I know Thompson had to go to stumburg genetics to get his Hill country big horn rams to become more hardy. They kept dieing on him so he needed some hardy genetics.
He has one now that is 3/4 big horn and 1/4 mouflon with no saddle patch. He is awesome but very rough on ewes always ramming them so he has to let him in on a limited basis.

[img]https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/...ff6a9821442_ful[/img]

Tony, have You seen this Ram, listed as Transcaspian Urial on WLB, definitely a Hybrid, wondering if He is not crossed with Stumberg? looks like Argali Horns to Me?

Hilonesome: Let's talk about any sheep anytime.

About 10 years after I graduated from Texas A&M I contacted the University to find out more about their Desert Sheep program. During this time period the University was cross breeding Desert bighorn to Mouflon ewes and studying parasites. (short version). They offered to sell me the Bighorn/mouflon/cross rams because they were only interested in the ewes. I decided not to get into the sheep business, but always wondered if they ever sold the rams to any ranches.

Anytime I hunt the exotic sheep in Texas I enjoy learning from the landowner more about their actual herds development.

These Hybrids have begun to spike some interest.... and as already posted in pictures they can produce some itchy trigger finger rams.
I'm glad some organization are working to keep these rams separated for recording purposes.

PS. I see a big ram in Tony's future

Ha! I believe You are right about Tony! It would be very interesting to see where those Rams went!

Casey,
I had not seen that picture before or the ram. As you stated, definitely a hybrid and very interesting looking....you can see the Transcaspian in the white neck and horns and the Mouflon white saddle patch. It's a heck of a ram regardless of what his pedigree is. I do know that years ago the Patio ranch did experiment with crossing Stumbergs with Corsicans and Mouflons. Attached is a pic of a ram that I was told is 45" and is a Transcaspian Urial x European Mouflon (25%). I do not know any other details but it was shot a while ago on the Patio Ranch and the ram looks a lot like the one in the picture.




SheepHunter is right about SCI. They started a new category about a year ago for hybrids rams to address some of the Big Horn cross rams, Stumburgs and some Red Sheep that were not close to that 50/50 Transcaspian Urial x Armenian Mouflon.

I hunted the ranch yesterday. I got to see and take pictures of this ram... He is amazing and I would have dropped him in his tracks had he not already been spoken for. He is a HAWG!!!... My 11 days in Texas were very productive. Finished up with a nice 29 x 30 Axis on my buddies place. Two nice 26+ inch Aoudads on two separate places and a nice 39 x 34 Oryx cow on my last stop home... Until next year I'll just be biting at the bit for my yearly trip to Texas... Thanks for a great hunt J.... I really enjoyed it.

Awesome pics!
I'll have some harvest pictures next weekend to post of the big sheep!