Outdoordan
Very Active Member
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- 2,166
Well I did it. After months of preparation, I finally had a chance to chase sheep in Idaho. I left late Tuesday evening (we had work to do and didn't get it done until later than I would have liked) from my house in Bellevue for my sheep unit, not arriving at my camp site until 2:30 in the morning. I got a quick 3 hours of sleep, got up and headed down a ridge where sheep had been spotted previously. Spent all day hiking further down towards the salmon river glassing into both drainages as I went. Located no sheep at all. At about 4 PM, the wind started coming on strong eventually blowing to 50 mph. The temperature dropped from 75-80 degrees into the 20's. I only had cotton clothing on as I wanted to go light, and was spooked because of the ominous black clouds this cold front was bringing in. If I was rained on it could get bad quick. I tried my best to beat the clouds, but I was so deep that I had 2500 vertical feet to climb and about 4 miles to get out. The clouds won, but I was relieved to see that they dropped snow instead of rain. After over 3 hours I finally climbed out and back to my truck. I stayed that night and subsequent nights in a lodge along the river with a bed and shower!
Next morning I spotted a small ram near the lodge in the rocks that line the salmon river. The ram was with 3 ewes and a lamb. I wasn't sure how old he was, he looked to be about 4.5 years which is legal, but wanted a closer look. Hiked up from a different spot as so not to be spotted. I kept trying to move laterally, but would get stuck in the rock cliffs. So I would back track, climb higher, then over. After several attempts I was close. I peeked over the rock I was on and was immediately busted by a ewe and they all blew out of there. That ended my morning hunt.
After a shower and nap, and with flip flops and shorts on I left to shoot my bow. Driving only about a mile, I was surprised to see 3 rams only a short distance above the road! Now I had a dilemna, do I try and shoot the biggest ram, or wait for my friends whom were driving up the 18 hours from California. I would have liked to have it on video also as I had my canon XL with me. The rams were close to the road, and I decided I would be stupid to pass up this situation, as many people go weeks without seeing legal rams. With flip flops on I parked and headed back along the road to the rams. I climbed the side of the hill a little ways which was a feat with sandals on. The biggest ram turned sideways giving me a 25 yard shot. My arrow hit him in the rib cage but a little far back. Frantic, I took a panic shot as he headed to the left, of course I missed. He then paused giving me another shot which I made good on, hitting him low behind the shoulder. He immediately bedded, with the other rams standing over him. I backed out of there, making sure I knew the exact rock they were on. I walked back to my truck, drove to the lodge shaking the whole way. I called my buddies finding out they were only 45 minutes away and told them to get there butts over here! After the call it had been about 20 minutes or so. I drove back over to the spot only to find out that the ram had expired and rolled down the hill to the road and was laying in the road! Two guys were standing over him wondering "What the Hell"? I said "That's my ram", and explained the situation. I tagged him and they helped my load him on my tailgate. One of the guys had the same tag the year before and had gone 10 days without seeing a ram. What an experience! Thanks to everyone who helped, James, Jeremy, Chad, Ryder, Scott, and Mom.
Next morning I spotted a small ram near the lodge in the rocks that line the salmon river. The ram was with 3 ewes and a lamb. I wasn't sure how old he was, he looked to be about 4.5 years which is legal, but wanted a closer look. Hiked up from a different spot as so not to be spotted. I kept trying to move laterally, but would get stuck in the rock cliffs. So I would back track, climb higher, then over. After several attempts I was close. I peeked over the rock I was on and was immediately busted by a ewe and they all blew out of there. That ended my morning hunt.
After a shower and nap, and with flip flops and shorts on I left to shoot my bow. Driving only about a mile, I was surprised to see 3 rams only a short distance above the road! Now I had a dilemna, do I try and shoot the biggest ram, or wait for my friends whom were driving up the 18 hours from California. I would have liked to have it on video also as I had my canon XL with me. The rams were close to the road, and I decided I would be stupid to pass up this situation, as many people go weeks without seeing legal rams. With flip flops on I parked and headed back along the road to the rams. I climbed the side of the hill a little ways which was a feat with sandals on. The biggest ram turned sideways giving me a 25 yard shot. My arrow hit him in the rib cage but a little far back. Frantic, I took a panic shot as he headed to the left, of course I missed. He then paused giving me another shot which I made good on, hitting him low behind the shoulder. He immediately bedded, with the other rams standing over him. I backed out of there, making sure I knew the exact rock they were on. I walked back to my truck, drove to the lodge shaking the whole way. I called my buddies finding out they were only 45 minutes away and told them to get there butts over here! After the call it had been about 20 minutes or so. I drove back over to the spot only to find out that the ram had expired and rolled down the hill to the road and was laying in the road! Two guys were standing over him wondering "What the Hell"? I said "That's my ram", and explained the situation. I tagged him and they helped my load him on my tailgate. One of the guys had the same tag the year before and had gone 10 days without seeing a ram. What an experience! Thanks to everyone who helped, James, Jeremy, Chad, Ryder, Scott, and Mom.
Congratulations.
