PONDERISMS (some things to think about)
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Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday Joke.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
It's an Oryx and that's NO joke.
Thank you Loren for the use of your trailer.
I moved Babe out then Dave backed up the trailer
and used the crane to get it off the trailer.
They are really pretty animals.
Crank it up baby!
An interesting tail!
It was a crowd gathering experience at CC.
Ken even joined the crew!
Notice the short horn.
It is called a broken horn Oryx.
Almost done skinning it out. It will hang today. Pack it up tomorrow.
Look at the size of those feet! It's a 6", 119 Buck knife.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Dave's hunting this weekend.
Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species. Three of them are native to arid parts of Africa, and the fourth to the Arabian Peninsula. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and horns that are clearly decurved.
The Arabian oryx was only saved from extinction through a captive breeding program and reintroduction to the wild.[1] The scimitar oryx, which is now listed as Extinct in the Wild, also relies on a captive breeding program for its survival.[2] Small populations of several oryx species, such as the Scimitar Oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. Gemsboks were released at the White Sands Missile Range and have become an invasive species of concern at the adjacent White Sands National Monument.
The Oryx of White Sands Missile Range
By Dr. Jim and Mary Clary
About fifty years ago, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish wanted to establish exotic animal populations into areas that did not have huntable numbers of big game animals. The purpose was to maximize the hunting opportunities for hunters in the state.
Four species were considered and breeding animals were brought to the Red Rock Experimental Range. These included the greater kudu from Africa, the Persian ibex found in Siberia and Iran, the Barbary sheep from North Africa and the African Oryx or gemsbok (Oryx gazella). Because federal law prohibits the release of wild animals from a foreign country into the wild in the United States, only the offspring of the breeders could be considered for release into various regions of the state.
The kudu was determined to be susceptible to cattle diseases. As such, it was considered a threat to the ranchers’ herds in the state and was never released.
The ibex were released into the Floridas Mountains of southern New Mexico and successfully established themselves, resulting in hunting populations. You can learn more about the Ibex by reading the Guns and Shooting Online article, “An Ibex Meets The Scorpion.”
The Barbary sheep was introduced onto the land near Picacho, New Mexico and have reproduced in such numbers that they have expanded their range over a wide area of the state and represent excellent hunting opportunities for resident and non-resident hunters.
Ninety-three Oryx were introduced onto the 3,200 square mile White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in the Tularosa Basin between 1969 and 1977. They successfully established themselves and their numbers expanded enough to require hunting to control their numbers.
In fact, the common saying among residents in the area is that Oryx “breed like rabbits on speed.” Their success has been so phenomenal that they have spread well beyond the missile range and the state now issues licenses for off-range areas every year. (These licenses are NOT once in a lifetime licenses).
The reason for the Oryx’ success is they can go for long periods of time without drinking and readily adapted to eating the desert grasses, yucca, buffalo gourds, mesquite bean pods and tumbleweeds of New Mexico. (Tumbleweeds are also a foreign species – Russian thistle, but has been here for so long it’s become a symbol of the area!)
Each year, the state allocates a substantial number of licenses (500-600) for once-in-a-lifetime hunts on the WSMR. The hunts are for two days and are spread over a six month period from August to February. As such, if you want to harvest an animal, you can’t be too particular about the length of the horns, because if you pass up a shootable animal, you may not get another chance.
An Oryx can weigh up to 450 pounds. A full grown bull can stand 47 inches at the shoulder. Both sexes have horns, with the bulls having heavier rings, while the cows are frequently longer and thinner.
A couple years ago, Mary and I were lucky enough to draw a license for the October hunt. We prayed that there would be no snow and fortunately, it did not snow. However, it rained for two days prior to the hunt and was still drizzling at 5:00 AM on Saturday, the opening day of the hunt during our briefing by the WSMR range officers. After going over the safety procedures, restricted areas that we could not enter and range rules, we headed out to find some Oryx.
