Well, 223 Works on NM Barbary, Too!

[Kenny Hart]

Congrats! That's impressive internal damage. It's amazing what can be done with a little ol 223!

Thanks! And yes, I've been very happy with the results of that little bullet...almost too much damage.

Honestly, I don't even tell anyone what round I shoot anymore because it just leads to the same ol' boring circular conversation...just answer "a Tikka" when asked, which usually kills the subject

That is until I have the results on-hand that put any doubt of it's capability to rest.

 

[Kenny Hart]

Was this a public land draw tag or private land access? A ram is on my bucket list.

Public land draw. It was a tough, but cool hunt for sure.

Plenty of private land around but they all want what I consider to be big $$$ to access. I figured I could fly out, hit the hills on my own and hunt them for the cost of a tag on the other side of the property lines.

Either would be a cool hunt for sure. I love that it was in February after most of the other opportunities have closed. Apparently October is also a good time, as it's their rut and the big rams are running around chasing the bands of ewes.

 

[mikeafeagin22]

Nice! It’s tough terrain but it’s a blast. Feels like everything out there stabs you haha

 

[Scottyboy]

My biggest detractor on a hunt like this; how was the snake activity? Being your from FL you are maybe a bit numb to them..? Either way, was it “cold enough” to keep them hiding or did you run into/see any? Beautiful ram btw!!

 

[Kenny Hart]

Nice! It’s tough terrain but it’s a blast. Feels like everything out there stabs you haha

Yes sir, i learned real quick to pay attention when walking through fields of cholla in the dark. They grow right at crotch/thigh height, and surprisingly hard to see when not paying attention and you're running a red headlamp that gives no contrast between the different flora.

Learned that within 60 seconds of walking on the first morning

 

[Kenny Hart]

My biggest detractor on a hunt like this; how was the snake activity? Being your from FL you are maybe a bit numb to them..? Either way, was it “cold enough” to keep them hiding or did you run into/see any? Beautiful ram btw!!

I appreciate it!

I didn't see a single snake, and not too many bugs, though it did warm up to 70s-80s during the day as the week went on. The 20s to mid-high 30s at night probably kept them at bay.

And you're right, in FL we pretty much have snakes year-round, with exception to the coldest days in Jan-Feb. Mostly non-venomous, but still numerous pygmy rattlers, some moccasins, and the occasional Eastern Diamondback. Our most venomous are Coral Snakes, which will absolutely kill you without treatment if bitten, but they're super chill and only bite if picked up. A tiny spot in N FL near where I grew up has copperheads, and a pretty high density, but it take a lot to make them aggressive as well. You pretty much have to get them riled up and pin them down with a stick to make them strike.

Honestly, I grew up loving snakes, and my wife and kids do to. It's always a big deal when we see them, and I grew up catching them with my brother and dad, so they definitely have no bearing on where I would hunt. For me, they would absolutely up the enjoyment factor.

That's not to say we don't take precautions and watch for them. I have Listo Provision snake gaiters, and took them with me to NM, mainly for cactus. They are infinitely better than snake books. My girls just use nice rubber boots that should be adequate for the little pygmies, my main concern because they're so small and hard to see.

 

[Kenny Hart]

A little update on the sheep, I finally got my euro hung on the wall after my brother cut me a beautiful plaque from the knot of an old Southern Pecan tree that fell at my grandmother's house.



I wanted one that followed the lines of the skull, and he did a great job. It really came out awesome!



Here's where I have it hanging. I've already 3D scanned the skull and horns, so I'll need to buy a spool of material to make the reproduction prints. My intention is to hang the full mount where I currently have one of my Whitetails, so as to display the split skull right above it and show the cause of the asymmetry. I'll have to wait for that until next summer.

 

[Bassy88]

great summary of the hunt, sounds like an awesome DIY experience !

 

[medvedyt]

great hunt and trophy display. well done.

 

[Kenny Hart]

great hunt and trophy display. well done.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

 

[String Bean]

Congrats, great write up

Long time observer, but think I can contribute something useful

Have taken 2 nice rams on guided hunts. Brought home the blackstrap and tenders. Smoke a back strap, looked and tasted great. However I think the leather sole on my cowboy boots would have been easier to chew. Did season, brown and use in stews and was quite good. I could still smell the Aoudad, as I was not aware of the transfer.

