That trip got me hooked on ibex. I've applied for a tag a number of times (it's a once-in-a-lifetime draw), with no luck, though several friends have drawn, and a few have taken fine specimens. Most memorable was a hunt a few years back conducted by Stanley Stevens, a local hunter well versed in New Mexico big-game hunting. Stanley tackled the unsympathetic Floridas on horseback. Stanley had drawn on the bowhunt, and he knew it would be a tough go. He saddled his horse at the base of the Floridas and packed his gear in saddle panyards, then led the pony up one of the few trails to the top of the mountain.

The going was rough; the steep trail was almost impassible due to the loose rock. After a slow trek toward the top, the horse slipped and a hoof went over the edge of the trail. The pony struggled and, unable to regain footing, tumbled over the edge of the trail, rolling to his death. It was a struggle for Stanley just to reach the downed horse, much less free the panyards and saddle from the animal and single-handedly pack them back up to the trail. He left the saddle on the trail and packed his gear to the top of the mountain, then set up camp.

Stanley hunted for a couple of days in which the Floridas received a rare cold spell and were covered with ice and snow. Temperatures hovered just above zero at night. Stanley saw a number of ibex but was unable to connect.

The ibex of southern New Mexico are intriguing creatures, and anyone who hunts them must be as tough as they are to be successful.

They're just another anomaly from down on the border.