Archery Bighorn Hunt in Southern Colorado

[Sandbrew]

If you're seeing smaller rams with ewes there's probably a small band of 5-10 rams hiding out someplace else. I see you are looking at a ton of very high tree-line country from your pics. I'd look for steep avalanche chutes with shade, water and good feed. I'd also check cliff bands in or near trees. Rams seem to love the shady areas and thicker growth more than the ewes and lambs.

 

[fulldraw]

Thanks for the updates on your hunt,I really enjoy following along.

 

[Jake.]

If your seeing smaller rams with ewes there's probably a small band of 5-10 rams hiding out someplace else. I see you are looking at a ton of very high tree-line country from your pics. I look for steep avalanche chutes with shade, water and good feed. I'd also check cliff bands in or near trees. Rams seem to love the shady areas and thicker growth more than the ewes and lambs.

From my understanding there a couple of small bands throughout the unit, 2-3 rams each. The issue with trying to find them is it’s a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Add in that there are 10+ drainages that look like this. The guy that has the rifle tag has been spending some more time scouting around here but for me with a bow.. seems like I’m just hoping to get lucky and stumble into them cause even if I glass em up, trying to get close enough with a bow in this country is a whole feat in itself.
The rams I’m seeing are definitely not the big guys, but they are rams that I’m seeing lol.

Yesterday I was up and at em a lil after 4am with the thought of getting to a different glassing spot come first light. However the weather had moved in the night prior and the mountain was pretty well socked in. Kept an eye on the clouds off in the distance that were flashing with lightning but it seemed like they were skirting around us. The clouds and fog burned off by 6 but the wind was whipping and it was definitely the coldest day I’ve had up on the mountain. I did catch a nicer ram moving from the south to the north on the east side so I headed to the north ridge thinking that’s where he may end up going. On my way over there I unintentionally came up over top of the larger herd at about 90yds, they let me take a pic and then also scooted off to the north but on the west side.
I rounded the north peak on the east, glassing and working my way through the timber and scree. I couldn’t find the ram again but ran into the herd. Found a nice spot to glass on the ridge that allowed me to see the east and west side. With the hopes that the ram would maybe link up with the group I sat for the day and watched.
The ram never showed and some weather looked like it was gonna blow in that evening so late afternoon I got down to camp to get everything packed up. Took another lil hike to check out another ridge in the timber before I had to head home.
Back for 4 days at home and then another 3 day weekend up in the mountain. If this next weekend doesn’t pan out then I’ll be headed up on the 19th and will be up there till the end of the season.

 

[shale]

Great story. Good luck.

 

[Jake.]

Forgot to attach some pics of sheep as I finally got the digiscope figured out. Admittedly, I figured it out but still left the spotter at camp more often than not as I’m a big fan of how much lighter my pack is without it lol. I’ll be bringing it with me more next time I’m out.

 

[SD_Bowhunter]

Super cool country

 

[MtnElements]

Found these rams a few years back on the north boundary of your unit. There are good rams in there somewhere.

 

[Jake.]

View attachment 381128View attachment 381129
Found these rams a few years back on the north boundary of your unit. There are good rams in there somewhere.

lol I just have to wait for them to cross the street to grab a drink

 

[BuckhunterBen]

Hoping this radio silence has to do with a heavy backpack!

 

[Jake.]

Hoping this radio silence has to do with a heavy backpack!

I wish, I’m back in town this week working but will be back up this weekend.

 

[Badknees104]

I predict your effort will pay off, if not with a sheep definitely with a great outdoor experience on the mountain. thanks for taking us along. keep after em and good luck.

 

[brownbear932008]

I hope this silence is a good sign the weekend was successful and you're still partying it up?

 

[duckhunt]

I hope this silence is a good sign the weekend was successful and you're still partying it up?

I have a feeling we are about to get some awsome updates.

 

[Birddog916]

Jake, you got this!

