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Species gallery and Info
Four Horn Sheep
Four-horned sheep are perhaps the most easily identified sheep species in the exotic world. It’s name is derived from the two sets of horns (or “4 horns”) protruding from the sheep’s head. Occasionally, the black appears a brownish-gray. Through extensive cross-breeding, some sheep may appear all black or with very few white spots. A smaller sheep species, rams weigh from 120 to 180 lbs and ewes 100 to 120 lbs
Aoudad Sheep
The Aoudad, or Barbary sheep, is a goat-like antelope commonly found in the rocky mountain regions of North Africa. The Aoudad stand 30-40 inches at the shoulders and weigh from 90-310 pounds. This is a magnificent animal which is usually mounted in a half body to show off its beautiful long flowing chaps down the front legs. Don’t let the majestic look of this animal fool you. It is one of the most difficult exotic animals to harvest.
Black Hawaiin Sheep
These sheep are black in color and sometimes have an outer coat of reddish wool. They will frequently have a white muzzle. The horns are usually dark. They grow up, back, down, forward, up, and out. A large male can weigh 140 pounds and a female will weigh about 75 pounds. There are fewer Black Hawaiian Rams than the other sheep species. They can have a thick, nice beard on their neck. Sailors put these sheep off in the Hawaiian Islands so they could have fresh meat when they returned.
Corsican Sheep
If you are looking at the most bang for the buck, then the Corsican Ram is were you want to begin. Rams will usually be brown with a black or white belly. Males will often have long black hair on the neck that many call a ruff. The horn configuration on a ram can vary from a tight curl similar to a Mouflon sheep or wide and flaring horn configuration. Horn lengths on a trophy sized animal start at about 30 inches and exceptional specimens can grow horns that can reach the 38 to 40 inch mark.
Painted Desert Sheep
Desert bighorn sheep are stocky, heavy-bodied sheep, similar in size to mule deer. Weights of mature rams range from 115 to 280 pounds (55 to 90 kg), while ewes are somewhat smaller. Due to their unique concave elastic hooves, bighorn are able to climb the steep, rocky terrain of the desert mountains with speed and agility. They rely on their keen eyesight to detect potential predators, such as mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, and they use their climbing ability to escape.
Axis Buck
Axis Deer are one of the most pristine of all the exotic deer, with a beautiful six by six horn configuration towering up to 40 inches tall. This is a must for any hunter’s trophy room. Axis Deer are originally from Europe and were imported in the 1800′s. Their unique spotted coat makes them one of the most beautiful of all the deer species. Axis can weigh in excess of 250 lbs and be more than 50 in tall. Axis deer are elusive and can be a great challenge to the experienced hunter. It is a magnificient animal and can be seen most days at Thompson Hunting Lodge.
Black Buck Antelope
Black Buck Antelope are one of the most popular exotic animals with black beveled horns and a body color ranging from black to golden brown. This beautiful native of India grows blacker on his back in winter and also as he grows older. Male Black Buck Antelope have black fur on their upper parts and white fur on their chest, belly, the inner sides of their legs, and on their muzzle and chin. They have white rings around their eyes and they have long, ringed horns that spiral with three to four turns and are up to 28 inches long. The males are born light brown then turn black around three years of age. Males stand about 32 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh between 71 and 95 pounds.
Elk
Elk can be distinguished from other deer by their large size, brown or tan bodies, and yellowish-brown tail and rump patch. They have thick necks and slender legs and can stand as tall as 5 feet at the shoulders. Their long legs enable them to run as fast as 35 miles per hour. Males weigh from 600 to 1,100 pounds and have six-tined antlers that can grow up to 5 feet long. Antlers begin growing in early spring and fall off in winter. The females are smaller, about 450 to 650 pounds, and lack antlers. Mating season is in August or September. Females give birth to one or two calves each spring, and newborn calves weigh up to 40 pounds.
