Exotics A-Z; Aoudad

Next up is the Aoudad Ammotragus lervia, sometimes incorrectly called Barbary Sheep.

The Aoudad, as is suggested by its common name, is native to North Africa and is the only animal of its genus in Africa. It is actually not a sheep, but a distinct species, more closely related to true goats (genus Capra). The only other similar animals found on the African continent are two species of true Ibex: Nubian Ibex (native to the Sinai and the Arabian peninsula) and a variant called the Walia Ibex (native to Ethiopia).

Aoudad have been successfully introduced in North America. There are large wild populations in Texas, the Desert Southwest and Spain. Aoudad could undoubtedly thrive in many other areas, but their prolific breeding and aggressive nature have been detrimental to many native species. These facts make Aoudad undesirable in many ecosystems. Indeed in North America, Aoudad are heavily hunted and even eradicated in some areas for this very reason. Despite these unfortunate qualities, Aoudad are splendid game animals and are always a challenging quarry.

Aoudad are distinguished by their massive, supra-cervical horns. Both sexes have horns with those of the male being much more massive and generally much longer than the female. A good trophy male will have horns of 30" or better. Some exceptional specimens have horns longer than 3 feet and there are a handful approaching 40" in the record books. though native to Africa, Aoudad have fared so well in North America that the very largest specimens are taken there. In fact the Aoudad has become so well established in North America that trophies taken here can be entered in the Rowland Ward recod book of African game. To my knowledge this is the only exception Rowland Ward has made to the listing of African game not taken in Africa. The horns are quite massive and wrinkled proximally to the skull. The horns typically flare out in a large semi-circle and curl back above the neck. The horns are conical for most of their length with the last few inches being flattened.

These flattened surfaces are used in a unique fashion. Aoudad are very fond of taking dust baths. This behavior is assumed to be a means of deterring insects and other parasites. During the course of this dust wallowing, I have personally observed Aoudad use the flattened horn tips to scoop up small amounts of dirt and sprinkle it along their backs. This is a unique behavior which I have not witnessed in any similar species.

Another prominent feature is the long, coarse hair that grows profusely from the throat to the chest and along the front legs of mature males. This feature is commonly referred to as "chaps" and it is a very apt description of its appearance. The chaps are of such character and distinction that they are considered a secondary trophy. From this point of view, it is similar to the full mane coveted by hunters in the lion. In fact, the most commonly seen mounts of Aoudad are the so-called half-life size styles which show off the unique chaps that would otherwise be lost on a shoulder mount.

A big male Aoudad can reach 3 feet or more at the withers and can weigh up to 300lbs. They have massive forequarters and a deep chest. Aoudad have a short, dense coat of light brown or taupe hair. Older males may even be several shades darker, this of course may be attributable to the Aoudad's affinity for dirt wallowing. I am unable to detect any significant difference in the thickness or quality of the pelage from winter to summer. The chaps of the mature male are retained all year. As true, horned game, Aoudad are huntable year round.

Aoudad are extremely wary and very tough animals. Shots may be long and even when well hit Aoudad can travel surprisingly far in very rugged terrain. While I have seen mature Aoudad taken with the .243 Win, I believe that such a round is generally far too light for such a massive and hardy animal. As usual the .270 Win will do a fine job, but a hunter who can handle the .300 Magnums well will not be overgunned, especially if ranges tend to be long.

We'll be back again soon with more members of the Exotics, until then, so long!

Exotics A-Z: Addax

Now that we have gotten our fill of wild boar (you can't ever really tire of such challenging game!), let's take a look at all of the other species on offer. This is not a complete list by any means, but it will certainly cover the more commonly encountered species.

Despite our brief wild boar departure, I think that an alphabetical approach might be the easiest way to handle the task. So here goes:

Addax (addax nasomaculatus)

The Addax is a medium sized (a big bull stands about 4 feet tall at the withers and might weigh 250lbs), antelope-like African ungulate (this term can be correctly used to describe any hoofed mammal). Perhaps we should get the "antelope" description out of the way first. While this is not intended to be a treatise on taxonomy, I believe that most hunters would appreciate some information on how animals are named and how they are related to other similar species. So let's deal with the most common misnomer right of the bat.

