Hello:

My name is Jim Welles. I own and operate JFW Ranch Consulting, LLC, with my wife Kelly at 10600 Eagle Rock Ave, Albuquerque, NM 87122. My phone number is 505.294.7861. Our e-mail address is JFWRC@comcast.net. I have been a registered outfitter in NM for 17+ years.

We just completed our Trophy Barbary hunt and had a great time on the Rio Hondo in SE NM. This 140,000 total, 100,000 deeded acre ranch located between Ruidoso and Roswell NM is the lifeblood of SE New Mexico. With miles of Rio Hondo River traversing its boundaries, the ranch is a mecca of diverse amounts of wildlife including good populations of Barbary Sheep. The ranch only allows 10 Trophy barb hunts per year. We have been privileged to have 6 of the trophy for several years now. This hunt takes place in early February. The hunts we have are 5 days and include lodging and guiding 2x1, becomes 1x1 as rams are harvested. The other 4 trophy hunts on this ranch are 3 day. Meals are are your own. The lodge provides lots of sleeping room, a great room with pool table and big screen TV (Super Bowl Time), and a kitchen/dining room with everything you need to make your meals. We donate one (1) of our 6 hunts to the Los Ninos Childrens home here in NM as a fundraiser and we have 5 openings for 2013 available. The cost for these action packed hunts is $3,200 ea + NM Gross Receipts tax. Plenty of references available upon request.

I will be posting pics following this introduction.

Thank You AR

Jim Welles
www.newmexicobiggamehunting.com

This is my 29 inch ram taken on the ranch a few years ago.

This is a 31 inch ram taken in 2010.

These are 2 30+ rams taken 2 weeks ago. This is the first time we have ever had a father and son team break the 30 inch harvest in one year. We anticipate the ram on the left to make SCI Gold.

A 29 taken in 2010

A 29 taken in 2010

A 28.5 taken in 2010

A shot sequence

The Ram before the .257 STW hits

The Ram after the .257
STW hits

I've gotten a nice barbary in that area. Put some ibex horns on them and I'd be interested. Any ibexes outside of the hard to draw Floridas?

I think those Ibex are pretty much limited to the Floridas now days. I've heard that the off mountain hunts are pretty much a waste of money.

One thing I forgot to mention on the original post is that the hunter is required to by his or her state license @ $364. Very sorry for the omission. Jimbo

quote:

Originally posted by JFWRC:
... The Ram before the .257 STW hits

Love the 257STW! My barrels don't, though...

257 will still go 1300 rounds.

How often are you going to shoot a hunting weight rifle in that caliber in your lifetime anyway?

If nothing else barrels are cheap for all the experience they provide.

quote:

Originally posted by MOA TACTICAL:
257 will still go 1300 rounds.

How often are you going to shoot a hunting weight rifle in that caliber in your lifetime anyway?

If nothing else barrels are cheap for all the experience they provide.

You must be doing something right.

I get about 600- (maybe 800) before the groups start to loosen up. And that's being careful with overheating and proper break-in.

My rifle is a little heavier than hunting weight and I have just too much fun with it at the 1000 yard range.

I don't know anybody else who can get 1300 rounds from a STW and still have tight groups.

i could have sworn this was an ad to sell an aoudad hunt, not a discussion about barrel longevity for an esoteric wildcat cartridge. any way, are you required to buy any sort of tag in addition to the non resident license and how do you go about getting food, since only lodging is included?

jdollar-clients bring food (I've seen some pretty good stuff pre made......and use the kitchen or they go to the Tinnie Silver Dollar restaurant (2 miles from the lodge).....awesome!, go eat in Ruidoso (20 minutes west), grab some goodies at the grocery in Hondo, 5 miles west of the lodge. The only license required is the State Barbary license in which the tag is attached. This is free range Barbary hunting at its best and is the best in NM. Thanks for the questions.Jim

Jim, what is the success rate on these hunts and when is the season? Thanks

We have been running 100% on all clients except 1 Mobility Impaired hunter. I am posting a picture of the lodge so you get an idea of the accommodations.

quote:

Originally posted by CaneCorso:

quote:

Originally posted by MOA TACTICAL:
257 will still go 1300 rounds.

How often are you going to shoot a hunting weight rifle in that caliber in your lifetime anyway?

If nothing else barrels are cheap for all the experience they provide.

You must be doing something right.

I get about 600- (maybe 800) before the groups start to loosen up. And that's being careful with overheating and proper break-in.

My rifle is a little heavier than hunting weight and I have just too much fun with it at the 1000 yard range.

I don't know anybody else who can get 1300 rounds from a STW and still have tight groups.

Don't waste money on break in. Just shoot it and clean out the carbon.

We have done tons of studies on this for F-Class shooting thousands of rounds a year.

No difference!

You might try setting the barrel back. We had a 7.82 Warbird that we did this to 3 times. Made it to 1500 rounds.

JFRWC,

Can't make it this year, but I'd like to talk to you about 2014!

Good people to hunt with. I hunted with Jim's outfit last year, fine people.

PM sent

Replied to your PM

Did anyone see Shockey's Barbary Hunt in West Texas on the Outdoor Channel tonight.....Got me fired up....still some slots left.

Jim,

I recorded the Shockey program and have watched it several times. That last Ram was a hog. It took me back to my hunt there 4 years ago.

Hawkeye

I thought the one Jim shot looked like a 29. I wasn't sure about the other one....30-31 or do you think I'm to low? Jim

Jim,
I don't know about the length but the mass was really good and the body was huge!

Hawkeye

I hunt with a disability, paralyzed from the waist down but ride 4 wheelers well, etc. What is the possibilities here for someone in my situation? I saw you said you were 100% except a mobility impaired hunter. What was the main issue with that hunter? I prepare a lot harder than most and shoot more with my rifles so I am confident out to 300-400 as I figure my bullet can cover more ground than I can.

Bless his heart.....good friend of mine....bad knees and parkinsons. Could not get on them quick enough to let the lead fly. Jim

This is a 30.75 inch ram taken last month.

This father and son team took both these 30+ on the ranch last month. I have never seen this happen in the years we have hunted the ranch. They were both very selective and both made very impressive shots. Please note the mass on these rams. The 30.75 is right at SCI Gold. The official measurement is still to come.

I would love to do this hunt trying to figure out the finances

We donate a hunt to auction at the Los Ninos Childrens home charity auction every year here in Albuquerque. Last night it sold in open auction for $6,100.

What is the season for these?

I believe the first Saturday in February is the 1st. That's when were going to start. Its a five day hunt. Did you get my PM? There are only 3 spots left at this time.

I'm going to post a couple more BETTER pics of this years rams.

Jim

I was looking for a Christmas time hunt. Start teaching school end of next year, so hunts need to be tailored around that.

Game Dept controls this one. Might have that ability over on Mt. Taylor.....however, much tougher hunt. Jim

This is a better picture of the 30.75 that we think will hit SCI Gold this year. Jim