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West Texas Aoudad

Mark Peterson

| August 15, 2017

Mark Peterson
August 15, 2017

West Texas Aoudad, written by WTA CEO Mark Peterson

Aoudads where introduced in West Texas in the 1960’s and have adapted extremely well as there are large populations all across West Texas. In my opinion, Aoudad may be the most underrated sheep hunt there is. It’s by far the least expensive, there are high populations, and it is available year-round, even in the slump of winter when hunters start to get the itch as most hunting seasons are over and the realization that’s its 8 months till the next hunting season sinks in. You can still get out and chase Aoudad.

There are many types of ranches, and terrain on those ranches, where you can hunt Aoudad in Texas. On my most recent trip, my good friend Ryan and I wanted to get into the traditional West Texas Mountains as much as we could and that’s exactly what we did. The lower flats of the ranch were a working cattle ranch, but as you made way past that, and drove into the mountains, it was nothing but Aoudad and deer. The drive from the lower ranch house to where we would stay for the hunt, was over an hour. You’ve gotta love Texas; everything is big and you could drive all day on this ranch and not hit a boundary.

The hunting was the same as with all other sheep hunts. You try to get up as high as you can and start glassing. We were hunting in February but the mid-day temps would still sneak up to the high 70’s, so the Aoudad where moving in the morning and then again at night, as they were trying to get into any shade they could during the middle of the day.

In February the sheep have, for the most part, split up into groups of Rams and also into groups of nanny’s and ewes. Which I have to say, there is nothing like glassing up a group of over 40 Rams at once. On this particular ranch, there were no shortage of Aoudad, which meant we could get a little picky when glassing and trying to turn up a big heavy horned old Ram. On day two, we found just that Ram. We turned him early in the morning in a group of just over 20 Rams. Being probably a little too excited, I grabbed my muzzleloader and cameraman and we followed our guide over the ridge where we last saw them. At the same time Ryan and his guide started the process of doing the big circle around to try and get in front of them.

Like too many times before on sheep hunts, it is never just over the next ridge. A couple hours into our hike and over the 4^th ridge, we caught sight of the group of Rams again, about a mile away. After all the time in the mountains I’ve had, I still can’t figure out sheep, as some will stand and let you walk all around them, but others will walk all day just because the wind is blowing. Luckily, Ryan had made it all the way around and was able to get in position as the group was starting to cross an opening. From that point all I was missing was popcorn. We sat down and got out our bino’s to watch the action. With a well placed shot, Ryan had a giant Aoudad down. He was a true giant!!! After some pictures, and quick clean, it was off to celebrate the day and give my feet a break.

The next day we went out and turned up numerous groups of rams, but all of them where just a little on the young side. Based on what I saw, I can guarantee this ranch will be loaded with trophy Aoudad for the foreseeable future. The good news on this ranch is that the outfitter manages it for trophy quality and limits the number of hunters each year.

On the last day of our hunt, we set out for a new area of the ranch that is normally the hot spot during the rut, but in February its normally just Nanny’s and Ewe’s. The outfitter had a hunch and I learned long ago when the outfitter has a hunch, roll with it. As it turned out, his hunch was spot on, and it didn’t take long to glass up a small group of Rams with 3 shooters in it. They had found a spot on this ledge, out of the wind, and looked like they hadn’t moved in a week.

We were already above them and had the wind in our face. I can honestly say that was the first time sheep hunting I could make that statement. Normally I’m on the bottom of the mountain and my scent is blowing right at them. As we slid around to get right above them, we started our stalk down, which was about ½ mile from the top of the mountain. Everything worked out perfect. The wind was blowing so hard the sheep couldn’t hear us and rocks kept us hid. We were able to sneak within 225 yards. I set up my pack and waited for the largest of the Rams to stand. After about 30 minutes, he stood to stretch and the shot found its mark. He was an absolute gorgeous ram and, it was a great way to top off an awesome week of hunting.

Like always, it’s great hunting with friends, and making new friends in the field. The outfitter I hunted with is one of the best I’ve seen. I’m already planning my next trip back to this ranch, but next time I’m planning on bringing my bow. Hopefully we can catch some Rams up in those same rocks.

If your looking for an action packed hunt, or a break from those winter blues, you have to look into going on a Aoudad hunt. WTA works hand in hand with our outfitters and we hold some of the best spots on these ranches for our clients. For more information about this hunt the link is below.

TROPHY WEST TEXAS AOUDAD HUNTS

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Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

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Serious hunters know that Montana is home to some of North America’s most coveted species: Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, mountain goat, and antelope. The key to unlocking these dream hunts is building points, and the deadline to secure your bonus point for this year is September 30.

