PeteE
New member
After applying in various parts of the state I decided this year to keep it simple and apply in my backyard. (Literally) Lo and behold I drew a tag. By no means does this unit have the caliber of Rams other units have such as the Missouri Breaks but there are nice mature Rams and almost all of the hunting takes place in designated Wilderness. In the snow years this hunt can be rather easy with many hunters in the past taking rams within spitting distance of the Highway. I had 2 goals on this hunt. I wanted to earn my Ram by putting on some miles and harvest him while hiking in and I really wanted to do it alone. I had friends that wanted to come and I would not have denied them but they ended up drawing other tags so were devoted to there own hunt. I had a friend join me on one hike. To top it off my wife's pregnant and sick as can be plus we have a 1 year old at home but she knew how rare a sheep tag is as she also hunts so I had unlimited freedom as needed and luckily have a very flexible job.
I knew this is a very tough early hunt. I did not start hunting until the first week of October even though it opened Sept 15th. The Season ran through Nov 27th so I had some time. By the time I started 2 Rams had been harvested right away but harvested up high. Part of the reason I started hunting in October is that this area in general is a very popular hiking/backpacking area so to me doing it alone didn't include hikers being active and with the nice fall we had there were plenty out. My first day out was our first snow of the season. (See Attached) I put on a good 12 miles the first day and cut same day tracks but the Sheep were on the move with the snow so no Sheep spotted. A few more subsequent trips and still no sheep spotted. I finally did about a 16 mile hike and I found a lone Ram track and followed it for quite some time. It cut in with other Sheep and all I saw were tracks disappearing as far as I could see so still no Sheep. (See Attached) On the hike out I hit a band of Ewes (See Attached) Finally I actually saw Sheep!!! The next hike I did was back to my first hike. As I was heading back I stopped on the last clearing and put the Glasses up and Spotted 3 Rams at the top of the Ridge. (See Attached) It looked brutal but made the mistake of leaving the Spotting scope at home so I decided to go for it. Two vertical dead ends and I found a way up. Saw one of the Rams at 120 yards. Was ready to roll but after he turned he wasn't quite what I wanted so passed and never saw the other 2. I was lucky he wasn't what I wanted as I barely made it back by rappelling down some scary stuff and hanging onto trees to avoid falling. It felt good to see Rams finally.
At this point I am getting nervous in the hunt. Few Sheep not much weather. I called the Biologist and discussed some with her and sent her a few pics. She gave me some good advise. (She liked the fact I wanted to earn it and had been trying to do so for a month now). Warm weather hit us so I put on the trail runners and went to check out a new area. No sheep but looked promising. I decided to focus on this area as I could see another drainage from it and spend some time glassing.
I knew this is a very tough early hunt. I did not start hunting until the first week of October even though it opened Sept 15th. The Season ran through Nov 27th so I had some time. By the time I started 2 Rams had been harvested right away but harvested up high. Part of the reason I started hunting in October is that this area in general is a very popular hiking/backpacking area so to me doing it alone didn't include hikers being active and with the nice fall we had there were plenty out. My first day out was our first snow of the season. (See Attached) I put on a good 12 miles the first day and cut same day tracks but the Sheep were on the move with the snow so no Sheep spotted. A few more subsequent trips and still no sheep spotted. I finally did about a 16 mile hike and I found a lone Ram track and followed it for quite some time. It cut in with other Sheep and all I saw were tracks disappearing as far as I could see so still no Sheep. (See Attached) On the hike out I hit a band of Ewes (See Attached) Finally I actually saw Sheep!!! The next hike I did was back to my first hike. As I was heading back I stopped on the last clearing and put the Glasses up and Spotted 3 Rams at the top of the Ridge. (See Attached) It looked brutal but made the mistake of leaving the Spotting scope at home so I decided to go for it. Two vertical dead ends and I found a way up. Saw one of the Rams at 120 yards. Was ready to roll but after he turned he wasn't quite what I wanted so passed and never saw the other 2. I was lucky he wasn't what I wanted as I barely made it back by rappelling down some scary stuff and hanging onto trees to avoid falling. It felt good to see Rams finally.
At this point I am getting nervous in the hunt. Few Sheep not much weather. I called the Biologist and discussed some with her and sent her a few pics. She gave me some good advise. (She liked the fact I wanted to earn it and had been trying to do so for a month now). Warm weather hit us so I put on the trail runners and went to check out a new area. No sheep but looked promising. I decided to focus on this area as I could see another drainage from it and spend some time glassing.
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