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Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke #8821404 03/21/23 12:26 PM
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Jgraider Offline OP
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So my buddy Big Al went on a hunt for big aoudad sheep in the rugged Davis Mountains of West Texas and I tagged along with him. The elevation won't kill you ( up to 6500' on this ranch), but the fact that you're stepping on unstable rock with most every step makes it tough going. IMO, free range aoudad are a spot and stalk hunter's dream. This sprawling ranch encompassed 400 sq miles, 250,000 acres. We put 170 miles on a polaris ranger, and 20 miles hiking/stalking in 4 days.....it was an absolutely awesome adventure.

First evening found us in t shirts and 82 degrees.....
[Linked Image]

By the evening of the next day it was 33degrees and snowing.....
[Linked Image]

Big Al was toting a Bergara B14 7mm08 in which I had loaded him up with 140 accubonds running 2810. I still cannot believe feral hogs inhabit this harsh, rocky, dry desert environment.
[Linked Image]

The spanish daggers were in full bloom.....the desert was stunningly beautiful in it's own way....and the aoudad love eating the flowers
[Linked Image]

But you better watch where you're going.....the catclaw will kick your asss, and the instability of the rocks with every step are a PITA....
[Linked Image]

There are other targets of opportunity though.......these guys have killed 16 lions on this property in the past year. We only saw a handful of mule deer over 4 days.
[Linked Image]

The sheep are there though, but you have to hunt hard and make good use of your glass.....
[Linked Image]

Snapped this through my Fury 5000 AB's....at 725 yds.
[Linked Image]

We finally located a really, really big ram that Big Al was interested in. We probably passed on 20, 30" rams. I gave Big Al the dope through the Fury AB's as the huge ram finally cleared a small group of sheep he was with. The 140 AB hammered home at 508yds, placed perfectly through the shoulder. The longest side was 34 1/2 inches......an absolute giant ram.
[Linked Image]

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821406 03/21/23 12:31 PM
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Herbie Hancock Offline
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We were just out in that area this past week for a family trip, we also did some hiking and I can also agree it's very very rugged country.


It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt

The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821416 03/21/23 12:51 PM
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Congratulations on a very nice hunt and shot. up


Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co.
Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821448 03/21/23 01:36 PM
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angus1956 Online Content
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Great hunt!
Pretty part of the world.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821451 03/21/23 01:40 PM
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Nice, real nice! I am finding myself envious here.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821473 03/21/23 02:26 PM
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My first and only trip out in the country I made the same comment when I saw pigs...how do those thing survive out here. Awesome hunt and great country.

Congrats to BigAl...nice goat wink


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Judd] #8821474 03/21/23 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Judd
My first and only trip out in the country I made the same comment when I saw pigs...how do those thing survive out here. Awesome hunt and great country.

Congrats to BigAl...nice goat wink


The little RV park we stayed at in Fort Davis the owner was telling us about how they have feral hogs. I was shocked when she told me that they had them that far west.


It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt

The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821483 03/21/23 02:45 PM
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love that country. not surprised by lion numbers either. Far more in that country then people believe.


Donate to TX Youth hunting program.... better to donate then to waste it in taxes

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Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821484 03/21/23 02:46 PM
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freerange Online Content
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Thanks for posting. I never really have much desire to hunt anything but Whitetail, maybe Mulies. Stories like these have me reconsidering.
That country is very special.


At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821529 03/21/23 04:32 PM
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Forgot to mention we saw probably 20 head of elk as well. There is not one single head of livestock on the entire 400 square miles. Incredible place.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821541 03/21/23 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Jgraider
Forgot to mention we saw probably 20 head of elk as well. There is not one single head of livestock on the entire 400 square miles. Incredible place.


Were you out of there before the snow hit the area on Saturday?