Shortly after 8:00 AM, Mary spotted a small bull running parallel to the road about 150 yards out. Someone or something had obviously spooked him and he was “carrying the mail.” She jumped out of the truck and fired offhand and hit him squarely in the shoulders, but he kept going. Dang, she hit that sucker with a 180 grain Nosler Partition bullet from a .300 Win. Mag. and he didn’t drop. (Shot placement is everything!) He crossed the road in front of us and headed up a hill and disappeared. His trail was easy to follow, as he was dropping pieces of bone, tissue and blood all the way. Talk about tough animals, Oryx are tough. If you want to be assured that they will drop in their tracks, you have to shoot for the heart, right behind the shoulder. We found the bull lying down on the crest of the hill and as we approached, he jumped up to run some more. Mary drew another bead and this time nailed him right in the heart. He dropped like a rock.
Photo courtesy of Jim and Mary Clary.
After dressing him out (in the mud), we began the long drag back to the truck. That small bull weighed in at 250 pounds dressed (according to the butcher). However, by the time we got him back to the truck he seemed like 1,000 pounds. It was definitely not fun dragging that dead weight through mud, junipers and mesquite. That was with two grown men, a strong teenage girl and my bride. Although a 28” bull Oryx won’t make the record books, my bride was all smiles, as she filled out on her once-in-a-lifetime hunt on White Sands.
After loading the animal into the back of our pickup, we resumed the hunt. We searched the rest of the day and never got a shot at another Oryx. However, Sunday would be another day and also my last chance to get an Oryx.
We were at the check-in station before dawn and there were only about half as many hunters as the previous morning. It seems that my wife had not been the only one to bag an Oryx. After the routine check of our identifications--after all, WSMR is an active military range--we headed out. We drove and drove. For mile after mile we failed to see an Oryx. I was getting pretty discouraged, as on the first day we had seen a lot of Oryx. Granted, they were far away, but nevertheless they were Oryx. Today, nada!
I was sipping coffee and staring out the window as my father-in-law drove slowly down one of the range roads, growing horns on every cactus plant I saw. Catching a glimpse of something brown out of the corner of my eye, I shouted for him to stop and back up. As he slowly backed the truck, there was my Oryx. A majestic bull, standing broadside on a knoll about 200 yards out. I couldn’t have had a more perfect target. Easing out of the truck, I put the crosshairs on the white spot behind his shoulder, squeezed the trigger and down he went. That Nosler bullet sure did its job. As we walked out to the animal, Susannah asked if I was going to reload. Oops, I’d forgotten in the excitement. I reloaded, but I knew that another shot wouldn’t be necessary. I’d seen enough animals drop to know when one was done.
Photo courtesy of Jim and Mary Clary.
He was a beautiful mature bull, weighing in at 400+ pounds with 37 inch horns or, uh, horn. Yep, I'd shot an animal with a broken horn. The way that he was standing, we couldn’t see the broken horn, but despite that, he was magnificent! The Clary Crew had a successful once-in-a-lifetime hunt. If you can’t swing a trip to Africa for gemsbok, I’d suggest applying for the hunts on the New Mexico WSMR. For a non-resident, they aren’t cheap, running a bit over $1,600, but for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt, why not? We only live once and the Oryx not only make fine trophies, they are better eating than elk, at least according to some. Mary still prefers elk.
A final note: You don’t need a guide to hunt the WSMR Oryx. They provide you with a current map of the hunt area and the federal Range Officers and NM Game and Fish Officers are happy to tell you where they have seen Oryx. They want you to be successful on your hunt; after all, these are hunts designed to keep the population under control. However, you will need a four-wheel drive truck with a good spare (or two). On our two trips, we have torn up a tire each time on pieces of metal from all the bombs and rockets that have been dropped. Obey any signs that tell you not to leave the road in certain areas due to unexploded ordinance, they are for real!
