Aoudad
Sheep, also known as Barbary Sheep, were introduced into the desert mountains of
west Texas and southern New Mexico from their native habitat in the Atlas
Mountains of northern Africa during the 1940’s. Aoudads have flourished as
a free-ranging, wild sheep ever since.
These hearty, desert sheep are well-adapted to the rough, desert mountains of west Texas and are an elusive trophy to hunt. These sheep are free-ranging and occupy a large home range due to their nomadic nature. Aoudads have the ability to obtain water from dew and the sparse vegetation of the desert which greatly expands their range due to their independence on surface water.
Aoudad sheep are one of the most challenging species of big game to hunt. They seem to thrive in the roughest country they can find and possess an extraordinary sixth sense at detecting danger.The Aoudad sheep is truly the best-kept secret in North America. What else can you hunt, for under $4000, during January or February, with an over-the-counter license, that is more challenging or exciting to hunt? Nothing else compares. Not to mention that these rams make spectacular mounts.
Elite hunts the elusive Aoudad sheep on private land in the rugged Glass Mountains of west Texas and the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico.
Chance
Ranch - West Texas
The Chance Ranch is located in the rugged Glass Mountains of west Texas. The ranch is over 25,000 acres of of the most inhospitable sheep terrain anywhere. Once home to the desert bighorn, this country is now ruled by the Aoudad Sheep.
Much of the sheep country on this ranch must be accessed by foot, as there is virtually no road access. This hunt is as tough, from a physical perspective, as any hunt possible. If you like physically-challenging hunts with lots of glassing and stalking....this is it. If you are not in exceptional shape, this ranch is not the place to go.
Spot-and-stalk tactics with binoculars and spotting scopes will be used to locate the herds. Once spotted, the approach is determined and the stalk is on. Patient hunters should be rewarded with an opportunity at a trophy ram.
Elite has averaged over 90% success on mature rams over the
last five years. Expect to hunt for heavy, 28 to 32-inch sheep. On the average,
4 out
of 5 hunters will kill a sheep in this class.
Lodging is provided in a very nice 6-bedroom lodge located on the ranch. Each bedroom has a private bath. The scenery and ambience of the lodge, the ranch and the Glass Mountains can not be described, it must be experienced. Needless to say, the entire hunt is nothing short of a premiere experience.
All hunts are guided 1 on 1 with only two hunters booked per week. The hunts include all field transportation, meals and lodging. Airport service is available into Midland or El Paso, TX.
References
Brian Mariuz, MI
248-650-0273
Steve Mariuz, MI 616-748-9027
Kevin Phillips, MI 586-612-2238
Duane Banyai, MI 248-543-8228
Jim Johnson, WI 920-434-3721
Ralph Baeten, WI 920-499-2408
Ron Eichelberger, AZ 928-339-4203
Mark Lamberth, TX
281-350-3266
Steve Deweese, TX 281-351-6208
Steve Broeren, WI 715-426-9746
Jeff Ehlen, WI 920-822-8519
Scott Newman, AK 907-772-4878
Jeff Cole, TX 972-463-2308
Gary West, AR 870-867-3235
2009 Prices
Chance Ranch 4-Day Rifle Aoudad Sheep Hunt
$4500 (1 on 1)
2009 Season
Jan 15-18, 2009
2009 Guaranteed License
$45
Riverside
Ranch
Elite is pleased to offer Aoudad sheep hunts for 2009 on the Riverside Ranch in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. Although 2009 will be the first year Elite has hunted this ranch, one of Elite's top guides has hunted the ranch with exceptional results.
The ranch consists of over 20,000 acres of rocky, rolling hills and canyons. The terrain on the Riverside Ranch is not nearly as physically demanding as the terrain on the Chance Ranch. The Riverside canyons are measured in hundreds of feet, while the Chance canyons are measured in thousands of feet. However, much of the Riverside Ranch is roadless, and must still be accessed on foot to be successful.
Spot-and-stalk tactics with binoculars and spotting scopes will be used to locate the herds. Once spotted, the approach is determined and the stalk is on. Patient hunters should be rewarded with an opportunity at a trophy ram.
Expect to hunt for heavy, 28 to 32-inch sheep. On the average, 4 out of 5 hunters will kill a sheep in this class. The overall sheep population is very high and the opportunities at mature rams will be similar to the Chance Ranch.
Lodging will be provided at Elite's lodge, located about an hour drive from the ranch. The lodge is a new, four-bedroom facility you will find comfortable and inviting. Visit The Lodge.
All hunts are guided 1 on 1 with only two hunters booked per week.All meals and field transportation are included. Airport service is available into Albuquerque, NM or El Paso, TX.
2009 Prices
Riverside Ranch 4-Day Aoudad Sheep Hunt
$3900 (1 on 1)
2009 Seasons
Feb 7-10, 2009
Feb 15-18, 2009
2009 Guaranteed License
$360