So with 18 preference points I drew the exotic hunt for Devil's River. The hunt took place this past weekend, from Friday afternoon until noon on Monday. I left the office a little early on Thursday and made it to Sonora, where I stayed at the Motel 6 for the night. The following morning, I had an early breakfast at the Sutton County Steakhouse, where I found a sample of my quarry eyeing me down.
After quickly scarfing down my $5 breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, hashbrowns, and coffee, I was on the road headed south. The weather wasn't exactly perfect, there was some light drizzle and fog. After about 1.5 hours of driving, half of which was on a long dirt road, I arrived at my destination.
I got all checked in, then we had our orientation and drew our areas. We were informed that we were the 12 lucky hunters to draw out of 3900+ applicants. They also told us that there were elk in the area, but we weren't allowed to shoot them. Fair game was aoudad, corsican sheep, catalina goats, axis, & pigs. 2 weeks prior to this hunt, they had the youth exotic hunt. 10 youth hunters, 9 of which were successful. Those 9 hunters killed 40 animals. One of those hunters was a 14 year old girl who killed 7 aoudad, including a 36" ram, the biggest ever taken on the place. They still had the head/cape in the freezer in their shop. It was absolutely massive. I'm still kicking myself for not taking a picture.
Lodging was nice. We all stayed in the bunkhouse (minus 1 person), which was 2 beds per room, with showers and restrooms.
I drew unit 12. Several units were still available, so they gave me 11 as well. 2000 acres to myself. Awesome.
They met with us individually to go over the areas and game planning. Then we were off. My unit had a jeep trail go up to the top, so that's where I went. Not long after I got started hunting, the clouds (fog) rolled in. Visibility ranged from 100-300 yards on top of the hills. About an hour before sundown, I spotted a ewe standing alone at about 250 yards across a little canyon. I waited a few minutes, figuring there were more nearby. 3 more appeared, and 1 looked to be a decent ram. As soon as the 3 appeared, they started walking among some cedars away from me, never really offering a shot. Then more clouds rolled in and I lost visibility across the canyon. And that was that.
Had a little visitor while waiting in the clouds. He got a pass.
That was it for day 1. Went back to the bunkhouse, and a few other hunters had taken a couple ewes and corsican sheep.
My bunkmate and I were the first ones up the next morning at 5:30. We left at about 6:15, and about half the other hunters were still asleep.
I went back to the same area I saw the sheep the previous evening, and quickly found 1 lone sheep 1000+ yards away. I was headed a different direction, so I didn't go after it. All morning I just skirted around the canyon rims and glassed. Saw several other herds, but they were all so far away I couldn't even make out horns in my binoculars, just tiny little tan dots. I opted not to go after any of them, instead just keep going the direction I was headed. Soon, I figured, I'd see some in the canyon I was actually trying to hunt. No sheep for Saturday morning either, but I had probably spotted around 20 of them. Found a nice little shaded spot on some rocks and had lunch.
That afternoon I was paralleling the bottom of a vertical rock face just below a canyon rim. I had roughly glassed this little canyon and saw nothing. I was actually trying to make my way up and out of it, when I head rocks crashing in the distance behind me. I see 2 rams down below me about 200 yards, gingerly trotting away. Luckily, I just so happened to be standing next to a rock that made for a great chair. Grabbed a seat and got my bipod set up for the shot. Oh yeah, the bipod. At one point the previous evening, even before I saw the very first sheep in the fog, I lost the fork on my bipod. But there was still big enough of a flat surface that I could still get a good rest.
Anyway. I got it setup quickly and found the biggest of the 2 sheep in my crosshairs. I fired the 162 gr Hornady ELD-X out of my 7mm mag, and hit the ram, but he didn't drop. He was just about to cross over out of site, and all I could see was his head and neck. I fired a hail mary shot and dropped him.
Now, when I fired that first shot, about 15-20 more sheep jumped up out of nowhere further down the canyon out of some cedars. They all dropped down into the bottom and crossed the canyon, then came back up the other side directly across from me, then stopped and just kinda milled around. I ranged them, they were anywhere from 350-400ish yards. I picked another ram that was at 407 yards and fired off a shot. He jumped up like he was hit, then ran down the canyon a bit into a clump of cedars and never came out. I picked out what looked like a good sized ewe at 367 yards and fired. Down she went. I now have 3 aoudad on the ground. They eventually all cross over the top and out of the canyon. After sitting there for a minute or 2, another ewe jumps up from the original spot they all jumped up from down below me. I dropped her too. 4 aoudad down.
