Barbary Sheep with a longbow?

[jason1040]

My buddy and I are both dreamers and think that hunting free range Barbary Sheep would be awesome. From what I have seen of guided hunts, it will be a few years before we can afford to go. Has anyone had any success hunting these unique animals?

[Matt Quick]

I hunted them once in TX.  I did not get one but I did pass up a twenty yard shot on a young ram.  They are a fair weather animal.  When I went it rained almost the whole time which is unusual for texas in June.  This outfitter has since lost the lease on the ranch I hunted on. Which is too bad cause the price was unreal compared to what it costs to hunt them most places.  I paid $900 for the hunt and it would of been a $900 trophy fee if you got one. This was in 2005.

[RUTANDSTRUT]

was this at south hills ranch?

[RUTANDSTRUT]

i know a south hills ranch in utopia, tx had great success hunting aoudad with the bow during the summer months.  they were mostly hunting over water.  these were free ranging wild aoudad which i believe are one of the most hard earned creatures to hunt with archery tackle.

[Matt Quick]

Yes, it was South hills ranch.  The aoudad were actually on a ranch called Bear Creek.  Bill Watson who runs South Hills invited me and a friend back in July for only the trophy fee if we got one.  We just didn't have time to do it.

[Pon]

there are aoudads free ranging on some mountains in Coahuila Mexico, a friend has some land there and has a good succes rate with rifle but they have never take one with archery tackle meanless to say traditional.

very hard terrain and very smart animals, he charges around 3k.

I will give it a try some day!

[trashwood]

I had the pleasure of watching a stalk on an aoudad.  It was in the panhandle of Texas on a very steep canyon side.  The bowhunter was using a 72# Bear Custom take-down.  I can't remember what arrow he was using.  

we spotted the ram from the opposite side of the canyon.  it looked like John, the hunter, would be able to stalk to about 60yds and that was as close as he could get.  John, a great shot,  had won several Texas feild championships.  He decided to go for it. taped a match on the front of his riser and shot it in for 60yds.

we directed him with hand signals from our side of the canyon to the rocks that were the last cover between him and the ram.  he just got behind the rocks and peaked around when the ram stood up.  John hit full draw and seemed to aim for ever with a 72 bow.  we could not see the arrow or where it hit but you could tell from the ram's dash it was hit.  about 30yds into his dash he fall down the steep side.  never moved again.  distance was indeed 60 or so yds.

rusty

[Zbearclaw]

I am told I am nuts for wanting to do it with a curve too.

I will stalk and kill one with my widow in the next few years.

Good luck with your nutty goal too.  Check NM trespass fees and such.

[jason1040]

The more I have been reading just gets me more excited. I have been told that it could be comparable to Bighorn Sheep hunting, but without the years of waiting to draw a tag. Although that is also on my list to do here in my home state of Idaho.

[ksbowman]

I have always wanted to hunt these sheep with a recurve. On a hunt years ago in Texas I got within 60 yards on a band of them. It was in the hill country and in an area that had timber and scrub brush. The ranch was around Ingram but, I don't remember the name of it.Just wish a guy could do it at a resonable price because the odds are so much against getting one.  Ben