Has any of you hunted Ibex in NM

[jeffcros]

I would like to pick your brain if you have hunted Ibex in the NM. I am looking at putting in for this and would like to know if any of you have hunted them. Thanks

[firstcoueswas80]

Gotta draw the tag first! Thats the hard part, from my understanding.

[Buckhunter]

He asked if anyone has hunted it before. I would like to know how the hunt went if anyone has hunted Ibex. Thanks, We know its a hard tag to draw!

[soazarcher]

Actually, not hard to draw the archery tag, at all. Rifle and Muzz are near impossible.

 

Jeff, I have two guys for you to call. I'll send you a pm

[HaYen]

Ok I've not hunted for them BUT FWIW my cousin was training on a military base that covers but NM and TX before deploying to Iraq. His and his men were warned to stay clear as they had a nasty temperament.

[jamaro]

Ibex are on the Florida's Not WSMR.... They are tough... VERY TOUGH.. That Rock will make a man out of you.. I think that in all the years that people have been hunting only a handful have been taken with archery gear...

[Kevin]

I hunted the nanny hunt 3 years ago with a rifle myself and went with my hunting partner on this years nanny hunt. I killed a very small nanny and my partner never had a shot under 400 yards. They are difficult to get close to, especially on certain parts of the mountain. We chose to hunt the more open, less treacherous parts of the mountain to avoid hunting pressure. This area is not terribly condusive to bow hunting, although you might ambush them if you're patient and know their travel habits.

 

What Jamaro says about the mountain is true. I've hunted the east side of the Chiricahua's (if your familaiar with them) for many years and only the Cave creek portion of them rival the Floridas. It's steep, and covered with loose rock. The bluffs, cliffs and outcroppings are "rotten", as in just when you think you have a good hand or foot hold it will give way. I would say 75% of the mountain is inaccessible to your everyday, run of the mill hunter. There is a road (4 wheeler trail) to the top in the center of the mountain but the goats move out of the area soon after the first few rifle shots. The bow hunt follows the rifle seasons so the goats are still pretty spooky. The little Floridas are alot easier to hunt, has a road to the top and gets 80% of the hunting pressure.

 

They are unbelievable animals to watch. I would venture to say that their natural defences are as good, if not better, than anything you've ever hunted. Hunting them with a bow is a tremendous challenge. That said, I've got a friend that has killed two in the last two years with his bow. He is in unbelievable shape, a great hunter and doesn't know the meaning of the word can't. Both of his kills have been under 35 yards and required ropes to recover his goats.

 

PM me if you would like to visit on the phone about it someday. It truly is an adventure and not impossible to do. The draw odds are not bad for the archery hunt which has been expanded to two hunts with 100 tags each next year.

 

Kevin

 

 

[DubTee]

The more I see videos on these things and hear about how tough they are to hunt, the more I want to do it. Seems like it would be much more of a thrill killing one of these than an Oryx on the one of the ranges.

[Coues Sniper]

Gotta draw the tag first! Thats the hard part, from my understanding.

Ha! Negative there homeboy! That country is rediculous.

[Gringo]

I hunted the Archery hunt in Jan a couple of years ago and actually killed a Billy. What I can tell you is this.... everything everybody says about the mountain and the goats is spot on!! If you draw, take the best optics $$ can buy, at least 1 or 2 Spotters on the base of the mountain to work with you and use the radios and your spotters to intercept the Ibex as the other hunters bump them back and forth across the mountain all day long. It is one of the coolest hunts I have ever done! Be ready to shoot at loooong Distances. My billy was crossing a rock ledge 72 Yards above me and if I hadn't been practicing out to ridiculous distances for months prior, I wouldn't have made the shot. Most of the guys on my side of the mountain got shots during the first week (as close as 12 Yards out to over 100). Most shots will be at extreme angles, and I'm not sure how you practice for that, just know you have to adjust for the ups/downs and Pray!!! Good luck pulling a tag..... I'm still waiting on my next chance to chase em!!!