By a stroke of rare luck, I managed to get drawn for a chance to hunt Scimitar Oryx out at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. With my son born November 1st this year, I’d put in for the low-percentage, long shot draws; never expected to actually be chosen. Mason Mountain is a 5,000 acre state-owned piece of Hill Country paradise about 6 miles North of Mason, TX. In addition to Scimitar, the area has several other exotic species, including Sable, Gemsbock, Waterbuck, Blackbuck, Axis, etc. They also have an abundance of native game such as Whitetail and Turkey. The area is mainly thick oaks, with a few natural open valleys and granite outcroppings.



Front Gate


Bull Sable that greeted me


View from my compartment



The hunt was by compartment, meaning I’d be assigned a chunk of dirt that was mine to hunt. My compartment turned out to b around 450 acres, including about half valley and half hi-country, with about a 140 feet elevation change between. There are no feeders; it’s all safari-style or spot and stalk. If all went well, the Scimitar would move through my area. There were 6 other hunters there at the same time. A previous group of 9 had hunted the previous week, meaning the Scimitar were wise to the game, and pretty spooky.



The hunt began Tuesday afternoon. That evening I had a good opportunity at a nice cow, but elected to pass as it was the first day.



I wanted a bull. The next day was extremely tough hunting with a couple blown stalks; I began to question that decision. I did stalk up on a nice Blackbuck at first light, the only one on the ranch; too bad he was off-limits.



Later I got to watch a group of juvenile bulls, but they were very young.



On the third day, cold with a strong North wind, I decided to choose a spot down in a valley near a water hole that also allowed me to glass the entire surrounding ridge. At about 1 pm I glassed a cow headed down, about 650 yards away (red X).
She had a good, mature bull closely following her.



I had hoped they would come to water, but instead they headed West away from me. After a long slow stalk, I was able to close 400 yards or so and finally get a clear shot at the bull when he stepped into a small clearing about 200 yards out. Shooting from my bi-pod on one knee, I sent 225 grains of .338-caliber love his way. He went 30 yards or so, and I had my Oryx.

He had been a real fighter, scarred up from front to rear. He was carrying a fresh scar and puncture in his neck, possibly from the cow he was with when he got “over-zealous”. One of the biologists recognized him after I field-dressed and brought him in, said he’d nick-named him “Low-rider” for the distinct way his horns swept back and down. Said he hadn’t seen him in a while, but had been after him for years.






After getting him quartered, I went back out for one last pass around my compartment. I know the Lord has a good sense of humor; up on top of the ridge a large group of cows allowed me to get some good pics and video. They apparently could sense the danger had passed.






Then, on the way out, I got to watch a family of Sable, complete with a weeks-old calf and a stud of a herd bull.









These state hunts are a great thing for hunters and for TPWD. They provide much-needed revenue to our parks, but also allow hunters like me opportunities we’d probably never have otherwise. I was grateful for the chance. A big thanks to the guys at Mason Mountain, they ran a great hunt. I also wanted to thank Eland Slayer, Jorge, and MulieMike here on the forum for a little advice before the hunt. Thanks fellas!

Great story and even better pictures.. Way to go on an awesome hunt.. Very Nice!!

cool pics and great story, thanks for sharing

Wow.. great unt and nicely documented. thanks for sharing.

Sounds like and awesome hunt, congrats

Congrats! Great story and pics also.

Very good story with pics...thanks for sharing...love to see and read others stories

AWESOME hunt man!! I would say that's probably some of the most difficult conditions you could hunt Oryx in (unguided, limited area, etc...)

I'm so glad you got a bull....and a VERY UNIQUE bull at that!! Congratulations.

That is great! congrats!

Cool pics!!

Great story and an awesome Bull for sure. thanks for taking time to document your hunt. I was hoping and praying to get drawn for one of those permits last fall but it was not to be. I'm really glad that someone who could really appreciate the hunt was drawn. I blow a 100 bucks every summer trying to win an exotic hunt in the Bigtime Texas hunts. Those big bull Sable are truly majestic looking animals. Well done,brother. Baker

Great story and awesome pictures, That place is really nice I have hunted there for whitetail. I would really like one of those Sable.

Congrats!

Awesome pics and sounds like you had an awesome hunt!

That was great, with the pictures and the words you wrote.

Great Scimitar Oryx! Is TPWD doing hunts to eliminate all the Mason Mountain herd?

Congrats

Thanks guys, really appreciate it. I enjoyed the heck out of that hunt.

No, TPWD is not killing off all Scimitar. The herd is at a healthy number and they are simply managing to keep it that way. Word is they will do this hunt again next year.

Cool pics and story. THanks for sharing....and rubbing it in to all of us that didn't get drawn

Great story and pictures

Very cool story.

Congrats on a great hunt

Great post. Throughly enjoyed it. I was on the first ever drawn bowhunt at Mason Mountain years ago. Like everyone else I sure was disappointed when I did not draw this hunt. At least we can live it vicariously through your post. Thanks for sharing.