Endangered Grizzly Bear Photo Thread

Congratulations! From your pictures it appears the 6.5 bighorn was bigger bodied than the 9.5 dall, is that reality?
 
Congratulations! From your pictures it appears the 6.5 bighorn was bigger bodied than the 9.5 dall, is that reality?
Most definitely. I was a little shocked when I walked up to the Bighorn, wondering what I had gotten myself into. I’ve taken 6 Dall Sheep, from 9-12 years old and none were as big as this guy. The Dall from this season was pretty good sized though, as pictured.

Honestly I was looking for something older, 8+. Even when I had this guy in my scope I was ready to let him walk and gave him 30 seconds to do that, as he was staring me down. The internal dialogue I was having was conflicted. In the end I was confident that he was legal and did make the decision to pull the trigger. I’m very happy with him and thankful for how this sheep season came to an end.

7 years from now I’ll certainly hold out for an older ram, if this great opportunity is still available.

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186 miles in 21 days? Superman stuff.

Nice rams!
Thank you.
2 trips down there. One in September with a couple friends. This was mostly nice weather and really enjoyable. Did not see a single ram though. It felt more like a scouting trip with lots of miles and great fishing.. though I took a stupid Tenkara rod that kept breaking. Wont make that mistake again. The second was solo in November. Less miles overall, but a way more challenging and serious hunt due to the cold and snowy conditions. I definitely took some risks in high consequence terrain.
 
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Do you mind dropping the details on that sheep rifle set up? It seems like you have it dialed in, to say the least

Here is the build thread for this particular gun on Rokslide.
The gun was in its 6.5 CM configuration, shooting G9 Defense 113 Long Range Hunter ammuntion for the Bighorn, though now it is a 6 CM.
All of my Dall Sheep have been with a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 CM and Barnes 127 LRX, with the exception of this years Dall, which was also with the G9 Defense ammo. It is a monolithic brass projectile that shears off petals for a wide permanent wound cavity while still having great penetration.

 
I thought I might share my ram with the group.
21 days and 186 miles spent in the unit this fall.
Connected on the ram solo in November.

I was on the ram the previous day, as he made his way down a steep ridge line and into the timber.
With the rifle set up on a tripod, I waited 6 hours for him to make a move, which he never did.
The next day I found that he had made his way up the next mountain without coming
in to view. At 10,000 ft. I caught up to him on a windswept slope. 194 yard shot frontal shot as he stood
to look at the movement as I crawled up to a low rise beneath him.

Was able to get him sealed within the time period and then made a trip back in for the second load.
Snow conditions were fairly difficult and I used Vert snowshoes nearly the entire time. These are non articulating climbing tools
that we use for climbing ski/snowboard lines.
6 1/2 years old with 15" bases.

The Dall was also a walk-in, solo hunt from this August in AK. (9 y/o, 40 1/2"x13 1/2, B&C Green 165)





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Congratulations! A half slam in one year that’s impressive. What’s next?
 
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A biological question about the younger harvests, seems like it could hurt the genetics in the area like antler point restrictions have. Removing the quicker growing horns / antlers genetics from the herds. But with the lower harvest number in the unlimited's it might not have a drastic effect. BTW I think if myself or anyone else shoot's an illegal animal you should be done hunting that species for life in that State, Influencers included & made example of.
 
A biological question about the younger harvests, seems like it could hurt the genetics in the area like antler point restrictions have. Removing the quicker growing horns / antlers genetics from the herds. But with the lower harvest number in the unlimited's it might not have a drastic effect. BTW I think if myself or anyone else shoot's an illegal animal you should be done hunting that species for life in that State, Influencers included & made example of.
Like you said the quotas ensure we aren't taking enough animals to have population level impacts, even if they're both 41/2 year olds. I certainly cant say for sure what the difference between a legal 41/2 yo and a sub legal 41/2yo, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the mothers body fat and fitness when he was in the womb and not so much who his actual parents where.
 
Bought another google bot tag same unit for this year. Last year season closed quickly but stuck to my plan, even with the extreme terrain. Took a few days after the season ended & have a new plan / destination for this year. Was planning on solid 10 day effort or season closure for 5 years. This year might have to cut it down to a week because I happened to get a NM Oryx "off-range" tag. Snow is melting fast in our mountains, soon I'll be able to start getting some rucking w/elevation. Until then trying to stay consistent with weights & mnt bike. Good hunting to all this year.
 
Bought another google bot tag same unit for this year. Last year season closed quickly but stuck to my plan, even with the extreme terrain. Took a few days after the season ended & have a new plan / destination for this year. Was planning on solid 10 day effort or season closure for 5 years. This year might have to cut it down to a week because I happened to get a NM Oryx "off-range" tag. Snow is melting fast in our mountains, soon I'll be able to start getting some rucking w/elevation. Until then trying to stay consistent with weights & mnt bike. Good hunting to all this year.
Good luck on that oryx tag. I hear that’s a pretty tough hunt as well
 
Real talent, how the "song writer" masterfully weaved in the "with baling twine in hand" line!😁
It could have only been better if they had figured out how to make a rhyme that included " We canted the rifle scope sideways to check to see if it was legal " as he wrote in the WSF magazine article that was so perfectly timed following the questionable kill.
 
It could have only been better if they had figured out how to make a rhyme that included " We canted the rifle scope sideways to check to see if it was legal " as he wrote in the WSF magazine article that was so perfectly timed following the questionable kill.
Hey geetar,

I haven't checked in for ages; is the thread dead now?
 

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