Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Aoudad

Hey Guys,
For some reason Aoudad are really calling to me lately. Any of you gents have any experience with free range Aoudad hunts? Outfitter recommendations?
Thanks

Mulie Mike on here does hunts, impressive trophy pics posted of his clients kills!

Really great eating!

Yep. Some of the most enjoyable hunts I've been on. Can't wait to draw again.

I might give the otc NM hunt a try, it's a long shot, but your hunting...

In the right areas, it's very similar to a goat or sheep hunt, but at a fraction of the price. Hunts in mountains and gorges are where it's at...not on flat desert ground coming out of the brush to feeders.

Ditto. Wild, free range rugged country aoudad is the fun stuff.

Long shots are the norm from what I have read. We have them on our deer lease. They are in the same class as pigs, pests!

Aoudad are on my list for my trip to South Africa next April. They’re called Barbary Sheep there. Where we’re going is a mountainous free range area. Vaal Rhebok live there also.

Hopefully I’ll be up to the task physically.

I hunted West Texas for free-ranging aoudad with Desert Safaris. They were good. Shots were around 350 yards in the mountains. They are a tough animal. A lot of glassing. Great hunt. Fly to El Paso.

Shot distances vary wildly in my limited experience. 40yds, 60yds, 250, 300, 500, 660. Sometimes rough country allows you to get real close.

Mulie Mike had a cancellation hunt on here in the last few weeks. DIY 5 day freerange, primitive camping. I'm still kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on it, lots of excuses at the time, none of them seem very good now!!!

Calan Ahrens with Ahrens Ranch and Wildlife ...

I did a Aoudad hunt in Texas. Very rough country. I was expecting 400+ yd shots. I was climbing a bluff and had to stop for a breather. A big ram stuck his head over the edge to see what all the heavy breathing was. 40 yd neck shot sent him tumbling.

Did an Aoudad hunt in W Texas last December. Big, rugged country. Liked just being out there. Got a very nice ram. Be prepared to glass your eyes out and hike some serious terrain. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

We used to kill every one we saw when I mule deer hunted north of Van Horn. Damn things eat every bit of vegetation down to the rock.

I don’t understand the thrill. Ugly as homemade sin, can’t eat em, my money spent on a hunt would be better off put towards an elk hunt.

No thanks. Some of my friends in Texas guide for em on their ranches and what they charge for a hunt leaves me shaking my head. It’s a stinking overgrown goat…

I’m sure I’ll be attacked. Give me a second and let me put my asbestos underwear on.

I spend about 150 bucks plus travel costs. Would I pay 5k? Probably not.

I think barbary sheep are beautiful animals, and honestly after seeing where they thrive, I respect the heck out of them. One tough critter.

They taste great too.

Those that have them on deer leases shoot everyone they see! I hate the MF’s, here is a good Dad, he dead!

I've heard this sentiment a lot and I'm not going to argue it at all. I just view it differently.

The hunt I went on was free (a Vet hunt that fell into my lap). The hunt itself was challenging and fun as these were free range animals living in big country without a feeder in sight.

I find the meat good but I understand that it is a goat and prepare it like a goat. I've been all over the world and the staple meat in most of those places was goat. Much of it downright awful but those who knew how to prepare it made some of the finest meals I've had. Different strokes, I guess.

Would I rather hunt elk? Sure, but I really liked the country those Aoudad live in and would love to do it again.

To each their own. I wouldn't spend 5 minutes in a tree stand overlooking a Georgia green field either, even if it were free.

My experience with them in NM was parallel to a true sheep hunt. They lived in some ridiculously steep country and were fun as hell to stalk.
Great for filling in the fringe seasons, when there isn’t much else to hunt.