Scouting for Sheep

M

mightyhunter

Very Active Member
Messages
1,208
I have been scouting hard since I drew the sheep tag. My first observation is I am not getting any younger. My knee is doing well. The pain I was having in my left knee before surgery was masking the pain in my left ankle that was surgically repaired many years ago. That dog has been barking loudly during my outings. One day last week, I hiked from 6,000 to 10,000 ft. to reach a ridge near a basin I want to hunt in September. I admit that it took me 5+ hours to do so. The week before that, I hiked in about 4 miles on a bad trail before discovering that what should have been a small stream was a 20 ft. wide raging torrent right now. There is a lot of snow remaining in my hunt area. There is water everywhere.

The most sheep I have glassed up in one outing is 13. Those were ewes and immature rams. The most mature rams I have seen was a group of 4. They were flaked out on an east facing ridge at about 9,500 in elevation. They were all shooters. They may be in this same spot in October but not likely in September.

So far I have learned quite a lot about this experience. First, I would never attempt to do this in this area without my trekking poles. Second, I am going to be spending lots of nights in the backcountry sleeping out. Day hunting this area is a pipe dream especially in September. Third, I am concerned that the heavy snowpack may interfere with the usual movements of the sheep. Fourth, I hate packing my spotting scope and tripod. Unfortunately, that same scope and tripod will be needed for success. Fifth, I am grateful that I won't be dealing with mosquitos in September and October. They ate me alive on one scouting trip last week. Sixth, it really pays to know the area you are hunting. I have made a few wrong turns but for the most part I have ended up where I wanted to go. Lots of this area is devoid of trails. Last but not least, I know I should really get a gps but I am so old school that every time I look at buying one my eyes glaze over when I see how complicated they are to operate.

I am enjoying the scouting experience. I have been doing two days a week and hope to be up to 3 days before long.

just sayin...mh
 
Good Stuff MH!!! I agree with the spotting scope tripod statement lol hate packing those things but when needed they are worth it, My nephew and I usually take one between the 2 of us so maybe he will pack it for me lol. Can't wait to hear and see the outcome of your sheep hunt !!!
 
Hang in there MH! You should buy a no frills GPS for a couple hundred bucks, as they really aren't hard to use when you just want to make some waypoints and "go to" locations with them and that's probably what you'd be doing with it. Good luck and please be careful and stay safe on all your treks up into that country.
 
Sounds fun! I'll bet you're seeing some awesome country. That backpacking isn't easy, that's for sure, but it sure feels good to be in the high country.

Take care of your body up there. Got to be smart with all your movements with that load on your back.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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LAST EDITED ON Jun-18-17 AT 09:44AM (MST)[p]Do you get cell phone service in at least some of that area?
There are apps for cell phones that have most of the GPS features.
They are less costly, some can be had for a monthly subscription.
I have looked into this option.
I am not a tech savvy person though. I'm told many of the map features of these apps can still be accessed even if cell service isn't available, by saving those maps to the phones memory.
If cell service is mostly non-existent then probably not good option in my mind.
 
Awesome you found some rams!
+1 on the gps...the garmin etrex is one of the easier ones to use! Really you only need to know a few features to get started.
If you can stash some supplys centrally as you scout. The GPS will be your friend.
 
With your attitude MH you can be nothing but successful! Look forward to seeing the picture of your ram.

Jeff
 
I hear you on the not getting any younger. I hope to make it through this coming fall and then am looking at a knee replacement. Consider pack stock: horses, lamas, goats... all can be rented. Might even consider a horse to ride so that you can use your energy and take the abuse while hunting, rather than just getting there. Keep us appraised on your scouting and hunt. It may the closest some of us get to a sheep hunt... lol
 
I am pretty sure a sheep hunt isn't looking likely for me.
Though I would love to. My budget has already been spent elsewhere.
Look forward to hearing and seeing pics of everyone else's for sure.
Good luck!
 
