Desert Bighorn Ram

[Squirrel Hunter]

New Mexico desert bighorn sheep
Solo hunt in Little Hatchet mountains, Oct 2025

NM biologist says this is the first desert BH killed in NM with a trad bow and probably with any bow. I wonder what the Apaches and Anasazis would say about that?

60 lb homemade black locust bow
560 gr pine arrow with Woodsman head

Getting him out by myself in 90 deg heat nearly killed me. At 70, I think I'm too old for this kind of hunting.

[southpawarcher]

Congrats!!!

Details?  Stalk, shot distance, recovery distance...etc.

[Kodiak Fan]

Incredible! Great job.  We certainly need the full story.  Please fill in all the details.  Thanks.  JV

[mnbwhtr]

That's Great!

[Squirrel Hunter]

Details? OK.

Drew a very hard to get tag for an area I was already somewhat familiar with, so so far so good.

Weather was miserable — 85-90 degrees every day and, of course, no shade for 50 miles.

I hunted 11 days without seeing a sheep. At noon on the last day, I had given up and was going to drive home, when I spotted this ram following a ewe about 200 yds away. I was already on a ridge above them and downwind, so the hard part was done by sheer dumb luck. I spent an hour closing the gap. He was paying no attention, concentrating on the ewe. I shot him at 25 yds. He went less than 30 yards. That's when it turned ugly, getting him dressed skinned and quartered, then packed out in the heat. However, I got all the meat out in time; it's good.

I had to take the head to game & fish to be "sealed". The guy who did it happened to be the head NM biologist for sheep, and also the head coach for the New Mexico Archery in the Schools competitive team, so he was actually more excited than I was.

[darin putman]

 NM biologist says this is the first desert BH killed in NM with a trad bow and probably with any bow. I wonder what the Apaches and Anasazis would say about that?   Maybe that you should change your handle to the Great white Squirrel hunter. On a serious note this is a very impressive accomplishment, in my opinion as impressive as any I've read about over the years on here. Congratulations on a successful hunt!