Well I'll share a brief synopsis of my excursion and then a short story of how this hunt changed my thoughts on ever going solo hunting in the unlimited units or really any hunt changed my life.
High anticipation was upon me for this season I had plotted and planned so much before going into this trip. There was a chance to meet other fellow hunters there and there was the chance I would be solo too given opportunities and the realities of actually meeting guys that were in there a week ahead of me. Needless to say I ended up solo in a different part of the unit and it wasn't a reality to meet up once I got up there.
A brief overview:
Step 1.
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On the way in I traverse through a lot of this shit. For about 2k feet up.
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Life up there is great and I enjoy some great camping and eats at the Skytop Cafe. While glassing the tooths.
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Saw some incredible country up there lots of goats and bears no sheep.
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Now here's the humbling part....
Shortly after the goat photo I decide to move camp for the fourth time I want to get a better closer look from a different angle. I load up everything and begin the move. On the descent with my loaded pack I cross a skree/boulder field and with the winds ripping I lose my balance and go down very hard and hear a snap pop from my ankle. A ghostly and haunting familiar feeling of fracturing it from years past...... I'm screaming wondering if I can even put weight on it. Holding my boot I calm myself and try not to panic and think the worst. After about 15 minutes I decide to try and stand up in the rocks. I can walk but not great. My decision to move turned into a I need to get the f$#% outta here. So, very slowly and calculated I make it down the face to a creek bottom I begin to follow it out. It takes me about 3.5 hours to drop the 3k feet to the first major creek crossing which was absolutely horrible to do with a heavy pack and one good leg. I cross it then begin the cross country trek to my pickup crossing small creeks, dead fall, beating through brush thickets I come to the last climb up. I'm really hurting bad at this point I have many moments where I think, I'm just gonna leave my shit and come get it with some friends. I decide hell no, I'm getting myself outta here. At this point I'm about 7hrs in from when I went down. I can only take about 20 steps or so and then I have to sit. The last mile I found somewhat of an old hunting trail cut in, it was a god send without it I don't know if I would've made it that night. It takes me about 9 hours to get back to my vehicle. I was literally dragging my right leg and using my poles and my good let to continue out. It was honestly one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had, it taught me that no matter what or who you think you are in one moment you can be flat "done." So many things can happen up there or anywhere I encourage everyone to find a partner. I've done these trips solo many times 4 and 5 day excursions up there and haven't had any issues.
I'm thankful that my injury really was minor to what could've happened. How everything worked out was truly a blessing after the incident, given I already had my camp packed, routes, logs and rocks placed in areas for support and a small faint trail at the end that took me right to my truck. It was unreal, this isn't a sob story or some look at me deal. This is reality of solo alpine hunting, it's dangerous. I hope people read this and think twice about it. This forum is a great tool to network for hunts and trips, I've met some phenomenal people on here and some are good friends now. I encourage people to do that especially for this hunt.
*a happy little stream, in a happy little mountain scene
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I can't wait to get healed up and back up there, I'm on ice right now and keeping off it, I have a torn tendon and a small fracture on the ball. I'll be up there again soon but it won't be solo ever again.
BTW I'd rather eat Johnsonville summer sausage and puke my guts out for 2 days walking outta there again 100 times over than the trek I just had with a fractured ankle.... that's no lie.
Good luck to everyone out there and be safe
It's a legal ram, on the toughest sheep hunt in America... I might not have shot that ram, but the guy gets to stake his claim in the small list of successful UL sheep hunters. That's a pretty exclusive club!From the proud hunter: “His right side was about 3” past the 3/4 curl requirement and his left was right at it. No monster by any means, but the first legal ram I have seen there”
No kidding! What an experience!
This cracks up every time
Not knocking the accomplishment of a successful hunt- just pointing out the conservation side of it. Short term payoff on a ram for the individual is good, but if every Dick and Mary start punching out 4 year olds that are that close to the legal/illegal line, you can expect a strong push for a regulation change or for this great opportunity that is afforded everyone to quickly evaporate.
try being 50+ years old and pay $1250.00 for the tag plus 4 days of travel time each trip to the UL's. That might change your mind.
Selfishly, I could see how it would. Doesn't change the fact that it's not a long term management practice. If a guy wants to shoot a sheep to say they've shot a sheep, there's plenty of ewe tags in multiple states. Might even cut a day or two off of that 4 day drive...
No not at all. You chose to pay it and have the opportunity to hunt. Andrews post was about health of herd, not about your expense.
Basically sums up the non-resident mindset and why Eastern Montana is so piss-poor
Pretty low cost of entry as far as sheep hunts go. It sure is a pretty cool opportunity that not only locals but also non residents can do, without a guide as well. Sure be a shame to lose it for the next generation.
If you're gonna be that old, pay that much, and go that far, by God you might as well do something really ridiculously embarrassing.
Wow, I can't believe you just gave up that little secret to the public....now everybody will be dragging their "baited" drift boats up the Boulder road!
