10 March 2003, 14:29
tcencore260W TX "corsican" ram hunt
We decided it was time to get away from the DFW metroplex, so we went out to a friend's property to hunt exotic "corsican" sheep. Corsican's are basically a hybrid between wild mouflon sheep and domestic sheep, and there are lots of places that stock these thoughout Texas . . . and lots of them have escaped and run wild in places - like my friend's place.
(we also needed to do some work on the place - re-roofing - that's my deal with my friend, I do work around the place, and I get to hunt out there)
anyway, saturday morning, i got up before dawn and hiked back to a ground blind I've got set out where I've seen lots of sheep. I jumped what I assume were some sheep in the dark as I walked in. After getting settled in to my stand, I waited for it to get light. Once it lightened up, I decided to still hunt back into some of the canyons on the place. Spotted one herd of ewes on a ridge near the back of the place, and one whitetail doe in the second canyon I checked out. Worked my way back towards where I started, and spotted a mixed herd of sheep on a rocky mesa. Stalked to within about 100 yards, and looked them over - nothing but ewes and young rams.
Worked my way back around the ridges towards camp. About half-way back, i spotted a herd of sheep that had two mature rams - picked out the largest one, propped up my 6.5x284 encore on my shooting sticks and shot it.
The first shot, I aimed a little high, for what would be a spine shot on a whitetail. These sheep have rather tall "shoulders" and the 125 grain NBT went right through above the spine. At the shot, he dropped like a rock. As I walked over towards where he fell, pacing off the shot (it was about 175 yards), i was surprised to see him get up and start to run off (obviously wounded) and I shot him a second time, putting him down for good.

after quartering the ram, spent the rest of the afternoon re-roofing the cabin.
troy
12 March 2003, 15:24
<sendero338>Sweet story and nice pictures TCencore. If the good Lord permits, I would like to hunt Texas this year. Spoke with Gwen from Rio Bonito two week's ago up here in Mich. Vidio arived yesterday, might be a plan in progress. Oh where did you get that wood on your encore? Look's sweet, Was going to trade my encore and various barrel's in tomorrow on a m70 laminate but now that I seen your rig she's a keeper. Thank's
12 March 2003, 16:23
T.CarrTroy,
Great ram and a real cutey of a little girl. Congratulations.
Regards,
Terry
13 March 2003, 03:23
Bob in TXHey Troy,
Isn't always time to get away from DFW???
Congrats on your free-range Corsican. That is a nice ram. It is a great way to get into the field in the off season.
We took a friend's son hunting for free-range Sika does last weekend on another friend's ranch. He had a real good "miss" but no meat. It was a great time and a chance to get a youngster out hunting.
I have to agree with Terry, your guide is a sweety!
Good Hunting,
Bob
13 March 2003, 05:43
tcencore260the wood and the 6.5 x 284 barrell are from bullberry.
the wood is X1 grade black walnut - i asked for "really dark wood" with mesquite end caps.
may seem like a strange combination, but my wife already got mesquite with black walnut caps, so i got the opposite.
as far as hunting TX goes, there's lots of places to check out. right next door to the place i shot my sheep is an outfit called the Tyra Ranch . . . it has lots of the same sheep like i shot, along with Aoudad, axis, blackbuck, fallow . . . i've seen the sheep (both corsicans and aoudad) from over the fence.
troy