These 5 Animals Present a TRUE Hunting Challenge

By Ready to Fire News Last updated Jan 17, 2020

Hunting should be a challenge. With that being said, some animals are more difficult to hunt than others. When you are tired of bagging that same old white-tailed deer each season, maybe it’s time to set your sights a little higher. Plan a trip to hunt one of these hard to hunt animals for an experience that will definitely make you a better shooter in the long run.

Here are five animals that present a true hunting challenge. Keep in mind that all of these animals are located within North America, so it doesn’t involve any complicated safari hunting of big game.

Animal #5: Aoudad

These creatures are also known as Barbary sheep. Their origins stem from the northern African mountain region before they were introduced to the southwest border of Mexico in the desert region of the United States. Their sizes vary, but the majority of the aoudads are around three and a half feet tall and can weigh up to 300 pounds. Chasing them through the mountains where they can nimbly climb is a challenge to say the least, but if you get one it makes a great trophy to have displayed on your wall with their massive giant horns.

Animal #4: Wild Sheep

Another type of sheep on the list are the wild ones. They are notoriously difficult to find, so when you are hunting them be prepared to have patience and cover a ton of ground in your pursuit. You’ll probably have to hike quite a bit with a guide to help you as well. Try to hunt wild sheep mainly in places around Canada like Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

Animal #3: Chukar

If hunting birds is more your specialty, you have to hunt the famed chukar. They come from parts of Asia before they made their way to the desert mountain regions of the United States. The name comes from the sound the birds make as they quickly flee the scene through the canyons to get away from hunters. They are fast, nimble, and a notoriously difficult game bird to shoot. The path they fly is all over the place, zig-zagging to confuse their stalkers. Ideally, when you hunt them, you want to get high up in the hills above them to shoot in a downward direction. If they get above you to fly away, your chances of getting one are very slim.

Animal #2: Coues Deer

Another desert southwest animal is the Coues deer. They have large antlers, but they aren’t very big overall. Their size is similar to a white-tail deer on a diet. They weigh less and aren’t as tall either. The reason they are so hard to hunt is that they are great at disappearing quickly and hiding themselves among the vegetation. If you do get one on your hunt, the meat is extra delicious.

Animal #1: Mountain Goat

Mountain goats are called that for a reason. They are adept at scaling large mountains, so hunting them means you are going to be up there climbing as well. You’ll mainly want to hunt them in the mountains of the northwest in places like Montana and Washington. They also make their home in Canada as well as in some of the same regions as the wild sheep, such as the Yukon and British Columbia. The mountain goat is sturdy and fast, especially at going down vertical inclines. Carry only what you need when you are in their pursuit, since you’ll probably be covering a ton of ground to get one.