
Mexico Desert Bighorn Sheep Gear List
Justin Shaffer
This Mexico Desert Sheep hunt took place in February and the temperatures ranged from high 50’s in the mornings, to the upper 80’s during the peak of the afternoon sun. There was zero chance of precipitation anticipated in the forecast and the hunt was conducted in the cholla choked mountains that peaked out at around 5000 feet elevation.

This was a lodge-based hunt, so standard backpack mountain hunting camp gear items like a tent, sleeping bag, cook set were not needed. The area the sheep were in was accessed each morning by truck where it was roughly a 30-minute drive to our start points.

This was obviously a warm-weather hunt, where gear was maximized to stay as cool and dry as possible while hiking and glassing once the mid-day temps soared. Additional layers were utilized to take the chill out of the cool morning air until the sun peeked over the horizon.

This was my second successful trip to Mexico for sheep but my first archery Desert ram. He green scored 177 gross, with enormous 17”+ bases and horn lengths of 33” on both sides. I shot the ram at 22-yards as he was working his way into a water source.
I used a Hoyt Carbon RX-7 bow set at 70 pounds, shooting a 415 grain Victory RIP TKO arrow that was topped with a SEVR 1.5″ Titanium broadhead.
Listen in as Justin talks about his hunt and the gear he used.

Below was my gear list used on this hunt.
TOPS
BOTTOMS
- Kutana Stretch Woven Pant
- StrongWool Hybrid Crew Sock
- Scree Gaiters
HEADWEAR AND GLOVES
IN MY PACK
- Waypoint 5500 Duffel
- PRO 3600 Full Hunting Pack Kit
- SFS Bow Kit
- Glassing Pad
- Pro Hydration Rig
- Platypus 3L Hoser
- HD Roll Top Dry Bag (L)
- Zip Dry Bags
- Extreema Bag (M)
- Quarter Game Bag (M) x2
- Tyto 1.1 knife handle W/20 60XT Blades
- Headlamps x2
- 1 Liter Nalgene water bottle
OPTICS/GEAR
- PRO G3 Bino Harness
- PRO G3 Rangefinder Holder x2
- Microfiber Lens Cloth x2
- Swarovski 10x42 EL Range Binos
- Swarovski 15x56 SLC Binos
- Swarovski ATX 95 Spotting Scope
- Outdoorsman’s Bino Adapter
- Leica 1000R Rangefinder
- Manfrotto 290 Xtra Carbon Tripod
- Sirui VA-5 Microfluid Head
- Garmin Inreach Mini
- Iphone with Phone Scope Adapter
PERSONAL
- First aid kit
- Sunblock
- Chapstick
- Ear plugs
- 25 feet cord
- Sunglasses