I wanted to get some opinions. What are some of the most challenging hunts in Texas? I'm on a pretty tight budget, and looking for something not high-fenced. Any suggestions other than Aoudad?
Thanks for your thoughts.

For my money it's Nilgai. Very spooky, great eye sight. Most who hunt them are successful due to a "guide" learning their habits and favored locations. I've hunted Whitetail, Muley, Elk, Axis, Fallow, and hogs; Nilgai are my favorite. If they see you before you see them then they turn on the jets, presenting you with a running shot at a fast, tough animal. If you're truly a bad mother, take one with a bow. Only seen it done a handful of times.

If you want a challenging hunt, go spot-and-stalk down south on a free range operation.

As mentioned, I'd think Aoudad and Desert Bighorn would be very physically challenging as well.

Since you're ruling out west texas aoudad, I'd have to agree with Nilgai. Aoudad are a much more physically demanding hunt, but nilgai are every bit as spooky.

Free range axis or sika hunting purely spot & stalk is another I'd put on the list.

I would say aoudad but you ruled it out. Nothing like chasing one in the mountains of west Texas.

+1 on aoudad. Just curious, OP. Why are you ruling out the barbary sheep? Nothing else in Texas comes close to the challege of hunting free-ranging aoudad in the mountains, IMO.

No, I'm definitely not ruling out Aoudad. I would love to go after free-range Aoudad out in the mountains, and it is high on my list. I'm just looking to see if anyone recommends any other challenging hunts that I haven't considered before, such as Nilgai and free-range axis spot-and-stalk.
Thanks for those suggestions.

Contact Mulie Mike and set up an Aoudad hunt in West Texas. This will have you working hard for your trophy.

If not aoudad I would say spot and stalk archery mulies in west Texas. No cover between you and them. You are totally in there element.

When I say west Texas Im saying Big bend area for them.

I would say getting a "trophy class" Chupa. They must one of the hardest of all game animals to harvest as I have heard of them but not acutually seen one.

Horned toads....

You are probably right. I think I have seen some Chupas in the beer joints in Bandera, but never a Horned Toad

Well if your going to rule out Aoudad then I would say maybe some free range nilgai if you can find one in your price range. They are definetly some meat you dont want to give away! Other than that....a free range mouflon ram would offer a hell of a chase. A Sika on free range might prove challenging. I saw one out near Rock Springs once that gave me one hell of a chase on 13000 acres with my bow.

long range mouse hunting would be the most challenging,havent seen anything else that would be in texas.

All kidding aside getting someone on a good free ranging Aoudad or Mouflon was always the toughest hunt. Especially someone without much hunting experience. They didn't realize when it was time to shoot it wasn't the time to dilly dally around.

IMO the most challenging hunt in Texas would be Archery Spot and Stalk Antelope.

By free ranging Mouflon, do you mean on a really big high-fenced ranch? Or truly free range? I know there are some down in the Amistad area. Can you find free-range Mouflon anywhere else?

Mouflon are like blackbuck. They won't hardly jump any fence. By free ranging I meant not raised in a pen. Mouflon are not like the other sheep, they just seem to be naturally wild. I had a few mouflon in a 85 acre pasture for a few years and I could sometimes go a month without seeing them, and when I did it wasn't for long.

There are some free range mouflon in the leakey area. We have a bunch on our place. They are wild as anything. Challenging hunt spot & stalk, and completely different animal than the corsican and crossed sheep. If you hunt them over feed, they aren't too difficult, when they come in, they aren't as switched on as say an axis or sika buck, but spot & stalk is a different hunt.

They don't jump fences, but they'll go thru a hog hole without pausing. Combine that with some old fences in our area, and now they're free roaming.

Try whitetails at Twin Buttes res. in San Angelo. Shotgun only and it only cost 40.00 for the permit. There are some nice deer plus you never know what else may show up.