Stone Sheep Success

[325]

The story of my Stone's sheep hunt really begins last year, when I went out for the first time. I covered lots and lots of ground, and learned much about sheep - aging, daily patterns, and where to find rams.

This year we hunted in the same general area, but pushed back further into mountains were we had seen lots of rams the previous year. Like last year, we used Steamboat Mountain Outfitters to transport us to where we wanted to be. Tanner, the owner, was very accommodating, and his horses were fantasic.

After many hours in the saddle, we finally arrived. Sheep were everywhere, including a few rams. We unloaded, bid our farewells, and watched Tanner head back with the pack string. We would see him again in 10 days when he returned to get us.

The evening was cold and drizzly, but we were both very excited about our prospects for opening day. That night I lay listening to the rain.

[troutseeker]

Oh boy, it's gonna be one of them stories! Lol... We can all blame BCBrad and SSS for this. Ok, let's get to it, I'm ready with coffee mug in hand and I've got the day off!:-D

[pg83]

Thanks a lot 325! Eagerly awaiting more story.

[325]

Alright, I'm at work so I'm typing when I can (It's busy here today!)

We awoke August 1 to a clear blue sky. After breakfast I went to take care of some business, and looked back towards camp. Standing on a knoll about 500 yards from camp were 5 rams. They could see our camp but were totally unconcerned. I could tell it was going to be a great day.

During the day, we stayed at camp and glassed sheep from there. In the evening I hiked-up the valley until I found a great place to sit and observe the evening movements of the sheep. After a short while, I saw a small ram feeding about 800 yards away. While glassing him, I heard rocks falling and noticed a ram coming off the top of the mountain to feed with him. I put my spotting scope on the new arrival and was immediately impressed with the mass and size of the ram. He looked like a bighorn. It could not move, as there were several other sheep nearer to me, and I didn't want to spook anything

I watched the rams, along with several other sheep feed until dark. I then returned to camp, and told my buddy about the ram. I said "that's the one I want".

[Grains]

Looking forward to reading the whole story - glad to see you decided to post after all.

[eric]

Okay, tell all the customers and other workers to pizz off so you can finish the story :twisted:
Suspence is killing me.
Congrats and thanks for the write up

[Mountain Man]

ya no doubt ......

[325]

The next morning found me hiking back towards the spot where I had glassed the previous evening. I found a nice grassy slope, and settled in to do some glassing. After a time, I noticed a small ram on the top of a mountain on the opposite side of the valley were I saw the big guy the previous evening. I put my spotting scope on him and noticed how similar he was to the young ram that was feeding with Mr. Big. I watched him for a while, until he fed over the top of the mountain and out of sight.

I thought if he is the little ram from last night, Mr. Big may be with him, so I quilkly loaded my pack and started ascending the mountain towards where I last saw him. The top of the mountain was a grass-covered knoll, and as I approached it, I began to move slowly, knowing I may see a sheep at any time.

Suddenly I saw the little ram come over the height of land only 25 yards away. He walked back and forth in front of me, unsure what I was. He then jogged down the hill to my right. Then I saw Mr. Big looking over the top of the grassy hill at me. All I could see was his head and neck, but he was only about 30 yards away. In one fluid motion, I popped my scope caps, released my safety, and brought my rifle to my shoulder. I placed the crosshairs on the centre of his neck, below the chin and sqeezed the trigger. He dissappeared.

[pg83]

You're going to make us wait til you get home for pictures aren't you? Sounds like you smoked him!

[325]

I ran to the top of the hill, and heard the distinctive sound of an animal tumbling down shale. I didn't know it when I took the shot, but there was a cliff and chute on the other side of the mountain, and the ram had fallen. I looked over, and saw him settled in the shale about 30 meters away. He was dead...YAHOO, my first Stone's ram.

I picked my way around the side of the mountain to his position. It was surreal - I had a taken a broomed 10 year old ram.

He was on a steep shale slope, si I had to drag him uphill to a flat grassy spot where I could cape and dress him.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/Rightsideram.jpg

[325]

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/bigram-1.jpg

[325]

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/Ram1.jpg

[325]

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/tn.jpg

[Wild Images]

Nice Mature ram, will look sweet on the wall !!

