My brothers and I put in for a few species of game in new mexico including big horn sheep. We where not successful on the sheep draw. My brother got a call from New mexico fish and game asking if he would be interested in a female big horn sheep hunt in pacos unit 45 during September 18th to the 22nd. Her name was Lisa brehill.

This seems odd to me. I'm curious if it's a scam. A message was left so my brother did not have a chance to talk to a human. He called and left a message asking further questions without giving any deep personal information. Is this a normal thing new mexico does or do you guys think this sounds suspect?

I know that as an applicant you can check the box if you are interested in population reduction hunts for the species you are applying for. That used to be pretty common with ibex when they were trying to reduce that population to meet the carrying capacity of the Florida Mountains. However, I'm surprised by a phone call. Everyone I know (including me) first received an email with instructions on how to call in to verify whether you want the hunt. I'm not familiar with that name either, and I don't find anything by searching. Of course, if they sicced an admin person on him, I wouldn't know the name. Finally, it's odd that they would do this for bighorns because they are so closely monitored and the population is so well understood. They should know harvest objectives well in advance of the draw and offer licenses accordingly.

I would reach out to a regional office independently of the number this Lisa person provided. The NE office is in Raton: (575) 445-5651. The main office in Santa: (505) 476-8000

I'll tell him to call and get more info

Could also be a population reduction due to drought or they could be killing sheep that have come into contact with domestics.

I can't believe they name their sheep.

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Originally posted by Lamar:
I can't believe they name their sheep.

Canned hunt...

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Originally posted by Lamar:
I can't believe they name their sheep.

I bit my tongue & refrained when I read it. Reminded me of the old, "I shot the bear in my pajamas" line.

So my brother called fish and game and the hunt was legitimate. The hunt was for a female only bighorn but the price was the same as a male. As an out of state resident this was over 3,000 dollars. I told my brother to still go on the hunt but he declined. Do you guys think this was a mistake?

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Originally posted by steel:
So my brother called fish and game and the hunt was legitimate. The hunt was for a female only bighorn but the price was the same as a male. As an out of state resident this was over 3,000 dollars. I told my brother to still go on the hunt but he declined. Do you guys think this was a mistake?

I think that it was a mistake, assuming that the $3k was the sticking point. Also assuming that they would allow him to keep his points.

I would have loved to have gotten that opportunity when I lived down there.

But it obviously wasn’t that important to him, so I guess that it want a mistake.

He must have committed to a ewe tag.

Not sure I would pay $3000 to hunt a ewe bighorn, when you could shoot a free range aoudad on a West Texas or New Mexico ranch for $4000-6500.

This normally happens for a couple of reasons, the neighbor's wife got called last year for an elk tag.

She got called because she was the 11th runner up to a 10 tag quota and 1 of the 10 was an out of stater that tried to pass as a resident.

Sometimes they need a bunch of stuff shot.

Sometimes they have someone turn in a tag.

Interesting. I was a little skeptical. And yes, I think it was a mistake.

I would have jumped at the chance, but I'm a resident and it would have only cost me $150 or so. My daughter did that hunt a few years ago and it was a hoot. Didn't get one, but had a great time. If I ever get to go again I'll pony up enough cash to get an outfitter to pack us in instead of going DIY with everything on our backs.

Even a ewe Rocky Mountain sheep would be a great "trophy," though it would obviously be more about the experience than the horns. These sheep can be desensitized to humans, but it's not a canned hunt. You still have to work to get there and find them.

By the way, there are no points in NM, so he was out nothing.

Sheep hunts are pretty cool the experience 100 percent

3 grand to shoot a ewe? That's a hard pass for me personally. No thought required.

If you just want to spend some time in sheep country, take your varmint rifle & predator calls. Whack some coyotes, camp out, glass some rams, good times.

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Florida Mountains

Now that's the Mother of all oxymorons.

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Originally posted by Frostbit:

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Florida Mountains

Now that's the Mother of all oxymorons.

Only if it's mispronounced.

"Florida" means "full of flowers" in Spanish. So it's literal translation is "Flowery Mountain".

I would have passed at 3k. Its a cool experience but thats a big time and money commitment for an ewe.

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Originally posted by Frostbit:

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Florida Mountains

Now that's the Mother of all oxymorons.

Straight up and straight down and right on the Mexican border, south of Deming NM.

My coworkers husband drew a Persian Ibex bow tag there last year and spent two weeks getting his ass kicked by the mountain. He is in his 60's and not as fit as you.

Did he get his ibex?

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Originally posted by Badboyz:
"Florida" means "full of flowers" in Spanish. So it's literal translation is "Flowery Mountain".

Yeah, I know. Unlike the state, the mountain range is pronounced floor-ee'-da. There is also a river near Durango, CO that uses the Spanish pronounciation. The road that runs alongside it between Durango & Vallecito Lake, which I've probably driven 500 times, is named Florida River Road.