I just had one of the most difficult hunts of my life in SE New Mexico. Cold -15 wind chill, snow, wind was 40+ mph, altitude 6500 ft! First two days my body didn't cooperate, but got stronger and better dealing with the altitude and endurance climbing the up/down mountains. It was like walking on marbles, the rocks were so loose and ever present. Averaged 5 - 10 miles per day hiking. Didn't see a single sheep for the first three days due to the severe storms which sent the animals into deep hiding. Forth day we saw some ewes, but no rams. The last day of the hunt we saw 19 rams for the first time. I took a nice ram of the first sighting of rams. It took a focused mind and endurance to stay with the hunt as the conditions were so severe. On the last day, we topped a mountain and glassed the surounding mountains, only to see some faint glimpses of possible sheep about 2 miles away. We drove about a mile and then hiked into the mountains searching for the ridge the sheep were on, which covered several miles. We climbed two mountains before we found them. We dropped into a bottom and stalked closer to within 170 yards, which was time consuming and difficult in that open country. I ended up laying my rifle in a cactus bush to sight in and connected with a fine representation of the Barbary family.

Lovely aoudad! Congrats!
Isn't it even better to connect with such an animal after a strenious hunt

Free range audad is some of the best hunting there is. Congrats

New Mexico can be a hard hunt, but you did a great job staying with it and took a fine trophy. Congrats to you.

Nice trophy
Did you do this on your own or did you have a guide service?
I have helped on many Aoudad hunts and that is one of the most difficult hunts in the lower 48.
Larry

Very nice ram.

I hunted with a fine outfitter who only takes four hunters a year. Mike Tayes from Tinnie, NM. Tays Guide Service 7 day package, 5 days of hunting, great home cooked meals (3/day), one on one guide, and great people. All private land ranches leased by Mike Tays. Hunt area is the foothills of the El Capitan Mountain.

Nice ram MJ, congrats on getting a tough hunt done.

Congrats! That is a really good hunt that doesn't break the bank. I want to doit again sometime...

Sounds like a great hunt. Nice sheep too.

Congratulations on a very hard earned ram!!! Aoudad is on my bucket list and this hunt is definitely affordable! Thanks for posting about your experience and the website.

Nice ram, gotta get one of those!

Very nice sheep.