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Subscribe (It's Free) Barbary Sheep
Barbary sheep are a transplant from Africa. They can be found in the Texas panhandle and in New Mexico on a free-range basis.
New Mexico offers tags over the counter, and hunts can be had on public land. Competition is tough, though, so success rates and trophy quality can be low. Private land hunts offer much better trophy quality and success rates. In certain prime areas of New Mexico, the season is limited (typically to February), but in the rest of the state the season is technically year-round.
The New Mexico herd got started when some privately-owned animals escaped from captivity. They're very prolific animals, much more so than native sheep, and in good Barbary sheep country they'll outnumber native mule deer and antelope. You may see a hundred sheep a day, in fact.
Trophy quality is gauged by length of horn. Anything above a 27" length is a solid trophy. Anything above 30" is outstanding.
Barbary sheep are big, tough animals. Don't go after them with anything smaller than a 30-06 or a 7mm magnum. A 300 WinMag is a good choice, and a 338 WinMag loaded with a 210 grain bullet would be an excellent choice.
My personal experience is limited. I shot a 28" ram near Roswell, New Mexico with my 300 WinMag. I made a slightly imperfect shot, and I've never seen an animal so tough to bring down. My partner on the trip shot an almost identical ram with a 30-06. He made a perfect shot, and his ram went down cleanly. (Read More...)
The meat is tasty but tough. Use it for sausage.