-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Hunting & Fishing Audad Hunting
- Thread starter remsps243
- Start date
Re: Audad Hunting
Im not sure if this will help but here is a pic of a ram my son killed last year.He was shot with a 7mm mag at 300 yards in the neck and it came out in the head.They are really tough animals.
Im not sure if this will help but here is a pic of a ram my son killed last year.He was shot with a 7mm mag at 300 yards in the neck and it came out in the head.They are really tough animals.
Re: Audad Hunting
haha. Damn. I was hoping for advice myself. I have done a lot of research on these things and have asked one of my buddies that does guide hunts pursuing them. Every time I go out I learn more though. Its personal with me now! I have successfully hunted pretty much everything native in Texas, but these damn things take the cake. I will admit it, they have kicked my butt up one side of the mountain and down the other. If hunting whitetail bucks tests your patience, you might as well not bother with aoudad.
I have shot one of them, but in no way am I an expert. I am actually wanting more advice on hunting these things. I went back to the drawing board after my first week of hunting them. I actually just got lucky I killed the one I did. Ill tell you what I do know though and save you the time of scouring the internet and killing yourself on the mountains to figure this out about them. Thats my disclaimer I guess.
I want to say that are two trophy categories for these things. Trophy class and gold trophy class. I could be totally wrong on that though. You can tell the age of an aoudad buck from the distance between the two horns on the top of the skull. An older aoudad wont have any space between the horns where they connect to the skull. The scoring is based on the length of horn for the most part. You start the measurement at the base of the horn where it connects to the top of the skull. The trophy measurement is only for one horn. The longest I assume. A horn that measures 30 inches + is a good ram. 33+ is really good. I will post a pic below of about a 30 or 31 inch that I killed. The pic doesnt give you the reality of how big these things are though. In the picture below, the aoudad skull is on the left and a full grown Rambouillet ram skull is on the right. Aoudad weigh up to 350lbs. No joke.
The "aoudad" is the most difficult Texas trophy to acquire. Im serious. They are originally from the african deserts and were brought over in the 1950s after WWII. Their populations exploded once in Texas and you can now find them on SOME ranches that have the right terrain. They are available to hunt through outfitters though who keep them in high fences, etc. Or you can hunt them on ranches. Your options are wide open. If you DO hunt them on their natural terrain and not in high fences, youre gonna have a war on your hands. Getting one takes a lot of patience. I learned this the hard way before I got onto the internet and did some research. Here is what I know. (Just warning you, its a little long but pretty detailed)
1: They dont need water. They CAN survive without it. They get all of their needed moisture from vegetation. Occasionally (once every week or two) they may come in to water. They supposedly like alfalfa and protein blocks. This is probably your best bet. Especially during their rutt.
2: They usually always travel in herds. Varying from two to fifteen. Males stay in smaller bachelor herds and females usually travel in the 15+ herds.
The problem with this is their incredible senses. They can hear and smell really well. However, their eyesight is remarkable. Ive been spotted 400 yards away on a cliff right before they hauled butt over the mountain. The damn thing stared me straight down for a solid minute without blinking before he sounded the alarm. He was on the ground looking up at me while I was on a very high cliff by the way. I have never had game spot me from that far below before. They are like those damn meer cats you see on Tv. If only one of them sees you, they all run and ask questions later. However, if they don't definitely see you and only sense danger (yes..they do sense it), they will freeze and remain perfectly still. Sounds like a good thing, but unless you have already spotted them from a long ways away, they are hard to pick out.
You want to be sure to look at some pictures of some females and males before you hunt. They can look very similar at a distance. They both have large horns and longer hair on their chest. Males are just bigger all over. Usually the herd will be all females or all males though..again..unless their in rutt.
3: The terrain they usually stay in are the highest cliff faces and inhabitable terrain. That's where their eye sight comes in. You will be lucky to get a shot at 300 yards usually if they have their natural terrain around. Without baiting them somehow, I would expect a shot of 400+ usually. They can jump six feet straight up without running. I didn't believe it either until I saw one hop over a fence like nothing. In Africa, your hunting guides will usually track them for a couple days before you even get a 400 yard shot. Here, there are usually property lines that get in the way of that. Hence the high fence.
4: They are very tough to take down with a small caliber rifle. I would suggest a .308 or 300win for the power and range. Perhaps a BTHP bullet.
5: Their patterns to feed and activity are all over the place. I have had them come in to the game camera at all times of the day and night. However, I think they MAY socialize more in the morning during rut season. Their rutting season is in October and November I believe. They are supposedly easier to take then and not as paranoid. Here is another thing that I recently found out. If you come upon circular patches of soft dirt in the middle of the pasture, they are close by. The males somehow make these circular bare spots in the dirt on any type of terrain. I would say they are about five feet across in diameter. The males will lie down in it and use their horns to throw dirt on themselves. I believe they piss in the dirt too. Ive watched them do it. If you find a clear area with fifteen or so of these rubs around..post up somewhere high and remain very still all day.
Having said all that...here is what I do to hunt them. Like I said..I am still looking for advice. There could be a better way. I would appreciate anyone's input because I know I am not doing everything right.
Scout your area ahead of time! Its a must unless you have a guide. Find the high cliff faces. Thats where they will hang out alot of times. Also try to find the low terrain where they all socialize at. You will know it when you see a lot of those circular dirt rubs. They will be concentrated a lot more in one place. Perhaps by a body of water. They guys and girls have to come together at some point ya know. Throw out some alfalfa and a protein block. Then find a good high place you can snipe from that has enough cover to conceal yourself. Dont pick a spot thats TOO close to the feed or they will never come in. Preferably not along one of the many mountain trails they use to come off the cliffs. Ive had them walk up behind me and haul ass before I even knew they were there.(like i said..ive learned alot) They are really quiet on rocks somehow and can flat out sprint up cliff faces. Any irregular color or smell will keep them away. Pickup trucks, four wheelers, etc.. Try to use the wind. If you are sitting on the edge of a cliff, you may want it at your back blowing your scent over the cliff. I am not sure on this part. Would it be better for your scent to be blown behind you up into the moutain where they are likely to come from? Or would it be better to blow your scent away in front of you towards the open sky and the target area below? I would probably say the open sky is better.
By the way..also plan on how you will move this aoudad in case you get a 300lb one. And rarely will it be on some flat soft ground. More likely a freaking cliff. Being by yourself trying to gut it or transport it is tricky if you dont plan ahead. Learned a lesson there too.
Then come back the next morning before light and prepare yourself for a long long day of waiting and spotting. In fact, you may want to prepare yourself for several days. Like I said..patience. And dont be too picky on what comes in. I passed up a good size ram one time after the first twenty mins of sitting on the cliff to find out that it was the only thing I was going to see for two days. I am still kicking myself on that.
Sorry for the long post guys, but I have learned many lessons the hard way while hunting these things. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear more. I still consider myself a rookie at this stuff.
The one thing that I am planning on doing that I have not tried yet is getting a corn feeder out in the sticks where they socialize at. Getting the feeder to the spot is going to be hard enough by itself. I know where they socialize at, but cant get them to be there at a consistent time. They show up at midnight as far as I know. I am thinking that a timer and corn may help out. But of course, with these things, everything is the exception. It may not make a difference at all. I just know that it works with everything else pretty well. Any of yall had any luck getting aoudad in to scheduled feedings?
haha. Damn. I was hoping for advice myself. I have done a lot of research on these things and have asked one of my buddies that does guide hunts pursuing them. Every time I go out I learn more though. Its personal with me now! I have successfully hunted pretty much everything native in Texas, but these damn things take the cake. I will admit it, they have kicked my butt up one side of the mountain and down the other. If hunting whitetail bucks tests your patience, you might as well not bother with aoudad.
