Texas free-range Aoudad hunt
 

Hey everybody,
I want to share the story of our latest hunt.

We started hunting in the high country in the early morning. After hours of endless glassing and fighting the cold wind in the ranger we decided to go back to camp and plan a better strategy for the afternoon. After talking it over we decided to try a small canyon on the far side of the ranch where we haven't killed alot of sheep but where we've killed some BIG rams. We waited till almost 4 pm and crept along the ridge top glassing shaded bluffs where the big rams bed till late. Well after the third bluff we spotted 3 rams in the same bed where some of the ranches best sheep have been killed. The began to move out of their bed and up the next hill. We sprang into action making ground on the side of the ridge as to stay out of sight. When we reached our vantage point at the end of the ridge they were near the top and Mr. Jim had no rest to shoot 300 yards. As soon as they topped out we scurried up the Mountian as fast and quiet as possible with his wife following close behind. Just as we approached the top we stopped to breathe in order to be ready for the shot if it presented its self. Still worried about picking the biggest out of the group we made our way to the top. We began glassing the hills and creek beds around us, after no sign we made our way to the end of our ridge when we spotted the smallest ram only 160 yards away on our ridge! We froze and slowly set up the camera. We waited patiently to get our eyes on the other rams. Soon the biggest ram showed himself, after a wick glance I whispered to Jim " Shooter, Defiantly a Shooter!" He held steady waiting for a broadside shot. The ram slowly turned at 180 yards and the 300 win mag rang out! Thump ! He dropped in his tracks ! After pictures and congrats we realized the best part. The ram fell dead 10 yards from an old ridge road where we were able to get him out of the mountains with little effort! He measured 31.5" and a first day kill!

They are a neat animal and one of these days I'm going to do a hunt out there!

Great story. I would love to hunt free ranging Auodads some day. Is it private or public land that you hunt?

Not much public land out there in Texas and he said they were on a ranch.

Yes I would love to do this someday too.....soon!

No, there is not much. I've thought about Aoudad as well. Someday.

ATB

This is a nice pic of a very nice ram. Well done to the hunter! (and photographer)

Native to northern Africa.

The only question here is, how HIGH are the fences. I don't care what anyone does as long as it is legal. ...Deleted by CalHunter...
:poke:

:guiness:

I'll drink to that.

I thought west Texas and southeastern New Mexico had free ranging Aoudads?

...Deleted by CalHunter...

The Glass mountains, and down into the Big Bend area. Are where most of the Aoudad roam. Don't let the term ranch confuse you. Most land in Texas is private, and called a "Ranch". In California, they call a farm a "Ranch". So, you can't get too caught up with termonology.;)

I know I'm a sportsman. I also know I would enjoy this hunt.

ATB

Great Trophy and very good photography. Looks and sounds
like an exciting hunt to me. Ever noticed how those that whine
loudest are usually the biggest game hogs or spent all their
time in camp and get upset when the real hunters that get out
there and work hard actually get something ?

...Deleted by CalHunter...

:poke:

This is the first time I have posted in over a year after having joined another more active forum TexasBowhunter.com, but you have forced me to have to debunk all and I do mean all of your statements.
1. Aoudad are exotics and not native to Texas, they are from North Africa and they do roam free range in West Texas, the Panhandle, and in New Mexico. There is even a state draw for Aoudad in Caprock and Palo Duro state parks for them, you going to claim the state parks are high fenced? You can even hunt them archery only down at Amistad National Recreation Area.
2. 98% of the Aoudad hunts in West Texas are free range and hard as hell, many compare it to hunting big horn, they are roaming the mountains on thousands of acres on huge low fence ranches I am talking on tens of thousands of acres. I have personally seen Aoudad free ranging in New Mexico, West Texas and the Texas Panhandle. You have obviously never been to West Texas or you would not have came up with your ignorant statements about hunting ranches in West Texas. Now I will admit that there are high fence 200 acre ranches in that let you go shoot the pet Aoudad in other parts of the state mostly the Hill Country but trust me in West Texas it doesn't work that way. Heck just look at the back ground of that picture nothing but wide open spaces behind him.
3. Does it really matter if I shoot a deer 6 miles from the closet perimeter fence on a 50000 acre highfence ranch? That deer has more than likely seen less people than your average low fence deer? And your great state of Colorado is not better there are more than a few highfence ranches up there also.
4. Until you come down here and experience a free range Aoudad hunt in the mountains do not make ignorant comments on it being easy or canned. I do not go on an elk thread with a monster elk shot in Colorado and start throwing out high fence remarks in ignorance.
5. You should do some research on the free range Ibex and Oryx hunts they host in New Mexico and the Oryx that run free range on the Texas side of the White Sands missile range. Also look into the number or Axis and Sika deer that are running around free range in our great state.

They do, these fools from out of state or in who once used to live here, have obviously never been to West Texas or done any research on the topic, and are posting their opinions based on nothing more than their gut reaction that it had to be a high fence because it was an exotic and in Texas. Here is a link to a thread I started a while back with a FREE ranging Aoudad in a state park in the Panhandle of Texas.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/big-...re-aoudad.html

Oh I don't know. I thought you guys hit it off pretty well. lol

Most likely wants to invite you to go hunting
With him. Smile!

[quote=the only good thing was that aoudads are natural and native to texas.[/quote]

not /

I'm locking this thread until I can edit it later.
CalHunter
Moderator

Okay, the thread is open again.

2 members decided to flame and attack each other for 3 & 1/2 pages. All of the flaming has been edited. 1 member was already given a lengthy temp ban by admin. I gave the other member a 7-day temp ban for the same offenses.
(Edit--One of the temp-banned members was granted a reprieve by Admin, a move I agree with).

It's okay to disagree, argue and debate a topic. It's not okay to call each other names, flame each other or violate HNI rules. If you have a complaint against another member or post, fill out a complaint ticket (the yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside it at the bottom left of every post). If you're not comfortable with that process, PM a mod or admin. Do NOT flame the other member as that makes you part of the rules violation and subject to editing, temp-bans or even permabans if the offense is severe enough. If you have questions, please PM me instead of posting about it in the forum (another rules violation).

Thanks to the OP and other members for not engaging in the flame war. I knew that New Mexico had free range Aoudad and Orynx hunts but did not know that Texas had them. I might have to look into that a little further.

CalHunter
Moderator

Thanks, and yes, Texas has a ton of free ranging aoudad that roam over millions of acres of low fence property out west of the Pecos and down in what is called the Big Bend country. Many people call them the poor mans sheep hunt because the price is much lower than your typical 5 digit sheep hunt and it can be very grueling in the country they inhabit.

I killed my first Aoudad feb 7th in west Texas. It was a free ranging Aoudad on an almost 10000 acre lease with no high fence in sight. I tell you those things can move up and down those mountains with great ease!! My fat old body hard a hard time dragging it back down the mountain. This old Iowa guy isnt used to those hills!! LOL

Congratulations! Hopefully, I'll join the ranks of successful aoudad hunters someday.:party0005: Maybe a Nilgai too.

ATB

Congrats on your hunt

Thanks guys

Thats a nice Ram!