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Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Winning one hunt sweepstakes through Worldwide Trophy Adventures feels like a long shot, but winning two? That’s the kind of luck I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I started entering WTA sweepstakes a few years ago, taking full advantage of their Bonus Bucks program and hoping to win someday. I’ve hunted whitetails in Minnesota’s flat woods, mule deer out West, and Sitka blacktails in Alaska’s rugged country, but this was different. When Worldwide Trophy Adventures called to tell me I’d won their 2024 Nevada bull elk hunt, just a year after winning a Utah mule deer hunt from them, I was stunned. Two sweepstakes wins in two years? Unreal. And the icing on the cake? I’d be hunting with a crew that truly knows their elk. As Erik Schell put it: “John, when it comes to elk, these guys are paid killers.” He wasn’t wrong.

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Baker is a speck of a town, population 16, just shy of the Utah line. The outfitter set us up in an Airbnb called The Corner Place. It was homey, with enough beds for me, another hunter, and the guide crew. The kitchen had stacks of premade meals like casseroles and snacks, whipped up by the outfitter’s wife. We heated them up after long days, but if we got back late, we’d hit the Border Crossing, a bar and greasy spoon split between Nevada and Utah. One side had slot machines, the other a gas station. We’d grab burgers and a bucket of Budweiser, the guide Richie’s favorite, and swap stories. It was simple, but it hit the spot.

The outfitter’s team was world-class. They’d been scouting for a week, pinpointing a bachelor group of bulls in a canyon 20 miles north. That first night, we sat around the Airbnb’s kitchen table sipping beers and scrolling through their scouting videos. Three bulls stood out: a beat-up 6×6 they called Bondo, a heavy 5×5, and a narrower 7×7. We decided to hit the canyon at dawn.

Day one was no joke. Richie, my guide, led me up the mountain before light, climbing a couple thousand feet. The air was a bit thinner than in Minnesota, but Richie kept a steady pace. Two spotters, Cameron and Ryan, worked the opposite canyon rim. It felt like I had the dream team for this once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt. We eased onto a rock ledge about 400 yards above a bench where five bulls were feeding: Bondo, the 5×5, a thin 6×6, a young 5×5, and a spike. No 7×7. This was the first time I was faced with taking a bull elk, but Richie talked me through it. “The 5×5’s got 30 inches of mass per side, swords in the 20s, probably 9 or 10 years old. Scores at least 330. Solid first bull.”

I went prone on the ledge, dialing my Gunwerks Nexus in 7 PRC to 387 yards. Richie double-checked: “386 yards.” Right as I lined up, the bull bedded down. Great. I’d waited out a mule deer for five hours once, so I knew the drill. Lying on snow with a 20° northwest wind kicking up, I started shivering after an hour. Richie saw it. “You good? We can back off, build a fire, or shoot him bedded. There’s a branch over some of his vitals. Can you slip a round under it?”

I’d put in time at Gunwerks’ Long-Range University: a hands-on, no-BS school that focuses on real-world shooting conditions, not just benchrest skills. They train you to read wind, manage stress, and make clean, ethical shots in exactly the situations that hunters face in the field. I knew my rifle, my dope, and my limits. “I got it,” I said. I checked the yardage, my level, controlled my breathing, and squeezed. The bull collapsed. “You smoked him!” Richie said. When he tried to get up, a second round finished it.

Reaching the bull was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve taken plenty of deer over the years, but this 360″ elk was in a league of its own—sheer mass, thick beams, and antlers that looked heavy even from a distance. Standing over him, the scale of the hunt hit me. We built a small fire, took photos, and soaked in the moment. Then came the hard part. The canyon was steep and treacherous, slick with snow and loose shale. I took a spill on the descent, and every step down was a test of footing and balance with meat on our backs. It took over three hours to reach the canyon floor and get the bull out, but it was worth every bit of effort. Back at camp, we celebrated the way hunters do—cold beers and a good story to tell.

We caped the bull that night and packed the meat in coolers, though it was cold enough outside to keep everything fresh. I hung around a few days, spotting for the other hunter’s bull, glassing canyons, and enjoying the Nevada backcountry. No pressure, just good times behind the glass. When I left, I strapped the antlers to my truck, crammed the coolers in, and drove 24 hours straight home, still buzzing. Back in Minnesota, I vacuum-sealed the meat, enough for months of meals, and dropped the rack with a taxidermist for a shoulder mount.

This hunt was as good as it gets. The outfitter knew every inch of that country, had bulls dialed in, and gave me options. For a guy who’s now won two WTA sweepstakes, I’ll tell you straight: these hunts are real and the sweepstakes are worth it. Nevada’s elk country and that crew of “paid killers” gave me a bull and a story I’ll be telling for years.

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win this world-class elk hunt in Nevada. The entries are limited…only 1,750 total entries, giving you very good odds of winning this elk valued at $72,000!

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