I can't make myself out to be a dead-eye-dick here. I missed 3 or 4 shots. I shot either 8 or 9 times. I did hit the second ram on the first attempt, but I missed the bigger ewe once or twice, and missed another 1 entirely and it went over the top.
This is the canyon where it all went down.
I make my way down to ram #1. It measures out at 28"
I take out the backstraps and the head, then make my way down to the last ewe I shot. She was small, basically a big lamb.
I take the backstraps and hindquarters from her. Onto the next ewe.
After I finished dressing her out, it was already sundown. I was pretty damn tired at this point. I made the decision to stash the meat of this one in a game bag hung up in a cedar about 6' off the ground. I'd come back in the morning to get it. As I was cleaning this one, another small ram jumped up back across the canyon and made its way up the top. It didn't really off much of shot, and when it did, there was nothing but blue sky behind it. It got a pass. On to the last ram.
It taped out at 22". I did the same thing to this one, left the meat in a game bag up in a cedar. Left the head on the carcass as well.
Made it back to headquarters, and another hunter had killed a 27" ram. He had caped his out for a half body mount with the front legs. A few more ewes and corsican sheep had been killed as well. My bunkmate had yet to even see an animal. Several other hunters were having a tough time too.
The next morning, my plan was to hunt my way toward my meat stashes, then pack them out along with Ram head #2, then go get them on ice. It got down to 35 that night, and the meat was there just like I left it. Untouched and super chilled out. I ended up seeing a herd of 5 of so sheep, plus a pig, all 1000+ yards away on this morning. I made no attempt to go after them.
I made it back to the truck and had an early lunch. I sat there for probably an hour, just sorta relishing in the moment. This might very well be the first and only time I get to hunt here, and it had turned out pretty damn awesome. I still had the evening and the next morning to hunt, but I made the decision to end my hunt. I had 4 sheep, 1 of which was a really good ram, and a cooler full of aoudad meat. I had probably seen in the neighborhood of 50 sheep total. Meanwhile, others had not seen anything. I drove down to headquarters and told the staff that I was done, and asked them to move folks into my 2 units, and I showed them on the map everywhere I had seen sheep. I then packed up, and hit the road.
Some misc pics:
A colorful **** pile. 5 different kinds!
After quickly scarfing down my $5 breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, hashbrowns, and coffee, I was on the road headed south. The weather wasn't exactly perfect, there was some light drizzle and fog. After about 1.5 hours of driving, half of which was on a long dirt road, I arrived at my destination.
I got all checked in, then we had our orientation and drew our areas. We were informed that we were the 12 lucky hunters to draw out of 3900+ applicants. They also told us that there were elk in the area, but we weren't allowed to shoot them. Fair game was aoudad, corsican sheep, catalina goats, axis, & pigs. 2 weeks prior to this hunt, they had the youth exotic hunt. 10 youth hunters, 9 of which were successful. Those 9 hunters killed 40 animals. One of those hunters was a 14 year old girl who killed 7 aoudad, including a 36" ram, the biggest ever taken on the place. They still had the head/cape in the freezer in their shop. It was absolutely massive. I'm still kicking myself for not taking a picture.
Lodging was nice. We all stayed in the bunkhouse (minus 1 person), which was 2 beds per room, with showers and restrooms.
I drew unit 12. Several units were still available, so they gave me 11 as well. 2000 acres to myself. Awesome.
They met with us individually to go over the areas and game planning. Then we were off. My unit had a jeep trail go up to the top, so that's where I went. Not long after I got started hunting, the clouds (fog) rolled in. Visibility ranged from 100-300 yards on top of the hills. About an hour before sundown, I spotted a ewe standing alone at about 250 yards across a little canyon. I waited a few minutes, figuring there were more nearby. 3 more appeared, and 1 looked to be a decent ram. As soon as the 3 appeared, they started walking among some cedars away from me, never really offering a shot. Then more clouds rolled in and I lost visibility across the canyon. And that was that.
Had a little visitor while waiting in the clouds. He got a pass.
That was it for day 1. Went back to the bunkhouse, and a few other hunters had taken a couple ewes and corsican sheep.
My bunkmate and I were the first ones up the next morning at 5:30. We left at about 6:15, and about half the other hunters were still asleep.
