gonhunting247
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2010
- Messages
- 341
I had the opportunity to help with my nieces' OIL sheep hunt. We kept it simple with just her and her Dad (my brother), me and my brother-in-law. It was a great family hunt!
Here's a basic recap, sorry if it's long winded!
I got a call from my brother about a month after draw results saying we need your help! Thinking we were going to need to haul or move something, I said sure , what's up?
He went on to tell me that Maggie had started receiving notices from guides about sheep hunting, so the went back to her account and realized when she checked results, that she had just looked at deer and elk. So, there it was the SUCCESSFUL notice for a once in a lifetime bighorn sheep, that a lot of us will never experience.
My brother went on to say he didn't know much about the unit or the sheep in it and they would like my help if possible. Of course I was glad to help out and started checking areas and access points almost immediately.
We were able to gain access through private to BLM if need be, which was very nice to have some options and we can't thank the owner enough for allowing us to cross his property. I also appreciate the chain of folks (friends of friends, past hunters etc. ) that lead me to the contacts for the property. It's amazing how many nice people are still out there in the hunting community.
We had located several nice rams in the canyon complexes below the private access point, but with no ewes around and all. we had a feeling this might be a problem since Magggies' hunt was during the rut.
From past experience I knew of two other solid locations for back up plans. One was a great location with a tougher access and the other was easier access, but had some private holdings we'd have to skirt around and avoid. The first location I had figured was the better of the two, but would also most likely be where the other tag holders might be.
Knowing that my niece had been on a few successful deer hunts around home, but had been on very few other hunts, I thought it might be best to try and find a ram away from the other tag holders if possible. It just seemed like it might make for a more comfortable atmosphere. There can already be a tremendous amount of pressure on this type of hunt.
With all that in mind I made one last minute scouting trip with my BIL on the day before season and we were pleased to find a few rams had moved in with the ewes and lambs that I knew called a big cliff complex spanning the mouths of two canyons home.
From my conversations with my brother and niece, we knew she would be super happy with a couple of them.
Opening day we woke to a very nice day, but rain was in the forecast for the next few days, so we were excited to see what we could do. Right away we located some ewes and lambs in a great location for a stalk, but of course the rams weren't with them today. We climbed to a good glassing point and finally located a nice ram with a ewe locked down, but it was in a location Maggie was not a big fan of trying to get to. The cliffs can be very intimidating especially if you've never hunted sheep or goats in this type of terrain.
We took note of him and went on our way. We saw a few more smaller rams cruising as we worked our way up the canyon, but they got a pass.
About noon we decided to drive around and access the canyons through the private to try and locate the rams we had spotted on our earlier scouting trip. Our concerns from before were confirmed; the rams had all vacated the canyon, presumably due to the rut coming into full swing. We still were very appreciative of the opportunity, but it seemed clear thet we'd need to go back and locate the ewes again down in the cliff complexes or try the other location. As we arrived back to the first location we spotted a nice ram and some ewes up a canyon on some private, but couldn't see if any were on the public side of the canyon so we rallied and tried to make it to some rock outcroppings that would put us within shooting distance. As we got about half way there the terrain got much steeper and cliffy than Maggie was comfortable with, so we backed out to try and locate some in a better position for her. Again we spotted a young ram cruising and Maggie took the opportunity to set up and locate the ram while getting in position to shoot in such steep terrain. It was a great chance for her to get comfortable.
With about an hour left in day 1, we thought we'd check one more spot, figuring we were about done until the morning. Just as we were reaching the location we could glass up the canyon, Maggie spotted a sheep; it was a ewe, but it was being pushed by a very respectable ram. Time was short, so we headed for a bench straight across canyon from them. As we were getting there, to our surprise they were pushing down canyon toward us in a hurry. I quickly stacked a few boulders and threw my coat on them for a rest. Bill kept eyes on them from down below and Randy who was up with us, verified it was the same ram and gave us ranges. We were trying to get Maggie within the 300 yard range, but were much happier that by the time they stopped , the ram had pushed the ewe straight across canyon from us at just under 200 yards. Maggie took a good look at the ram and said he was beautiful and she would be more than happy with him. It was go time
!
As the ewe cleared the first shot at her ram broke, but the ram didn't go down. We weren't sure exactly where she hit so I told her to take her time and shoot again. At the next shot there was no doubt about the hit, her ram collapsed and we all watched in total awe as he flipped, tumbled and crashed down over a couple 20-30 foot cliffs and didn't stop until he hit the bottom of the canyon. We were all stoked, but even though I didn't say it, I was a bit worried if his horns and cape would still be intact!
Light was starting to fade fast, so I went a direct route to locate the ram. Maggie and my BIL met down with my brother to bring packs and gear up the bottom. I located the ram and took a couple pics, but didn't move it so I could photograph Maggie walking up on her OIL bighorn sheep. When everyone got there we talked and took pics, then we caped and prepared the meat for the pack out. We worked into the night and soaked it all in. Maggie had accomplished what all 3 of us old guys have been dreaming about for a long long time. And we sure appreciate her having us along for the adventure.
The rams in much of OR are the California bighorn subspecies and are typically a little smaller than the true rocky mountian species. Some units in OR can produce giant California rams. Maggie's is not huge for the unit, but it is very respectable and she was super stoked to have killed a ram that anyone of us that were along for the ride, would have been very proud of!
He is an beautiful ram, just as she said! Congratulations kid!
As a side note, other than a broken jaw with the skin pulled loose and two cuts (one on the nose and one on the lower jaw), along with both horn tips being frayed and split back a bit more than the original brooming, it looked amazing for the spill he endured. We had to hold the skin and jaw in place for the pics, but nothing that won't be an easy enough fix at the taxidermist
Here's a basic recap, sorry if it's long winded!
