Aoudad recommendations?

[NitroSteel]

I am looking at either going to NM or TX to hunt Aoudad in February 2010.  I'm not looking for anything huge, just want to hunt one unfenced and have a reasonable shot at seeing a few of them.  We're planning on backpack hunting for a week.  I'd be very happy with a mid 20 incher...

Does anyone have any information on private land that I could pay trespass fees to hunt on that has these animals on it?  I was thinking of going on public land, and have a little bit of inside information, but don't want to just walk off calories and not see anything...

If no private land is available, do you have a recommendation on affordable guided hunts (public or private land)?  We have an awesome duck blind on the NC coast, or can offer gator hunts (highly successful) in GA as a trade.

Thank you for your help.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

NitroSteel

[Graybeard]

I believe you'll only find them on public land in NM and unless you are a resident the license cost is HIGH and drawing odds slim as I recall. In Texas I think  you're kidding yourself if you think you're gonna hunt for a small trespass fee only. Land owners there long ago figured out hunting pays the bills. I doubt you'll find a Texas Auodad hunt much if any under $2500.

[NitroSteel]

There is an area (GMU 30) in NM that I can buy a tag in over the counter.  It is a huge area, around 60 miles x 60 miles square, most all of it is public land.  We've spoken to the game ranger there and he said there are lots of aoudad there and they are huntable, but it is a hard hunt, not going to be easy.  According to him, you're just not going to see any animals if you're planning on riding the roads, really need to be at least a half mile off of any roads to have a good shot at seeing game.

The license fee is around $360.00.  The total bill if we hunt on our own is going to be around $1200-$1500.  I wouldn't mind paying more for a guide, but the rate I've been seeing is around $3500-$4000, which would make the trip total around $4800-5000.  I was hoping I could end up somewhere around $2500, again not looking for a monster, just a specimen

I'm open to any suggestions on guides or anything else.  Thank you again for your help.

NitroSteel

[Graybeard]

There are a lot of guides/outfitters in Texas who offer auodad on ranches of all size from rather small to enormous some high fenced some not. West Texas has the most free range and really large range high fence operations with them I believe. I've not checked prices lately but last time I looked they were running around $2500 on average some higher and some less.

Auodad is one of the wildest of all exotics available in the US. I've been on several ranches with them while hunting other exotics and almost without exception they are the wildest critters on the ranch and tend to run at the mere sight or sound of human activity.

There are a huge number of such ranches in Kerr County and I'm sure the chamber of commerce or whatever it might be called in Kerrville can provide a list of ranches and/or guides/outfitters in that area. It's been a lot of years since I was out there so I'm bad out of touch with them and can't really offer any specific info.

Thompson Temple is more or less the originator of such hunting in Texas and still offers hunts on his ranch I think called Rocky Top. Mark Caronna a regular around here has hunted there a few times. I think I recall Mark saying that Thompson turned loose some auodad on the ranch some years back and folks can't seem to locate them so I think they are free if you can find one during a hunt there but do double check on that as I've not been there personally and haven't spoken to Thompson in several years. There used to be a fellow who guided for Thompson who posted here but I've not seen anything by him in a long time so dunno if he's still around or not and do not recall what his user name was.

You might get more info on the Exotics Hunting Forum here as well.

[mrbigtexan]

ther are also some hunts up here in the panhandle close to palo duro canyon. it's been awhile since i looked up prices but there are some places with reasonable trespass fees. good luck and let us know what you find.

[markc]

It has been some time since I was at Thompsons Rocky Top Ranch,  but he did have aoudad out there and just wanted them shot and gone. We never saw one, though we tried.   You could try a google search for him, or maybe the Martin Ranch in Edwards county,
www.martinranch.com

I think that is correct.   They are just 6 miles from my property and they have a beautiful place with a variety of exotics.. Not sure about aoudad..

[Graybeard]

The Martin Ranch does list auodad but they must only have very young ones. Here is what it shows on their price list:

Aoudad...Large, sandy-brown sheep w/horns up to 20"!
Cost:   $1,200/each

Note that UP TO 20" and that's a pretty small and young one I'd think. Kinda strange really as most of their prices listed are pretty much in line with other places I've looked at. Maybe a bit cheaper but not really out of line.

[markc]

Hey GB, if you ever go to the Martin to hunt something, please let me know.  Our place is between 6 and 7 miles from them.  We could meet up out there.   

[rex6666]

their are lots of Aoudad in the Alpine to Marfa area or were lots of range their
try the Alpine chamber of commerce.

[jeepmann1948]

Check out Operation Orphans Mason Texas. They have a game ranch and charge around 750.00. 325-347-6745 Jerry Crouch. operationorphans.org