Hunting Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)

You know. I have actually taken an African animal. Just did it in Texas though. I know they aren't hunted much in their native lands from my understanding, but know that they are hunted a lot in TX and NM.

I'm talking about Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep, or as a friend says; "souped-up range maggot"

I shot this aoudad in September of 2007 at the YO Ranch just outside of Kerrville, TX. I shot it at last light so that's why the pic is taken in the dark. It measured 26". This was a target of opportunity. I was actually there for a sika hunt and decided to try for the aoudad as we saw the same group the night before. We did the classic spot and stalk on this guy and let me tell you, it was EXCITING!!!!!

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Nice, what do they taste like if you did eat it ?

No, we did not eat it. My guide said the taste isn't too bad, but it would be like trying to chew up a rubber tire. Only game on the ranch they don't eat I think.

The aoudad are so spooky it ain't even funny. The ranch I was on is about 43,000 acres total and all fenced and cross-fenced. The area I got him was about 25,000 acres. This was I think the 4th in the last 4-5 years "free-ranging", self-sustaining, aoudad taken on the ranch. My guide told me that when hunters come in to hunt and say they want an aoudad they ask what the second choice is just becuase you could go a long time and never see one. Pretty similar to the ranches in South Africa I imagine.

The aoudad is actually from Sudan area and use to be plentiful way back. I have seen the terrain and hunt pictures it was beautiful. They were poached and re-poached...a sad story.

I saw some terrain in the Limpopo that would be great for aoudad but nobody had interest in bring them into the ranch. I asked why not? They said no one would climb up and hunt them. I would have loved too.

But I'm glad you got a aoudad. I would love to get one one day in TX or NM. I know Bob Falkrod of Bass Pro Outdoors says there the devil to hunt...and boy do they have eyes!

enysse,

Except for people not wanting to climb the mountains, 2 years ago a new law was passed stopping introduction of foreign species to private land in South Africa.

..Heeler that's a nice looking Aoudad!! Some day I would like to hunt one of them! That would probably be on a 2nd or 3rd trip for exotics. They are cool looking & are a challenge to get close to!!

We had Aoudad, Mouflon, and several other sheep species on our West Texas ranch that escaped from neighboring ranches. We would shoot 5 or 6 if we were having a Bar B Que, they are excellent table fare..

Back then we seldom had much interest in selling them to hunters because the market just wasn't there, that came later..We ate a lot of them.

Ray, funny you mention that it used to be there was no market for aoudad, etc., in West Texas. My guide at the YO grew up in West Texas and he said they used to shoot the aoudads like they were varmints, and had no idea of the commercial interest that was to come for those animals. He said they shot some really nice ones too.

Guess you could say my aoudad is my "bighorn" as I probably won't be able to afford a bighorn hunt.

...Heeler you are probably right about that being your big horn sheep - that's what I'm thinking for myself!! Pretty impressive sheep at a fraction of the cost! I'll be happy with that!!
.....If these Texas ranches mind their P'S & Q'S they could make a ton of money in the near future as the prices out west & across the pond keep escalating people will start substituting a lot of different stuff for exotics..
....some places already exist in America where a nice Red Stag is cheaper than an Elk!! It's all about greed & unless people start waking up real soon in this country we will become like Europe where hunting is a rich mans sport!!
...If you want pronghorn & are planning on going to Africa for the price of a guided hunt out west you can shoot a 1/2 dozen spring buck!! Same with Deer for the price of 1 decent buck you can whack alot of Impala's or Blesbuck's!!
...American hunters have to start taking the best value for their buck .. It's the only way we can stop these ridiculous prices on our wildlife!!

I drove through the Kerrville area, near San Antonio. The ranches out there were something else. When you come up out of the Guadalupe river valley, the plateau is dry and grassy. The herds of exotics were amazing. Some of those ranches could fool you into thinking you are actually in Africa.

Hi,
I hunted for aoudad near Carlsbad NM USA in 1992 but did not connect with one.
Terrain was tough mainly scrubby low hills.
The license fee for me as a NM resident was peanuts in those days.
Regards
Bavarianbrit

We hunt them free range in the Sacramento Mtn foothills in SE NM. An exciting hunt and a challenge. Still a few openings for Feb 2010 if anybody is interested.

Great looking animal. It makes me want to go out west and hunt even more. Speaking of New Mexico, I hear that there are exotics running free on the old missile ranges.

Originally Posted by tarawa

Great looking animal. It makes me want to go out west and hunt even more. Speaking of New Mexico, I hear that there are exotics running free on the old missile ranges.

Tarawa,
You are thinking of the oryx (gemsbok). The state has seasons for them every year on White Sands. There are also outfitters adjacent to base that do year-round hunts w/ gauranteed tags.

Do a search for the NM Department of Game and they have info on all the seasons, costs, etc.

New Mexico even has a season on Persian Ibex. A herd was gifted to the state many years ago. It's a once in a lifetime draw tag for them. They ibex are located down south in one of the mountain ranges.

There are some interesting exotic species here in NM. The hard part is drawing a tag. I have not drew an Oryx tag in the three years that I have lived here, but I will keep putting in. As far as the Barbary go, they are really fun and really tough to hunt. You used to be able to buy the tags OTC, but now they are thru a draw.

aoudad are a fun hunt as well as mouflon on foot it will put your skills to the test any thing gotten this way the meat is all ways sweeter . have eaten a lot mouflon better than spanish goat and thats darn good. a bad hunting is better than a good day at work.

Despite their name, "Barbary sheep," aoudad are neither sheep nor goat, but something in between both animals.

They are indigenous to the rugged hills of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt and in Chad and Sudan.

They also can be hunted on certain game farms in South Africa, the U.S.A., Mexico, Argentina, Spain and elsewhere in Europe.

Bill Quimby