Unit 181 desert sheep

ridgetops · May 31, 2020

A good friend of mine drew one of the non- resident tags. I know he's planning on talking to the local biologist and I've looked over the area on google earth. I see that there's a lot of guzzlers in that area for water sources. Anyone willing to talk to me through text messages or PMs and answer a few questions I have?

treedagain · May 31, 2020

The harvest stats from the last 10 years or so will give you a big jump in knowledge.

ridgetops · May 31, 2020

treedagain said:
The harvest stats from the last 10 years or so will give you a big jump in knowledge.

Can you send me a link?

treedagain · May 31, 2020

Top 10 Big Game Resources - Nevada Hunting

Looking to apply for Nevada Big Game tags but not sure where to start? Learn more with our list of the top 10 resources you can use to help obtain a big game tag in Nevada.

www.ndow.org

ridgetops · May 31, 2020

treedagain said:
Top 10 Big Game Resources - Nevada Hunting

Looking to apply for Nevada Big Game tags but not sure where to start? Learn more with our list of the top 10 resources you can use to help obtain a big game tag in Nevada.

www.ndow.org

Thanks, I wished Utah would give locations of past hunts in detail like that.

treedagain · May 31, 2020

They will and have to.

treedagain · May 31, 2020

PM sent

iowacity · May 31, 2020

I’m very familiar with 181, it’s in my backyard. PM me, maybe we can swap info on other units.

muleyczy · Jun 1, 2020

iowacity said:
I’m very familiar with 181, it’s in my backyard. PM me, maybe we can swap info on other units.

Iowacity, I sent you a pm

ridgetops · Jun 1, 2020

muleyczy said:
Iowacity, I sent you a pm

So did I.

Researcher · Jun 1, 2020

Good tag to have. Best of luck out there.

775_Hunter · Jun 1, 2020

Great Unit!! A ram we harvested years back.

treedagain · Jun 1, 2020

Great ram, love the snow. I shot mine last year as the big storm hit.

ridgetops · Jun 3, 2020

Thanks for the responses and PMs that I've received. We definitely have some good places to look.
Are you able to camp just about anywhere in the valley along highway 31?

kalielkslayer · Jun 4, 2020

775_Hunter said:
Great Unit!! A ram we harvested years back.

View attachment 7716

Bruiser!

HiDesertHunter5 · Jun 6, 2020

Was out in 181 today. Saw a few rams thought I would share.

iowacity · Jun 7, 2020

Looks like you were near Fairview. A few of those rams look familiar. A shame to see that many together and not a single one would break 170.

HiDesertHunter5 · Jun 7, 2020

Honestly I dont think any of them broke 160. 1 or 2 may have been close high 150’s range. I saw another group of 11 rams further south. Didnt get pictures but one looked pretty good. Anyways its fun to get out and see wild sheep. They are awesome animals.

mevertsen · Jun 7, 2020

I am not sure why the score over a certain amount is important?

What kind of age did these rams have?

Looks like last year the oldest ram taken was 8 years old and scored 164 and change.

I see a couple in this picture that should be over 6 years old for sure.

Some units just don't have the genes to produce lots of mass, but can get the age.

A mature ram is something special, regardless of score, IMO. Watching how a mature ram acts compared to a young ram is pretty neat.

treedagain · Jun 7, 2020

iowacity said:
Looks like you were near Fairview. A few of those rams look familiar. A shame to see that many together and not a single one would break 170.

A shame? 2017 was the last time 1 was killed in 181. A 170 ram is a stud ram. Must be a bunch in their to think every ram band will have 1.

iowacity · Jun 7, 2020

The genetics are in the unit. There are certain units in NV where a band of rams that size would very likely have a 170+ ram in it. I apply to 181 every year, but the last year or so I’ve been disappointed in the rams I've seen here.

ridgetops · Jun 7, 2020

iowacity said:
The genetics are in the unit. There are certain units in NV where a band of rams that size would very likely have a 170+ ram in it. I apply to 181 every year, but the last year or so I’ve been disappointed in the rams I've seen here.

For the past 6 years only about 20 percent of the hunters are taking 160"+ rams. To achieve 170" rams on a yearly basis, I would think tags would need to be majorly cut.

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

I’m not a sheep Hunter at all but it looks to me like two or three of those rams in those pics would make a fine trophy.
When my son finally draws a sheep tag I am sure he will be very excited for the opportunity at something like that.
Great pics.
Thanks

ridgetops · Feb 7, 2021

Here's a follow up on this hunt. I put a video and the story of this hunt in my HAC 2020. Here's a link:

A year to reminisce | 2020 Hunt Adventures

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since the first HAC. When I had shared my Utah bighorn sheep hunt . Since that time, I’ve had an incredible run of good luck hunting Utah general season Muleys. I’ve been able to kill six 4 point or better bucks with the top two scoring 210” and 191”...

www.monstermuleys.info

I also wanted to thank Hackelback and iowacity for wanting to come out and do some spotting for us if needed and were in contact with me right up until the hunt started and then afterwards too.
Thanks for everyone's input on this thread. It was an awesome hunt.

Homer · Feb 7, 2021

I love that as it lay pic....classic

BradA · Feb 10, 2021

Ridgetops thanks for sharing that great ram and congratulations to your buddy!

littlebighorn · Feb 11, 2021

Well done Koby. I am sure Paul really appreciates you capturing that footage of his hunt. Sheep hunts should always be a great adventure with friends and family.