West Texas DIY Auodad Hunting

[AUmeater]

I have hunted public land in the west all my life. I have now relocated to Texas for work. I have scoured the internet for information on public land in West Texas that might maybe possibly have Auodad on it. I know there is public land around Lake Amistad but don't feel there is enough available territory. Not much public land in Texas I am realizing quickly. Does anyone have any experience in West Texas? Can anyone share experiences or provide direction to ranches that have trespass fees for DIY hunts.

Thanks.

 

[gelton]

there is a little info in this thread:

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?17958-What-does-it-cost-to-hunt-sheep/page2

I would pm shane for more info as I havent made the trip and according to his post he has...

 

[WoodBow]

Welcome to texas, the land of almost no public hunting opportunity. To my knowledge there are no auodad on any tx public that that isn't draw only. We put in for palo duro canyon every year amd it will probably take 10 or more years to draw. As far as private land allowing you to pay to diy an auodad hunt, good freaking luck. The large places that you could do a serious diy audodad hunt on aren't interested.

 

[RdRdrFan]

For a public land hunt you will have to draw a tag. Most of the private land that I know of contracts with a guide or they sell guided hunts that they conduct themselves. They aren't tough animals to hunt (if you are going with a rifle) and most private land rifle hunts can easily be done in a day. That makes it easy for the landowners to do fully guided hunts with high success rates and therefore, charge more money.

 

[CareyJAF50]

Maybe not necessarily what you are looking for, but not too far away. Here in Southern NM we have OTC public land Barbs. Unit 34 nest to Alamogordo (Holloman AFB). I got stationed here last year and got one. And the season is Apr 1-March 31, lots of opportunity. Just a thought.

 

[dvm_hunter]

Welcome to texas, the land of almost no public hunting opportunity. To my knowledge there are no auodad on any tx public that that isn't draw only. We put in for palo duro canyon every year amd it will probably take 10 or more years to draw. As far as private land allowing you to pay to diy an auodad hunt, good freaking luck. The large places that you could do a serious diy audodad hunt on aren't interested.

There is public hunting for Audad around Amistad, It's a TOUGH hunt and game is sparse, going when the archery deer hunt is in full swing would be the time to try for Audad. Best bet is to get a Public Land Permit, it costs like $48 and it gives you maps. Most game you'll be able to hunt will be pigs without having to draw a tag. Good luck with the draw as well.

 

[jm1607]

Unfortunately, there really aren't any Aoudad @ Amistad. There's literally 0-1 taken a year out of thousands of hunters. I know personally of 2 shot in the last decade out there..

NM really is your only option for cheap DIY public land.

 

[AUmeater]

Thanks for the info. My next researching stop was NM. Didn't realize tags were over the counter. Right now I'm stuck on archery hunting. So I'm looking more for the opportunity to at least pursue an Auodad. Although if i get lucky I sure won't complain. NM is a little bit of a truck from Dallas but thanks to 5hr energy anything is possible.

Appreciate the info, will keep researching.

 

[jm1607]

Thanks for the info. My next researching stop was NM. Didn't realize tags were over the counter. Right now I'm stuck on archery hunting. So I'm looking more for the opportunity to at least pursue an Auodad. Although if i get lucky I sure won't complain. NM is a little bit of a truck from Dallas but thanks to 5hr energy anything is possible.

Appreciate the info, will keep researching.

For the most part Aoudad is no longer OTC, but it's an easy to win draw.. Last I looked the odds to win were about 1 in 3.. Aoudad with a bow is brutal, your best bet would probably be a west texas or hill country private land hunt, although it will be expensive.. They usually start around $2k

 

[krohboy]

I give you props for wanting to go with a bow. I tried myself last fall and needed up pulling the rifle out to get it done on my ram

 

[AUmeater]

What is the water situation in the western side of unit 34. I think in going to give in a shot in a few weeks. Should I plan on hauling all my water in while backpacking or is there a decent amount of springs, etc. around? Never been to the area, don't want to dehydrate.

Thanks.

 

[CareyJAF50]

I give you props for wanting to go with a bow. I tried myself last fall and needed up pulling the rifle out to get it done on my ram

I very much agree! I killed my ram at 45 yards with a rifle, but the stars aligned magically and I never anticipate getting that close again lol.

 

[krohboy]

I very much agree! I killed my ram at 45 yards with a rifle, but the stars aligned magically and I never anticipate getting that close again lol.

I shot mine at 150 and couldn't imagine getting closer. He was with 30 ewes

 

[Shane]

I'm leaving Thursday to go to Devil's River State Natural Area for the Exotic hunt that we drew this year in the TPWD system. Most of the exotics in that area are aoudad. There are also some corsican rams, a few axis, and maybe a stray mouflon or other critter here or there. We'll be after aoudad primarily. I had 21 preference points when I finally drew this hunt. Most people that draw it have fewer points than that.

 

[CareyJAF50]

I shot mine at 150 and couldn't imagine getting closer. He was with 30 ewes

I spotted mine from about 1100ish yards out across a canyon, it was my ram, 2 smaller rams and a ewe. They were making their way down a steep and deep drainage, so we went wide and popped up over the little drainage and they were right there. It was pure luck with the timing of it that they were passing by just as I popped over and whacked him. It woulda been a perfect bow shot had I done my part. But ill likely never have that opportunity again that close. haha

 

[CareyJAF50]

What are the stipulations on those Exotic hunts? Can you kill multiple species on the same hunt? or just whatever you specifically want to target?

 

[CareyJAF50]

I'm leaving Thursday to go to Devil's River State Natural Area for the Exotic hunt that we drew this year in the TPWD system. Most of the exotics in that area are aoudad. There are also some corsican rams, a few axis, and maybe a stray mouflon or other critter here or there. We'll be after aoudad primarily. I had 21 preference points when I finally drew this hunt. Most people that draw it have fewer points than that.

What are the stipulations on those Exotic hunts? Can you kill multiple species on the same hunt? or just whatever you specifically want to target?

 

[radkyle]

New to the forum, but also living in DFW area. Best I could find regarding aoudad is down by Big Bend. You can 'DIY' but you have to pay an outfitter for land access. Roughly $1k, but you don't need a tag in TX for aoudad on private land. So that's about your only cost.

 

[tnbowhunter]

New to the forum, but also living in DFW area. Best I could find regarding aoudad is down by Big Bend. You can 'DIY' but you have to pay an outfitter for land access. Roughly $1k, but you don't need a tag in TX for aoudad on private land. So that's about your only cost.

new to forum and looking to hunt Aoudad and not pay the $5-$7k for guides. can anyone recommend any outfitters or land owners who charge for access to DIY hunts? I am willing to trade elk intel in montana or connect you with a landowner who has 10s of thousands of private land in Wyoming and charges a a $200 trespass fee or connect you with a very affordable south african outfitter with pricing well below their advertised.