I got a call from my brother about a month after draw results saying we need your help! Thinking we were going to need to haul or move something, I said sure , what's up?
He went on to tell me that Maggie had started receiving notices from guides about sheep hunting, so the went back to her account and realized when she checked results, that she had just looked at deer and elk. So, there it was the SUCCESSFUL notice for a once in a lifetime bighorn sheep, that a lot of us will never experience.
My brother went on to say he didn't know much about the unit or the sheep in it and they would like my help if possible. Of course I was glad to help out and started checking areas and access points almost immediately.
We were able to gain access through private to BLM if need be, which was very nice to have some options and we can't thank the owner enough for allowing us to cross his property. I also appreciate the chain of folks (friends of friends, past hunters etc. ) that lead me to the contacts for the property. It's amazing how many nice people are still out there in the hunting community.
We had located several nice rams in the canyon complexes below the private access point, but with no ewes around and all. we had a feeling this might be a problem since Magggies' hunt was during the rut.
From past experience I knew of two other solid locations for back up plans. One was a great location with a tougher access and the other was easier access, but had some private holdings we'd have to skirt around and avoid. The first location I had figured was the better of the two, but would also most likely be where the other tag holders might be.
Knowing that my niece had been on a few successful deer hunts around home, but had been on very few other hunts, I thought it might be best to try and find a ram away from the other tag holders if possible. It just seemed like it might make for a more comfortable atmosphere. There can already be a tremendous amount of pressure on this type of hunt.
With all that in mind I made one last minute scouting trip with my BIL on the day before season and we were pleased to find a few rams had moved in with the ewes and lambs that I knew called a big cliff complex spanning the mouths of two canyons home.
From my conversations with my brother and niece, we knew she would be super happy with a couple of them.
Opening day we woke to a very nice day, but rain was in the forecast for the next few days, so we were excited to see what we could do. Right away we located some ewes and lambs in a great location for a stalk, but of course the rams weren't with them today. We climbed to a good glassing point and finally located a nice ram with a ewe locked down, but it was in a location Maggie was not a big fan of trying to get to. The cliffs can be very intimidating especially if you've never hunted sheep or goats in this type of terrain.
We took note of him and went on our way. We saw a few more smaller rams cruising as we worked our way up the canyon, but they got a pass.
About noon we decided to drive around and access the canyons through the private to try and locate the rams we had spotted on our earlier scouting trip. Our concerns from before were confirmed; the rams had all vacated the canyon, presumably due to the rut coming into full swing. We still were very appreciative of the opportunity, but it seemed clear thet we'd need to go back and locate the ewes again down in the cliff complexes or try the other location. As we arrived back to the first location we spotted a nice ram and some ewes up a canyon on some private, but couldn't see if any were on the public side of the canyon so we rallied and tried to make it to some rock outcroppings that would put us within shooting distance. As we got about half way there the terrain got much steeper and cliffy than Maggie was comfortable with, so we backed out to try and locate some in a better position for her. Again we spotted a young ram cruising and Maggie took the opportunity to set up and locate the ram while getting in position to shoot in such steep terrain. It was a great chance for her to get comfortable.
With about an hour left in day 1, we thought we'd check one more spot, figuring we were about done until the morning. Just as we were reaching the location we could glass up the canyon, Maggie spotted a sheep; it was a ewe, but it was being pushed by a very respectable ram. Time was short, so we headed for a bench straight across canyon from them. As we were getting there, to our surprise they were pushing down canyon toward us in a hurry. I quickly stacked a few boulders and threw my coat on them for a rest. Bill kept eyes on them from down below and Randy who was up with us, verified it was the same ram and gave us ranges. We were trying to get Maggie within the 300 yard range, but were much happier that by the time they stopped , the ram had pushed the ewe straight across canyon from us at just under 200 yards. Maggie took a good look at the ram and said he was beautiful and she would be more than happy with him. It was go time
!As the ewe cleared the first shot at her ram broke, but the ram didn't go down. We weren't sure exactly where she hit so I told her to take her time and shoot again. At the next shot there was no doubt about the hit, her ram collapsed and we all watched in total awe as he flipped, tumbled and crashed down over a couple 20-30 foot cliffs and didn't stop until he hit the bottom of the canyon. We were all stoked, but even though I didn't say it, I was a bit worried if his horns and cape would still be intact!
Light was starting to fade fast, so I went a direct route to locate the ram. Maggie and my BIL met down with my brother to bring packs and gear up the bottom. I located the ram and took a couple pics, but didn't move it so I could photograph Maggie walking up on her OIL bighorn sheep. When everyone got there we talked and took pics, then we caped and prepared the meat for the pack out. We worked into the night and soaked it all in. Maggie had accomplished what all 3 of us old guys have been dreaming about for a long long time. And we sure appreciate her having us along for the adventure.
The rams in much of OR are the California bighorn subspecies and are typically a little smaller than the true rocky mountian species. Some units in OR can produce giant California rams. Maggie's is not huge for the unit, but it is very respectable and she was super stoked to have killed a ram that anyone of us that were along for the ride, would have been very proud of!
He is an beautiful ram, just as she said! Congratulations kid!
As a side note, other than a broken jaw with the skin pulled loose and two cuts (one on the nose and one on the lower jaw), along with both horn tips being frayed and split back a bit more than the original brooming, it looked amazing for the spill he endured. We had to hold the skin and jaw in place for the pics, but nothing that won't be an easy enough fix at the taxidermist