Helped a buddy harvest a ewe. We packed the quarters out per the land managers request/ rules. He cooked it trying standard beef methods. Still a little tough, much better using the slow cook methods. Still got some of the transfer as we weren’t aware of the transfer like springbuck

 

[Ramem7mm]

Right on congrats. I harvested one earlier this year as well and using my pellet grille I cooked the backstraps like I would a deer and they came out just ok. Edible for sure but not that great.

 

[Kenny Hart]

Congrats, great write up

Long time observer, but think I can contribute something useful

Have taken 2 nice rams on guided hunts. Brought home the blackstrap and tenders. Smoke a back strap, looked and tasted great. However I think the leather sole on my cowboy boots would have been easier to chew. Did season, brown and use in stews and was quite good. I could still smell the Aoudad, as I was not aware of the transfer.

Helped a buddy harvest a ewe. We packed the quarters out per the land managers request/ rules. He cooked it trying standard beef methods. Still a little tough, much better using the slow cook methods. Still got some of the transfer as we weren’t aware of the transfer like springbuck

Right on congrats. I harvested one earlier this year as well and using my pellet grille I cooked the backstraps like I would a deer and they came out just ok. Edible for sure but not that great.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

I must be in the minority because I heard this as well from multiple people. Maybe it's because mine was a younger ram and/or taken outside of the rut, but he's been long gone from the freezer and was one of the better tasting animals I've ever killed.

Unfortunately I had most of it made into summer sausage per the recommendation of others, which don't get me wrong was delicious, but I wish I had kept more backstrap and tenderloins. I cooked the first backstrap on the cast iron for dinner while the family had the same cut of whitetail because my mindset was "well I better get this over with," and it turned out near-identical to the best goat I've had. Very tender and the flavor was great.

I got all of one bite of that first steak before my daughters asked to try it, after which they both ate the entire rest of it and traded me their deer backstraps

The hunt also was not a shit-show with the animal running all over creation and pumping itself full of adrenalin after being shot, I quartered and laid him out to cool/dry immediately in the shade, and did have the butcher in NM slice and pack the steak cuts after they took the necessary amount for the sausage, so it was allowed age for about 2-3 weeks in their walk-in cooler.

So he definitely had the best chance for success from a table fare perspective.

 

[String Bean]

I will have to plan better next time and be prepared to age the meat. Think that may be a big benefit

 

[Mattman215]

That’s awesome. Happy 223 worked out, you are braver than I.

 

[foxracer660]

Florida Man here who drew his first western hunting tag for Aoudad / Barbary Sheep in NM, I just got back last weekend.

A LOT of footwork put me into some sheep over the course of the week, and I shot my ram the morning of the 5th day of the hunt, 7th day I was out there.

Glassed up a couple rams about a mile away closer to what I estimate to be the 25" mark a couple days earlier, but they were cruising with a band of smaller rams across a small portion of public. Went after them but I lost them in some draws and just couldn't catch up for a shot before they crossed the property line. Those suckers are fast when they have somewhere they wanna be, they just cruise at what looked to be a pretty brisk human walking pace!

For an east coaster flying out west solo to brand new game, topography, and environment, I couldn't be happier. Especially since I was finally able to squeeze a 3/4" cactus spine out of my left knee last night that's been plaguing me since the first morning

View attachment 839805

So awesome! Bucket list hunt for sure!

 

[Kenny Hart]

That’s awesome. Happy 223 worked out, you are braver than I.

I appreciate it!

And I proved it to myself over a few seasons of killing whitetails, along with the threads on this site. These sheep really aren't any bigger or tougher, so it made sense to me that it would work just as well.

I also live in the SE where the ability to shoot and practice over varied terrain and long distances is extremely limited. I had a self-imposed max distance under very favorable conditions, and was prepared to get much closer if the wind was really whipping.

Shooting 600 yards where I could really take advantage of a more aerodynamic projectile just wasn't in the cards, and I don't even have the opportunity back home so I don't even have a rifle for it

 

[Kenny Hart]

So awesome! Bucket list hunt for sure!

It's a tough one, and the sheep are fairly sparse on the landscape. But it seemed to be a tag that wasn't overly-difficult to draw, so I'd say go for it!