I have shot one of them, but in no way am I an expert. I am actually wanting more advice on hunting these things. I went back to the drawing board after my first week of hunting them. I actually just got lucky I killed the one I did. Ill tell you what I do know though and save you the time of scouring the internet and killing yourself on the mountains to figure this out about them. Thats my disclaimer I guess.
I want to say that are two trophy categories for these things. Trophy class and gold trophy class. I could be totally wrong on that though. You can tell the age of an aoudad buck from the distance between the two horns on the top of the skull. An older aoudad wont have any space between the horns where they connect to the skull. The scoring is based on the length of horn for the most part. You start the measurement at the base of the horn where it connects to the top of the skull. The trophy measurement is only for one horn. The longest I assume. A horn that measures 30 inches + is a good ram. 33+ is really good. I will post a pic below of about a 30 or 31 inch that I killed. The pic doesnt give you the reality of how big these things are though. In the picture below, the aoudad skull is on the left and a full grown Rambouillet ram skull is on the right. Aoudad weigh up to 350lbs. No joke.
The "aoudad" is the most difficult Texas trophy to acquire. Im serious. They are originally from the african deserts and were brought over in the 1950s after WWII. Their populations exploded once in Texas and you can now find them on SOME ranches that have the right terrain. They are available to hunt through outfitters though who keep them in high fences, etc. Or you can hunt them on ranches. Your options are wide open. If you DO hunt them on their natural terrain and not in high fences, youre gonna have a war on your hands. Getting one takes a lot of patience. I learned this the hard way before I got onto the internet and did some research. Here is what I know. (Just warning you, its a little long but pretty detailed)
1: They dont need water. They CAN survive without it. They get all of their needed moisture from vegetation. Occasionally (once every week or two) they may come in to water. They supposedly like alfalfa and protein blocks. This is probably your best bet. Especially during their rutt.
2: They usually always travel in herds. Varying from two to fifteen. Males stay in smaller bachelor herds and females usually travel in the 15+ herds.
The problem with this is their incredible senses. They can hear and smell really well. However, their eyesight is remarkable. Ive been spotted 400 yards away on a cliff right before they hauled butt over the mountain. The damn thing stared me straight down for a solid minute without blinking before he sounded the alarm. He was on the ground looking up at me while I was on a very high cliff by the way. I have never had game spot me from that far below before. They are like those damn meer cats you see on Tv. If only one of them sees you, they all run and ask questions later. However, if they don't definitely see you and only sense danger (yes..they do sense it), they will freeze and remain perfectly still. Sounds like a good thing, but unless you have already spotted them from a long ways away, they are hard to pick out.
You want to be sure to look at some pictures of some females and males before you hunt. They can look very similar at a distance. They both have large horns and longer hair on their chest. Males are just bigger all over. Usually the herd will be all females or all males though..again..unless their in rutt.
3: The terrain they usually stay in are the highest cliff faces and inhabitable terrain. That's where their eye sight comes in. You will be lucky to get a shot at 300 yards usually if they have their natural terrain around. Without baiting them somehow, I would expect a shot of 400+ usually. They can jump six feet straight up without running. I didn't believe it either until I saw one hop over a fence like nothing. In Africa, your hunting guides will usually track them for a couple days before you even get a 400 yard shot. Here, there are usually property lines that get in the way of that. Hence the high fence.
4: They are very tough to take down with a small caliber rifle. I would suggest a .308 or 300win for the power and range. Perhaps a BTHP bullet.
5: Their patterns to feed and activity are all over the place. I have had them come in to the game camera at all times of the day and night. However, I think they MAY socialize more in the morning during rut season. Their rutting season is in October and November I believe. They are supposedly easier to take then and not as paranoid. Here is another thing that I recently found out. If you come upon circular patches of soft dirt in the middle of the pasture, they are close by. The males somehow make these circular bare spots in the dirt on any type of terrain. I would say they are about five feet across in diameter. The males will lie down in it and use their horns to throw dirt on themselves. I believe they piss in the dirt too. Ive watched them do it. If you find a clear area with fifteen or so of these rubs around..post up somewhere high and remain very still all day.
Having said all that...here is what I do to hunt them. Like I said..I am still looking for advice. There could be a better way. I would appreciate anyone's input because I know I am not doing everything right.
Scout your area ahead of time! Its a must unless you have a guide. Find the high cliff faces. Thats where they will hang out alot of times. Also try to find the low terrain where they all socialize at. You will know it when you see a lot of those circular dirt rubs. They will be concentrated a lot more in one place. Perhaps by a body of water. They guys and girls have to come together at some point ya know. Throw out some alfalfa and a protein block. Then find a good high place you can snipe from that has enough cover to conceal yourself. Dont pick a spot thats TOO close to the feed or they will never come in. Preferably not along one of the many mountain trails they use to come off the cliffs. Ive had them walk up behind me and haul ass before I even knew they were there.(like i said..ive learned alot) They are really quiet on rocks somehow and can flat out sprint up cliff faces. Any irregular color or smell will keep them away. Pickup trucks, four wheelers, etc.. Try to use the wind. If you are sitting on the edge of a cliff, you may want it at your back blowing your scent over the cliff. I am not sure on this part. Would it be better for your scent to be blown behind you up into the moutain where they are likely to come from? Or would it be better to blow your scent away in front of you towards the open sky and the target area below? I would probably say the open sky is better.
By the way..also plan on how you will move this aoudad in case you get a 300lb one. And rarely will it be on some flat soft ground. More likely a freaking cliff. Being by yourself trying to gut it or transport it is tricky if you dont plan ahead. Learned a lesson there too.
Then come back the next morning before light and prepare yourself for a long long day of waiting and spotting. In fact, you may want to prepare yourself for several days. Like I said..patience. And dont be too picky on what comes in. I passed up a good size ram one time after the first twenty mins of sitting on the cliff to find out that it was the only thing I was going to see for two days. I am still kicking myself on that.
Sorry for the long post guys, but I have learned many lessons the hard way while hunting these things. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear more. I still consider myself a rookie at this stuff.
The one thing that I am planning on doing that I have not tried yet is getting a corn feeder out in the sticks where they socialize at. Getting the feeder to the spot is going to be hard enough by itself. I know where they socialize at, but cant get them to be there at a consistent time. They show up at midnight as far as I know. I am thinking that a timer and corn may help out. But of course, with these things, everything is the exception. It may not make a difference at all. I just know that it works with everything else pretty well. Any of yall had any luck getting aoudad in to scheduled feedings?
Re: Audad Hunting
30 inches is usually considered a pretty good one. Some have thicker bases, battel scars etc but a good adult male will be right at or larger than 30 inches.
Even the females though can have 30 inch spreads too though. It can be pretty hard to distinguish though.
I think this is the greatest game animal in the state of Texas for a couple of reasons. 1. You can shoot them all year. 2. There is no limit. 3. They are hard to shoot.
Texas Republic has a great post. I hunt these things all the time in Southwest Texas. They are all over the Mts that run N to S through most of the state. Ft Davis on down to Big Bend is full of them.
