Should I get a tag too?! Alberta Big Horn Sheep hunt

[bonedogg]

Last week, a good buddy gave me a call and let me know that he found a legal ram in a legal spot. He wondered if anyone in the group, that had not shot a ram yet, had the ability and the want to go after it? A text was sent to the group chat and sure enough, one guy could, and he wanted to see what it was all about. I said I could help out and take the day off with short notice and my son was also off high school due to our teachers strike up here. We made plans to meet the next am and made our way to the trailhead.

 

[bonedogg]

Should I buy a tag too in case we get a chance at a double ……?

 

[bonedogg]

My last ram was in 2019.

 

[Southern Elk]

Yes

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Why wouldn't you?

 

[vanish]

Nah don't make it awkward for the first guy

 

[Gerald Martin]

I’m hoping the fact that you’re asking means you did and are setting the stage for a good story…

 

[rogerthat]

Last week, a good buddy gave me a call and let me know that he found a legal ram in a legal spot. He wondered if anyone in the group, that had not shot a ram yet, had the ability and the want to go after it? A text was sent to the group chat and sure enough, one guy could, and he wanted to see what it was all about. I said I could help out and take the day off with short notice and my son was also off high school due to our teachers strike up here. We made plans to meet the next am and made our way to the trailhead.

What’s a legal ram? Full curl or 3/4 curl?

 

[BAKPAKR]

Sheep hunting sucks. Why waste your money on a tag?

 

[bonedogg]

Why wouldn't you?

What’s a legal ram? Full curl or 3/4 curl?

4/5ths in this zone

 

[bonedogg]

Sheep hunting sucks. Why waste your money on a tag?

Yep, was trying to figure out if $90 CDN was worth it for the general tag

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

4/5ths in this zone

My question stands. Buy a tag! You never know how it will go down.

 

[Jnasa]

I would get a tag. I would just have a conversation before to be clear if the other hunter is ok doubling up. Who has first shot and other details.

 

[mdhunter]

For the low price of a $90 general tag, if I were your buddy, I would make you sign a contract about who shoots first before you packed a rifle and came with me

 

[bonedogg]

We spotted the rams in the am , we were about 4 miles from their position. As we prepped to go after them, a huge fog bank sauntered in and boom they were gone for over 45 min. When the fog lifted, they were nowhere to be seen. Either they are in the trees they were mulling around in, or they went back to the same beds from the day before. As an experienced sheep hunter I normally would not have made the hike without knowing exactly where they were, but this time we had the gusto of a never been sheep hunter and my 15 yr old son.

They said let’s go, it was almost 1030 am. It’s going to be a long one ….

 

[rmyoung1]

Nothing like Canadian nonchalance to elevate the heart rates of Lower 48 sheep guys. Well-played, sir
Subscribed!

 

[antlerradar]

Nothing like Canadian nonchalance to elevate the heart rates of Lower 48 sheep guys. Well-played, sir
Subscribed!

yup. enough with the niceties, deep down we are jealous as can be and just looking for a way to hate on the OP.

 

[WNC2500]

yup. enough with the niceties, deep down we are jealous as can be and just looking for a way to hate on the OP.

I am in total agreement with both @rmyoung1 and @antlerradar.......we just want to live that life.....Good luck on the sheep hunt or the doubling-up

 

[bonedogg]

The first few miles were not that bad, but a steady incline for sure. My buddy is a big dude, 6'5" and over 240, strong like a bull for sure and very determined. I have always snickered at the saying, " if you are gunna be dumb, you better be tough", and he's as tough as it gets....... lol.

Not saying he's dumb at all, he's smarter and more cunning than most of our group combined, 1000%. But he is always looking for ways to make things easier on himself, which in the end is a big part of this story. His wife, bless her heart, was taking care her of her man and packed him a lunch meant for a trucker as I would later find out when I was in charge of cleaning out the packs at the end of the hunt......OMFG

To say his pack had a few amenities not normally seen in a sheep hunting pack is an understatement.

Two sandwiches, encased in their own glass, yes I said GLASS containers. One was Peanut butter and jam, and who doesn't have a sippy cup with milk in it for your peanut butter sammy......lol

2 full boxes of bullets, 40 shells plus what was hanging on his sling and gun......

He was struggling. He looked over at me when we were sucking wind going up this steep slope and I had an inclination he was done. I was in bad shape as well. "Have you ever done a marathon without training?!?!", I said. We all laughed but it was crunch time. We were about 2/3 up the slope the rams were possibly on and the thermals were not good for success if the rams hadn't moved.

 

[bonedogg]

The green line is our route, the red circle is where the rams were bedded the day before. The trees at the top of the green route is where the rams were when the fog bank came in.