Free Range Aoudad Hunting 101 TIPS AND TRICKS

Barbary Sheep (Ammotragus lervia) or otherwise known as Aoudad, are originally from the dry mountainous areas of Northern Africa. Their first introductions into Texas came in the 1940’s onto various hill country game ranches in Kerr and Llano counties. Years later, Aoudad were released in the Palo Duro Canyon area, then subsequently released in several areas in the Trans Pecos region of Texas. Long story short, they have been thriving well with numbers estimated to be in the 25,000 range in the Lone Star State. With the rise of the Aoudad population, we have also seen a rise in the interest in both in state and out of state hunters for these wary creatures that call west Texas home.

Every year, I personally guide upwards of forty free range Aoudad hunts in far west Texas in the Chinati and Davis Mountain ranges. Aoudad sheep have become extremely well adapted to the environment of western Texas which mimics their native lands. These creatures bound off rock cliffs, scale up mountain sides, and live in areas that you would think no animal could thrive. This is what makes the Aoudad a challenging hunt and a reasonably cheaper “sheep” hunting option compared to Bighorn, Dall, or Stone sheep. An Aoudad has great eyesight, a keen sense of what is going on around itself, and by far one of the best noses I have seen on an animal, much like a Cape Buffalo. So, if you find yourself out in far west Texas hunting these wonderful African animals, here is a few tips and tricks I have developed through the years and from my own experiences.

Playing the wind and terrain

When hunting Aoudad, the wind is either going to make your hunt or break it. To many times I have been on a stalk after a shooter ram, get within six or seven hundred yards and then have the wind ever so slightly switch to my back. Few moments later, the entire group of Aoudad nonchalantly pick up their heads, form into their “group huddle” and move straight up the mountain side. The main thing to remember when hunting these animals is if the wind is wrong from one direction, DO NOT approach from that direction. You will be sadly distraught when you finally get into position to take a shot, only to find the sheep have left long ago because they smelled you on the way to them. Instead, view your options and study the terrain. It might be possible to come from a different direction in which the wind is in your favor or maybe if the wind is going to switch you can wait to make your move. Don’t force a situation unless it is necessary. It is always easier to back off and try again, rather than pushing sheep off and having to find new ones. Using terrain to your advantage is another big key in Aoudad hunting. Sometimes you are above the Aoudad and it is easier to make a move on them, other times they are straight above you 1000’ and you need to hike around them and spend three hours to get into position. Study the terrain and use it in your favor. Many times coming in from the low land up to the base of a mountain, I will use creek beds or drainages to conceal myself and gain several hundred yards. Using these drainages helps break up your movements and a will keep you hidden until its game time. One thing to avoid is sky lighting or silhouetting. Aoudad can pick out movement quickly if you are up against the sky with nothing behind you to break up your body.