I'll add a couple of things I have learned.
- They have great eyesight...once they see you, it's over if you head their direction at all. The easiest way is to glass the mountains, find them and then get higher than them from teh backside or from the side, staying out of sight in arroyos or behind ledges. They climb away from trouble and usually are watching what goes on below them.
- They bed down at the base of cliffs high up. These cliffs or ledges protect them from above and they can see below. You'll often see all teh ground trampled and the ground will stink like a zoo as you walk along the bases where they bed.
Expect long shots. Occasionally, you'll come down on top of one and shoot from 50 yards or so but usually it is a couple hundred yards.
-with the exception of the young ones, they taste horrible so if you shoot a big ram (350 lbs), just cape it out and leave the rest for the coyotes. If you are so tempted to eat it, just take a backstrap...trust me. Even the Mexicans around here won't eat them.
-You can spotlight them legally in Texas. Their eyes light up better than deer. Often this can help you figure out where they bed down to get them the next morning...or shoot them at night.
- Most of the places that have deer leases will let you hunt aoudads seperately. Some of them charge, some don't. I've hunted a place adjacent to Cibolo Creek Ranch outside Shafter TX a couple of times. www.elpasotexashunting.com You either have to camp or stay in Shafter 30 minutes south of there. It's cheap and there are lots of sheep. There are javelina too and coyotes if you get bored.
Once you get the bug, it's hard not to stop hunting them. Prepare to walk ALOT. If you do camp, camp on top and it will give you the advantage the entire next morning. When it is colder, they'll go to the sunny side in the morning to warm.
Rick
30 inches is usually considered a pretty good one. Some have thicker bases, battel scars etc but a good adult male will be right at or larger than 30 inches.
Even the females though can have 30 inch spreads too though. It can be pretty hard to distinguish though.
I think this is the greatest game animal in the state of Texas for a couple of reasons. 1. You can shoot them all year. 2. There is no limit. 3. They are hard to shoot.
Texas Republic has a great post. I hunt these things all the time in Southwest Texas. They are all over the Mts that run N to S through most of the state. Ft Davis on down to Big Bend is full of them.
I'll add a couple of things I have learned.
- They have great eyesight...once they see you, it's over if you head their direction at all. The easiest way is to glass the mountains, find them and then get higher than them from teh backside or from the side, staying out of sight in arroyos or behind ledges. They climb away from trouble and usually are watching what goes on below them.
- They bed down at the base of cliffs high up. These cliffs or ledges protect them from above and they can see below. You'll often see all teh ground trampled and the ground will stink like a zoo as you walk along the bases where they bed.
Expect long shots. Occasionally, you'll come down on top of one and shoot from 50 yards or so but usually it is a couple hundred yards.
-with the exception of the young ones, they taste horrible so if you shoot a big ram (350 lbs), just cape it out and leave the rest for the coyotes. If you are so tempted to eat it, just take a backstrap...trust me. Even the Mexicans around here won't eat them.
-You can spotlight them legally in Texas. Their eyes light up better than deer. Often this can help you figure out where they bed down to get them the next morning...or shoot them at night.
- Most of the places that have deer leases will let you hunt aoudads seperately. Some of them charge, some don't. I've hunted a place adjacent to Cibolo Creek Ranch outside Shafter TX a couple of times. www.elpasotexashunting.com You either have to camp or stay in Shafter 30 minutes south of there. It's cheap and there are lots of sheep. There are javelina too and coyotes if you get bored.
Once you get the bug, it's hard not to stop hunting them. Prepare to walk ALOT. If you do camp, camp on top and it will give you the advantage the entire next morning. When it is colder, they'll go to the sunny side in the morning to warm.
Rick
Re: Audad Hunting
Do any of you know what time of day they usually socialize or visit the water hole/breeding grounds? The pasture I usually try to hunt them in is about 3000 acres and there is ONE place that is just trampled down with trails and dirt rubs. However, I cant seem to find the right time that they show up. I know they go there becuase of the area is just demolished with trails and dirt rubs. There has to be tons of them, but I havent seen many of them there when I go. Every mountain trail in the pasture leads there eventually. Anyone have luck timing them in with corn feeders?
By the way..do any of yall know exactly why they make the circular dirt rubs and throw dirt on themselves?
Do any of you know what time of day they usually socialize or visit the water hole/breeding grounds? The pasture I usually try to hunt them in is about 3000 acres and there is ONE place that is just trampled down with trails and dirt rubs. However, I cant seem to find the right time that they show up. I know they go there becuase of the area is just demolished with trails and dirt rubs. There has to be tons of them, but I havent seen many of them there when I go. Every mountain trail in the pasture leads there eventually. Anyone have luck timing them in with corn feeders?
By the way..do any of yall know exactly why they make the circular dirt rubs and throw dirt on themselves?
Re: Audad Hunting
How do these things taste? It sounds like a LOT of fun to me! Sounds addicting too.
How do these things taste? It sounds like a LOT of fun to me! Sounds addicting too.
Re: Audad Hunting
ha-ha. I would say it starts off a little addicting, but then quickly turns into a challenge... and eventually just gets plain nasty and you just want to wage war against the damn things! Well in my case it is. What happened to me is that I just thought I would walk out into the pasture one day and see if I could pop one after I saw a couple on a cliff one afternoon. That didnt happen. Then I started to feed at the waterhole and put A LOT of time into it and worked my butt off to get one...still nothing happened! At that point, it became personal. I invested way too much time and effort to just walk away scratching my head.
Ive never eaten one before. I have heard they dont taste too great unless you shoot a younger aoudad. I would say the ones a little over a year old are probably the best to eat if you are going to do it. None of the larger ones would taste too good. Someone posted the same in the forum above I think.
ha-ha. I would say it starts off a little addicting, but then quickly turns into a challenge... and eventually just gets plain nasty and you just want to wage war against the damn things! Well in my case it is. What happened to me is that I just thought I would walk out into the pasture one day and see if I could pop one after I saw a couple on a cliff one afternoon. That didnt happen. Then I started to feed at the waterhole and put A LOT of time into it and worked my butt off to get one...still nothing happened! At that point, it became personal. I invested way too much time and effort to just walk away scratching my head.
Ive never eaten one before. I have heard they dont taste too great unless you shoot a younger aoudad. I would say the ones a little over a year old are probably the best to eat if you are going to do it. None of the larger ones would taste too good. Someone posted the same in the forum above I think.
Re: Audad Hunting
I have seen most of ours in the middle of the day 12.00 to 2.00
We put out a spin cast corn feeder and they were feeding on corn when the feeder went off and it scared them so bad it was almost a year before we see them again.
I have seen most of ours in the middle of the day 12.00 to 2.00
We put out a spin cast corn feeder and they were feeding on corn when the feeder went off and it scared them so bad it was almost a year before we see them again.
Re: Audad Hunting
I was sitting in a blind when a spin caster went off and I ain't been back since either!
I was sitting in a blind when a spin caster went off and I ain't been back since either!
Re: Audad Hunting
Ever had lamb? I happen to love lamb, but the adult Aoudad's are much more pungent. The kids and ewe's aren't too bad cooked all day, add 'liquid smoke' to taste and eat them with salsa on a tortilla. The only way to really tolerate the feral hogs too.
They are diurnal, just like deer. Watch for them at night too.
That whole corridor between Lubbock and Laredo has them in the mountains. Ft Davis, Van Horn, all the way down to Presidio and into Mexico.
