Hunting Aoudad in Texas?

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SoonerMedic

SoonerMedic

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So, I'm on the verge of getting married and come to find out, my soon-to-be wife's uncle owns a ranch in Hardeman county along the Pease river. Well, after tomorrow I might have my foot in the door to have the opportunity of hunting his ranch and apparently they have Aoudad that live on or pass through the ranch on a daily basis, according to my lady.
So, I have a few questions. Without baiting, has anybody here stalk hunted Aoudad?? How close were you able to get before you took your shot? Is Archery a viable option without baiting?? What caliber rifle is acceptable (in your opinion) at 600 yards and in?
 
SoonerMedic said:
So, I'm on the verge of getting married and come to find out, my soon-to-be wife's uncle owns a ranch in Hardeman county along the Pease river. Well, after tomorrow I might have my foot in the door to have the opportunity of hunting his ranch and apparently they have Aoudad that live on or pass through the ranch on a daily basis, according to my lady.
So, I have a few questions. Without baiting, has anybody here stalk hunted Aoudad?? How close were you able to get before you took your shot? Is Archery a viable option without baiting?? What caliber rifle is acceptable (in your opinion) at 600 yards and in?
Click to expand...

I would inquire what the terrain looks like on the ranch. It will determine to a large degree how close you might be able to get.

Aoudad have good eyesight and can be quite skittish. I wouldn't figure on bowhunting them.

A mature Aoudad on good range is a pretty big animal and they are tough. While you might get a closer shot....I would expect to encounter shots from 200-300 yards. So whatever caliber you choose needs to have appropriate remaining energy at those distances and perhaps beyond.

For Aoudad....I'd stay away from bullets more suited to deer (I.E. ballistic tips) in favor of something with controlled expansion and that offers good penetration.

You would be wise to take along a good pair of binoculars. Again....depending upon the terrain and their travel patterns (if there is even a resident herd) you will likely spend some time glassing.

Best of luck if you get to go.

Flint.
 
Check he TP&W hunting rules booklet, or go online, for the county in which you'll hunt. Aoudad are feral in the Trans-Pecos, but IIRC there is a season and limit on them up toward the Panhandle.
 
Checking their booklet, I can't find any restrictions on shooting them. I manage a parcel of land near Ozona that has them and they are treated about the same as feral hogs as far as regulations from TP&W.....but sometimes it's hard to comprehend their rules and regulations.
 
You're good to go (on private property in Texas). Aoudad are considered 'exotics'.


http://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/nongame-and-other-species


Exotic Animals and Fowl
Exotic animal refers to grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hoofed or cloven-hoofed mammals that are not indigenous or native to Texas and are known as ungulates, including animals from the deer and antelope families that landowners have introduced into this state. Includes, but is not limited to feral hog, Aoudad sheep, Axis deer, Elk, Sika deer, Fallow deer, Blackbuck antelope, Nilgai antelope, and Russian boar. Exotic fowl refers to any avian species that is not indigenous to this state, including ratites (emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary, etc.).

There are no state bag or possession limits or closed seasons on exotic animals or fowl on private property. It is against the law to:

  • Hunt an exotic without a valid hunting license.
  • Hunt an exotic on a public road or right-of-way.
  • Hunt an exotic without the landowner's permission.
  • Possess an exotic or the carcass of an exotic without the owner's consent.
 
The two I got were 140 yards and 50. Not the greatest eating, ground or sausage is OK. Rifle I used was a 6.5x55.
 
I've hunted Auodad extensively on open public ground in NM. They are extremely wary and have eye sight as good as any animal on the planet. Like all sheep they are primarily a sight animal but can hear and smell well too. They are tough but any caliber that is suitable for deer and elk will work just fine on a Barbary sheep. They have a reputation for being bullet proof but that is a matter of shot placement. Like all African species their vitals lie under their shoulders. If you shoot them behind the shoulder, American style you are gut shooting them! Mystery solved!

With that is mind as has been mentioned above use a bullet that has some penetration ability. If you are using a high velocity round and cheap cup and core bullets on a Barbary sheep you are begging for trouble. The ability and equipment to shoot longer ranges would be a plus. Getting a free range Aoudad with a bow is considered to be one of the utmost challenges in hunting.
 
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Sunray said:
600 yards is way too far for any regular hunting rifle/cartridge. Including magnums. However, reads this.
http://www.swhunts.com/
Click to expand...

Uh, what? 600 yards is not "way too far" for any regular hunting rifle/cartridge. I'm pretty certain a .308 will have enough kinetic energy at 600 yards to drop any big game in the US in it's tracks with a properly placed shot.

