It gets better. My Austrian hunting invitation arrived in the post the other day. I had thought it would be driven red hinds only, but it turns out to be both driven red stags (under 8 points) and hinds, also roe and mouflon.

We are not to shoot at the chamois that come through. I can live with that.

Location to be high in the Austrian/ German Alps near Bertchesgarten (formerly Hitler’s mountain hideaway). Carcass recovery will be by helicopter due to the mountainous terrain.

I had to do a web search to find out what a mouflon looked like. Anyone got any experience shooting them? Will 100 rounds for two days be enough?

Deerdogs,
in texas, the sheep/goat/rams are usually taken with small mediums.. and there is no reason a 243 can't do the trick. I've been on 4 day hunts where I've only used 2 rounds. nice trophy and hog. 100 rounds, outside of the range or a 21 day trip, might be overkill.
cheers and good hunting
jeffe

DeerDogs,

If this hunt is a rarity, don't spare the ammunition!!!
When I go after elk or Mule Deer here in the states, it's a hunt that I don't feel comfortable with taking less than 50 rounds.
As you will be on a driven hunt, you may be requested to take more than one animal. If so, the extra rounds could come in handy.
Best of luck on the hunt and let us know how it went.

Mouflon sheep have a reputation here for being very, very tough.
I have them here and have not really has any great problems, although unless you hit their spine, they do tend to have a habbit of going into a dead run even if their heart or lungs have been blasted all the way to next Tuesday. I think they might be a little too stupid to know they're dead yet

For a drive shoot I would not recomend a .243 especially if you have never participated at such a hunt. You will see people there with 9.3 X 74 & 12ga slugs etc... so I'd recomend a something like a 30-06.
Shots will be mostly from close range, so use a low power scope or none at all.

The best setup for drive hunt that I could recomend is the Browning BAR battue model .30-06 with a 1.5 - 6 power scope.
I like heavy round nose slugs, even 220grainers because you may shoot through scrub or be presented with Texas heart shots.

No semiautos and above all no texas heart shot in Austria, that is if you want to be invited again..., otherwise go by the advice of EXPRESS.

Your'e most likely right there Bobby, Austrian hunters are very austere and precise.
I didn't know about the legal limitations on semi autos either.
Here in Italy they are pretty rough around the edges and usually use 12ga slugs (buckshot is "illegal" but I have recovered 00 shot and smaller from a lot of animals I have taken)
They shoot at the animal, usually a pig, andwhere they can...

Deerdogs, Congratulations and Good Luck on the Mouflon. They are the worlds smallest wild sheep. A beautiful sheep with heart shaped horns. We hunt them on some Texas ranches and they are wyly and a very sporting to hunt.

T – That is a fine looking animal. Congratulations.

EXPRESS & Bobby – I plan on using a factory load 196 grain Norma Oryx in my 8x57 with a Swarovski 1.25-4x24 Battue scope.

I had planned on taking a load of 200 grain Barnes X but my cheap price airline will not take ammo. I will pick up the Norma ammo in Austria. No problem. I will be packing plenty of ammo but there is a stiff two hour walk up the mountain to contend with!

We expect to anchor up to 150 head between the six of us, assuming the weather is good in the mountains, and the animals run is the right direction.

Thanks all for your contributions.

Oh thats a strikeing animal. What a mount thats going to be, Im happy for you Richard. When are you going ? Please keep us informed on the hunt................J

J

I'll be going in October.

You can rest assured that I will be keeping you all informed of our progress with reports and pictures.

Deerdogs,
I prefer the TUG bullet from RWS which might be easier to find in Austria.