The deer and sheep dropping are different so your trails may be from other things. Deer are pellets, sheep are more of a small pile.
Ever had lamb? I happen to love lamb, but the adult Aoudad's are much more pungent. The kids and ewe's aren't too bad cooked all day, add 'liquid smoke' to taste and eat them with salsa on a tortilla. The only way to really tolerate the feral hogs too.
They are diurnal, just like deer. Watch for them at night too.
That whole corridor between Lubbock and Laredo has them in the mountains. Ft Davis, Van Horn, all the way down to Presidio and into Mexico.
The deer and sheep dropping are different so your trails may be from other things. Deer are pellets, sheep are more of a small pile.
Re: Audad Hunting
I am pretty sure the trails are from aoudad. I havent seen many deer in the pasture. We dont keep any livestock in there either. There are hogs though. There is one clear grassy area by the water with probably 20 of their circular dirt rubs surrounding it. You usually see the dirt rubs here and there..but this place has them every ten yards or so. And they are fresh. Anyone have any ideas on why they throw the dirt on themselves? I was thinking parasites..but who knows
When you say "spin caster" feeder, are you talking about a certain type of feeder or just any automatic feeder? So you are saying it would probably not be a good idea to put an automatic feeder and set it to a certain time because the noise would keep them away?
I am pretty sure the trails are from aoudad. I havent seen many deer in the pasture. We dont keep any livestock in there either. There are hogs though. There is one clear grassy area by the water with probably 20 of their circular dirt rubs surrounding it. You usually see the dirt rubs here and there..but this place has them every ten yards or so. And they are fresh. Anyone have any ideas on why they throw the dirt on themselves? I was thinking parasites..but who knows
When you say "spin caster" feeder, are you talking about a certain type of feeder or just any automatic feeder? So you are saying it would probably not be a good idea to put an automatic feeder and set it to a certain time because the noise would keep them away?
Re: Audad Hunting
Just a automatic feeder.That is what happened here not sure it would be the same there.
By the way I said spin cast not caster LOL but I do get it.
Just a automatic feeder.That is what happened here not sure it would be the same there.
By the way I said spin cast not caster LOL but I do get it.
Re: Audad Hunting
No sheep dont roll in the dirt. But aoudad arent technically sheep. Aoudad actually have morphological and biological features of both a sheep and a goat.
http://www.wildlifesystems.com/aoudad_sheep_hunting.asp
Ive seen the aoudad throw dirt on themselves. No joke. They lie down like they are fixing to bed down and they turn their head sideways and scoop the dirt onto their back with their horn..well they dont scoop it really..its more slinging I guess. But they do it. It may be a rutt thing. I know goats do some crazy stuff as well. Ill look into it.
Hogs dont exactly throw dirt on themselves. They root up the ground with their tusks and wallow in the mud. Horses also roll in the dirt as well. Trust me. Ive lived in the sticks all my life. I know hog sign. Perfect circular patterns of soft trampled dirt arent from hogs.
No sheep dont roll in the dirt. But aoudad arent technically sheep. Aoudad actually have morphological and biological features of both a sheep and a goat.
http://www.wildlifesystems.com/aoudad_sheep_hunting.asp
Ive seen the aoudad throw dirt on themselves. No joke. They lie down like they are fixing to bed down and they turn their head sideways and scoop the dirt onto their back with their horn..well they dont scoop it really..its more slinging I guess. But they do it. It may be a rutt thing. I know goats do some crazy stuff as well. Ill look into it.
Hogs dont exactly throw dirt on themselves. They root up the ground with their tusks and wallow in the mud. Horses also roll in the dirt as well. Trust me. Ive lived in the sticks all my life. I know hog sign. Perfect circular patterns of soft trampled dirt arent from hogs.
Re: Audad Hunting
I have seen them roll and sling dirt many times.Its really something to see.They tear up the ground pretty good.Im like you I dont know why and Im sure all animals do get conditioned to a feeder going off over time but when they run off and dont come back for almost a year it will take a LONG time.LOL
I have seen them roll and sling dirt many times.Its really something to see.They tear up the ground pretty good.Im like you I dont know why and Im sure all animals do get conditioned to a feeder going off over time but when they run off and dont come back for almost a year it will take a LONG time.LOL
Re: Audad Hunting
alot of animals do it for keeping parasites to a minimum. But I think it has something to do with male demonstrations or something. I dont know. Just thought I would ask.
alot of animals do it for keeping parasites to a minimum. But I think it has something to do with male demonstrations or something. I dont know. Just thought I would ask.
Re: Audad Hunting
Alright fellas. I found one of the best websites out there for aoudad I think. Here is what they said about the "dusting". Ill post the site at the bottom.
Aoudad in West Texas will have a more tanish/brown color to them. The reason for this is due to the fact that sheep spend time each day digging their horns into the soft dirt in an effort to cover themselves in dust to protect themselves from biting horseflies and other insects while at the same time utilizing their front hooves to excavate for nature's mineral licks. Overall horn length will vary with a ram's age and frequency of "dusting" for they actually wear down the tips of their "brushers."
http://www.magnumguide.com/AoudadHunting.aspx
Alright fellas. I found one of the best websites out there for aoudad I think. Here is what they said about the "dusting". Ill post the site at the bottom.
Aoudad in West Texas will have a more tanish/brown color to them. The reason for this is due to the fact that sheep spend time each day digging their horns into the soft dirt in an effort to cover themselves in dust to protect themselves from biting horseflies and other insects while at the same time utilizing their front hooves to excavate for nature's mineral licks. Overall horn length will vary with a ram's age and frequency of "dusting" for they actually wear down the tips of their "brushers."
http://www.magnumguide.com/AoudadHunting.aspx
Re: Audad Hunting
yea i came across that website not too long ago. there is also another good one. south west trophy hunts, they seem pretty good, but kinda pricey.
this thread is teaching me more about these animals than any encyclopedia. i dont mean that in a disrespectful way, buy you guys really know your stuff!
yea i came across that website not too long ago. there is also another good one. south west trophy hunts, they seem pretty good, but kinda pricey.
this thread is teaching me more about these animals than any encyclopedia. i dont mean that in a disrespectful way, buy you guys really know your stuff!
Re: Audad Hunting
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ffl medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How do these things taste? </div></div>
A buddy of mine at work went on a "bow only" paid hunt and killed an Audad. His wife and kids won't touch the stuff, so he cooked it and brought it to work. He learned the cooking method while at the ranch in Texas. One of you Texas guys might know the full technique. You use one of those clay pots that you bake with in the oven. Chop up jalapenos, onions and plenty of cream cheese, then bake. Fantastic stuff over rice. The cream cheese mellows the strong game taste. Getting hungry thinking about it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ffl medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How do these things taste? </div></div>
A buddy of mine at work went on a "bow only" paid hunt and killed an Audad. His wife and kids won't touch the stuff, so he cooked it and brought it to work. He learned the cooking method while at the ranch in Texas. One of you Texas guys might know the full technique. You use one of those clay pots that you bake with in the oven. Chop up jalapenos, onions and plenty of cream cheese, then bake. Fantastic stuff over rice. The cream cheese mellows the strong game taste. Getting hungry thinking about it.
