tag. Once in lifetime. Put in for it--you can't draw a tag if your not in the draw.

The last time I checked on prices for licenses, guides, travel, and lodging for non-residents I concluded it would be similar in price to go to Namibia and kill TWO Oryx in their native habitat -- along with a half-dozen other species of plains game.

And, you can go in your choice of any month other than December and January -- no tags to draw. Just sign up with one of dozens of dependable local guides. June is nice there.

My family and I have taken oryx in NM, Texas, South Africa, and Namibia. Free range oryx in the Kaokoveld is the pinnacle of oryx hunting.

On-range guided is probably your best chance of drawing. That lets you try for 10% of the tags. You only get to try for 6% in the unguided nonresident pool. In my opinion, you don't need a guide, unless you believe you would be unable to judge trophy quality. Actually finding animals on either Rhodes Canyon or Stallion Range will not be difficult.

Off-range hunts can be good still, but the game and fish has increased tags in the past couple years and that additional pressure has impacted their population, locations, and behavior.

I have hunted on and off-range for years and have been part of many successful oryx hunts. If you want to chat more about places, options, etc., just send me a PM and we can talk by phone.

Remember that the deadline to put in for next year's hunts is in just a few days.

I worked on White Sands for 5 years up until last October. I know it very well. This weekend is the world famous Bataan Death March.

There are generally 3 hunts, not sure about this year.

Rhodes (the Northeast areas south of Mockingbird gap). Mixed terrain, a split between both other aeras. Mostly scrub, but more open that SMR.

Stallion (the Northwest area on the north side of Mocking bird gap). Mostly low sage type brush, similar to hunting in Wyoming for antelope.

Small Missile Range (the southern area) a huge area west of the true White Sands are, with canyons and choked with scrub.

There are big oryx everywhere, as there are oryx everywhere. They are spooky everywhere. They get shot at from June through March. Through draw hunts and the badge holder hunts only available to those that work on WSMR.

Steve,

I received this e-mail today concerning oryx hunting on Ted Turner's Armendaris Ranch.



South African oryx, or gemsbok were introduced to New Mexico in the 1960s. This hardy transplant has flourished in the tough arid conditions of the Chihuahuan desert and is now outcompeting native species. Armendaris has been actively managing this population for years and now offers an all-inclusive oryx hunt experience package at the award-winning Hacienda. Don’t miss your chance to pursue this unique, free-ranging species on such a grand scale.



A 5-night stay for up to 4 hunters at The Hacienda, a National Geographic World Best accommodation

4 oryx opportunities - either sex - on the 360,000+ acre Armendaris reserve

Each hunter is permitted 1 oryx

2 seasoned guides, at a 2:1 ratio with the number of participating hunters

1:1 is available for an additional fee

Basic local processing (up to $500 per hunter)

A private chef and staff

Airport transfers within a 2.5 hour radius

Non-hunting excursions and activities



*Prices are not inclusive of staff and guide gratuities. Taxes are included.



A 5-night stay in a room within The Hacienda, Ted Turner’s private desert home

A 4-day hunt for an oryx - either sex - on the 360,000+ acre Armendaris reserve

Basic local processing (up to $500 per hunter)

All meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages

Additional experiences for non-hunters and post tag-out hunters


*Price includes taxes and fees. Gratuity is not included. Non-hunting guests may accompany hunters for an additional $500 per guest, per night.

HUNT AVAILABILITY IS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS!



Armendaris, a Ted Turner Reserve expanses 570 square miles of xeric Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in southcentral New Mexico. Much of Armendaris lies within an region that Spanish colonists named Jornada del Muerto or Journey of Death due to its lack of water, grazing, and firewood. Climate change has worsened the aridity within the region since the late 1500’s making it increasingly difficult for native wildlife species to endure. Pronghorn antelope are one of the many species struggling to survive as decreased annual precipitation has resulted in poorer quality and reduced quantity of forage.


In addition to the climate factors negatively impacting pronghorn and other wildlife within the Jornada del Muerto, non-native African oryx were introduced into the region in 1969 by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in an effort to increase large game opportunities for hunters. Oryx are an antelope species native to the Kalahari Desert that are exceptionally well adapted to arid climates and fending off predators. The exotic oryx population has steadily increased since the introduction and is continuously invading into new areas while many sympatric native wildlife populations have declined. Oryx are capable of outcompeting native wildlife for resources like forage, shade, water and have likely contributed to the declines in native wildlife populations.


Armendaris conducts annual wildlife surveys to collect population estimates for pronghorn, oryx, and mule deer. Over the last 30 years, oryx numbers have increased from 4 individuals in 1994 up to as many as 610 in 2022 while pronghorn have simultaneously decreased from 506 individuals in 1996 to as few as 65 in 2022. Pronghorn are expected to be reduced to a remnant population or be completely extirpated from the Jornada del Muerto region over the next decade. Effective management of the oryx population will likely be critical for pronghorn to persist within the region. Currently hunting is the best method to control or manage the growing oryx population. Armendaris employs an aggressive oryx hunting program to try to limit oryx population growth and reduce their impact on native wildlife and habitats. Capital generated by the Armendaris oryx hunting program helps to fund conservation of pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, endangered bolson tortoise, and other wildlife and their habitats.

https://tedturnerreserves.com/armendaris/

Link with photos of the Armendaris Ranch.

Just a few hours left Steve, did you take the plunge and apply? I'm local and usually available to help out if you get a tag! Good luck.

I have hunted oryx (gemsbok) in a few countries, but not in the USA. One thing folks should keep in mind is to not get close to a wounded oryx. Those horns are very functional. It is one of the antelope that will hurt you if it can.

The Armendaris is an incredible property. The headquarters are in the ghost town of Engle, where Eugene Manlove Rhodes grew up. In the last years of the 19th-century it was a major shipping point for cattle. Nearby are Elephant Butte Reservoir, Spaceport America, and White Sands Missile Range to the immediate east.
Oryx continue to thrive here, and constantly turn up in unexpected places as in: (not my photo)

I didn't see a price on that ranch hunt?

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:
Just a few hours left Steve, did you take the plunge and apply? I'm local and usually available to help out if you get a tag! Good luck.

I did not, my buddy backed out for this year but I am still researching for a future hunt. Thanks for all the info!

quote:

Originally posted by KevinNY:
I didn't see a price on that ranch hunt?

I saw a flyer somewhere else and want to say that a trophy bull hunt is $6,500. There were none left available for 2024. Cows and broken horn oryx were less expensive, though I don't recall with any confidence.

In the mid 1950s Clarence McDonald and I had 30,000 acres leased from the city of El paso that bordered war road 11 and New Mexico on the northern border of NM and Texas..We had huge Mule deer that drifted in from White Sands bombing range when they bombed the area. I recall the Military official discussing Gemsbuck and their effect on the Ft, Bliss rifle range but never saw one. Apparently they imported them sometime later..Its reported a successful operation..I recall at the time the only deer killed in that area were the ones that moved in on us and we hunted them in mid Nov. 30 inchers were common.

quote:

Thoughts on NM Oryx?

Friend of mine dropped one in its tracks, spine shot with a muzzy broad head.Yes you have to shoot almost on point of shoulder. He lucked out with the bow shot