 

[Jake.]

lol sorry for the radio silence guys.
It was a heck of a weekend. Saturday morning I was able to creep into the herd on the south end of the mountain and get eyes on a legal half curl but the larger 3/4 curl wasn’t anywhere in sight. After some back and forth and maneuvering I found myself 60yds below the half curl. It’d be easy to leave this part out but I took a shot and missed, total rush job, just thought I could seize the moment but with it being straight up hill, while sucking wind, not going thru my process.. honestly I’m a bit embarrassed I let it fly, but I did and it was a foot behind him buried into a rock. The sheep buggered off about 50 yds, I climbed up to see if I could find my arrow (wasn’t till later I found it) and ended up 30 yds from the herd, they weren’t stopping though, I watched them go up and over the ridge. I went back down to where I dropped my pack. Once that was retrieved I decided to see if I could spot them again, I found them on the east side over the ridge bedded down in some scree under the treeline. I was able to use the trees as cover and get to about 40 yds from that half curl but before I could figure out how to slip through the trees they must have caught my movement and trotted further down in elevation through a meadow and into the trees. At that point I opted to back out and not push them any further, spent the rest of the day bopping around the mountain hitting different glassing spots with hopes to turn up a ram but just found a couple ewes. Got back to camp after dark, resupplied the pack, journeyed some thoughts and reflected on the shot. Won’t be making that mistake again.
Sunday morning I took a trail to the south end of the mountain where I saw the herd before and sure enough, right back where I saw them on Saturday. They could see me coming down the trail but I wasn’t too concerned, I just kept a decent pace like I was hiking and was able to put a few patches of pines between me and them. I start closing some distance and just of the horizon of this lower hill through the grass I see horns moving to the north, big ones. I got up to another patch of timber without being spotted and that’s when I get eyes on the 3/4. He’s hanging right in the group with the half curl following a few feet behind. I’m able to move up to the last patch of timber but they’ve noticed my presence.. they’re not busting or spooking, they’re just glancing over ever so often. I ranged the big ram at 98yds. They bed down.
At this point I drop my pack and nock an arrow just in case something brings them my way. After a few minutes I decide I should probably bust out the spotter and take some pics. I’m focusing on my breathing and thinking about what happens when he gets up. I figure he’s going to move up the hill and into the steep scree if I try to get any closer for a reasonable but still long shot.. not risking bumping him for that. I think he could do what he’s done in the past and feed up and away from the group (like he did when I was scouting in July and got 40yds). I get everything put away and the pack ready to go if I need to move quick.
After a few more minutes he stands, stretches, and starts moving up the hill away from the herd at a slow pace, feeding as he goes. I decide this is my chance, I can beat feet back to the trail and head around to the east side to come up and be in a position to drop in on him as he feeds through. I bust ass.. I mean I summit this peak in record time (for me lol) going straight up one of the steepest sections. I poke around hoping to see that ram coming any minute.
Nothing.
Look around some more, nada.
I drop down back on the west side through some steep scree and find him, he must have turned back around cause there he was hanging with the herd. I parked my butt on a semi comfy rock, busted out some jerky and watched while contemplating what to do next..
After a bit, 3 dudes came down the trail carrying packs and rifles. They were out to shoot some marmots and ended limiting our. It was interesting watching how the sheep reacted to the shots. They ran away at first, then back towards the hunters, ultimately crossing through the scree to the north about 150 yds above where those guys were set up. Since I was already up top I just followed along on the ridge as they made their way north. 4 of the rams broke away, the 3/4 curl leading the way followed by the trusty 1/2 curl and two dinkers. I had an idea where they may try to come up and over on the top of the ridge so I hustled over there opting to side hill a smaller middle peak.. had I been a little faster it could have led to a great opportunity.. as it was, the rams popped on top of the ridge 300 yds ahead of me. With no cover, we just stared at each other for half a minute before they walked up to the top another ascending ridge stretching to the east. I didn’t walk directly at them but made my way up the ridge hoping the didn’t spook. Well the went over the ridge and I lost sight and in the few minutes it took me to get up there, they moved out of sight. I spent the rest of the day combing the different ridges and glassing with the hope of finding them but it was all for naught. I even doubled back to the herd they were with to see if they backtracked and that wasn’t the case. Made for a heck of a day and I’m hopeful when I get back up tomorrow morning that those rams will be back up with the ewes. I know it’s been hot down here off the mountain but up top there it’s been getting pretty chilly at night milder days.. I say this to note that the 3/4 curl ram was doing quite a bit of lip curling while checking on 2-3 ewes in particular.
So anyway, I had to work yesterday and am getting everything prepped and ready today for the long stretch on the mountain. Once I’m up tomorrow I’m not coming down until I have a ram down or season ends.

 

[roravetz]

Great update. Good luck man!

 

[Badknees104]

wow!!! you're getting to do what 90% of the rest of us would love to be doing. good luck

 

[rjthehunter]

Loving the updates! Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Valley1320]

Thanks for the update! Go get em!

 

[jpc01101]

Exciting!! You got this!!