Re: Audad Hunting
yeah. Ive tried putting a camera up with some corn on a different part of the ranch, but they never came in at a certain time of the day. Morning, noon, afternoon, midnight, etc. I will try the feeder with a timer and put out a game camera for about a month to see if I can get a schedule going with them. Ill let you guys know how it turns out. It will be a while until I get the chance to do it though.
yeah. Ive tried putting a camera up with some corn on a different part of the ranch, but they never came in at a certain time of the day. Morning, noon, afternoon, midnight, etc. I will try the feeder with a timer and put out a game camera for about a month to see if I can get a schedule going with them. Ill let you guys know how it turns out. It will be a while until I get the chance to do it though.
Re: Audad Hunting
Any of you guys know of any mineral lick or deer bait that works well with these? I have heard alfalfa works, but just curious if anyone else has had any luck with something else.
Any of you guys know of any mineral lick or deer bait that works well with these? I have heard alfalfa works, but just curious if anyone else has had any luck with something else.
Re: Audad Hunting
You mean these kind of Aoudad?
I am watching that dark one in the picture there. Not sure how big he is, at least 26", but not thinking he is at the magic 30" mark yet.
We feed a Purina protein mix, or corn, they will come to both. NOTHING else uses a feeder when the aoudaddies are on it, except big male axis deer. When the weather gets bad, they will batter the feeder all day to get a few crumbs out of it. They will destroy an empty feeder, trying to shake food out of it.
You mean these kind of Aoudad?
I am watching that dark one in the picture there. Not sure how big he is, at least 26", but not thinking he is at the magic 30" mark yet.
We feed a Purina protein mix, or corn, they will come to both. NOTHING else uses a feeder when the aoudaddies are on it, except big male axis deer. When the weather gets bad, they will batter the feeder all day to get a few crumbs out of it. They will destroy an empty feeder, trying to shake food out of it.
Re: Audad Hunting
Good looking sheep. Where area do you hunt? The one I finally shot was out near Terlingua. What did he weigh, and what did it score (length of horns+diameter of base of horns+diameter at midlength of horns)?
Good looking sheep. Where area do you hunt? The one I finally shot was out near Terlingua. What did he weigh, and what did it score (length of horns+diameter of base of horns+diameter at midlength of horns)?
Re: Audad Hunting
If you want to hunt some free ranging Aoudad, this place would be my first choice. This is one of Texas's oldest working ranches and the people are great.
http://www.whiteranches.com/hunting.html
If you want to hunt some free ranging Aoudad, this place would be my first choice. This is one of Texas's oldest working ranches and the people are great.
http://www.whiteranches.com/hunting.html
Re: Audad Hunting
These aoudad are free ranging. Believe me. They took several months to nail down. I have NO idea what the large one weighed. The place we caped him was right smack between several high mountain ranges. Not even a tank couldve gotten there. It was impossible to pack him out. I havent measured him yet really. I just got a metal tape measure and guessed it was at least over 30 inches. No idea on width. I have him at the taxidermist right now. The spot is around the Junction area.
These aoudad are free ranging. Believe me. They took several months to nail down. I have NO idea what the large one weighed. The place we caped him was right smack between several high mountain ranges. Not even a tank couldve gotten there. It was impossible to pack him out. I havent measured him yet really. I just got a metal tape measure and guessed it was at least over 30 inches. No idea on width. I have him at the taxidermist right now. The spot is around the Junction area.
Re: Audad Hunting
Hey REMSPS243.
One thing you may keep in mind in your stalk is the wind direction. Many types of spooky game travel/graze with the wind at their back. That way they can smell what comes up from behind and see what is out in front. Black buck antelope do the same I have found and are almost as hard as aoudad to hunt. I would consider your terrain and pick which one you want to try and defeat.(Scent or Sight) For instance, if the terrain is something like the picture above, I would try to mask my scent as much as I could and take a long shot from behind with the wind blowing my scent toward them 400-500 yards away. Or if the terrain/brush is really thick, you may try to SLOWLY stalk into the wind to a close enough position to shoot before they spot you. This will also cover some of the noise you will make. Always try to use the high ground to increase your distance and line of sight.
Keep in mind that the wind will more than likely be different in a canyon versus on top of a moutain range. It funnels.
Hey REMSPS243.
One thing you may keep in mind in your stalk is the wind direction. Many types of spooky game travel/graze with the wind at their back. That way they can smell what comes up from behind and see what is out in front. Black buck antelope do the same I have found and are almost as hard as aoudad to hunt. I would consider your terrain and pick which one you want to try and defeat.(Scent or Sight) For instance, if the terrain is something like the picture above, I would try to mask my scent as much as I could and take a long shot from behind with the wind blowing my scent toward them 400-500 yards away. Or if the terrain/brush is really thick, you may try to SLOWLY stalk into the wind to a close enough position to shoot before they spot you. This will also cover some of the noise you will make. Always try to use the high ground to increase your distance and line of sight.
Keep in mind that the wind will more than likely be different in a canyon versus on top of a moutain range. It funnels.
Re: Audad Hunting
Here's a pic of some we saw on our trip around new years out towards Marfa, TX. Sorry for the terrible picture...it came off of a flip video.
Here's a pic of some we saw on our trip around new years out towards Marfa, TX. Sorry for the terrible picture...it came off of a flip video.
Re: Audad Hunting
I hunted with a great guide about 3 years ago. He guides and sells Audad hunts in Texas around the Davis mountains.. He is a first class and free range all the way.. One of the best hunts I have ever been on. Took 3 customers with me and we all killed nice Audad ranging from 28-33 inches. Saw tons of animals and yes we did walk our butts off but we stalked up to one to within 30 yards.. Anybody interested in a great hunt, let me know and I can get you his numbers.. Also does deer,elk,predator hunts.. I think the Audad is the poor man's sheep hunt worth every dime.. I think they sell for around $3500-$4500 all in..
Thanks
I hunted with a great guide about 3 years ago. He guides and sells Audad hunts in Texas around the Davis mountains.. He is a first class and free range all the way.. One of the best hunts I have ever been on. Took 3 customers with me and we all killed nice Audad ranging from 28-33 inches. Saw tons of animals and yes we did walk our butts off but we stalked up to one to within 30 yards.. Anybody interested in a great hunt, let me know and I can get you his numbers.. Also does deer,elk,predator hunts.. I think the Audad is the poor man's sheep hunt worth every dime.. I think they sell for around $3500-$4500 all in..
Thanks
Re: Audad Hunting
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Silent One</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I think they sell for around $3500-$4500 all in..
Thanks </div></div>
Yikes! Although, I have never been on a paid hunt, and it sounds like you get your moneys worth.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Silent One</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I think they sell for around $3500-$4500 all in..
Thanks </div></div>
Yikes! Although, I have never been on a paid hunt, and it sounds like you get your moneys worth.
Re: Audad Hunting
This guy runs a top notch operation and if your serious about taking a trophy aoudad hes the man. www.swhunts.com
This guy runs a top notch operation and if your serious about taking a trophy aoudad hes the man. www.swhunts.com
Re: Audad Hunting
Bubba Glosson has been outfitting for Aoudad for 25 years. http://aoudadhunt.com/ If you want quality and can afford him, he may be the outfitter for you. Otherwise, check out the photos on his site.
Bubba Glosson has been outfitting for Aoudad for 25 years. http://aoudadhunt.com/ If you want quality and can afford him, he may be the outfitter for you. Otherwise, check out the photos on his site.
Re: Audad Hunting
Hunting Aoudad behind a high fence is disgraceful. If you are wanting to really go after an Aoudad send me a PM. Will give you some names.