As you explore hunting in the Texas Hill Country and around the world, you will note almost immediately the common tendency to apply the term antelope to a staggering variety of animals. Almost every variety of African hoofed game is referred to as a something or other antelope. While this may seem convenient, it is actually quite confusing, not to mention being totally inaccurate.

There is only one true antelope. This is the Blackbuck (antelope antelope), a native of the Indian sub-continent and a very successful transplant to Texas and many other parts of the world. We will discuss the Blackbuck in more detail later on, but suffice it to say that one of the characteristic features of this true antelope is fairly long spiral horns. The fact that antelope share this and some other features with a large variety of animals has led to the common (and incorrect) naming of those animals as antelope. So let's get serious about this and stick to the facts rather than the common misconceptions.

Addax are members of the sub-family hippotraginae. This Greek name means horse goats. As the Addax is neither a horse nor a goat, I suppose we can see that even the Greek scholars among us had problems with animal names! Other members of this group are the Oryxes, Sable and Roan.

Unlike all the other hippotraginae, Addax horns form a shallow spiral. Like the other members, the horns are ringed and somewhat divergent in a "V" shape. The rings disappear for the last third of the horn which ends in a sharp smooth tip. Addax horns appear to be somewhat thin, especially as they extend to the tips for the last third of their length. Both sexes carry horns and as is the case with other members of this group, the females often have longer horns than males. Males tend to have more massive horns and also tend to "broom" or wear the horn tips which of course tends to diminish their length and accentuate the appearance of massiveness.

A trophy Addax (both cows and bulls may be entered in the Record Books) has horns that measure 30" or more around the curve. A superb specimen might carry horns that are in the high 30's. The longest Addax I personally measured was an odd looking bull with "bent" horns that exceeded 38" in length and were an incredible 42" wide.

On a side note, Addax "venison" is excellent, like that of all the other members of this group. So if you are lucky enough to take a trophy Addax, be sure to take that meat!

For much of the year, Addax are completely devoid of markings with the exception of the head and face. In the summer coat, the body is completely white. In winter a taupe colored coat grows in some individuals which can cover the entire upper body from the neck to the flanks. The belly and legs remain white. The head and facial markings consist of a mask of alternating white and dark brown. There is a prominent dark brown "toupee" in adult animals.

Another striking feature is the large and widely splayed hooves; believed to be an adaptation to enable Addax to walk in desert sand without sinking deeply; a type of "snowshoe" for the desert. While this feature would be a definite advantage during a desert migration, it appears to make the Addax somewhat clumsy on other types of terrain. While the Addax is certainly capable of running, it seems to prefer a moderately paced walking gate when undisturbed.

It has been written that Addax "never drink" in their native habitat and that they obtain all their necessary moisture from succulent forbs and other plants that grow rapidly in the desert after infrequent but drenching rains. While I have read this and similar statements in various literature, I have my doubts about the accuracy of such claims. To be sure it seems reasonable to conclude that any desert dweller would have to have the means to obtain moisture from any available source, but I am also quite certain that any desert animal, even the Addax, would readily drink from any available water sources should the opportunity arise.

Addax are unfortunately one of the rarest of all ungulates, having been extirpated in its native ranges throughout North Africa. While this near extinction is often attributed to the uncontrolled "hunting" (I would submit that any wanton slaughter has nothing whatsoever to do with hunting and therefore that such a statement is suspect.) of the Addax by local people and others, I suspect that this may also be an example of an uncorroborated assumption.

To be sure, such pressure would not be helpful to the species, but given the remote and hostile nature of the Addax' environment, it would seem that a fair number of Addax would be able to live undisturbed. I suspect that the Addax is simply a species whose heyday has passed and that it is being eliminated from its native ranges by other species that are more efficient competitors for the minimal resources the desert offers.

Fortunately for the Addax (and as we shall see for many other threatened species) thriving populations are readily found in Texas. Not only has the Addax been saved from extinction by the efforts of those landowners who have propagated this animal, but the species has actually become commonplace in many areas.

Addax are not particularly wary animals and in fact can demonstrate aggressive tendencies in some situations. This is not an uncommon behavior for other members of this group, some of which, including sable and roan are noted for their pugnacity and willingness to fight when wounded or cornered.

