USA: New Mexico Barbary Sheep Hunt

[hunting4sanity]

Like many of you who hunt here in the US, over the years I've applied for many tags and have grown accustomed to rejections a couple of months later. One tag I've been trying to draw for the past five years was for New Mexico's Barbary sheep. When New Mexico released the results of their draw this past year I received an email that started with a rather unusual phrase - "Congratulations!" The area hunted was public land, BLM ground, near Roswell, NM. This was my first time ever to visit New Mexico, so I decided to go with guide Jesse Novak. Once we started hunting I was amazed by how many thorny things those sheep are able to eat and surprised at how tough hiking in that broken-rocky terrain proved to be. On day three everything came together and I connected on this 28" ram. It was 5 miles back to camp, with just the two of us to pack him out, I returned home very sore, but very happy.
Sunrise day one

As he lay, walking up on my ram

A few more of the ram

It was too many hours and miles in my truck, but so worth the memories and adventure.

 

[BRICKBURN]

CONGRATULATIONS!
Thought I'd say it again. You are so lucky. Twice in one year.
Nice ram.

That's a lot of miles.

 

[Nyati]

Congrats, that´s a nice one !

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats!!! Very nice ram

 

[enysse]

Congrats that is nice ram!

 

[GKNOX]

Like many of you who hunt here in the US, over the years I've applied for many tags and have grown accustomed to rejections a couple of months later. One tag I've been trying to draw for the past five years was for New Mexico's Barbary sheep. When New Mexico released the results of their draw this past year I received an email that started with a rather unusual phrase - "Congratulations!" The area hunted was public land, BLM ground, near Roswell, NM. This was my first time ever to visit New Mexico, so I decided to go with guide Jesse Novak. Once we started hunting I was amazed by how many thorny things those sheep are able to eat and surprised at how tough hiking in that broken-rocky terrain proved to be. On day three everything came together and I connected on this 28" ram. It was 5 miles back to camp, with just the two of us to pack him out, I returned home very sore, but very happy.
Sunrise day one
View attachment 55580
As he lay, walking up on my ram
View attachment 55581 A few more of the ram
View attachment 55582
View attachment 55583
View attachment 55584 It was too many hours and miles in my truck, but so worth the memories and adventure.
View attachment 55585

Congrats on a great looking ram. Definitely a hunt that is on my short list.

 

[johnnyblues]

Great. Congratulations

 

[Red Leg]

Wonderful ram. Can't believe they are over-looked by so many hunters.

 

[hunting4sanity]

Wonderful ram. Can't believe they are over-looked by so many hunters.

When I show the pictures to people, there have been quite a few who have no idea that Aoudad/Barbary sheep are even here in the states and can be hunted. New Mexico has a couple of other critters I'm still hoping to draw a tag for someday, but the odds on ibex and oryx still elude me ...... hopefully I'll get another one of those "Congratulations" emails from New Mexico soon.

 

[Red Leg]

And in West Texas you do not have to draw a tag for the Aoudad. I had a great free range hunt this year with Hunter Ross's Desert Safaris in the Davis Mountains. Saw lots of Sheep and shot a beautiful ram during three days of hard hunting.

 

[BWH]

Well earned/deserved trophy! Congratulations!

 

[CAustin]

Oh WOW I'm just seeing this post. Man what a nice sheep! What rifle and optics were you using? One shot kill?

 

[hunting4sanity]

Oh WOW I'm just seeing this post. Man what a nice sheep! What rifle and optics were you using? One shot kill?

Sorry I took so long in responding, for some reason I've been unable to access the site for weeks now. I have a 300RUM with a Benchmark barrel and a Vortex scope, I also used a Leica spotter and binos. He was slow & hurting after the first shot and that may have been enough, but until they're down I shoot and the taxidermist can stitch.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

With that MPG, I'd guess you almost spent more on fuel than the whole trip!

 

[Deleted member 15212]

congrats!