Hunting Aoudad behind a high fence is disgraceful. If you are wanting to really go after an Aoudad send me a PM. Will give you some names.
Re: Audad Hunting
www.runninghhunts.com knows a lot about Aoudad. Has property in NM and TX to hunt, I have hunted with him a few times.
www.runninghhunts.com knows a lot about Aoudad. Has property in NM and TX to hunt, I have hunted with him a few times.
Re: Audad Hunting
everything he said.....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">haha. Damn. I was hoping for advice myself. I have done a lot of research on these things and have asked one of my buddies that does guide hunts pursuing them. Every time I go out I learn more though. Its personal with me now! I have successfully hunted pretty much everything native in Texas, but these damn things take the cake. I will admit it, they have kicked my butt up one side of the mountain and down the other. If hunting whitetail bucks tests your patience, you might as well not bother with aoudad.
I have shot one of them, but in no way am I an expert. I am actually wanting more advice on hunting these things. I went back to the drawing board after my first week of hunting them. I actually just got lucky I killed the one I did. Ill tell you what I do know though and save you the time of scouring the internet and killing yourself on the mountains to figure this out about them. Thats my disclaimer I guess.
I want to say that are two trophy categories for these things. Trophy class and gold trophy class. I could be totally wrong on that though. You can tell the age of an aoudad buck from the distance between the two horns on the top of the skull. An older aoudad wont have any space between the horns where they connect to the skull. The scoring is based on the length of horn for the most part. You start the measurement at the base of the horn where it connects to the top of the skull. The trophy measurement is only for one horn. The longest I assume. A horn that measures 30 inches + is a good ram. 33+ is really good. I will post a pic below of about a 30 or 31 inch that I killed. The pic doesnt give you the reality of how big these things are though. In the picture below, the aoudad skull is on the left and a full grown Rambouillet ram skull is on the right. Aoudad weigh up to 350lbs. No joke.
The "aoudad" is the most difficult Texas trophy to acquire. Im serious. They are originally from the african deserts and were brought over in the 1950s after WWII. Their populations exploded once in Texas and you can now find them on SOME ranches that have the right terrain. They are available to hunt through outfitters though who keep them in high fences, etc. Or you can hunt them on ranches. Your options are wide open. If you DO hunt them on their natural terrain and not in high fences, youre gonna have a war on your hands. Getting one takes a lot of patience. I learned this the hard way before I got onto the internet and did some research. Here is what I know. (Just warning you, its a little long but pretty detailed)
1: They dont need water. They CAN survive without it. They get all of their needed moisture from vegetation. Occasionally (once every week or two) they may come in to water. They supposedly like alfalfa and protein blocks. This is probably your best bet. Especially during their rutt.
2: They usually always travel in herds. Varying from two to fifteen. Males stay in smaller bachelor herds and females usually travel in the 15+ herds.
The problem with this is their incredible senses. They can hear and smell really well. However, their eyesight is remarkable. Ive been spotted 400 yards away on a cliff right before they hauled butt over the mountain. The damn thing stared me straight down for a solid minute without blinking before he sounded the alarm. He was on the ground looking up at me while I was on a very high cliff by the way. I have never had game spot me from that far below before. They are like those damn meer cats you see on Tv. If only one of them sees you, they all run and ask questions later. However, if they don't definitely see you and only sense danger (yes..they do sense it), they will freeze and remain perfectly still. Sounds like a good thing, but unless you have already spotted them from a long ways away, they are hard to pick out.
You want to be sure to look at some pictures of some females and males before you hunt. They can look very similar at a distance. They both have large horns and longer hair on their chest. Males are just bigger all over. Usually the herd will be all females or all males though..again..unless their in rutt.
3: The terrain they usually stay in are the highest cliff faces and inhabitable terrain. That's where their eye sight comes in. You will be lucky to get a shot at 300 yards usually if they have their natural terrain around. Without baiting them somehow, I would expect a shot of 400+ usually. They can jump six feet straight up without running. I didn't believe it either until I saw one hop over a fence like nothing. In Africa, your hunting guides will usually track them for a couple days before you even get a 400 yard shot. Here, there are usually property lines that get in the way of that. Hence the high fence.
4: They are very tough to take down with a small caliber rifle. I would suggest a .308 or 300win for the power and range. Perhaps a BTHP bullet.
5: Their patterns to feed and activity are all over the place. I have had them come in to the game camera at all times of the day and night. However, I think they MAY socialize more in the morning during rut season. Their rutting season is in October and November I believe. They are supposedly easier to take then and not as paranoid. Here is another thing that I recently found out. If you come upon circular patches of soft dirt in the middle of the pasture, they are close by. The males somehow make these circular bare spots in the dirt on any type of terrain. I would say they are about five feet across in diameter. The males will lie down in it and use their horns to throw dirt on themselves. I believe they piss in the dirt too. Ive watched them do it. If you find a clear area with fifteen or so of these rubs around..post up somewhere high and remain very still all day.
Having said all that...here is what I do to hunt them. Like I said..I am still looking for advice. There could be a better way. I would appreciate anyone's input because I know I am not doing everything right.
Scout your area ahead of time! Its a must unless you have a guide. Find the high cliff faces. Thats where they will hang out alot of times. Also try to find the low terrain where they all socialize at. You will know it when you see a lot of those circular dirt rubs. They will be concentrated a lot more in one place. Perhaps by a body of water. They guys and girls have to come together at some point ya know. Throw out some alfalfa and a protein block. Then find a good high place you can snipe from that has enough cover to conceal yourself. Dont pick a spot thats TOO close to the feed or they will never come in. Preferably not along one of the many mountain trails they use to come off the cliffs. Ive had them walk up behind me and haul ass before I even knew they were there.(like i said..ive learned alot) They are really quiet on rocks somehow and can flat out sprint up cliff faces. Any irregular color or smell will keep them away. Pickup trucks, four wheelers, etc.. Try to use the wind. If you are sitting on the edge of a cliff, you may want it at your back blowing your scent over the cliff. I am not sure on this part. Would it be better for your scent to be blown behind you up into the moutain where they are likely to come from? Or would it be better to blow your scent away in front of you towards the open sky and the target area below? I would probably say the open sky is better.
By the way..also plan on how you will move this aoudad in case you get a 300lb one. And rarely will it be on some flat soft ground. More likely a freaking cliff. Being by yourself trying to gut it or transport it is tricky if you dont plan ahead. Learned a lesson there too.
Then come back the next morning before light and prepare yourself for a long long day of waiting and spotting. In fact, you may want to prepare yourself for several days. Like I said..patience. And dont be too picky on what comes in. I passed up a good size ram one time after the first twenty mins of sitting on the cliff to find out that it was the only thing I was going to see for two days. I am still kicking myself on that.
Sorry for the long post guys, but I have learned many lessons the hard way while hunting these things. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear more. I still consider myself a rookie at this stuff.
The one thing that I am planning on doing that I have not tried yet is getting a corn feeder out in the sticks where they socialize at. Getting the feeder to the spot is going to be hard enough by itself. I know where they socialize at, but cant get them to be there at a consistent time. They show up at midnight as far as I know. I am thinking that a timer and corn may help out. But of course, with these things, everything is the exception. It may not make a difference at all. I just know that it works with everything else pretty well. Any of yall had any luck getting aoudad in to scheduled feedings?