Robb,
That is funny today. I sawed out a trail through some of the worst deadfall I have ever seen. It was on a steep ridge and it took me over 6 hours to saw about a mile of a ridge. It does make it easier for me to get back to one of my spots.
mh
 
Be careful up there if you are using a chain saw to clean deadfall off the trail.

If your using a hand saw/bow-saw----you are a Stud mh!! haha

Robb
 
>Be careful up there if you
>are using a chain saw
>to clean deadfall off the
>trail.
>
>If your using a hand saw/bow-saw----you
>are a Stud mh!! haha
>
>
>Robb


Can't use chain saws in wilderness. Forest service would shat a brick. Although they do it once in awhile but that is rare cause the forest service doesn't dare do any work
 
Great read MH. I look forward to living vicariously through your trips as it will be a long time before I get to go sheep hunting!

Regarding the GPS; I use my phone. I used a Garmin for a trip and the screens on those things hurt my eyes. They are a little frustrating too.

For the phone, I like US topo maps on my Android. I used the free version for years then upgraded to 'pro' for a $11.99 one time fee. Well worth it. It is super user friendly and my phone can stay on for days on end in airplane mode with the GPS turned on. I carry a spare battery for mine if I check it too much. Marking waypoints is super easy and then you can export them, email them to yourself, and throw them on Google Earth for more scouting.
 
I think of a gps for unit 1 in the same way I do bear spray:

The bear encounters I've had, the wind was always blowing from the bear to me. Given the nature of the wyoming wind, it doesn't seem prudent to blast a cloud of capsaicin into it right before I might have to see to shoot straight.

A GPS in that country seems about as useful, with easy to recognize landmarks across the entire horizon and no private land issues. Out here, they are handy to identify public access, and for maybe logging coveys of chukars. But a map to mark up, a compass, and some observation has worked just fine for just about forever.

Now, in a featureless jungle a GPS would be handy, but it has to get the signals. Without a map and a compass, that would be like spraying pepper spray into the wind when you should be controlling your breathing and trigger finger.

Guess that's just an unsolicited opinion, but if it was me I'd save the money, and more important, the room weight and distraction for something more useful.
 
I have just about made up my mind not to go with a GPS. I don't see it as a valuable tool for what I have to do.

There is no question in my mind that I have to get myself in "sheep shape" to do this hunt. I would like to think that all my hiking is not really as much scouting as it is getting myself in shape. I have to balance what I can do with what I must do to have a good sheep hunt. Yesterday, I took a long hike that was fairly steep. I was able to cover 13 miles in about 9 hours. The downhill was actually much harder than the uphill portions of the adventure. As part of my conditioning, scouting or whatever you call it, I have been dragging my spotting scope and tripod along. I still do not enjoy packing it.

Yesterday, I used the spotting scope to glass some far off mesa looking for sheep. I took numerous passes over the same area with my Leica Binoculars. I thought I located some sheep but was never positive that is what I was looking at. Yes, I admit it.

There is still a lot of snow in the high country and the streams are still very full. My scouting will become easier when the streams finally start to drop. Late last week, I went into one drainage about 3 miles. There was no trail to speak of but a lot of really steep climbing. I was looking for a spot to camp that would provide shelter and water. After walking in for 6+ hours, I got a real idea of where that spot would be. However, I never did reach it. When I don't have to come out the same day, I should be able to get there. That day I didn't get home until almost 9 pm. My butt was dragging.