H&Hhunter said:
I've hunted Auodad extensively on open public ground in NM. They are extremely wary and have eye sight as good as any animal on the planet. Like all sheep they are primarily a sight animal but can hear and smell well too. They are tough but any caliber that is suitable for deer and elk will work just fine on a Barbary sheep. They have a reputation for being bullet proof but that is a matter of shot placement. Like all African species their vitals lie under their shoulders. If you shoot them behind the shoulder, American style you are gut shooting them! Mystery solved!

With that is mind as has been mentioned above use a bullet that has some penetration ability. If you are using a high velocity round and cheap cup and core bullets on a Barbary sheep you are begging for trouble. The ability and equipment to shoot longer ranges would be a plus. Getting a free range Aoudad with a bow is considered to be one of the utmost challenges in hunting.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info! I was unaware of their internal organs being so far forward, however if possible I would prefer to shoot at the neck, given their horns aren't protecting them. I saw a video on youtube the other day of a guy hitting one with a bow and the shot was extremely low right behind the front leg and he said it was a heart shot. I was kind of shocked to see how low the heart lies in that sheep!

Flintknapper said:
I would inquire what the terrain looks like on the ranch. It will determine to a large degree how close you might be able to get.

Aoudad have good eyesight and can be quite skittish. I wouldn't figure on bowhunting them.

A mature Aoudad on good range is a pretty big animal and they are tough. While you might get a closer shot....I would expect to encounter shots from 200-300 yards. So whatever caliber you choose needs to have appropriate remaining energy at those distances and perhaps beyond.

For Aoudad....I'd stay away from bullets more suited to deer (I.E. ballistic tips) in favor of something with controlled expansion and that offers good penetration.

You would be wise to take along a good pair of binoculars. Again....depending upon the terrain and their travel patterns (if there is even a resident herd) you will likely spend some time glassing.

Best of luck if you get to go.

Flint.
Click to expand...

I did anticipate spending quite a bit of time behind the glass already. From my understanding the ranch has a bit of elevation and good vegetation along with a permenant water source. I think the caliber I intend on using is .308, as my dad has a very nice savage with an equally nice Vortex scope on top of it. I'm pretty sure he would let me take it out, but would you have any suggestions on which round to use?
 
Art Eatman said:
I'd go with a 150-grain bullet. In the Sierra line, a flat-base; BT can be a bit fragile. Most any controlled-expansion style of bullet.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I'll look into that. But I'm pretty sure you're talking about loading my own, which I don't have the ability to do at this time...
 
On Aoudad with a .30-06 I use a 165 to 180gr Nosler accubond, partition, Barnes TTSX, or something in that category.
 
Hornady offers a factory gmx load nosler offers an etip load and accubond and I think partition. Federal vitalshok of several flavors (other than btip) would probably fit the bill. I'd stay 150 and above.
 
Any of the loads mentioned above would be good choices. Also the suggestion to use a 'heavy for caliber' bullet.

I'm sure you're aware....but I'll mention it anyway, you will need to sight in the rifle with/for the ammo you choose and maybe print out a trajectory chart to refer to or memorize.

Hope you get the opportunity to go....and best of luck if you do. Have fun, be safe.

Flint.
 
Flintknapper said:
Any of the loads mentioned above would be good choices. Also the suggestion to use a 'heavy for caliber' bullet.

I'm sure you're aware....but I'll mention it anyway, you will need to sight in the rifle with/for the ammo you choose and maybe print out a trajectory chart to refer to or memorize.

Hope you get the opportunity to go....and best of luck if you do. Have fun, be safe.

Flint.
Click to expand...

I've learned quickly that sighting in with the ammo I intend on using is SO important! The ammo that I'm using in my AR to hunt deer is much less accurate than FMJs that I typically shoot.
 
Heck .. I didn't even know what an Aoudad was. I bet there's at least somebody else that didn't know too.
Here's a pic. Have fun with that hunt!

aoudad1.jpg
 
Bullseye said:
Heck .. I didn't even know what an Aoudad was. I bet there's at least somebody else that didn't know too.
Here's a pic. Have fun with that hunt!

aoudad1.jpg
Click to expand...


oh man, these things are HUGE! I just learned about them about 3 weeks ago and I'm already hooked on wanting to get my first! aoudad.jpg
 
I've seen them a few times in Jeff Davis and in south Brewster counties. A small herd of maybe 15 in the grassland between Fort Davis and Marfa. About 20 on my place at Terlingua, coming to a pool on Terlingua Creek for a drink. A few strays in the back country NW of my house.

A full grown male looks to go maybe 200 pounds. Less than a really big mule deer.
 
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