About fifty years ago, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish wanted to establish exotic animal populations into areas that did not have huntable numbers of big game animals. The purpose was to maximize the hunting opportunities for hunters in the state.
Four species were considered and breeding animals were brought to the Red Rock Experimental Range. These included the greater kudu from Africa, the Persian ibex found in Siberia and Iran, the Barbary sheep from North Africa and the African Oryx or gemsbok (Oryx gazella). Because federal law prohibits the release of wild animals from a foreign country into the wild in the United States, only the offspring of the breeders could be considered for release into various regions of the state.
The kudu was determined to be susceptible to cattle diseases. As such, it was considered a threat to the ranchers’ herds in the state and was never released.
The ibex were released into the Floridas Mountains of southern New Mexico and successfully established themselves, resulting in hunting populations. You can learn more about the Ibex by reading the Guns and Shooting Online article, “An Ibex Meets The Scorpion.”
The Barbary sheep was introduced onto the land near Picacho, New Mexico and have reproduced in such numbers that they have expanded their range over a wide area of the state and represent excellent hunting opportunities for resident and non-resident hunters.
Ninety-three Oryx were introduced onto the 3,200 square mile White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in the Tularosa Basin between 1969 and 1977. They successfully established themselves and their numbers expanded enough to require hunting to control their numbers.
In fact, the common saying among residents in the area is that Oryx “breed like rabbits on speed.” Their success has been so phenomenal that they have spread well beyond the missile range and the state now issues licenses for off-range areas every year. (These licenses are NOT once in a lifetime licenses).
The reason for the Oryx’ success is they can go for long periods of time without drinking and readily adapted to eating the desert grasses, yucca, buffalo gourds, mesquite bean pods and tumbleweeds of New Mexico. (Tumbleweeds are also a foreign species – Russian thistle, but has been here for so long it’s become a symbol of the area!)
Each year, the state allocates a substantial number of licenses (500-600) for once-in-a-lifetime hunts on the WSMR. The hunts are for two days and are spread over a six month period from August to February. As such, if you want to harvest an animal, you can’t be too particular about the length of the horns, because if you pass up a shootable animal, you may not get another chance.
An Oryx can weigh up to 450 pounds. A full grown bull can stand 47 inches at the shoulder. Both sexes have horns, with the bulls having heavier rings, while the cows are frequently longer and thinner.
A couple years ago, Mary and I were lucky enough to draw a license for the October hunt. We prayed that there would be no snow and fortunately, it did not snow. However, it rained for two days prior to the hunt and was still drizzling at 5:00 AM on Saturday, the opening day of the hunt during our briefing by the WSMR range officers. After going over the safety procedures, restricted areas that we could not enter and range rules, we headed out to find some Oryx.
Shortly after 8:00 AM, Mary spotted a small bull running parallel to the road about 150 yards out. Someone or something had obviously spooked him and he was “carrying the mail.” She jumped out of the truck and fired offhand and hit him squarely in the shoulders, but he kept going. Dang, she hit that sucker with a 180 grain Nosler Partition bullet from a .300 Win. Mag. and he didn’t drop. (Shot placement is everything!) He crossed the road in front of us and headed up a hill and disappeared. His trail was easy to follow, as he was dropping pieces of bone, tissue and blood all the way. Talk about tough animals, Oryx are tough. If you want to be assured that they will drop in their tracks, you have to shoot for the heart, right behind the shoulder. We found the bull lying down on the crest of the hill and as we approached, he jumped up to run some more. Mary drew another bead and this time nailed him right in the heart. He dropped like a rock.
After loading the animal into the back of our pickup, we resumed the hunt. We searched the rest of the day and never got a shot at another Oryx. However, Sunday would be another day and also my last chance to get an Oryx.