My observations of this hunt are simple. It is going to be the toughest hunt I ever endure. It will push me to my limit. I also know that I must carry a first aid kit. I used to avoid doing this but not this time. I also realize how lightweight I must go for this adventure. I also realize that I must get some new things to make it easier on myself. I have an old rain jacket that I need to replace. I am thinking of going with the stormlight version from First Lite. I also need some new gaiters. The OR gaiters I have been using are about done. Any ideas? I have resealed my two man tent and also my one man tarp tent. My sleeping pad (klymit)and sleep system (Hammock Gear) should be just right. I am going to look at some light weight game bags because the canvas bags I usually carry are just to heavy. I have meals ready for dinners. I am still trying to decide what to eat for breakfast. I am leaning towards a Clif Bar or some protein bar for that meal. I do have some Mountain House breakfast items to eat every 3rd day or so.

just sayin...mh
 
MH---If you haven't tried the Mountain House "Breakfast Skillet" yet, I find it scrumptious and you can eat it by itself or in a tortilla.
 
MH,
I'm pulling for you brother!

Funny you'd make that comment about this being your toughest hunt. That's been one of the BIG reasons why sheep hunting has been my favorite for over 37 years. I can never get enough.

Keep the reports coming. I love them and need them.

Zeke
 
I would look for protein packed items. I like nuts of all kinds. I would start cashing away a few things in places you might end up later on the hunts. Carrying in items and lighting up the load for the out trip helps. But remember your little friends of the forest like nuts too. I have to force myself to eat breakfast as I'm not hungry in the morning and just want to get going. So quick high protein stuff is high on my list. Keep your post coming as it is great to follow along.

DZ
 
Zeke,

The toughest part so far has been getting used to what I can do at my age and with the physical limitations I now have. Fortunately, I have a strong will to get this done. I hike a lot on my own so I am used to scouting on my own. My recovery time after a long all day hiking event is about 2 days. I want to try and get that down to one day of recovery time. I do wish that there was a magic elixir I could drink to push the recovery time.

This unit has the reputation for being the toughest in the state. I have no idea if that is true or not. I can tell anyone that access isn't easy. There are trail systems, but many of them are unmarked on maps or don't take you where you need to go. I will do way more bushwhacking than actual trail hiking. My hike on Monday was 13 miles and it was the first one this year where I was actually on a real dirt trail. I would hate to try and hunt this unit cold. I have reviewed the specific harvest info for the last 10 years. I can tell you that this information is replete with errors.

Over the last 18 years, I have written down on paper or in my memory where I have seen mature rams hanging. Unfortunately, most of those spots held those rams in October after they started to migrate. I could be busier than heck in late October hitting all those spots if I don't get it done in September. I really want to get it done in September. That is part of my challenge.

My oldest son is going to be my pack mule and companion for the first 10 days of the season. He is strong enough to pack me out if necessary. After a few days of rest, I have some guys coming in that I have helped over the years. One is my nephew. Following him will be a challenge. He has legs like a giraffe. Mine are short.

Any pointers or tips a person wants to share with me, would be greatly appreciated. I think I know what to look for in field judging sheep. I am not looking for the king of the mountain, just a nice representative animal. I am not going to shoot first and than worry about how I recover the animal. If I can't get to it, I am not going to take the shot. I have seen a couple guys do that up here with bad outcomes.

I am heading out again on Thursday morning for an all day event. The cooler weather has helped. Once the streams have diminished, the snow has melted, and access to the fringes of the unit have opened up, I will be exploring more new country. By that time I hope to be doing some solo overnighters.

just sayin...mh
 
For breakfast I like to have 2 pop tarts they are hi in calories and have an endless amount of different kinds so you won't get to burnt out on the same thing and a cup of coffee. I take these to where I am going to glass for the morning and have breakfast while I am glassing.
 
MH
If you harvest in late October give me a call and my son and I will help you pack it out when we are out there for his elk hunt. You should have my cell number.

Also, I drew my F deer tag to have in my pocket during his elk hunt. My son can't go on his elk hunt until the last part of October, but I have a ton of vacation time built up and would consider going out in early October to help you out if you want an extra set of eyes/legs for a few days.
 
Hope you find a big one and shoot em Where you can get em out without too much torture.

Good luck this fall I wish you the best.
 