Like all horned game, Addax are hunted year round in Texas. Hunting methods can vary, but Addax behavior makes a spot and stalk approach a good bet. Though Addax are not particularly large, they can be tough to put down. This is another trait they share with other members of this sub-family. I would advise using a premium bullet (for plainsgame I am very fond of the Swift Scirocco, which I have found to combine excellent weight retention with superb accuracy) and would further suggest that a .270 Win is a sensible minimum caliber for Addax. Regardless of your choice of caliber, bullet placement is far and away the most important factor. No matter what you use, be sure to place the shot where it counts!

We'll check in later and until then, so long!

A Monster Boar

Dave and I had been hunting sika deer since sunrise. It was cool for August at Buffalo Creek Ranch in the The Texas Hill Country, but otherwise a clear and typical day. Sika are among the most challenging deer to hunt. They thrive in the deep cover which abounds in this part of Texas. They have adapted so well to this shadowy environment that hunters are sometimes convinced that sika are figments of our imagination. Then the shrill, whistling bugle of the rutting stags cuts though the air and shatters all such conclusions. Such it was on this day.

It was now crowding 10:00am and we had decided to head back to the house for a well earned breakfast. As we emerged from the mouth of an especially steep and thickly wooded canyon, we came upon a deep ravine which cut its way up the side of Boar Mountain. This was the name we had bestowed on this rugged heap of Texas rock, brush and oak some 16 years ago, as a result of the successful hunts for wild boar we had made on and around its slopes.

Before driving past this ravine in the hunting vehicle, I suggested that Dave let me scout a bit, on the off chance that we might see some game. Dave was willing and I left him in the vehicle. I walked quickly and as silently as I could to the edge of the draw. I suggested this plan because of the steady breeze that placed us downwind of any game that might be in the draw.

The wind in the hills is usually fickle, but this morning she was constant. I had long ago learned that scent was the key to hunting most game. Even if an animal sees or hears the hunter, the impulse to flee is almost always triggered by scent. If we could take advantage of this wind, we might be in a position to surprise anything that happened to be in the ravine.

As I peered over the edge of the draw, I saw a huge gray boulder on the edge of a small, spring-fed, pool of water. There was no sign of life in the draw. Despite the fact that I saw nothing with my unaided eyes, I raised my binoculars to scan the ravine. This was a habit which I had acquired long ago. How many times have I been unable to see anything, only to be surprised by what I could perceive when I had used my optics!

Even with the glasses, however, all was still. I was about to turn back when I thought I saw movement by the pool. I focused my binoculars on this area, not more than 40 yards from my vantage point. There was nothing but the steady breeze. Once again, the huge gray boulder was in my line of sight. Then it dawned on me that I had been on this spot innumerable times in the past and I had never seen this great rock before! Perhaps it had rolled from the hillside above, I thought. I again looked carefully at the rock. It was then that I saw ears and the gleam of white…what were they? Tusks!

The boar was simply enormous, a least 6 feet long and perhaps half again as wide! Best of all, he was completely unaware of my presence. The blessed breeze, still steady, had completely obliterated my scent. He was facing upwind, obviously having only recently entered the pool to seek refuge from the coming heat of the August day.

I ran back to tell Dave. He was a Californian who had hunted wild pigs all his life. He told me honestly that he probably would not be interested in yet another pig. I thought about this, but this was such a unique trophy, I prevailed upon him to hear me out. When I finished, he agreed to walk up with me (I think just to see what I was talking about and to humor me).

In a few moments we had reached the spot and Dave saw the boar. We had a brief discussion about the potential size of the animal and despite all of his prior pig experience, Dave was impressed enough to take a shot. The boar was facing away, at a slight angle. His near shoulder was perfectly exposed. I knew that Dave was an excellent shot (he had killed a trophy Corsican ram the day before, with one shot, while the animal was running in a herd about 160 yards away). I had complete confidence that he would precisely place the 130 grain Hornady slug from his .270 Winchester right through the boar’s heart. Dave took a steady rest on a scrub oak tree on the edge of the ravine. He was ready to fire.

