I am posting this hunt as a favor for Thompson Temple who has several of his hybrid Rocky Mountain Bighorns aka Texas Hill Country Bighorns rams to hunt. These rams started from a group of sheep that Thompson acquired from Colorado that were Rocky Mountain Bighorn x European Mouflon crosses. He has since breed in some Stumberg genetics (because they are a hardy sheep) and some Transcaspian Urial (for body size and horn growth/mass). To cut to the chase, here is a picture he sent me of a representative ram he has to hunt. He estimated this ram at 36"x12".
As some additional background, here is a link to Thompson's webpage with some background/history on these rams.
http://www.hillcountrybighorns.com/Thompson told me that his goal was to breed rams that had Bighorn characteristics, could grow to 36'-40" rather quickly .... but that were still affordable for most average hunters. So to be clear, his goal was never to try and get a pure Bighorn like some others are doing. So this hunt may not be for everyone, but it may have appeal to some, and as I said in my opening paragraph, I am posting this as a favor....nothing in it for me other than to help out Thompson who as some may know is just about recovered from a serious bout of cancer earlier this year.
While I have never hunted these rams I have seen them and I have used Thompson as a booking agent for me on my TCU hunts. My guess is that their live bodyweight is close to 200 pounds. The cost of the hunt is $2900 for the ram(trophy fee...no kill/no pay) plus $250/day guide fee. The hunt would take place near Rocksprings, TX (not Thompson's ranch in Barksdale, TX ) and food and lodging is NOT included. I asked Thompson about the size of the hunt area and he said it was a little under 100 acres but thick/brushy and the hunt would be spot and stalk or sitting in blinds. So if anyone is interested they should definitely talk to Thompson about the hunting area size and terrain as that may be a factor for some considering this hunt.
For some additional background, here is a picture of one of his breeder rams and what he is hoping to consistently breed (color, mane and horn shape and size).
Here is a picture of a life size mount of one of these rams that had some age on him.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about theses hunts they should contact Thompson directly at:
(830) 486-6702 or (830) 234-4120 or email him at thompsontemple@gmail.com
If this hunt is not for you, please just move along..... just doing this as a favor for Thompson.
