fatfootdoc Report post Posted March 4, 2006 So who is anxiously awaiting March 10th to find out if they are hunting ORYX, I put in for on and off range in hopes of increasing my chances of getting drawn. good luck to everyone who is holding their breath for tags. AG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
338 Report post Posted March 5, 2006 I've applied the past several years, but just picked choices on the range. I've never talked to anybody who actually went on the hunt. A few guys I work with used to work at the range. They both said that there was no shortage of them running around. I just don't know how restricted the hunter's movements are on the range, and how skitish the animals get with the sudden pressure. Good luck on your draw. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted March 6, 2006 I hunted the escorted hunt this past weekend and there was a Rhodes canyon hunt taking place at the same time. Because of me being escorted, I had already done the briefing etc so didn't have to go to the orientation. I drove up to the breifing area, stopped at the stop sign and preceded north to my hunt area which was north of the Rhodes canyon hunt area. The briefing was just ending as I pulled out. You could see the consternation of the 105 hunters as I took off. The result was what my escort and I called the "redneck 500". Guys were running to their trucks so they could catch up. We drove by 5 different groups of oryx, some of them not 50 yards from the road and everyone was so busy trying to catch me that they either didn't see them or figured if they were to small for me they were going to pass them up as well. I've not laughed as much as I did that morning in a long time! I have heard that the once in a lifetime hunts are not nearly as good as they once were, but I saw tons of oryx Saturday. However, after the initial 100 car parade and the resulting shots most of the oryx head for areas away from the road. If you are a road hunter, you best not pass up anything early the first day. If you are willing to walk a bit and glass there is no reason to not kill a nice animal. I took a 37" bull at 10:00 am. If I had held out I may have found a 40" but I'm tickled with my bull. Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vinihunt Report post Posted March 6, 2006 congrats! on ur oryx! hope to see the pix! yeah there was indy 500 on my hunt also (2002) and my wife's hunt (2004) cant believe how many hunters missed those oryx not even far from the meeting or road! vinihunt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter4life Report post Posted March 7, 2006 I was there at the Rhodes Canyon hunt and we just took our time leaving from the orientation so that we wouldn't have to deal with the rest of the crowd that was peeling out in the parking lot to be first to wherever it was they thought they were headed. We just drove until we found a good high point and then got on top of the toolbox in the pickup and started glassing. From that one location we probably saw around 40 oryx. There was one big bull we guessed would go about 37" but even though he was about 600 yards out he was nervous and didn't stick around long, and ran into the middle of a flat open plain with no cover. He really seemed to know the program and what to do to avoid getting shot. I was pretty amazed how fast the crowds thinned out after the initial races in the morning. I guess a hunt area that is about 700 or so square miles can swallow up 118 hunters pretty quickly. I had also heard that it was getting difficult to find oryx on the Rhodes Canyon hunt, but after being there I would have to say that there are still plenty of oryx to be found if you know how to hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted March 7, 2006 Hunter4life, did you tag out? Vini, I'll have to wait until my escort can get me the pics! Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunter4life Report post Posted March 8, 2006 I was along as a helper and my mom had the tag. She tagged out on Saturday morning with a 29" cow, which is not bad for her 3rd big game animal. She was out to just get one for the meat and when she had a chance at that one at 160 yards she decided to take it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5yearcoueshunter Report post Posted March 8, 2006 I think they are starting to hit the credit cards for the early draw. It looks like I got drawn for an off-range Oryx tag! Wahoo! Results I think will be posted on Friday. Good luck to All. Travis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5yearcoueshunter Report post Posted March 8, 2006 Never mind. I think I jumped the gun. I think my credit card charge is for something else. Don't I feel stupid. Travis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted March 9, 2006 Results are up! I hope you have better luck than my family:wife, dad, mom, 2 brothers, and nephew-unsuccessful. Good luck, Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
