After shooting an oryx with my bow a few years ago I came across a picture of a scimbok on the internet. I think that both oryx and gemsbok are beautiful animals so when I saw a combo of the two I immediately thought that I would eventually have to take one at some point in time.

Over the last couple of years I have called several places, well actually every place I could find on the internet that said they had them at one point, only to come up empty after every phone call because people got away from breeding them or allowing the 2 species to cross breed when all the regulations went into place. Or at least that is what everyone I spoke with had told me.

I made a trip to the Dallas Safari Convention this past January and met with Judy May of the Texas Divide Ranch. After talking for a minute I saw scimbok listed on their price sheet. Apparently they had an old bull on the place that had been separated from their large oryx herd so he wouldn't continue to breed. After seeing pictures and the black face characteristics that had got my attention for so long I decided to book the hunt. The next several months went by as slow as possible, but before I knew it my family and I were headed west of San Angelo.

They had a nice lodging facility and meals were provided so I figured I would take my wife and kids with me. It literally poured rain on us all but a couple of hours over the course of the weekend limiting the animal movement and our ability to hunt.

We spotted the bull twice after a couple of hours of searching on Saturday morning and I made 2 failed stalking attempts as I got within 40 yards each time only to have something go wrong. My 5 year old son, Slayde, has been turkey hunting with me a couple times but never really shown much interest, however he wanted to tag along for the afternoon. As soon as we left the house we started getting drenched, but we went out anyways. We found the bull down in the same canyon as he was before. We were able to get in range and I made a great heart shot at 45 yards.

The bull only ran about 40 yards or so and was down and done within 30 seconds. My son was pumped actually getting to come out and see it all unfold and to actually see me make a great shot and for him to be a part of it. He had a smile from ear to ear when I turned around to talk to him and he kept giving me high fives and telling me how awesome that was.




The smile says it all. The bull had great color and was all that I was looking for and then some. He measured 39.25x39.5 horns that were between 6 and 6.25" thick. His neck was a little bit bigger than other oryx that I had seen and shows some gemsbok character with its shape, which isn't greatly detailed in the pics.

The next morning my son woke up with a smile still on his face and we set out to try and find him a hog or a rabbit. While sitting in the stand the rain never let up and we saw some fallow, blackbuck, and springbok on the opposite hillside, but never had anything else come in.

All in all he still had a great time and I think this really jump started his interest in hunting. In fact on the way back we spotted a big mature roan out in a field and we got into an argument on why he couldn't shoot that..... I just told him maybe when you get daddy's age and have a good job you can afford that, but dad doesn't have an extra $18k laying around.


Great ranch and people running it. Had a blast and saw lots of great animals. I wouldn't hesitate to go there again and I plan on it in the near future.

Great write up Sawyer. I was super pumped when I got the pics. What a trophy and the fact that Slayde and the family was along for the ride makes it that much more enjoyable. You will remember those awesome times every time you look a the mount. Pumped to see this stud of an animal. Sorry I couldnt be along to video.

Congrats on a great bull.

Congrats on a fine looking animal. If he taste like an Oryx then your in for a treat!! Nothing beats hunting/fishing with your kids. Well Done sir. Baker

Thanks guys. Still pumped about the hunt.

Travis, looking forward to next time.

Baker, I'm sure hoping it is at least half as good as my last oryx.

way to go, that is a great write up and awesome trophy.

Really happy for you Sawyer. He'll look great on the wall.
Those memories will last forever....Congrats!!!

Awesome write up Sawyer. It was just as cool to see Slaydes face in the pic you sent me after you downed that monster. Congrats Brother

very nice

BAM !! Real nice

Congrats Sawyer. Beautiful animal!

Thanks all. Can't wait to get the meat and the mount back!

Congrats

Way to go, beautiful animal

X2

Beautiful animal, and a unique trophy. Congrats. He is a great bull by any standard, especially with a bow.

Nice

Thanks all.