Oryx Tag Finally!

Obviously I have to make up my mind soon to apply for an ATF import permit for the rifle. I am sort of tempted to just purchase a new rifle and scope in El Paso Texas, if I fly down for the hunt. Any advice from members on rifle selection? ... Also I am unsure if I can take my handloads down on the plane.

Congrats on the tag.

BTW, put all your firearms on your form 6, there is no reason not to, then take whichever one, or two, or ?? that tickles your fancy.

As for buying a rifle stateside, that will not be easy and probably is worth WAY more trouble than it is worth. Firstly, you would not be able to buy it as you are not a resident. Second, you would have to have an export permit to get it out of the country and IIRC, you would be unable to do that yourself, but would require an FFL dealer to do it for you. I am by no means knowledgeable in this area, I am sure others could give you more info, but I would just put all three rifles on the form 6 and decide later.


Cheers.
 
The WSMR assigns a hunt co-ordinator who is starting to send info to the persons who successfully drew tags. Lots of good info. About 10% of the persons hunting Oryx use outfitters. The WSMR will be supplying maps to the hunters with info on location as we get closer to the actual hunt. There is no scouting allowed, so you either get one or not during the 2 day hunt (about 1/2 of the first day is apparently given over to safety training, rules about access from the roads, where you can hunt and where you cannot etc.). You take the field dressed Oryx to the front gate of the WSMR where there will be butchers, taxidermists, etc. Apparently an Oryx can be boned to fit into a 155 quart cooler. I am looking into the cost of having the meat frozen and then air freighted back to Toronto where a friend can pick it up for me. Perhaps an alternative is a refrigerated truck service but ???. If successful, I am leaning towards a European mount- skull and horns. This is about 1/2 the cost of a full head mount but more importantly it can be shipped at a more reasonable cost. In theory I could make a vacation of the hunt and drive down but I have lots of time for final decisions. Does anyone know about meat shipping?

A euro mount of an Oryx looks really great.
 
Oryx Tag

I have been getting requests about the odds of the Oryx drawing. Here is my quick research- the odds will vary with the type of hunt (any weapon, archery, muzzleloader etc.) and the location on the WSMR. It also varies with the time of year, a two day weekend hunt is held about every month through out the year. The real variable is the number of animals that are desired to be culled. In the early 1970's when I first read about this hunt, only 15 tags were issued! I am told there are about 4,000 or so Oryx on the WSMR and the current annual tag allotment is about 1,000. Again the odds will vary on the number of applicants but in 2007 there were about 2,500 non-resident (non New Mexico residents) applicants for 350 NR tags. Generally the odds are about 15% of getting a Premier Tag (any ###, any horn condition). There are 100 hunters for the weekend I have drawn my tag. This is literally at once in a lifetime hunt (once you draw a tag, you can never apply again). I will post details of this adventure as it progresses but everything I have read so far is extremely positive. Thanks for the congratulations and best wishes that I have received.
 
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