Just finalized a hunt for a management Oryx with Bobby at G Ranch. Can't wait til next weekend to come around. It's gonna be one long week.

Were looking forward to having you hunt with us

Good luck! should be fun

Good luck! Be sure to post some pics.

Good luck! I'm going the day after tomorrow.

Keep me posted how it goes. Good luck bud

Tomorrow's the big day. Got all my gear ready, bow zeroed in, camera batteries charged, gas in the truck. Can't wait to lay one down.

Waiting to see results and hoping you have a successful hunt!

We are ready was at the ranch releasing some new rams this morning saw the oryx for a second then off they went should be a fun hunt looking forward to it

Hope y'all have some stories to tell us today!

Any updates????????

Best of luck!

Sorry bout not being able to update yesterday. Was a very long day. Started out at 3:45 a.m., after beating the alarm clock into submission. As excited as I was to go and get an Oryx, afer only 2 hours of sleep, it wasn't easy to get going. Having laid everything at the door made loading a breeze and we were on our way by about 4:45. Long, exciting drive to Gatesville as anticipation ran high. We double checked camera batteries, sim cards, everything, so there wouldn't be any surprises when we got there. After a small fight with the GPS and some correct directions from Bobby, We arrived around 8:30ish. As we enter the gate, we're greeted by Bobby and the new ranch taxidermist Scott, who was going as an extra set of eyes(which we would need), and Tom, a full grown Rio Grande gobbler in full strut.After introductions we make our way to the lodge. Wow. This place is huge. And in front is an army of gobblers, all at full strut. Quite a sight to see 20 toms all strutting around clicking, booming and gobbling. After a tour of the lodge we hop on the ranger to start our expedition. As we leave the driveway, we're greeted by a small herd of 4 Zebra. We continue past and immediately spot a rather large herd of Fallow deer. Whites, Chocolates and Spotted were all in the mix. With all the action and the smell of cedars strong in the thick air, this country boy was excited to say the least, and it was only the first 200 yards...
We continue on around the ranch with Bobby giving us the history of the ranch and of the animals that we have and are going to encounter. Next on that list was Blue Wildebeest. Now, they don't look like much on National Geographic, but when you're less that 150 yards from em, they are an absolutely gorgeous animal. The blue of their coat was a steel blue, almost gray. They disappear in the thick cedars only to be replaced by some following Blackbuck. Graceful, cute little animals gliding effortlessly over the fields of Bluebonnets that were absolutely everywhere. Life doesn't get much better than this. We keep driving around and see Aoudad, Red Deer, Elk, Waterbuck(that was very impressive), Whitetail, and a very nice herd of Axis in hard horn and velvet, as well as some newly added Rams(Painted, Corsican, Texas Dall, Black Hawiian, Ibex cross, and a 4 horned).
After cruising the brush for a few hours we came around a bend in the trail and there they were. About 60 yards into a cedar thicket. As soon as they saw us, 2 of the 3 bolted back to the east. One wasn't in as big a hurry as the others and I was thankful for a chance to watch and study the animal as he dissappeared into the gray underbrush. Game on. The direction they were heading would lead straight to an opening. So we skirt the outside of the thicket just knowing they'd be there. Round the bend and come face to face with a group of Blackbuck does. Just seeing a quick glimpse of white had my heart beating even faster. They bolt and we scour the field and see no sign of the Oryx. They had to have looped back. So back we go, where we had just seen em. Nothing. We know they're close. We stalk the brush. Slowly searching thru the branches and logs. Watching for a tail swish or ear flap or anything to betray their position. After almost an hour Bobby catches movement thru the cedars. By this point there have been so many "whoas" and "stop, there they are"s and "that's them"s that turned out to be Blackbuck does, I wasn't getting to excited til there was proof. This time there was. Visisble proof, as they started heading east again. This time we knew we had em. We followed them to a clearing and located them as they moved toward the north along the tree line. Following Bobby's lead we circle around and try to intercept them. As we near the opening, we realize they have moved past our ambush opening into another clearing. No way to approach in the open so we circle back around thru the brush only to be busted by them trying to cut back thru. We didn't get within a 100 yards of them. 100 yards is an easy shot you say. True, but not with a bow, which is the way I wanted to take this trophy.
So, after the blown stalk attempt and losing sight of them again, we decide its a good time for lunch. Head back to the lodge for a sprite and a lunchable and it's game time again. We head back to the last place we saw them and continue our search. Methodically and rhythmically checking every little nook and cranny they could be in. Still nothing. Plan B. We head to the back of the ranch and in an almost grid pattern we begin again. More Fallows, Axis and every other animal there but no Oryx. We searched from just after lunch at around 1:30 til right after 4 when Scott had to leave. We see him off and continue. It's getting down to crunch time now. We discouss the opportunities had and how next time will not be much different. We decide that the rifle would be the best bet at success. Abandoning the bow we continue with renewed vigor. We're gonna be successful. We won't settle for less. We continue our search in the back again. Retracing the similar grid we had performed before. As we pass a white Fallow doe bedded underneath a cedar(for the fourth time) we look up and there he is. In an instant the rifle is on my shoulder and the hammer is back. He's standing behind a cedar tree, facing my left and looking directly at us. Bobby confirms my gut instinct of this is the one. Only problem is all I can see is his head and about 8" of his neck. No shot. He turns his head to look behind him and I'm thinking he's about to bolt, when I see one of the other Oryx on the other side of the road. I knew the it would be a quick shot if given the opportunity.
He stands there for about 30 seconds, looking back. Then he turns and starts into the road. As soon as his shoulder cleared the cedar, Bobby grunted. He no sooner stopped when the 300 roared to life. Cathud. The sound every hunter wants to hear when they squeeze the trigger. I watch as the bullet makes impact as he lurches backward and swirls around, opposite leg flailing around. I already have another round in the TC Pro Hunter and am ready for a follow up shot if necessary. Bobby assures me it is not needed. We make it roughly 20 yards toward where he was standing when we see him, off to our right about 50 yards from where he was standing, dead in the clearing. I had done it. I had successfully hunted, shot and killed the animal that I had come for. I was speechless. I was trembling. I was proud. As I held him in my hands, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed. One for the shear joy of being able to take such a fine animal and two for the sadness I felt for these great creatures and how many of their kind have been almost eradicated because of the new permitting system taking effect in a few short days. He measured roughly 24 & 1/2 inches on both sides. I shot him at roughly 90 yards with a TC Pro Hunter 300 Win Mag. I had a buddy along filming the hunt and as the last sequence of events unfolded, he was not able to catch the shot on film as intended. It happens I guess. Thanks again to Bobby G, G-Ranch here on the forum, for an unforgettable hunt,a memory to last a lifetime and a trophy worthy of mention. Hopefully soon we can get together again bud. Here's a few pics from the hunt. Sorry for the long read...Enjoy.




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Hell of a story and a great trophy! Congrats man!!

I had a great time hunting with y'all and look forward to having y'all come back maybe even stay for a night or two and enjoy a big steak and some of those cold beverages again enjoyed hunting with you it was a great fun filled hunt

Enjoyed!

Nice animal, congrats!

Thanks for the story.

Nice!

Enjoyed reading about the hunt, well said. Thanks for hunting with us!