Patio Ranch Trophy Arabian Oryx…Success of a Great Program!
One would think that a group of white animal in the green landscape of the Texas Hill Country would stand out and be easily located. However, when that herd of Arabian Oryx bulls is located in a large hunting pasture that is a mixture of thick juniper brush in the draws and with scattered oak mottes and thickets of brush interspersed throughout the pasture, the seemingly logical statement does not hold true.
Mickey started hunting and searching for the Oryx bull on Thursday evening. By Friday afternoon, the thought that they may be easily located had been dispelled. Covering the entire pasture a couple of times did not produce any sightings of the “White Oryx” bulls. Finally, they were located in one of the thick, brushy draws visible only as flashes of white against a background of brown and green. No safe shots were available through the tangled branches; Mickey would be forced to wait until the bulls grew hungry and made their way to a grazing area. We departed the area as to not alarm the bulls and left them to their natural movements.
An hour or two later upon return to the area where the bulls had been bedded, no sign of them could be found. Before moving to the other side of the pasture to search, Mickey decided to look over the last hill into a corner of the pasture only visible from this one high point. On first inspection, no “white” signs could be seen. Mickey moved to another motte to have a better vantage point of this hidden spot and caught a glimpse of a caliche rock that seemed to move. Eureka…they were found and in a spot that could be approached. The wind was blowing to us from the Oryx and that was critical. Moving from oak tree to oak tree for visual cover, Mickey was finally in a position to view the herd. A decision was made on the bull that was larger than the others, but they were moving in and out of the cover of some Spanish oak trees. Finally, at about 170 yards, the bulls started to separate, but were moving away from our position. Mickey had a good rest and only needed the bull to stop in a clear area for a second. Mickey’s shot rang out and the rest of the story can be gleaned from the picture!
Every sportsman that participates in one of these hunts for surplus non-breeding male Arabian Oryx is contributing directly to the survival of this endangered species in its native ecosystem. A percentage of the funds collected from each of these hunts is sent directly back to a program in their native ecosystem that is approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Please join us in congratulating Mickey on his magnificent trophy Arabian Oryx and thank him for his help in aiding the survival of these beautiful creatures.
We invite you to join us here on The Patio Ranch for a hunt that can be the adventure of a lifetime. We would be glad to tell you about the animals and programs available so that one day you, like Mickey, may be able to tell “…a different hunting story!”
Good hunting!