</div></div>
everything he said.....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">haha. Damn. I was hoping for advice myself. I have done a lot of research on these things and have asked one of my buddies that does guide hunts pursuing them. Every time I go out I learn more though. Its personal with me now! I have successfully hunted pretty much everything native in Texas, but these damn things take the cake. I will admit it, they have kicked my butt up one side of the mountain and down the other. If hunting whitetail bucks tests your patience, you might as well not bother with aoudad.
I have shot one of them, but in no way am I an expert. I am actually wanting more advice on hunting these things. I went back to the drawing board after my first week of hunting them. I actually just got lucky I killed the one I did. Ill tell you what I do know though and save you the time of scouring the internet and killing yourself on the mountains to figure this out about them. Thats my disclaimer I guess.
I want to say that are two trophy categories for these things. Trophy class and gold trophy class. I could be totally wrong on that though. You can tell the age of an aoudad buck from the distance between the two horns on the top of the skull. An older aoudad wont have any space between the horns where they connect to the skull. The scoring is based on the length of horn for the most part. You start the measurement at the base of the horn where it connects to the top of the skull. The trophy measurement is only for one horn. The longest I assume. A horn that measures 30 inches + is a good ram. 33+ is really good. I will post a pic below of about a 30 or 31 inch that I killed. The pic doesnt give you the reality of how big these things are though. In the picture below, the aoudad skull is on the left and a full grown Rambouillet ram skull is on the right. Aoudad weigh up to 350lbs. No joke.
The "aoudad" is the most difficult Texas trophy to acquire. Im serious. They are originally from the african deserts and were brought over in the 1950s after WWII. Their populations exploded once in Texas and you can now find them on SOME ranches that have the right terrain. They are available to hunt through outfitters though who keep them in high fences, etc. Or you can hunt them on ranches. Your options are wide open. If you DO hunt them on their natural terrain and not in high fences, youre gonna have a war on your hands. Getting one takes a lot of patience. I learned this the hard way before I got onto the internet and did some research. Here is what I know. (Just warning you, its a little long but pretty detailed)
1: They dont need water. They CAN survive without it. They get all of their needed moisture from vegetation. Occasionally (once every week or two) they may come in to water. They supposedly like alfalfa and protein blocks. This is probably your best bet. Especially during their rutt.
2: They usually always travel in herds. Varying from two to fifteen. Males stay in smaller bachelor herds and females usually travel in the 15+ herds.
The problem with this is their incredible senses. They can hear and smell really well. However, their eyesight is remarkable. Ive been spotted 400 yards away on a cliff right before they hauled butt over the mountain. The damn thing stared me straight down for a solid minute without blinking before he sounded the alarm. He was on the ground looking up at me while I was on a very high cliff by the way. I have never had game spot me from that far below before. They are like those damn meer cats you see on Tv. If only one of them sees you, they all run and ask questions later. However, if they don't definitely see you and only sense danger (yes..they do sense it), they will freeze and remain perfectly still. Sounds like a good thing, but unless you have already spotted them from a long ways away, they are hard to pick out.
You want to be sure to look at some pictures of some females and males before you hunt. They can look very similar at a distance. They both have large horns and longer hair on their chest. Males are just bigger all over. Usually the herd will be all females or all males though..again..unless their in rutt.
3: The terrain they usually stay in are the highest cliff faces and inhabitable terrain. That's where their eye sight comes in. You will be lucky to get a shot at 300 yards usually if they have their natural terrain around. Without baiting them somehow, I would expect a shot of 400+ usually. They can jump six feet straight up without running. I didn't believe it either until I saw one hop over a fence like nothing. In Africa, your hunting guides will usually track them for a couple days before you even get a 400 yard shot. Here, there are usually property lines that get in the way of that. Hence the high fence.
4: They are very tough to take down with a small caliber rifle. I would suggest a .308 or 300win for the power and range. Perhaps a BTHP bullet.
5: Their patterns to feed and activity are all over the place. I have had them come in to the game camera at all times of the day and night. However, I think they MAY socialize more in the morning during rut season. Their rutting season is in October and November I believe. They are supposedly easier to take then and not as paranoid. Here is another thing that I recently found out. If you come upon circular patches of soft dirt in the middle of the pasture, they are close by. The males somehow make these circular bare spots in the dirt on any type of terrain. I would say they are about five feet across in diameter. The males will lie down in it and use their horns to throw dirt on themselves. I believe they piss in the dirt too. Ive watched them do it. If you find a clear area with fifteen or so of these rubs around..post up somewhere high and remain very still all day.
Having said all that...here is what I do to hunt them. Like I said..I am still looking for advice. There could be a better way. I would appreciate anyone's input because I know I am not doing everything right.
Scout your area ahead of time! Its a must unless you have a guide. Find the high cliff faces. Thats where they will hang out alot of times. Also try to find the low terrain where they all socialize at. You will know it when you see a lot of those circular dirt rubs. They will be concentrated a lot more in one place. Perhaps by a body of water. They guys and girls have to come together at some point ya know. Throw out some alfalfa and a protein block. Then find a good high place you can snipe from that has enough cover to conceal yourself. Dont pick a spot thats TOO close to the feed or they will never come in. Preferably not along one of the many mountain trails they use to come off the cliffs. Ive had them walk up behind me and haul ass before I even knew they were there.(like i said..ive learned alot) They are really quiet on rocks somehow and can flat out sprint up cliff faces. Any irregular color or smell will keep them away. Pickup trucks, four wheelers, etc.. Try to use the wind. If you are sitting on the edge of a cliff, you may want it at your back blowing your scent over the cliff. I am not sure on this part. Would it be better for your scent to be blown behind you up into the moutain where they are likely to come from? Or would it be better to blow your scent away in front of you towards the open sky and the target area below? I would probably say the open sky is better.
By the way..also plan on how you will move this aoudad in case you get a 300lb one. And rarely will it be on some flat soft ground. More likely a freaking cliff. Being by yourself trying to gut it or transport it is tricky if you dont plan ahead. Learned a lesson there too.
Then come back the next morning before light and prepare yourself for a long long day of waiting and spotting. In fact, you may want to prepare yourself for several days. Like I said..patience. And dont be too picky on what comes in. I passed up a good size ram one time after the first twenty mins of sitting on the cliff to find out that it was the only thing I was going to see for two days. I am still kicking myself on that.
Sorry for the long post guys, but I have learned many lessons the hard way while hunting these things. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear more. I still consider myself a rookie at this stuff.
The one thing that I am planning on doing that I have not tried yet is getting a corn feeder out in the sticks where they socialize at. Getting the feeder to the spot is going to be hard enough by itself. I know where they socialize at, but cant get them to be there at a consistent time. They show up at midnight as far as I know. I am thinking that a timer and corn may help out. But of course, with these things, everything is the exception. It may not make a difference at all. I just know that it works with everything else pretty well. Any of yall had any luck getting aoudad in to scheduled feedings?