Red Stag
The Red Stag is one of our most popular species of exotics. This large animal with its beautiful reddish brown coat and crowned antlers makes a great addition to any trophy room. A mature male will have antlers with 5 to 7 points per antler. Mature males weigh 400+ pounds and females weigh about 250 pounds. Red deer are the European cousin of the North American elk. Male red deer are called stags. Mature males have 3 or more points sprouting from the end of the antler called a crown.
Whitetail Deer
The adult whitetail deer's weight averages from about 100 to 350 pounds. Mature males are generally larger than the females. The whitetail is an ungulate, or hoofed animal, with each foot ending in a cloven or two piece hoof. The under parts of the deer's body are white with a white patch on the throat and another smaller band of white around the nose. The underside of the tail is also white. The upper body parts are colored reddish brown during the warmer months but in the fall, whitetail deer molt into their winter coats of dark, grayish brown. For several months of the year, male whitetail deer, known as bucks, are easily recognized by the presence of antlers on their head, which the females, known as does, lack. They are the only animal that posses antlers.
Rambouillet Sheep
Mature Rambouillet rams weigh between 250 and 300 pounds (113-135 kg), ewes range from 150 to 200 pounds (68-90 kg). Mature ewes will have a fleece weigh of 8 to 18 pounds (3.6-8.1 kg) with a yield of 35 to 55 percent. The fleece staple length will vary from two to four inches (5-10 cm) and range in fiber diameter from 18.5 to 24.5 microns or 60 to 80 for the numerical count.
Texas Dall Sheep
This striking sheep is completely white or golden colored with a white face. The horns grow up, out, down, forward, up, and out. A large male will weigh 140 pounds while a female will weigh 75 pounds. The Texas Dall sheep is a hybrid sheep that originated in Texas. A white Texas Dall ram with big horns and a long beard is hard to beat. They look similar to an Alaskan Dall sheep. This is one of the most popular rams to hunt in Texas.
Turkey
Weight: males 17-30lbs; females 8-12lbs
Length: males 42-48 inches; females 32-38 inches
Flight and ground speed: 25mph (max ground speed); 55mph (max flight speed) Habitat: woodland habitats mixed with agricultural fields Foods: waste grains, insects, wild fruits and tree nuts Mating: polygamous, hens typically mate with dominant male. Nest period: April - June
Hogs
A mature feral hog may reach a shoulder height of 36 inches and weigh from 100 to over 400 pounds. The extreme larger hogs are generally not far removed from domestication. Males are generally larger than females. European wild hogs are about the same size; however, their legs and snouts are usually longer and they have a larger head in proportion to the body. Their body is covered with long, stiff, grizzled colored hairs, long side whiskers, a longer straighter tail, and a nape on the neck giving the European hog a razorback, sloped appearance.
Doves
The mourning dove is a medium-sized, slender dove approximately 31 cm (12 in) in length. Mourning doves weigh 112–170 g (4.0–6.0 oz), usually closer to 128 g (4.5 oz).[20] The elliptical wings are broad, and the head is rounded. Its tail is long and tapered ("macroura" comes from the Greek words for "large" and "tail"[21]). Mourning doves have perching feet, with three toes forward and one reversed. The legs are short and reddish colored. The beak is short and dark, usually a brown-black hue.[8]
Scimitar horned oryx
Large antelope (130-180 kg) with long, backward-sweeping, curved horns. Overall pelage off-white with strongly contrasting reddish wash to the neck and upper chest. Reddish facial markings through the eye and across the bridge of the nose. Tail long and well-tufted.
Waterbuck
The head-and-body length is typically between 177–235 cm (70–93 in) and the average height is between 120 and 136 cm (47 and 54 in). A sexually dimorphic antelope, males are taller as well as heavier than females. Males reach approximately 127 cm (50 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 119 cm (47 in). Males typically weigh 198–262 kg (437–578 lb) and females 161–214 kg (355–472 lb). The coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.