It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt

The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821552 03/21/23 05:03 PM
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We hunted Wednesday afternoon through Sunday. We had no accumulation to speak of right there but did have plenty of flurries. Wind made it extra cold. This ranch is located basically just South of Balmorhea and runs 22 miles South, and 20 miles wide.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821553 03/21/23 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Jgraider
We hunted Wednesday afternoon through Sunday. We had no accumulation to speak of right there but did have plenty of flurries. Wind made it extra cold. This ranch is located basically just South of Balmorhea and runs 22 miles South, and 20 miles wide.


I was in Balmorhea on Wednesday doing cannon balls off the big diving board.


It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt

The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: freerange] #8821555 03/21/23 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by freerange
Thanks for posting. I never really have much desire to hunt anything but Whitetail, maybe Mulies. Stories like these have me reconsidering.
That country is very special.


Id rather hunt Mule deer in West TX then Whitetails anywhere in the US.


Donate to TX Youth hunting program.... better to donate then to waste it in taxes

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Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: BOBO the Clown] #8821575 03/21/23 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by BOBO the Clown
Originally Posted by freerange
Thanks for posting. I never really have much desire to hunt anything but Whitetail, maybe Mulies. Stories like these have me reconsidering.
That country is very special.


Id rather hunt Mule deer in West TX then Whitetails anywhere in the US.



I'd rather hunt Mule Deer than Whitetails period


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: txtrophy85] #8821613 03/21/23 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by txtrophy85
Originally Posted by BOBO the Clown
Originally Posted by freerange
Thanks for posting. I never really have much desire to hunt anything but Whitetail, maybe Mulies. Stories like these have me reconsidering.
That country is very special.


Id rather hunt Mule deer in West TX then Whitetails anywhere in the US.



I'd rather hunt Mule Deer than Whitetails period


as long as it below treeline smile lightening storms in Sept at 12.5k arent cool


Donate to TX Youth hunting program.... better to donate then to waste it in taxes

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Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821694 03/21/23 08:32 PM
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That's one part of Texas I've never visited.
Beautiful, rugged country.

Thanks for sharing and congrats to Big All also.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821696 03/21/23 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Jgraider
Forgot to mention we saw probably 20 head of elk as well. There is not one single head of livestock on the entire 400 square miles. Incredible place.


It’s gonna be hard to have a satisfying big game hunt after experiencing that. West Texas Aoudad hunting is probably my favorite hunt to do. They are incredible animals.


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821740 03/21/23 10:05 PM
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Elk can get pretty big out that way

[Linked Image]

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821741 03/21/23 10:09 PM
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Great story thanks for sharing, and providing something else for me to dream about

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Hudbone] #8821781 03/21/23 11:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Hudbone
Elk can get pretty big out that way

[Linked Image]


They get a lot bigger than that. Friend has a 390” bull taken off a place just south of Alpine. Rumor has it they killed a 411” off the Longfellow year before last. They kill some true giant elk in the Trans Pecos.

Makes you wonder where they originally imported them from?


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: txtrophy85] #8821853 03/22/23 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by txtrophy85
Originally Posted by Hudbone
Elk can get pretty big out that way

[Linked Image]


They get a lot bigger than that. Friend has a 390” bull taken off a place just south of Alpine. Rumor has it they killed a 411” off the Longfellow year before last. They kill some true giant elk in the Trans Pecos.

Makes you wonder where they originally imported them from?


just age. avg 6/7 year old bull is 330 per BC, so if you have good rainfall and age class big things can happen.



the LF bull is legit. Kmon’s buddy killed a 380 when TPWD where hammering them in Serria Diablo


Donate to TX Youth hunting program.... better to donate then to waste it in taxes

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Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821952 03/22/23 10:27 AM
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Awesome hunt.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821959 03/22/23 10:59 AM
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Great hunt report and photos. That Spanish dagger wants to kill you if it gets the chance.

Re: Trans Pecos Aoudad Are No Joke [Re: Jgraider] #8821989 03/22/23 12:19 PM
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I love that country! Great write up.

I agree with Nolanco, those spanish daggers are real a-holes. I drew a mule deer tag at Black gap when I was 25 and very unprepared. My first day out walking I walked right into one and the tip snapped off in my shin. It was at least a month before it finally worked its way out.

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