</div></div>
Re: Audad Hunting
some real facts about Aoudad. if or when you kill one do not waste your time saving the meat, especially on a big ram. sure you can make plywood taste good with enough spices and creams piled on top of it. they are just not good. you can not just look at an Aoudad straight on and tell he is over 30 inches by how close his horns are in the center of his head. I have skinned many many of them and killed a handfull and have seen 24 inchers with the same gap as a 30 plus incher. sure a big guy will have more mass, but have yet to see one with no hair between his horns. Curves and circlular type horns are the hardest to score with your eye, many a hunter has killed a 27 in Aoudad and swore it was over 30 inches. Any Aoudad 30 inches or better is a great critter and should score gold metal, 33-34 and more is oustanding. To score one you measure the length on the outside edge of the horn from the base at the hair line to the tip. Then the mass measurement at the base all the way around. Third measurement is divide the length of the horn in half and take a mass mrasurement at that point on the horn. same stuff on both sides and add the scores together. The Aoudad in the wilds of Marfa and Davis mountains or any other mountainous areas of west texas are bigger critters than the ones in the hill country. I believe it is the nature of the terrain and the muscle building climbing they do every day. It is very noticable when you skin one and buy a form to mount one. They also dust them selves for sure, not a rumor but a fact. thier sences are top notch and can make for some very challenging shooting. Another clue to age is the overall size of the beast, and the older males will have some peppering of black or darker hairs in the face area mixed in with the lighter colors, I have seen that on every big ram I have skinned and for sure on the biggest ram I have killed. usually the bigger males have better chaps, that is the long hair flowing down from their chin all the way to their knees, but I have seen younger males with great chaps. The older males also have much thicker Beards. if you want to test your skills and what kind of shape you are in, then book a wild Aoudad hunt in west Texas and have fun.
some real facts about Aoudad. if or when you kill one do not waste your time saving the meat, especially on a big ram. sure you can make plywood taste good with enough spices and creams piled on top of it. they are just not good. you can not just look at an Aoudad straight on and tell he is over 30 inches by how close his horns are in the center of his head. I have skinned many many of them and killed a handfull and have seen 24 inchers with the same gap as a 30 plus incher. sure a big guy will have more mass, but have yet to see one with no hair between his horns. Curves and circlular type horns are the hardest to score with your eye, many a hunter has killed a 27 in Aoudad and swore it was over 30 inches. Any Aoudad 30 inches or better is a great critter and should score gold metal, 33-34 and more is oustanding. To score one you measure the length on the outside edge of the horn from the base at the hair line to the tip. Then the mass measurement at the base all the way around. Third measurement is divide the length of the horn in half and take a mass mrasurement at that point on the horn. same stuff on both sides and add the scores together. The Aoudad in the wilds of Marfa and Davis mountains or any other mountainous areas of west texas are bigger critters than the ones in the hill country. I believe it is the nature of the terrain and the muscle building climbing they do every day. It is very noticable when you skin one and buy a form to mount one. They also dust them selves for sure, not a rumor but a fact. thier sences are top notch and can make for some very challenging shooting. Another clue to age is the overall size of the beast, and the older males will have some peppering of black or darker hairs in the face area mixed in with the lighter colors, I have seen that on every big ram I have skinned and for sure on the biggest ram I have killed. usually the bigger males have better chaps, that is the long hair flowing down from their chin all the way to their knees, but I have seen younger males with great chaps. The older males also have much thicker Beards. if you want to test your skills and what kind of shape you are in, then book a wild Aoudad hunt in west Texas and have fun.
Re: Audad Hunting
I know a guy out by Big Spring who runs a large ranch he says you cant see one on foot you need to be horseback, he belives the horse helps with cover sent and sounds difrent moving across the ground. His wife says they are a not real because in 5 years she has not seen any on the 35000/ac ranch other than the one mounted in the living room. While I was there last summer helping gather cows I met a man who's claim to fame was that he roped and tied an aoudad.(sevral confirmed the story). Later that week they roped a wild pig I did see that myself.
I know a guy out by Big Spring who runs a large ranch he says you cant see one on foot you need to be horseback, he belives the horse helps with cover sent and sounds difrent moving across the ground. His wife says they are a not real because in 5 years she has not seen any on the 35000/ac ranch other than the one mounted in the living room. While I was there last summer helping gather cows I met a man who's claim to fame was that he roped and tied an aoudad.(sevral confirmed the story). Later that week they roped a wild pig I did see that myself.
Re: Audad Hunting
ROFL, Guess I needs to do some homework. Always though Aoudad's were native to other places. I really am only lusting after 2 animals, #1 a Gemsbok and #2 would the be Aoudad.
ROFL, Guess I needs to do some homework. Always though Aoudad's were native to other places. I really am only lusting after 2 animals, #1 a Gemsbok and #2 would the be Aoudad.
Re: Audad Hunting
There is alot of aoudad hunting truth on this thread however there are some things that are a stretch.
1. your not going to find a 30" female.
2. They are some of the hardest thing in Texas to hunt but thats why they're our main target. They are smart and shy and love to be high!
Here are the easy steps to killing aoudad consistantly.
1.Glass everything twice from as far away as possible. I use a grid pattern when glassing.
2. keep your eyes high
3. Pressure is the biggest determinig factor on seeing sheep on day 2,3,4 and so on. So make as little noise and disturbance as possible and never back track! NEVER BACKTRACK!
4. If you blow the stalk back off dont chase them to the next county they'll go far enough on their own.
5.When stalking visualize where you want to shoot from in order to block escape routes and allow them to be visible (dont be on the same hill or mountain they are on have some airspace between you and the sheep if that makes sense.
6.*******OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND******* you dont need to see them until your in range every second you exposed is a chance to screw up a stalk. this is the very most important thing to remember!!!!!
7.watch your wind it moves up and down hills and plays tricks in the mountains.
8.Peak times are october and march as well as the months surrounding them.
9.when its hot that whole" you cant kill them sitting in camp" no longer applies! before shadows form your wasting your time and educating them.
10.wake up with a sense of urgency!!!! dont bs around waiting on the perfect shot! be ready before you see him and make a shot in the first 10 seconds of seeing him. because he's usually on the run at 5 seconds. capitalixe he wont give you many chances!
Now as far as judging goes you can only learn from time. the range in body size and horn characteristc so much its easy for a beginner to mistake a 23 for a 33 if he's shaped right.
There is alot of aoudad hunting truth on this thread however there are some things that are a stretch.
1. your not going to find a 30" female.
2. They are some of the hardest thing in Texas to hunt but thats why they're our main target. They are smart and shy and love to be high!
Here are the easy steps to killing aoudad consistantly.
1.Glass everything twice from as far away as possible. I use a grid pattern when glassing.
2. keep your eyes high
3. Pressure is the biggest determinig factor on seeing sheep on day 2,3,4 and so on. So make as little noise and disturbance as possible and never back track! NEVER BACKTRACK!
4. If you blow the stalk back off dont chase them to the next county they'll go far enough on their own.
5.When stalking visualize where you want to shoot from in order to block escape routes and allow them to be visible (dont be on the same hill or mountain they are on have some airspace between you and the sheep if that makes sense.
6.*******OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND******* you dont need to see them until your in range every second you exposed is a chance to screw up a stalk. this is the very most important thing to remember!!!!!
7.watch your wind it moves up and down hills and plays tricks in the mountains.
8.Peak times are october and march as well as the months surrounding them.
9.when its hot that whole" you cant kill them sitting in camp" no longer applies! before shadows form your wasting your time and educating them.
10.wake up with a sense of urgency!!!! dont bs around waiting on the perfect shot! be ready before you see him and make a shot in the first 10 seconds of seeing him. because he's usually on the run at 5 seconds. capitalixe he wont give you many chances!
Now as far as judging goes you can only learn from time. the range in body size and horn characteristc so much its easy for a beginner to mistake a 23 for a 33 if he's shaped right.
