I had a group of about 12 Aoudad show up on my ranch, my ranch is about 60% HF and about 1000 acres. I put cameras out yesterday and getting pics in midday of them at one of my protein feeders. Looks like most are Ewes with a couple of younger Rams. Are these going to be a problem for me? I have a big rough, rocky, thick hill on my place and I believe that's where they're hanging out. I saw a Ewe back in January so not sure how long they've been here. Kind concerned about protein cost and if they'll affect my deer herd.

They will eat a lot of protein and will run deer off.

Only thing I’ve seen that they won’t run off is a Sika stag.

Shoot a few ewes under the feeder they will figure it out pretty quick and move to greener pastures

^^^^^^^

They will eat more than WT at your free choice feeders and IME will camp out on them all night long keeping the deer away. When the feeder is empty they will ram it to get the last remaining pellets out of it. I have seen them destroy lighter and cheaper made feeders also. Single young are common, twins are the norm in ideal conditions and triplets can be seen regularly when they have free choice protein/great rainfall years. If it were my place I would be killing everyone that I could see...even at night at my feeders. Shoot the ewes first and then work on the rams and finally the younger ones last. The young ones and ewes are pretty good eating and make really good ring/dry sausage also. Even had tamales made out of a young ram once.

^^^ What STX says minus the eating. But to answer your question.... Yes Stompy you have a problem.

I've seen whitetail and aoudad eat out of the same protein feeder at the same time. However, aoudad can drain a protein feeder incredibly quickly, so expect your bill to go up.

Guess I'm going to have to get rid of them.

Post pictures/videos!

Out of curiosity, does it make sense to let someone dart them and haul them off where they pay you for them?

Was wondering.

Yikes! That many aoudad can put a hurtin’ on your feeder. I’ve seen 100 pounds of corn disappear in 20 minutes when a herd of them moved in on us while Axis hunting. They are eating machines!

Edit: They are also bullies, and kept everything else ran off until the corn was gone.

I wouldn't have a problem with that.

Guess the reason I asked, I hate to shoot stuff and leave it, guess just getting old.

Seems someone would like to have them to hunt or used for breeding.

Good luck, I have hogs and they are enough of a problem. At least I an eat some of them.

Yea me too, not into killing just to be killing. I may try to sell them or sell hunts for them. I'm not going to shoot them and let them lay. I can get a helicopter for darting, I know a guy, just need to find someone that wants them.

Get a helicopter with a net gun or someone to set up a drop net to catch them all in one drop....then video the rodeo getting them out of the drop net. Dart gun will be a chore getting them one at a time. Call Lange Helicopters out of Mertzon/Angelo/Midland/Odessa areas and see if they can find a home for them after they net gun them. http://langehelicopters.com/

Thanks STX

I'll shoot a young'un. Bow preferred. Just tell me when and how much. If you can make sausage out of fish and bug eaten ducks you can make sausage out of anything.

I don't believe there is enough money in females and young males to justify a helicopter or darting.

Stompy, You probably know who I'm talking about... the outfitter running hunts now on the Walking Cane up the road from you probably would be interested in removing them for you. He's got several ranches that he outfits on throughout the state and in the past has relocated exotics for hunts.

Thanks, I'll check with him.

Hey Stompy, I'd come knock some down. Let me know if you're trying to sell a hunt.

THF Group hunt? Dove and Aoudad blast in Sept?

Maybe..talking to a trapper now to see if he wants them.

Hey! I hunted the walking cane ranch for about 10 years before the fire. Lots of good times on that ranch and primo turkey. Still friends with the past owner of the third we hunted. Fire took our cabin and my willys jeep I'd just spent a year restoring.