Who all has hunted Barbary sheep in New Mexico is it even worth the drive I would be going into this blind if I ever decide to try. I wish New Mexico had a hunt atlas like Colorado it has been a big help when it comes to finding public land an what animal that lives there.
barbary sheep
- Thread starter Kentucky hunter
- Start date
swampokie
Veteran member
Musket Man
Veteran member
I been thinking about them some year too. Are you thinking about the draw tags or OTC. NM's site isnt much help at all for OTC info.
I DK MM what I have read its not an easy hunt an like you said not much help on info. It would depend on who would go its a 1500 mile trip for me would be nice to hook up with someone that knows were to go. How far is it for you MM?
Musket Man
Veteran member
Mapquest says 1550 to el paso. I wish I had known about them when I was stuck at ft bliss for 2 month with not much to do. I could have scouted for them! I hear the OTC is a real tough hunt and the draw units are alot better. Really hard to findout anything on the OTC units since they dont keep stats of any kind on them. I just thought it was off season and would be fun to see some new country some year!
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Musket Man
Veteran member
I hunted hear grants nm in 08 an hope to draw again this year I read somewhere that they are there in that area but idk
swampokie
Veteran member
kentuckyhunter
Member
The January / February season is appealing to me. I applied unsuccessfully last year after finding little info while researching. Non resident draw odds will probably be substantially lower this year and following.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Musket Man
Veteran member
Alabama
Veteran member
Draw odds are the same. The only species that were not under the 84/10/6 split before were ibex, oryx, and desert/rocky mountain bighorn sheep (all of the once in a lifetime species). Barbary sheep draws were already limited to 10% outfitter and 6% non-resident. I applied in the 6% non-resident pool for February season. It looks like odds will be in the 10-20% range based on the previous 2 years. Odds were more like 25-35% when they had the 78/12/10 split before 2012. Thanks New Mexico!
The draw odds were way better for the guided pool. 75-100% the last 2 years. If you could find a ranch where they are located and secure permission via trespass fee, you could buy an OTC license and hunt private land even in the limited draw areas. But you would be restricted to private land only. I hope this helps and if I don't draw then I would be interested in going that route as well. Maybe we could plan on going out together if you need someone to split up the costs. I've been wanting to hunt them for a couple of years now.
The draw odds were way better for the guided pool. 75-100% the last 2 years. If you could find a ranch where they are located and secure permission via trespass fee, you could buy an OTC license and hunt private land even in the limited draw areas. But you would be restricted to private land only. I hope this helps and if I don't draw then I would be interested in going that route as well. Maybe we could plan on going out together if you need someone to split up the costs. I've been wanting to hunt them for a couple of years now.
Musket Man
Veteran member
swampokie
Veteran member
Alabama
Veteran member
Rocky Mountain bighorns 12 permits (including youth), Desert bighorns 16 permits (including youth), Ibex 265 permits (including 200 archery only), Oryx 500+ permits (premier, off range, military, youth, broken horn) and Barbary sheep 1210 permits. It's more about supply and demand. Obviously bighorns are extremely sought after and offer very, very few permits. Ibex have bad odds but only 65 any weapon permits. Oryx draw odds are what surprised me. They must be highly sought after by many people. I didn't add up the number but just guesstimated 500+. Barbary sheep are not as highly prized but there are way more tags given out to make the odds a little better.
I wonder why they adapt and thrive in that environment where our native sheep struggle? Do they directly compete with native sheep and infect them with foreign diseases? Any thoughts?
I wonder why they adapt and thrive in that environment where our native sheep struggle? Do they directly compete with native sheep and infect them with foreign diseases? Any thoughts?
We hunted this year with a local we met last January deer hunting. He showed us where they were and it was still a very tough hunt, we didn't even see a sheep until Day 4. If I had gone down without his help, I never would've found a single one.
My advice is to find a local or a guide that will help you out, or pay a trespass fee. They are very tough to find on public land.
My advice is to find a local or a guide that will help you out, or pay a trespass fee. They are very tough to find on public land.
lappel65
New Member
It's always worth the drive! However, both of my N.M. public land Barbary sheep hunts required a lot of time in the field. On the first hunt, I hunted 19 days before seeing one. On the second, because I felt it would be hard to top my first ram and, I had been on several hunts prior that year, I shot an ewe [I believe on the 9th day]. I had not seen any before that. As always, a guided hunt on private land, if an option, would up your odds of success. I understand Texas has plenty of Audads and private land. Plenty of public land in N.M.. Pick up 100,000 scale BLM Land Status maps for the areas that you think you want to hunt. I hunted SW of Roswell. Terrain was mild/moderate. Can get cold there early in the year. Water is scarce. More deer than sheep.
hoshour
Veteran member
Sounds interesting, especially if the private land or unlimited area OTC licenses pan out. Keep me in mind.
I get out to NM usually once a year and I always fly. I have a friend about an hour north of Albuquerque that I'm sure would let me borrow his truck. It costs way more to drive back and forth than to fly, which for me runs about $400.
I get out to NM usually once a year and I always fly. I have a friend about an hour north of Albuquerque that I'm sure would let me borrow his truck. It costs way more to drive back and forth than to fly, which for me runs about $400.