Take a camera
Sounds cool good luck
I honestly did not know there was ibex in north america

 

Yep...If I'm not mistaken the ibex came from the country of Iran back in the 1970's or so..The rate of harvest on any one Ibex is only around 5 percent with archery...

 

I hunted them last October. Good luck!!

Fun hunt. Skynic hunting put up a great series on youtube this year. Some good podcasts out there on them too.

I will definitely be back to try again.

 

Yep..Here is a little clip on what it's all about...thanks for watching

 

That is my dream draw. One of these days.

 

I know someone who drew that tag and harvested a very nice one!! He said a spotter at the bottom of the mountain is a must!! And you best start practicing for up and down hill shots that can and most likely will be 80-120+ yards!!! He got lucky and the heard spooked and ran but when they did a different heard cam up and stood on a point almost level with him and he shot his at 86yds!! He also said that they go up/down the mountain in the mornings/evenings and depending on if it is hot or cold depends on if they prefer the sunny or shady side

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The quality isn’t what it was even 4-5 years ago but that being said there are still plenty of ibex and plenty of heartbreak on that mountain. I would not pass up any opportunity you are given. Like said above, having some help from the bottom is ideal. If you don’t have help find a saddle the goats are using and sit it. They get pressured a lot on those hunts typically and are being pushed around. Some times it’s better to play the waiting game. Also being in great physical shape is a must. I would suggest having an InReach or similar device should something go wrong. If you drew the October hunt beware of snakes as they are plentiful. Take lots of arrows! The billy in the photo was in the mountain as of last year. And is a good representation of what the top end is these days.

 

Yep..I have been riding a mountain bike daily in the mountains since the snow melted off..I think that trekking poles are a must have and haven't bought any yet. I have heard that there are 4 different species of rattlesnakes on the mountain and to watch where you put your hands and feet at every step of the way..I did notice that on all of the video of ibex hunts the people all have spotters with them some people seems like they have a team of people..As soon as the shelter in place order is lifted..I'll start heading down that way..But where do I start on the first trip down?..north end or south end east side or west side?...

 

Congratulations on the tag. Looks like a very hard hunt. YouTube has some pretty good videos that may help you out. I think Zach Griffith and maybe Tim Wells have both done it and there is some videos from them that may help you out. The snake deal sounds like a not so fun added challenge. Good luck and update this thread so we know how it goes.

 

If it's the archery hunt be prepared to see some VERY unethical shooting and so called "hunting" practices. Get your mental game on auto pilot and don't deviate from your pre-hunt decisions and parameters. It is a difficult hunt. If you are planning to take "archery shots", you will have all you can handle on this one. If you are planning to do what the rest of the field will be doing and just "taking rifle shots" with "archery equipment" until you hit something good enough to get your picture taken it won't be to hard for you. But it will be HELL for at least a few of the animals. It's a hunt. Remember that. Soak up the environment and enjoy the adventure. It will be whatever you make of it...

 

My friend killed a giant down there a few years back and he told the story in Eastmans I think it was.

He said he got lucky....super tough hunt with very low odds of success with a bow.

Mr Bowhunt above is giving some excellent advice.

 

Yep..I have been putting in archery ibex in NM for years and years..The only times I have been around the Florida Mountains is when I passed them off of I-10 going to the Hatchita Mountains quail hunting..Even from the interstate the Floridas look wicked and they are 10-12 miles away....in the video I posted did you see how fast that billy got out of his bed and at least two or three jumps at 80 yards or so before the archers arrow blew up on the rock to the left of the billy?..talk about jumping the sting good lord..I don't think the kill zone on an ibex is much more than a paper plate..

 

Some good points in the thread above.

Definitely shoot some angles (like 45 degrees and up) to practice.
Try to keep yourself from taking shots you're not comfortable with. Lots of long range bombs being dropped on this hunt. Ran into lots of people that had missed at 90, or worse wounded one.
Also ran into a guy with 2 buddies, each of em had a dozen arrows with them walking around.
I didn't have anyone with me. I generally sat areas where I was seeing them. I'd do the same in the future but move around a little less.
I only saw 1 snake and it was at night while driving out. Most of the people I ran into had seen many more though.
Rockhound state park was a great little cam[ground with showers. Well worth a night there occasionally to shower and freshen up a bit.

 

I have the January tag. I’ve been before. Find a crossing and sit. That seems to be the best bet.