Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire BIG Aoudad

I took a client out this past weekend for a leisurely hunt for a trophy ram that was going to be close to 30" but not
over If we saw one and I never thought the hunt would turn out like it did. Morning one we work the south end of the ranch
spotting a few ewes here and there along with some young rams but nothing exciting. About the time we
were going to brake for lunch we check one last canyon and right at the bottom of it there was a group
of 32+ Aoudad making there way out of the bottom of the hill side to bed down. After giving them all a good
once over they just weren't what we were looking for. We head back and kill a couple hours before the evening hunt,
6:00pm we head out and its 102 degrees outside no breeze and humid- this is going to be a blast I think to myself.
I head straight to the nearest water tank in hopes of catching a few Aoudad coming down or leaving from a drink.
Before we even get there 2 rams were spotted with one being exactly what we were looking for, we quickly scrambled
to get into position and my client made a good shot putting the ram down. We took pictures and got the ram taken care
of then took a tour of the ranch as the sun was setting, long story short I forgot the range finder on a ledge we were
taking pictures from so we were going to head back in the Am to look for it.

Morning rolls around and on our way back to look for the range finder my client asked me if we saw a big old ewe he would like to take it
so we get to where I think the range finder is and we found it right where I left it. We threw the binos up across the canyon in hopes
to find an ewe and directly across the canyon a group of 10 rams were spotted bedded down with the biggest being about 28" , I look a bit south
and spot movement which I quickly realize they were 3 BIG chocolate colored Aoudad rams making there way up out of the canyon to the top.
My client quickly made the decision to take a 2nd ram and we try to get him on them but with the sun in our face and angle of the shot
I made the call to back out in fear of wounding an animal. Everyone was a bit bummed after that and we went back to looking for an ewe, I went
20 yards the other direction to check a pocket we hadn't seen yet and as I peaked over the edge immediately I spotted another band a rams with
about a dozen in the group and one ancient ram with them. I get my client into position he makes the shot hitting hitting a bit far back so we give
him some time, do a quick tracking job and finish him off. This is the biggest bodied ram I have ever seen on the ground, he was every bit of 400lbs
with a very thick hide.

He was taped at 34.5" solid maybe a hair larger and the 1st ram was a hair under 29".
It was a fantastic weekend of hunting

www.westtexashuntorg.com
915 328 0645 Mike







1st Ram

WOW

Fantastic animal.

Nice Goat

WOW is right.....! Fantastic animal.

I might just have to consider one of those DIY hunts for these, next year.

Nice rams. Wondering what rifle, cartridge and bullet.

Ernie

WOW!

what a thrill, to take a fine animal like that. Another "WOW".

Sadly, I am in the middle of some dental work. Two implants, and three crowns. Each of which, would about cover a hunt.

Very nice.

Do people normally eat aoudad? I have heard very mixed reviews on whether or not the smell will get to you before you can even get the skin off.

Don't have them around here, but I would like to hunt one of those one day. I just rather not shoot one if the animal can't be utilized

Nice rams!

The first shot was with a .338 Lapua , I am not sure the specs on the round. The finishing shot was with the clients lighter rifle a 7mm STW 140grn. partition.

Like any animal that is rutting in most cases they do stink. These rams are very tough critters so naturally the meat is tough. I have several clients that come out every year just for a meat hunt. I would recommend coming during the winter time because it can be quite hot out here and the meat spoils in a hurry. With a little care and preparation its not bad though. The best way Ive had it was chicken fried in a green chile sauce rather than gravy.

That's a freakin' beast Mike!

I shot mine last September on a buddy's ranch with his 25.06 firing a Hornady 117 grain SST. It was a good 80 yard broadside shot and he went nowhere. I hunted them again in the Texas Hill Country last month and I will hunt them more in the future, probably farther out in West Texas.

My pal likes to eat the ewes and younger Aoudad, but won't even attempt to eat the big boys, but he has lots of exotics on his place and can pick and choose what he takes to eat.

West Texas is a totally different ball game than the hill country hunts. Those big barren mountains and cliff faces are a challenge to hunt. I like them both but there's nothing like looking straight up at a big ram on a near vertical drop that is looking down at you.

The only way to hunt aoudad is like MM suggests. Free range, far W TX is the ticket. A fantastic experience. I haven't found a way to eat aoudad that I can take, but Geedub has (then again that dude will apparently eat anything... :))