Contributors to this thread:
Did anyone else fill out the oryx survey? The odds on those hunts are already terrible, but it does make it clear they are trying to eradicate them.
Think the survey was sent out randomly unless there is a link on the website.
A friend of mine got the survey via email. Be too bad if they want to eradicate them. One of the few hunts a youth can draw fairly easy (off range anyway) and fun as all get out to hunt.
As long as I have been here they have hunted them year round off range, was it always like this? I was told they were trying to kill them off, which would lead way right into what is being proposed. More on range tags and make arrangements (% allotment) for people to hunt more than once. Increasing tags on range, the constant pressure off range, and otc private tags..... you tell me what does it look like?
they are not trying to kill them off. Numbers have reached Pre 2009 status and they need to bring the numbers down. 2009 and before they had 105 hunters per hunt starting in August and one to two hunts per month until March 22 ish. every 4 years game and fish has to open the exotic rule for hunts on NM and we have to choose on if we want quality over Quantity. The WSMR has a heavy hand in the hunts on range and does not want to go back to the way it was because they can not support that many hunts. There are to many missions on range now but they need to reduce the numbers.
There is a large thread on this very thing on MM. You should check it out before filling out the survey.
There is a large thread on this very thing on MM. You should check it out before filling out the survey.
Back in the day there were 500 total off range tags and the hunt was literally for 365 days. Then they switched to a full month and once even tried to make you sit out every other year (based on birth year; one year even, next year odd, and so on).
Since then they went to one month hunts varying tag numbers each month for all 12 months and finally became what we have now.
Back in the early 2000's there were three times the numbers they wanted on range and that many or more off. The harsh winter in '08(?) took its toll along with increasing some tag numbers.
You knew there was a decrease in oryx numbers overall when they eliminated 3 units out of the original five: Red Canyon, Small Range, and combined Tularosa Gate with Rhodes (Red Canyon may be part of Rhodes today, not sure).
Hunts were reduced and success rates started to decline (in part due to the increase in BH because of the harsh winter) causing the need for BH hunts. In essence, OIL hunters weren't wanting to shoot any unicorns or gargoyles.
NMDGF likely doesn't want them hunted out, too much revenue. WSMR on the other hand could care less I'm sure. I doubt they could open up with a 30 mm cannon and wipe them out - bad, bad publicity.
All I know is that I have been waiting patiently for a long time to get my OIL tag, if they take away the OIL status I might as well forget about getting a tag because the odds for drawing will go even lower. I hardly know anyone that hasn't already had a OIL tag, it seems like everyone and their grandma has had a tag!
Knowing our game comission, it wouldn't be retroactive only going forward so you'd still be good.
I guess me and those Grandpas are still waiting. 25 years and counting, wife finally drew hers. they need to keep the OIL tags on the range. just add a few more hunts if they have a upcreep in the herd numbers. why ruin a good thing. when they run out of OIL applicants then change it. don't see that happening.
Its less about the revenue and more about competing w/ native species. Look at what they have done w/ the Barbary sheep in 34, they want them gone to clear the way for the BH.
Part of the oryx history was to introduce hunting opportunity to a region where there was very little to none.
They do better than originally thought and are not contained as well as planned either which is why for the "panic mode" approach to management.
I also remember back a few years when they had the bright idea of having female only hunts to help cut down the population. That didn't work.
As far as not being able to draw, just remember, you have the same chance every year as everyone and everything else.
HDE you forgot to wink and nod...lol
Back through the mid 90s the off range tags were OTC unlimited. The idea has always been to keep them isolated on range. Up until last few years there was little water on range so they would leave to get water when it was dry. Some would stay off range and spread out. Landowners started complaining about them and G&F developed a LO Oryx tag. I was told by the G&F folks that if a LO asked for authorizations they got them as long as their land was in a reasonable proximity to WSMR. This means they didn't have to prove they had any Oryx to hunt nor did G&F do a survey. Idea still is to keep the herds isolated on range and my understanding as to why they went from OTC unlimited tags to a draw was to reduce the number of hunters due to the private land and hunters damaging WSMR fencing as well as getting onto the range. Rumor has it that the herd on range has been reduced significantly in the last few years. My kids had a depredation hunt on range last Sept and we saw way less Oryx than in the past while driving through the OIL areas to get to were we were going. I've never been a fan of the off range hunts even though I've done them a couple times and know people who are regularly successful. It just takes a lot of time and gas. I drew the McGreggor tag this year, my first with that and I have two hunts on-range in about 20 years. If you know someone who wrks on WSMR that can escort you the depredation hunt odd are better.
on range numbers are stable and back up to pre 2009 numbers. The reason that the numbers were down was because of the freeze in Feb of 09. almost a 50% die off. now that the numbers are back up they want to start increasing the number of tags to keep up with the population. The range can not hold much more with out them interfering with missions and WSMR personnel.
