Texas Desert Bighorn
Like many, I was searching through TPWD.com deciding which hunts I was going to apply for - at the top of my list is the Guided Desert Bighorn Sheep hunt and this year they have issued a tag for the drawing outside of the Big Time Texas Hunts. The problem is though they require a centerfire rifle of .243 caliber or larger for both the drawn tag and the Big Time Texas Hunt tag. They will not allow the use of archery equipment.
I would love to hunt a desert bighorn sheep in my home state but since I layed down my rifle and picked up a bow the desire to hunt with a rifle is not there. I put a call into TPWD and spoke to a gentleman about this hunt and asked him why the use of archery equipment is not allowed on this hunt. The answer I was given is becuase "they want the animal down on the spot" - now I find it hard to believe that every successful hunt that they have conducted has resulted in a ram dropping on the spot.
Hunters who apply for a deer hunt at Hagerman and are drawn have to qualify at a shoot. I imagine to prove proficiency and to prove that they are capable of making ethical accurate shots. If I am wrong here someone please correct me.
What I do not understand is why they can not implement the same requirment for the guided desert bighorn sheep hunt. We all know that a sharp, well placed broadhead will put an animal down very quickly and humanely.
This is something that I would like to pursue and get changed I am sure if we band together we could accomplish this.
|
Threaded Mode