I went back to the same area I saw the sheep the previous evening, and quickly found 1 lone sheep 1000+ yards away. I was headed a different direction, so I didn't go after it. All morning I just skirted around the canyon rims and glassed. Saw several other herds, but they were all so far away I couldn't even make out horns in my binoculars, just tiny little tan dots. I opted not to go after any of them, instead just keep going the direction I was headed. Soon, I figured, I'd see some in the canyon I was actually trying to hunt. No sheep for Saturday morning either, but I had probably spotted around 20 of them. Found a nice little shaded spot on some rocks and had lunch.
That afternoon I was paralleling the bottom of a vertical rock face just below a canyon rim. I had roughly glassed this little canyon and saw nothing. I was actually trying to make my way up and out of it, when I head rocks crashing in the distance behind me. I see 2 rams down below me about 200 yards, gingerly trotting away. Luckily, I just so happened to be standing next to a rock that made for a great chair. Grabbed a seat and got my bipod set up for the shot. Oh yeah, the bipod. At one point the previous evening, even before I saw the very first sheep in the fog, I lost the fork on my bipod. But there was still big enough of a flat surface that I could still get a good rest.
Anyway. I got it setup quickly and found the biggest of the 2 sheep in my crosshairs. I fired the 162 gr Hornady ELD-X out of my 7mm mag, and hit the ram, but he didn't drop. He was just about to cross over out of site, and all I could see was his head and neck. I fired a hail mary shot and dropped him.
Now, when I fired that first shot, about 15-20 more sheep jumped up out of nowhere further down the canyon out of some cedars. They all dropped down into the bottom and crossed the canyon, then came back up the other side directly across from me, then stopped and just kinda milled around. I ranged them, they were anywhere from 350-400ish yards. I picked another ram that was at 407 yards and fired off a shot. He jumped up like he was hit, then ran down the canyon a bit into a clump of cedars and never came out. I picked out what looked like a good sized ewe at 367 yards and fired. Down she went. I now have 3 aoudad on the ground. They eventually all cross over the top and out of the canyon. After sitting there for a minute or 2, another ewe jumps up from the original spot they all jumped up from down below me. I dropped her too. 4 aoudad down.
I can't make myself out to be a dead-eye-dick here. I missed 3 or 4 shots. I shot either 8 or 9 times. I did hit the second ram on the first attempt, but I missed the bigger ewe once or twice, and missed another 1 entirely and it went over the top.
This is the canyon where it all went down.
I make my way down to ram #1. It measures out at 28"
I take out the backstraps and the head, then make my way down to the last ewe I shot. She was small, basically a big lamb.
I take the backstraps and hindquarters from her. Onto the next ewe.
After I finished dressing her out, it was already sundown. I was pretty damn tired at this point. I made the decision to stash the meat of this one in a game bag hung up in a cedar about 6' off the ground. I'd come back in the morning to get it. As I was cleaning this one, another small ram jumped up back across the canyon and made its way up the top. It didn't really off much of shot, and when it did, there was nothing but blue sky behind it. It got a pass. On to the last ram.
It taped out at 22". I did the same thing to this one, left the meat in a game bag up in a cedar. Left the head on the carcass as well.
Made it back to headquarters, and another hunter had killed a 27" ram. He had caped his out for a half body mount with the front legs. A few more ewes and corsican sheep had been killed as well. My bunkmate had yet to even see an animal. Several other hunters were having a tough time too.
The next morning, my plan was to hunt my way toward my meat stashes, then pack them out along with Ram head #2, then go get them on ice. It got down to 35 that night, and the meat was there just like I left it. Untouched and super chilled out. I ended up seeing a herd of 5 of so sheep, plus a pig, all 1000+ yards away on this morning. I made no attempt to go after them.
I made it back to the truck and had an early lunch. I sat there for probably an hour, just sorta relishing in the moment. This might very well be the first and only time I get to hunt here, and it had turned out pretty damn awesome. I still had the evening and the next morning to hunt, but I made the decision to end my hunt. I had 4 sheep, 1 of which was a really good ram, and a cooler full of aoudad meat. I had probably seen in the neighborhood of 50 sheep total. Meanwhile, others had not seen anything. I drove down to headquarters and told the staff that I was done, and asked them to move folks into my 2 units, and I showed them on the map everywhere I had seen sheep. I then packed up, and hit the road.
Some misc pics:
A colorful **** pile. 5 different kinds!
