Desert Bighorn

I don't know much about these animals and I've never seen one. I started out in Colorado and have seen plenty of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn In any event I was reading the other day that sheep are pretty prolific
which got me wondering why it seems to be a very slow process to bring them back. I've been in Black gap and Elephant mountain but I've never seen any. Are cougars killing the young? Something else?

Auodad are a huge problem. The state created the problem too.

Big horn both Rocky and Desert are growing nation wide, but there is starting to be some major issues with urbanization issues and domestic livestock disease transfer(again).

I’ve seen a lot of wild sheep, but I spent a lot of time in Sheep range. I was really excited to see Desert sheep not far from my ranch in the Panhandle a few years back. It really made me smile seeing them back in the high plains.

They are not near as prolific as Aoudad or domestic sheep, unfortunately

They are really susceptible to pneumonia transferred from domestic. You can spend 20 years building a herd, and one wondering ram can go visit a herd of domestic sheep, bring it back to the wild herd, and wipe them all out.

Aoudad are way cooler than desert bighorn…..#yeahisaidit

I can’t wait to hunt one of those wide aoudad, just the hunt in the mountains will be worth it

I have seen them in both NV and AZ. I'd like to hunt one but tags are very difficult to get and I don't have $70K to drop for a hunt in MX. Years ago I got a bighorn in CO and a Stone in BC, I also got a mountain goat in CO. I think my sheep hunting days are over since my next birthday will be #60. I leave that sort of thing for the younger hunters.

Saw some west of Taos NM crossing the Rio Grande on hwy 64…both rams had ID collars on…

I can't find the picture so you’ll have to take my word for it but back in '78 we were sitting in my truck outside of Ouray Colorado when a bighorn ram came up to me a took an apple out of my hand. I couldn't believe how big they are. IIRC there were 8 or 9 rams in the bunch and none of them were particularly skittish.

There's tags to be had here in Texas for only 10K more than that MX hunt. You only go 'round once.

Saw these a few days ago in Idaho. Got to within 30 yards of them.

Awesome sheep

If I don't have $70K for MX then I don't have $80K for one in TX. As stated I leave the sheep hunting to the younger guys.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ At the pace their numbers are expanding they are going to takeover and ruin a lot of great mule deer habitat if something is not done quickly about them.

Texas Desert Bighorns

Years ago on FM 170, (1995?) from Presidio to Lajitas and Terlingua there were burros everywhere. The state eradicated them so they could transplant some Big Horns. I actually saw one on the Big Hill on 170 about 3 years ago making it's way back into the State Park. That happened within a quarter of a mile from where I saw one of the only two actual live mountain lions I've ever seen. When I was guiding we hunted Auodad. Stinky sobs.

I know some on here won’t believe me, but this was filmed on my family’s (my moms side) ranch a few years back. They’ve gotten a tag (that they sell) almost every year for the past 15+ years. My grandfather and his 2 brothers bought the land back in the 60’s for $8/acre. High West Outfitters specializes in sheep hunts in that Big Bend area and has over 1 million acres leased up.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WgrZrINqI

I remember you stating this before. No one is going to doubt you. I love that country!!! True treasure

Reminds of being at the Bullis Gap and the San Francisco. Absolutely awesome country.

loved watching that. thanks

Awesome video in awesome country. Thanks for sharing that video, as desert bighorn's are my dream hunt.

Awesome video TTT, thanks for posting

As others said Auodad, hate those damn things. I wish TPWD would do more aerial culls.

Thanks for sharing.