We were at the check-in station before dawn and there were only about half as many hunters as the previous morning. It seems that my wife had not been the only one to bag an Oryx. After the routine check of our identifications--after all, WSMR is an active military range--we headed out. We drove and drove. For mile after mile we failed to see an Oryx. I was getting pretty discouraged, as on the first day we had seen a lot of Oryx. Granted, they were far away, but nevertheless they were Oryx. Today, nada!
I was sipping coffee and staring out the window as my father-in-law drove slowly down one of the range roads, growing horns on every cactus plant I saw. Catching a glimpse of something brown out of the corner of my eye, I shouted for him to stop and back up. As he slowly backed the truck, there was my Oryx. A majestic bull, standing broadside on a knoll about 200 yards out. I couldn’t have had a more perfect target. Easing out of the truck, I put the crosshairs on the white spot behind his shoulder, squeezed the trigger and down he went. That Nosler bullet sure did its job. As we walked out to the animal, Susannah asked if I was going to reload. Oops, I’d forgotten in the excitement. I reloaded, but I knew that another shot wouldn’t be necessary. I’d seen enough animals drop to know when one was done.
A final note: You don’t need a guide to hunt the WSMR Oryx. They provide you with a current map of the hunt area and the federal Range Officers and NM Game and Fish Officers are happy to tell you where they have seen Oryx. They want you to be successful on your hunt; after all, these are hunts designed to keep the population under control. However, you will need a four-wheel drive truck with a good spare (or two). On our two trips, we have torn up a tire each time on pieces of metal from all the bombs and rockets that have been dropped. Obey any signs that tell you not to leave the road in certain areas due to unexploded ordinance, they are for real!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Sunday Joke!
Subject: Elderly Lady's Prayer
In
church I heard this sweet elderly lady in the pew next to me saying a prayer.
It was so innocent and sincere that I just have to share it with
you:
"Dear
Lord, This has been a tough four to five years. You have taken my
favorite
actor Patrick Swayze. My favorite musician Michael Jackson. My
favorite
Blues Singer Amy Winehouse. My favorite actress Elizabeth Taylor.
My
favorite singer Whitney Houston. And now my favorite author Tom Clancy!
I just
wanted you to know that my favorite politicians are Barack Obama, Joe
Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry
Reid.
Amen"
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Sunday Joke.
Heaven's Clerk
All arrivals in heaven have to go through a bureaucratic
examination
to determine whether admission will be granted. One room has a clerk
who inputs computerized records of what each applicant did on his or
her last day of life.
The first applicant of the day explained that his last day was not a
good one. "I came home early and found my wife lying naked in
bed.
She claimed she had just gotten out of the shower.
"Well, her hair was dry, so I checked the shower and it was
completely
dry too. I knew she was into some hanky-panky, and I began to look
for
her lover. I went onto the balcony of our 9th floor apartment
and
found the SOB clinging to the rail by his finger tips. I was so
angry that I
began bashing his fingers with a flower pot. He let go and fell, but
his fall was broken by some awnings and bushes.
On seeing he was still alive I found super human strength to drag
our
antique cedar chest to the balcony and throw it over. It hit the man
and killed him. At this point the stress got to me, and I suffered a
massive heart attack and died."
The clerk thanked him and sent him on to the next office.
The second applicant said that his last day was his worst. "I
was on
the roof of an apartment building working on the AC equipment. I
stumbled over my tools and toppled off the building. I managed to grab
onto the balcony rail of a 9th floor apartment, but some idiot came
rushing out on the balcony and bashed my hands with a flower pot. I
fell but hit some awnings and bushes and survived, but as I looked
up
I saw a huge chest falling toward me. I tried to crawl out of the
way
but failed and was hit and killed by the chest."
The clerk couldn't help but chuckle as he directed the man to the
next room.
He was still giggling when his third customer of the day entered. He
apologized and said, "I doubt that your last day was as
interesting as
the fellow in here just before you."
"I don't know," replied the man, "picture this, I'm
buck naked hiding'
in this cedar chest."
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