NM Ibex

[Tobey284]

Thought I would post a couple pics from the ibex hunting this year. My young friend McKenna (9years old) drew an either sex tag for the youth hunt in september, and I was lucky enough to draw a female/immature tag for october. I've taken several female ibex in the past and have knocked several years off my life trying to get in bow range of a billy (unsuccessfully but darn close once or twice). This was Mckenna's first ibex hunt though at nine she has already taken an impressive pile of game. Ibex are probably the most difficult big game hunt in new mexico and I jokingly told her dad that he could have child services called on him for taking a nine year old ibex hunting. The youth hunt was for the last week of september, and since nine year olds are supposed to be in school we were limited to the two weekends. Glassed a good number of ibex the first weekend but were unable to seal the deal on a stock. Second weekend we went up high to my favorite ibex spot and located a herd on a mountain so steep and gnarly that I don't even look there when I am bow hunting (an archer will die of exposure and despair waaaay before he gets anywhere near an ibex up there, providing he does not fall to his death first). My screws are sufficiently loose regarding cliffs and cactus that I was able to cook up a mad scheme of aproach for the following morning. After a hairy aproach by flashlight, dawn found us peering over a ledge searching for the herd on the opposite cliffs. Never underestimate the constant vigilance of the ibex, we were immediately busted from 250 yards away as soon as the tops of our heads were visible above the rock. The herd began moving down and away from us. McKenna got set on her sticks and I ranged a billy as they stopped to regroup on cliffs. My leupy said 378 which I thought was plenty too far, but McKenna was game and I helped her pick him up in the scope. The downward angle was not too extreme and I told her to hold on hair for a high shoulder hit. The shot struck home but a little far back. McKenna kept her cool and with a little coaching anchored her first ibex with a subsequent shot. Her billy went down at 8:30 AM and it took every bit of the remaining daylight to recover the animal and climb back to the truck.

Mighty McKenna, the ibex was all the way over there.

fat young billy

223 remington, 378 yards, Barnes vortex ammo
My hunt started monday, Mckenna and her dad had to leave so she could get to school so I was left to deal with "the rock" all by my lonesome. Since I had a nanny tag I was able to locate several nice billys on monday, but no females. Tuesday morning I located a herd in a workable location right at first light and moved into an ambush position. It took the ibex nearly 45 minutes to climb to a spot within 300 yards and from which one could be recovered if shot. I had pre-ranged the notch they were moving through at 308 yards. Unlike McKenna, I had cheated and had a CDS dial installed on my 2.5x8 leupy and was able to click right to it. After all the hard work I must say it was gratifying to see my goat take a 40 foot header off the cliff and come to rest in pile of cactus.

243 win, 95 grain ballistic tip

my sniper perch

my favorite spot

 

[Oldtrader3]

Congratulations to both of you for a successful Ibex hunt. It is quite an accomplishment for a 9 year old to shot such a nice ibex. That is the experience of a lifetime hunt for anyone.

 

[FOTIS]

Congrats and great pictures!

 

[JD338]

Congratulations on your successful hunt, way to go.
Beautiful animals and country.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations to McKenna and to you for guiding her to a great billy. You did quite well on your nanny. Out of curiosity, do you recover the meat? Any recipes you want to share?

 

[gerry]

Congrats on both ibex they are really neat looking animals, great picture of McKenna and her dad.

 

[jmad_81]

That is really cool! Congrats to you both!

Ibex are on my bucket list.

 

[Tobey284]

Thanks guys! glad you liked the pics. I've hunted just about every species of big game in new mexico and the ibex are to me the most interesting. The terrain they inhabit is truly formidable wh ich makes for a rewarding experience just getting up there with them. The ibex themselves are remarkable, they can easily access places I can only go with a helicopter and they don't waste any time doing it. They are a favorite prey for eagles and mountain lions and are essentially hunted by something every day of their lives. Their eyesight is every bit as good as a pronghorn's but they lack the speedgoat's curiosity, anything amiss in their surroundings and they are gone!
Dr. Mike, new mexico regs dictate that all edible portions of the carcass be removed from the field, cougars and bears being the only exception. I have been fortunate enough to harvest several ibex over the years but I'm still on the fence about whether or not they constitute fine dining, they may or may not be as good as javelina, if that gives you any reference :roll: I've taken many pronghorn and most guys will say they smell, possibly even stink but ibex are the only animal i have taken that actually smell BAD to me, they pack some serious goat BO. Honestly I think the gaminess of the meat comes from the fact that they are usually shot in fairly warm weather very far from the nearest ice chest, I have found that nearly anything eats pretty good if you can get the hide off and cool the meat immediately, something I haven't been able to do yet with an ibex. My favorite way to eat ibex is to partially freeze the meat and then slice it very thin with a wicked sharp knife, I then marinate it for a day in either red or green chile sauce (a little of both around christmas time) then simmer it for an hour or so in the same sauce, scoop it onto a tortilla with carmelized onions and jack cheese and eat it really fast.

 

[DrMike]

Ah, yes, when you say javelina, I have an idea of the flavour. I would agree with you that the preclusion of opportunity to get the meat into a cooler quickly does not lend itself to fine dining.

 

[Africa Huntress]

Congratulations McKeena

We are all proud of you and happy for you

 

[257 Ackley]

Congrats...great pictures from the hunt! I did not realize NM had an Ibex season. How long has there been a season for hunting them? You are definitely stepping into some tough terrain to hunt them.

 

[Thankful Otter]

Mckeena, well done young lady, congratulations. Ask your dad and your friend ( Tobey 284 ) to now let you go on a Oryx youth hunt, or at least put your name in for the youth draw I missed a little school when young and was told I was in the best classroom in the world ( the mountains ).

Tobey 284 and Mckeenas father if he reads this. Bless you gentleman for doing this for and with Mckeena

 

[atmoshpere]

Thanks for sharing! You gotta respect a critter that chooses that for it's home.

Ibex are THE number 1 on my dream hunt list :twistedwould love to do Mongolia; looks wistfully into the future...)

Congrats to you both!

 

[Guy Miner]

Wow! That was quite a hunt! Pretty doggone impressive shooting from both of you too.

The terrain is formidable to say the least. Tough going for sure. Very unique animal as well, I've never seen one in the wild. Your young huntress made a couple of very good shots - and with a .223 at almost 400 yards! Outstanding!

Guess it doesn't take a cannon, just a good hunter.

Nicely done - and thanks for sharing both the story and those great photos.

Guy

 

[Greg Nolan]

What a picturesque place for a memory, and the picture with dad will be a treasure for the rest of her life. Great pictures and congratulations on the beautiful and exotic trophies.