After climbing after and then me missing the biggest ram we saw at 250 yards with a perfect set up, we relocated the sheep a mile or so away and my brother made a great shot on the big guy. Coolest thing we saw on the trip was the Number 2 ram in the group and 2nd largest seen all week immediately and viciously attacking the downed ram who was doing his best to lay down and die.
From our perspective the ram my brother killed rolled into a shallow ravine out of sight and the Number 2 still hot on his butt repeated hooking and butting him. The other 25 or so aoudad had headed for the next county but the Number 2 was apparently exacting his revenge and mollifying his long frustation upon seeing the "King" showing vulnerability. This lasted at least 10 minutes, probably more.
After waiting a few minutes I realized I was looking a gift horse in the mouth and suggested we get on up to my brothers ram (out of view) and see if I might get a close shot at the 2nd largest ram we had seen in 3 days of glassing miles and miles of terrain. We knew that other ram was still in with the now likely very dead ram as he could not leave the area without us seeing him.
I shot this ram at 40 yards. He was so busy whipping my brothers dead ram's butt he never saw us sneak right up to him with practically no cover other than him being in the 5 foot? depression of the shallow ravive. All we we could see was a thorny bush whipping back and forth from "my" ram getting in his licks but could see neither ram even though we were for sure right on top of them 30 or so yards away. I think 'my' ram heard us whispering and pondering what to do and he popped out of the ravine 40 yards away and stood there looking at us. He was smeared in my brother's rams blood across his chest and side. Quite a sight!!!
While we knew it could not be my brothers ram standing there, while looking at him through the rifle scope I hesitated cause I did not want to be putting a finishing shot on my brothers ram. Seeing no blood on this ram's nose that we had clearly seen on the 'dead' ram after my brother's shot as the assurance this was the Number 2 ram, I made the easy 40 yard shot wih the rifle from a standing position with the rifle resting on a tripod. Bang. Flop. Text book kill like we all want to see.
Super cool that my brother was adamant about me killing the larger sheep and put me in position to do just that 3 days in a row but he ended up getting it. Totally thrilled with the outcome and another great hunt with my brother. (he joined me and was instrumental to my success for 8 days of my 2016 WY elk hunt).
We had grilled Aoudad loin that night and it was GOOD tasting. Although very tough, akin to Rocky Mountain Goat. Have heard many people say aoudad tastes terrible. No so based on what we just ate.
About to fly out of El Paso and should get home about midnight. Next up are pictures of my brother's big ram and a pic of both side by side since they dropped within 15 yards of each other 20 minutes apart. A rare brother brother double! Such an awesome hunt. I would travel to hunt these wiley critters anytime.
