MNHunter
Well-known member
I hunted this past weekend on the Stallion Range with Compass West Outfitters. I talked to Chris, the owner, last year after I drew. He explained that a guide wasn't necessary to get one and offered help regardless if I booked with him or not. I did a little research and found out that these hunts have become real hunts over the years and that if you look at the numbers, the sucess rate is much better with a guide. In addition, I thought I would be going alone and quite simply knew I couldn't logistically handle an oryx so I checked references and booked with Chris.
Fast forward a year and my hunt finally arrived. I headed out from MN with my buddy who also drew and drove 24 hours to NM. We got to Socorro earlier than we though and had a day to burn and meet up with our guides. Due to the "process" of getting through the gate on Saturday we arrived at the gate early. As everyone had told me, as the orientation wrapped up people sprinted to their trucks and the ORYX 500 began. Due to being there early, my guide Jim had a good parking spot and got a good start to our spot.
We passed some Oryx just off the road that I am sure were shot at within minutes. We arrived at a spot that Jim had predetermined and we began walking. About a mile from the road we saw a group of 10 oryx. They saw us and ran over the next hill. We stalked them to discover we were busted again and they ran over the next hill. We played cat & mouse with them over a mile or so until we were finally able to sneak up on them to 400 yards. We spent a lot of time watching them and looking at their horns. 2 or 3 good bulls, a couple really good cows, a couple broken horn and some brownies. I passed on the longer cows as I wanted a bull, even if they were shorter. Being from MN, you don't get too much long distance shooting in. Nevertheless, I steadied for the shot and had a good hold. I fired and shot 2" over the bulls back. I was disappointed but we'd only been hunting for 3 hours and I had seen and shot at an oryx. We followed them up and checked for blood just in case. They were long gone. From our vantage point we saw a couple juveniles that didn't require a closer look. We decided to cirecle around back to the truck.
About a mile from the truck we spotted a lone bull hesitantly walking our way. We glassed him up and Jim said he was about 34" but a bull. I could see some pronounced rings on his horns and a really cool hook to one of his horns. I decided to try for him. We circled around to get out in front of him and set up for a shot. He came into the open and stopped broadside 184 yards away. One shot and he was down. I had my once in a lifetime oryx. We loaded him in the truck and headed out. We passed numerous hunters that hadn't seen many (or any) that day. At the gate Gilbert taped him at 37" on the long side and 35" on the side with the hook. I was on cloud nine. He ended up being the second longest bull taken on the hunt.
I am confident that without Compass West I wouldn't have gotten the bull of a lifetime. Chris runs a top notch service. I also received some great help and advice from nmelktrout, balz, and DonV over on MM and schmalts & Hntnhrd here. Thanks guys. My buddy took at 32" bull with 8" bases later on Saturday too. This hunt was everything I had hoped it would be.
Fast forward a year and my hunt finally arrived. I headed out from MN with my buddy who also drew and drove 24 hours to NM. We got to Socorro earlier than we though and had a day to burn and meet up with our guides. Due to the "process" of getting through the gate on Saturday we arrived at the gate early. As everyone had told me, as the orientation wrapped up people sprinted to their trucks and the ORYX 500 began. Due to being there early, my guide Jim had a good parking spot and got a good start to our spot.
We passed some Oryx just off the road that I am sure were shot at within minutes. We arrived at a spot that Jim had predetermined and we began walking. About a mile from the road we saw a group of 10 oryx. They saw us and ran over the next hill. We stalked them to discover we were busted again and they ran over the next hill. We played cat & mouse with them over a mile or so until we were finally able to sneak up on them to 400 yards. We spent a lot of time watching them and looking at their horns. 2 or 3 good bulls, a couple really good cows, a couple broken horn and some brownies. I passed on the longer cows as I wanted a bull, even if they were shorter. Being from MN, you don't get too much long distance shooting in. Nevertheless, I steadied for the shot and had a good hold. I fired and shot 2" over the bulls back. I was disappointed but we'd only been hunting for 3 hours and I had seen and shot at an oryx. We followed them up and checked for blood just in case. They were long gone. From our vantage point we saw a couple juveniles that didn't require a closer look. We decided to cirecle around back to the truck.
About a mile from the truck we spotted a lone bull hesitantly walking our way. We glassed him up and Jim said he was about 34" but a bull. I could see some pronounced rings on his horns and a really cool hook to one of his horns. I decided to try for him. We circled around to get out in front of him and set up for a shot. He came into the open and stopped broadside 184 yards away. One shot and he was down. I had my once in a lifetime oryx. We loaded him in the truck and headed out. We passed numerous hunters that hadn't seen many (or any) that day. At the gate Gilbert taped him at 37" on the long side and 35" on the side with the hook. I was on cloud nine. He ended up being the second longest bull taken on the hunt.
I am confident that without Compass West I wouldn't have gotten the bull of a lifetime. Chris runs a top notch service. I also received some great help and advice from nmelktrout, balz, and DonV over on MM and schmalts & Hntnhrd here. Thanks guys. My buddy took at 32" bull with 8" bases later on Saturday too. This hunt was everything I had hoped it would be.