The .270 is my all time favorite cartridge. I have used the .270 or witnessed its use in taking literally hundreds of big game animals from diminutive whitetail and blackbuck antelope to bull elk. When used with the right bullets it can cleanly take the full spectrum of game, provided the hunter places his shots well. I had no doubt that with proper shot placement Dave could put this boar’s lights out where he lay. In fact I actually had second thoughts, because I feared that if Dave did kill this animal where he was, we would have a hell of a time trying to get him out of the pool and the thick mud in which he had been wallowing. These were the thoughts running through my mind when I heard Dave shoot.

The huge boar jumped clear out of the pool at the sound of the shot. He ran upwind, still facing away and we could already see blood streaming from Dave’s perfectly placed heart shot. In the next instant the boar wheeled about and looked directly uphill. He had undoubtedly seen us and in the second that it took for Dave and I to realize what had happened, the boar sprinted uphill. He was charging right for us!

Dave had three more rounds in his magazine. He worked the bolt smoothly and kept his head. In the seconds that it took the huge boar to close the 40 yard gap from the pool to our position, Dave delivered those rounds into the chest and shoulders of the animal. It was a masterful display of shooting skill and by the time the huge animal had reached our spot, he was blowing blood from his nostrils all over the ground below him. He was also still on his feet and still coming for us!

I am convinced that the wind, which even then kept our scent from him, was our savior that day. Dave and I managed to pull back into the grove of scrub oaks on the edge of the draw and the boar, miraculously, rushed by. We could have reached out and touched him as he passed! He ran another 30 yards and stopped, obviously trying to get our scent and locate us for another charge.

I told Dave to…”shoot him again!”. Dave replied that he had no more ammo with him. He had left the rest in the vehicle, which was another 40 yards or so beyond the boar. I was convinced that the boar would go down and be finished, but he kept circling and looking for his antagonists. It soon became apparent that though he was mortally wounded, the wounds were not going to be immediately fatal. We had no choice but to hold our ground and wait for an opening.

This finally came when he walked away at a slight quartering angle. I used this opening to sprint to the vehicle. Once I got behind the wheel, I raced back to Dave. He grabbed the rest of his ammo and refilled his magazine with 4 fresh rounds, placing a 5th in the chamber.

In an instant, the .270 roared and 5 more rounds were delivered with what should have been devastating effect. All the shots were perfectly placed, yet the huge boar was still on his feet! We were shocked and astounded. Fortunately, Dave had the presence of mind to reload immediately after his last round went home and he was able to cycle his action 4 more times, finally bringing the brute to ground.

Dave and I were shocked, exhausted and amazed! The boar had taken 13 well placed shots, at less than 50 yards, before he succumbed! It took us 15 minutes to decide that the beast was down for good and another 20 minutes to get up enough courage to approach him where he lay. He was positively enormous! Ground shrinkage was certainly not a factor!

He measured 8’4” from nose to butt. His girth was an incredible 75”! His tusks were equally huge, measuring 7” from his lower jaw. I estimated that he had at least another 6” of ivory embedded in the jaw. Using length + girth formulae we estimated his live weight at 1,200lbs!

Even to a seasoned pig hunter, this was the trophy of a lifetime!

Inaugural blog post

Welcome to All!

This is the first post in what I hope will be a fruitful blogging event. It only seems fitting then that we should begin with an introduction and a "raison d'etre" (in other words, what's the point of this exercise?).

My family owns and operates Buffalo Creek Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. I invite you to view the Ranch website for more details: http://www.buffalocreekranch.com/

Buffalo Creek Ranch is dedicated to Year Round big game hunting and the propagation of over 40 species of game from around the world.

For over 20 years I have been involved with hunting in the Texas Hill Country. To be sure, I have hunted in other places (Africa, Australia and in many North American venues), but my main interest and focus has been the Lone Star State. In large measure this is the result of the almost limitless opportunity Texas affords. In no other place can the hunter take to the field 365 days out of every year. Then there is the multitude of species available. In many cases these game animals can only be pursued in Texas, even though they are native to the far flung reaches of the Globe. In future posts we will discuss the ins and outs of the Texas hunting experience and compare and contrast these with what is available elsewhere.

I look forward to our next post and until then, So Long!