Pulled cards on trail camera today and chuckled a little when I found this surprise. Figured he has been wandering through the county looking for groceries. No one has ever seen an aoudad on the place. How do most folks judge as shootable. I would like to try and take him with my bow but he appears young. How is the meat - edible? Any input appreciated. Thanks.

Hes on the young side to me but looks like he's in good shape and nice beard for what else he's showing. If he's free range and you think hed be a nice addition take em. Aoudad meat is edible but not good. They are taken for their wearyness and horns they make a great hunt.

If this is the first time you have seen him, it may also be the last time. My neighbor saw a big one a few years ago and did not shoot for some reason and never saw him again.

If your thinking of not taking him with a bow because he is young, then you may be in for a very, very long wait. Aoudad's live for a very long time and those ones you see that are 30"+ are not some 5 or 6 year old ram but in fact are usually a much older. I know of one in particular on a ranch that is well over 18 years old.

My point is, with a bow, free range, the only answer you need to be hearing is a THWACK! Getting a shot on a aoudad(especially free range) with a bow is an accomplishment itself.

You can do something with the meat. The ewes I tried recently from what a friend gave me was actually pretty good. Kind of greasy but never the less, tastefull and I enjoyed it. I may grind the rest of it up and make some sausage with it.

Best of luck on your hunt for this fella and I hope you decide to take him. Nothing wrong with that one at all.

I'd shoot that sucker!

Shoot him. At that age they are not bad eating. They make pretty good dry sausage and jerkey also.

I Would shoot him and give away the meat

the one i shot last year was that size.

taste was pretty good, just much tougher than whitetail

it was good in sausage and i would say it was excellent as jerky.

He's not a 'trophy' by measurement, but if you like him, shoot him. Aoudad roam alot more than some of the other exotics. Unless you have some rugged terrain nearby, it's not likely he'll set up shop for long. Esp being a young male, he'll keep moving looking for females.

What county is that place in?

CHUTE UM!

We love the meat, especially if you process it yourself. Either way we eat it all the time.

you like the meat than shoot...if you want a head than tag him and let him grow.....correct me if i am wrong....he looks young and i dont like aoudad meat

My buddy down in the Fairfield area had a herd of them under his feeder a month ago. Pretty strange to see them free ranging like that.

I would say with a bow takem. I would not wait long he will be gone. He does not look like what some people would consider a trophy. If he really has you interested do not even bother with the bow get the rifle and get after him. I put 2 down in the last couple of years up in the panhandle canyons. One of the ruffest hunts I have been on. But I got the job done. Any way a quick way to judge a mature male is to look at the chaps. If they have black up and down them (usually on the tips and lighten as the chaps get closer to his body and legs)it's a shooter. Then look at the horns. All the ranchers i have talked to said if you really want to eat one, get the yougest one you can, but they would not eat any of them. My two stunk to bad for me, but they make good varmit bait stations.

Id let a 125grain grim reaper fly.

I would shoot him. My lab luvs the meat grilled.

In the face!!!

I would &^%$ if I had that on my camera.... Cool to see him running wild.