I've been getting an itch for an ibex for several years now and finally decided to scratch it !! 
I booked a hunt with Cody Garrett at the Double G just north of San Antonio. Ranch is really convenient and had my wife gone, I'm sure she would have hit some of the shopping only 20 min away
Anyway, I met Cody and had a little lunch before we got to the ranch. Cody was well prepared and had everything ready to rock and roll upon my arrival. Gorgous hill country ranch loaded with animals. We saw sable, bongo, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, springbok, numbian ibex, gemsbok, elk, oryx, blackbuck ( some really good BB 18-20 and very dark), red sheep, axis, whitetail, aoudad. pierre david, addax and probably a few things I've already forgotten. The ranch was in good shape considering the drought. This isn't a put and take ranch but all the listed animals consisted of breddng herds. That's what really drew me to the place. And lastly it also contained hybrid ibex, which was my target species.
After settling in to very nice hotelett lodging, we hit the ranch. Within 1 hr we had stumbled upon a split group of ibex working along a flat overlooking a very steep rocky gorge. We eased into position and as they picked us off they moved to the gorge but not before we had a good look. No shooters in this bunch. The next 3 hrs we manuevered through oak mottes and rocky flats. We saw lots of game doing what animals do- trying their best to stay hidden from us. Finally I spotted a two ibex several hundred yards out feeding in a rocky flat. We stalked within 150 yds and were able to partially see the herd. At least 25-30 ibex were in this group. I spotted a very striking silver/black, heavy horned ibex and knew he was a definite shooter. He had good length, great mass, was knotty and didn't flair until the very end. EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. As a taxidermist, cape color plays bigger on my list than length and I had told Cody this early on. There was at least one bigger ram in the bunch that we could see but he was more yellowish on his neck. After playing peek and boo for 10 min and with my legs cramping from the 150 yd duck walk to get into position, I decided to just make a move. Several of the nannies spotted me and started to head out but I was able to get up on the curved oak truck and threaded a shot between 2 nannies crossing in front. He dropped like a sack of taters.
He was everything I could have wanted. Great cape, great horns and a terrific adventure. Based on TGR he was 325.1 cm (gold) and ROE 103 5/8 (also gold). Basic measurements- 38 1/8 and 36 1/2 length- bases 8 1/8 and 7 7/8.
There a definitely a few bigger billies out there and several more in this range for sure. I'd recommend hunting with Cody anytime. As a hunting guide in my spare time, I'm pretty picky about certain aspects of a hunt and Cody nailed them all. No suprises and the hunt as advertised. Bowhunting them might be possible, but these ibex are no push overs.
I booked a hunt with Cody Garrett at the Double G just north of San Antonio. Ranch is really convenient and had my wife gone, I'm sure she would have hit some of the shopping only 20 min away
Anyway, I met Cody and had a little lunch before we got to the ranch. Cody was well prepared and had everything ready to rock and roll upon my arrival. Gorgous hill country ranch loaded with animals. We saw sable, bongo, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, springbok, numbian ibex, gemsbok, elk, oryx, blackbuck ( some really good BB 18-20 and very dark), red sheep, axis, whitetail, aoudad. pierre david, addax and probably a few things I've already forgotten. The ranch was in good shape considering the drought. This isn't a put and take ranch but all the listed animals consisted of breddng herds. That's what really drew me to the place. And lastly it also contained hybrid ibex, which was my target species.
After settling in to very nice hotelett lodging, we hit the ranch. Within 1 hr we had stumbled upon a split group of ibex working along a flat overlooking a very steep rocky gorge. We eased into position and as they picked us off they moved to the gorge but not before we had a good look. No shooters in this bunch. The next 3 hrs we manuevered through oak mottes and rocky flats. We saw lots of game doing what animals do- trying their best to stay hidden from us. Finally I spotted a two ibex several hundred yards out feeding in a rocky flat. We stalked within 150 yds and were able to partially see the herd. At least 25-30 ibex were in this group. I spotted a very striking silver/black, heavy horned ibex and knew he was a definite shooter. He had good length, great mass, was knotty and didn't flair until the very end. EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. As a taxidermist, cape color plays bigger on my list than length and I had told Cody this early on. There was at least one bigger ram in the bunch that we could see but he was more yellowish on his neck. After playing peek and boo for 10 min and with my legs cramping from the 150 yd duck walk to get into position, I decided to just make a move. Several of the nannies spotted me and started to head out but I was able to get up on the curved oak truck and threaded a shot between 2 nannies crossing in front. He dropped like a sack of taters.
He was everything I could have wanted. Great cape, great horns and a terrific adventure. Based on TGR he was 325.1 cm (gold) and ROE 103 5/8 (also gold). Basic measurements- 38 1/8 and 36 1/2 length- bases 8 1/8 and 7 7/8.
There a definitely a few bigger billies out there and several more in this range for sure. I'd recommend hunting with Cody anytime. As a hunting guide in my spare time, I'm pretty picky about certain aspects of a hunt and Cody nailed them all. No suprises and the hunt as advertised. Bowhunting them might be possible, but these ibex are no push overs.
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