2025 Colorado Bighorn Sheep Hunt

[Dinkshooter]

I’m sure he’s laying in his tent dead asleep curled up next them horns counting sheep.

 

[npaden]

Got back to the truck about 6:30 and came into town to get ice on the meat and cape and shower and eat a hot meal and sleep in a nice bed.

We didn’t weigh our packs but he carried all 4 quarters out and I carried the head and cape, backstraps, tenderloins and neck meat. My pack was probably just a little over 30 pounds with the rifle starting out so thinking I was around 80 pounds and guides pack was around 60 pounds starting out so he thinks he was over 100 pounds on the way out. All downhill or side hill but pretty rough stuff.




Forecast is for 94% chance of rain tomorrow so guide is going to take a break and go back and get camp when the weather is better and he is pretty beat too.

I haven’t had a chance to read back though all the posts. I’m pretty beat and going to go to bed. I’ll add lots of my usual narrative to this and some more pictures after I get home tomorrow.

The first shot was very high shoulder. Almost blackstrap.




Second shot was heart. Didn’t take a picture of that.

I’ll add more pictures of the ram too. He’s not full curl like we thought he might be but I’m super happy with him. Pretty sure he is 8.5 and double brooms and a beautiful cape. The ram of my dreams!

 

[CPAjeff]

What an amazing adventure and animal - huge congrats!!

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Congrats! Hard to imagine he was still eating with a shot through the back.

 

[Valen]

Stoked for ya my man, excited to read up on the details.
Sleep well amigo!

 

[jabber]

Congratulations!!! A little late to the party but that was an awesome hunt and story. Way to persevere.

 

[rogerthat]

Awesome ram! Congrats!

 

[Salmonchaser]

Well done!

 

[jwatts]

I know you're relieved to be off the mountain with a punched tag. What a roller coaster ride of a hunt. I never would have thought it was a back whack. Those are typically back 100% within a few hours. I've seen pictures of whitetails feeding or chasing does while the wound is still bleeding from a shot like that.

 

[Bowkill1978]

Great ram! Can't wait to read the recap.

 

[Hem]

Super glad you closed the deal on your ram. That would be nerve whracking.
Thanks for sharing in detail the chain of events.

 

[Mallardsx2]

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Congrats again on the ram.

Just curious what bullets and caliber you were shooting.

 

[utah400elk]

Awesome adventure. Thank you for sharing on HT! Congrats!!!

 

[npaden]

Got him checked in. Biologist aged him at 8 as well.

Headed home!

 

[shale]

Congratulations.

 

[Oak]

Congrats on a great hunt. Glad that you were able to find the first and only ram you shot.

 

[PRO MO]

Congrats. way to get him. i can't imagine whirlwind you went through from first shot to now. GREAT JOB.

 

[Slam]

congrats. Two grey Hairs getting it done!

 

[seeth07]

Looking at that first shot more closely, that is so unlucky to have gone through what you did. It looks like the bullet went just under the spine on a pretty level path thru. A smidge higher and that animal is anchored on the ground where it stood. A smidge lower and his lungs would have collapsed and he wouldn't have gone far. A smidge further forward and both shoulder blades would have been destroyed and he couldn't be able to run anywhere. Archery hunting this is often called the VOID because there is a pretty large area up there where an arrow can go in and not do enough damage to kill an animal. I can't really recall many instances that I know of where a rifle bullet can pass through any of that area and not provide a kill or at least significantly cripple the animal to recover them. Which I suppose is what ended up happening with you thanks to your perseverance.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Congrats!! That's an awesome ram and he really made you earn it.