Hello Everyone,
Just found my way here,been over at huntamerica for 2 years same name rws2.
I'm going on a Free Ranging Aoudad Sheep Hunt in West Texas in Jan.'03 and was wondering if any of you all have hunted them and if so do you have any pointers or info you'd share with me.Thanks rws2

Welcome rws2!
I havn't hunted Aoudad so I can't offer any hints other than a welcome to the board.
Greg

A few things...

1) Get in shape! You are hunting sheep.
2) Use a hard hitting -flatshooting caliber - 7 mag is good, .300 mag is better. You may be shooting at 250+ yards - PRACTICE.
3) Use good optics - Aoudad have GOOD vision.
4) Aoudad have a thick mane on their shoulders that makes them look larger than they are - study some picures of them and make sure you are aiming at the true heart-lung area, and not too far forward or too low.
Good Luck!

I have done quite a bit of research, and posted many questions. I finally found a place to go this Feb in N. Texas, as well as our free-ranging sheep here in New Mexico.

I think a sheep with 36" horns is about World Record. Anything over 30" is a real Trophy. High fenced sheep are longer thinner horned. The free ranging sheep can get to about 360lbs. I've also heard that they take a good deal of killing to convince them to stop.

I plan on using a new 6.5WSM with Partitions or X's. I've no idea where to get a diagram of internal organs for bullet placement. I'd be interested in hearing who is outfitting you. I've received several brochures from the majority of West Texas outfitters. Prices varied quite a bit. Some have very good sheep though. Most wanted $3000 for a five day.

Thanks everyone,
I'm going with Gene Nixon of Desert Mountain Hunts,I booked this hunt thru Cabela's.
I'm a little outta shape but I'm working on that,I've been shooting groundhogs with the rifle/ammo I'm taking on this hunt a 7mm Rem.Mag shooting 160gr. patitions. Shot 4 groundhogs yesterday at 242,194,218 and 214yds. and missed one twice at 334yds. 6" low on first shot.The wind started blowing about 10-12mph when he came back out and I had the elevation but forgot to dope the wind and shot about 6" left on the second shot ,he wised up and stayed in his hole.Shooting from sitting position with shooting sticks.But I'll keep practicing.
I here they are tuff rascals,my guide said to shoot them on the point of the shoulder,so I'll take his advise and try my best to hit him exactly there when the moment of truth comes.I'm starting to get excited and it's still 7 months away yet.

Aoudad are very challenging to hunt (only nilgai are harder to hunt). They are gregarious, and the big males tend to hang out in the middle of the herd making for a challenging shot.

They're hardy, too. Shoot them through the shoulders, and they will go down. Be mindful of where your ram is standing, as he might jump at the shot and fall downhill, possibly damaging his horns.

Here is a picture of the ram I shot in TX in 1990 with my Rem.700FS .30-06 with 165gr. Sierra BTSP.
His longer horn measured over 32", and the shorter one was 31".



George

That is a real nice trophy George!

Greg

George,
Yep thats a nice one!!! I hope to do as well.The more I see the more excited I get.rws2

Thanks. We snuck up within 80 yards of a bachelor herd (lots of patience required), and watched them spar for about 30 minutes before this ram came clear.

I shot him just at sunset. By the time we got him set up for a photo, it had gotten dark. He weighed close to 240lbs., and stank like a goat!

George

RWS2,

THAT is a good Aoudad. Study the tips look where they are pointed. Not the "tell all" when it comes to judging Aoudad, but it is a darn good indicator if the tips point directly at each other. Like with all animals, it is easy to make one look better than he really is...the longer you glass him, the bigger he appears.

Hint: They all look big in the field.

You've got plenty of gun. I've shot all mine with a 25.06 and a 120 gr. hollowpoint, boattail Sierra.

Once he is down be extremely careful dragging him. The mane that goes down the underside of the neck to the brisket will get rubbed off if you are not careful. That mane adds a lot to the mount.

I did most of my aoudad hunting southeast of Van Horn on the Hart Ranch. Clayton Williams owns it now I've heard. Look for the aoudad in the most unlikely of places.

The first I ever saw wild were about 100 yards from camp, crossing the road about 25 yards in front of us; about 30 of them. By the time we got the jeep shut down and bailed out, they had crossed a draw, and went up a shear rock wall that was about 100' tall. It was quite a sight.We held fire knowing if we shot one he'd fall and get busted up.

Two other instances stand out in my memory. I saw a herd of fifteen laying down in a herd of about ten mule deer. They supposedly don't hang around each other, but these didn't seem to get the message. They covered an area of about 100 yards but they were all mixed together.

Lastly, I was sitting ona rimrock watching for mule deer, when I saw a group of friends coming in a jeep. I picked up my binoculars to look at them and nearly fell over. There in my binoculars was the biggest aoudad I'd ever seen. He was alone and standing between me and the jeep which was about 400 yards away.

I didn't want another aoudad so I went to waving and trying to point my friends toward the ram. They stopped, put their binoculars on me, and waved. The ram was about 100 yards from them, in the open (light scrub). I was going through all kind of antics. My friends waved again, then not wanting to disrupt my setup, they turned the jeep around and drove off.

After the jeep moved away, the ram started dog-trotting, and crossed the road behind them.

One more thing, when they start dog trotting don't expect to see them stop until the go over the horizon. They can maintain that pace forever.

If you find a way of making the meat edible let me know. I tried eating a young one once. The best I can tell the meat is laced together with 20# Stren monofilament.

Have fun. You'll do more riding and glassing than walking, but when it happens you better be ready, and you need to have a good set of lungs.