[325]

I caped and deboned him, and hauled the formidable load back to camp. My buddy, who was in camp, had not heard the shot, and was amazed I had a ram, the one I wanted, on day two.

The next several days I spend scouting for my partner, trying to find an ram. Finally, on day nine, we climbed a mountain, that I had climbed several times previously to glass some bedding sites below. Sure enough, when we got there, I immediately saw 4 rams on a finger about 280 yards below. I was looking at them, when I saw a ram bedded only 88 yards away on another grassy bench. He got up and started looking at us. He was full curl!!

My partner set-up and made a fantstic shot on the ram, and he collapsed in his bed. I thought it was perfect until he started kicking and pushed himself off the bench onto the steep slope below. He started tumbling and I though we may have to walk to the bottom of the mountain two thousand feet below to find him. Somehow, miraculously, he hung-up on some shale only 30-40 meters below the bench. YES!!!

We carefully made our way to him. What a gorgeous ram. My buddy was totally happy. We dug a flat "spot" in the shale on the slope and manages to drag him there for caping and dressing.

The hunt provided our first rams, and was great adventure in everyway...including some intense grizzly moments.

I am especially gratefull to Steamboat Mountain Outfitters for getting us to where we wanted to go.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/Christianwithram.jpg

[325]

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/ramcape.jpg

[325]

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/tworams.jpg

[Krico]

Kickass! Good to see guys being succesful out there!

[Mountain Man]

Whats it like to hold a twister ................ congrats !!!

Thanks for sharing.

[pg83]

congrats on your rams. Thanks for the pics and the story.

[troutseeker]

Well done guys! Two nice rams and beautiful country for sure. So what about the grizzly encounters?

[Deaddog]

great job guys...nice to see both of you successful!!

[guest]

Crankers those 2 dandy's are ! Congrats to you both, now how about telling more on the G bear story.

Great Pic's too.

CT

[ydouask]

Thank you for sharing a great hunt with us... your story and pictures had me right there with you .

[Brambles]

Looks like a gooder, nice work, lots of doubles this year.

[BlacktailStalker]

The rams are just rolling in, nice looking country and rams.

[d6dan]

Beauty Rams Boys!, Got to love these double header sheep hunts. Great story to go along with your pictures 325.:-D..

[leadpillproductions]

Nice sheep congrads , sure is nice country.

[nature girl]

First of all congradulations on some beautiful rams.
You can tell on your faces you both had a great hunt and a good time.

[kennyj]

Great rams guys. Thanks for the story and photos.
kenny

[moose2]

I am glad you decided to post the story and pictures they are great. Great looking rams and they sounded well deserved. Good job on doing your homework and taking a couple beautiful rams.
Thanks for posting Mike

[brian dobson]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/img0987/ram i shot in the yukon last week 40=40 gross172

[Bear Chaser]

Great story 325. I'm glad you decided to post. Congratulations to both of you.

[Caribou_lou]

Nice rams boys!

[meat hunter]

Hey, great story, nice photos, I love a happy ending.

[yama49]

great story, nice pics and great work on harvesting your rams. thx for sharing

[porcupine]

Great rams and a good story. Congratulations to both of you.

[Mik]

Awesome rams, great story, thanks for posting, congrats to the both of you.

[Call of the Wild]

I'm glad you shared you story and pictures of your rams, you have every reason to be proud. Looking forward to more sheep stories and happy hunters with their trophy.

[Schade00]

Excellent hunt and super story! Congratulations, sounds like well deserved. looks like your buddy is an older guy, surprised he could make it in the mountains. He must be happy.

Your ram looks big, is he gonna make the book?

[325]

Excellent hunt and super story! Congratulations, sounds like well deserved. looks like your buddy is an older guy, surprised he could make it in the mountains. He must be happy.

Your ram looks big, is he gonna make the book?


Ha ha...the dog in your avatar looks familiar. Yes it was a great hunt, and even though my sheep hunting partner is a bit older, perhaps he would consider going again next year....

[High Country]

Well done! Congrats 325! Great sheep

[kayjayess]

Awesome job 325. Glad you summoned the courage to post the pics. Great stories and better pics. What a great first ram. You guys definitely earned em!