Aoudad Success

[lhp63190]

Congrats, just put in for NM this year. Did you glass cliffy habitat or what kind of country did you find

we were on the rim above the rio grande. Sheep were in the canyons or near water in mornings/during the day and feeding on the flat tops in evening. Happened to catch my sheep in the evening on a flat top. Killed him at approx 5700 feet of elevation. See pics

 

[HunterMann]

DIY but hunting partner had a lot of experience. That being said, nobody had ever set foot on the ground before the hunt.

Well then double congratulations then. Seem to me you had a great hunt. I am looking to try it soon myself.

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

Really nice "WOWdad" Congrats.

 

[JuddL]

Nice goat! Congrats.

 

[mdmiller]

Congrats, what a wall hanger!

 

[basinman]

Congrats! I bet it was a good time. He will make an awesome mount.

 

[GLTaylor]

That is some BIG beautiful country.
Thank you

 

[robsev]

Negative Treeslug, I was far less than impressed. Best case scenerio is chirizo w/ lots and lots of seasoning.

i recently bagged one myself. My wife tried canning some. It's awesome. Tastes just like canned beef.

 

[338 dude]

i recently bagged one myself. My wife tried canning some. It's awesome. Tastes just like canned beef.

All I ever hear is how terrible they are I just have problems killing an animal for the trophy and letting the rest rot so your post is encouraging

 

[Huntnful]

All I ever hear is how terrible they are I just have problems killing an animal for the trophy and letting the rest rot so your post is encouraging

I turned mine into chorizo. The flavor is great, it's the texture that's bad. I ate the backstraps separately and they were like boot leather. But tasted great.

 

[338 dude]

I turned mine into chorizo. The flavor is great, it's the texture that's bad. I ate the backstraps separately and they were like boot leather. But tasted great.

Maybe a crockpot recipe and cooking all day would soften them up a bit

 

[Huntnful]

Maybe a crockpot recipe and cooking all day would soften them up a bit

Oh I bet that would work pretty well!! Only one way to find out... set up a hunt and go hammer one dude!

 

[Longshotjames]

The ewes and young rams are good table fare but a bruiser like that I bet needs a double trip through the sausage grinder!
Great report!
James

 

[lhp63190]

Pretty interesting scenario going on with these critters. Spent some time talking w locals. Not to get too deep in the politics of fish and game, but it seems they are suggesting in order to grow the desert big horn populations, and thus issue more tags, landowners need to get more aggressive about reducing Aoudad populations. Seems like the ranchers in the area are relatively split...some strongly desire to reduce Aoudad populations (for livestock grazing and big horn tags) and others like the consistent revenue from Aoudad hunters. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming years.

That being said, if this hunt is on your bucket list, I would suggest getting aggressive about figuring it out. If certain large landowners get aggressive about reducing Aoudad, the price could go up significantly in remaining areas with huntable populations.