>Zeke,
>
>The toughest part so far has
>been getting used to what
>I can do at my
>age and with the physical
>limitations I now have. Fortunately,
>I have a strong will
>to get this done. I
>hike a lot on my
>own so I am used
>to scouting on my own.
>My recovery time after a
>long all day hiking event
>is about 2 days. I
>want to try and get
>that down to one day
>of recovery time. I do
>wish that there was a
>magic elixir I could drink
>to push the recovery time.
>
>
>This unit has the reputation for
>being the toughest in the
>state. I have no idea
>if that is true or
>not. I can tell anyone
>that access isn't easy. There
>are trail systems, but many
>of them are unmarked on
>maps or don't take you
>where you need to go.
>I will do way more
>bushwhacking than actual trail hiking.
>My hike on Monday was
>13 miles and it was
>the first one this year
>where I was actually on
>a real dirt trail. I
>would hate to try and
>hunt this unit cold. I
>have reviewed the specific harvest
>info for the last 10
>years. I can tell you
>that this information is replete
>with errors.
>
>Over the last 18 years, I
>have written down on paper
>or in my memory where
>I have seen mature rams
>hanging. Unfortunately, most of those
>spots held those rams in
>October after they started to
>migrate. I could be busier
>than heck in late October
>hitting all those spots if
>I don't get it done
>in September. I really want
>to get it done in
>September. That is part of
>my challenge.
>
>My oldest son is going to
>be my pack mule and
>companion for the first 10
>days of the season. He
>is strong enough to pack
>me out if necessary. After
>a few days of rest,
>I have some guys coming
>in that I have helped
>over the years. One is
>my nephew. Following him will
>be a challenge. He has
>legs like a giraffe. Mine
>are short.
>
>Any pointers or tips a person
>wants to share with me,
>would be greatly appreciated. I
>think I know what to
>look for in field judging
>sheep. I am not looking
>for the king of the
>mountain, just a nice representative
>animal. I am not going
>to shoot first and than
>worry about how I recover
>the animal. If I can't
>get to it, I am
>not going to take the
>shot. I have seen a
>couple guys do that up
>here with bad outcomes.
>
>I am heading out again on
>Thursday morning for an all
>day event. The cooler weather
>has helped. Once the streams
>have diminished, the snow has
>melted, and access to
>the fringes of the unit
>have opened up, I
>will be exploring more new
>country. By that time I
>hope to be doing some
>solo overnighters.
>
>just sayin...mh

Great update MH!

That's the challenge at our age. Damn recovery take too long and a bad day might even increase the recovery time.

I have no words of wisdom except, that for me, if I go at my own pace I can go farther and recover more quickly than if I try to keep up with the youngsters.

Take the lead and make others follow your pace. It's a hunt, not a race.

Best of luck and I'll be following your saga closely.

Zeke
 
One more thing:

Once you're in a prime area, spend all day. I'm always surprised by sheep's movements off and on all day long.

You'll bump fewer sheep and the lounging/glassing will aid recovery and produce more sheep sightings.

Zeke
 
Zeke, Good info on the pacing myself. Young guys with 38 inch inseams that can hide behind aspen trees, scare me. I have the torso of a man 6'8" and the legs of a little person. I plan to do a lot of sitting and glassing. I plan to get in and get down and watch my surroundings. I would think a minimum of 3 days in one spot before moving on. Today there was even more snow above 10,000 ft. I also got hammered by a nasty hailstorm today.

SD Bugler, careful what you offer. I will take you up on the offer if I haven't done the deed by the end of September.

just sayin...mh
 
I had a tire go gunny bags on me which required a trip to Billings for replacement on the 3rd. A golf ball size hole through the lugs and belts did it in. I am sure it was a sharp rock that killed it.

Summer has kicked into overdrive here. I got up to scout on the 5th and the temp was 75 at 4 AM. I headed into my hike in the backcountry at 6 AM. The temp was 37 degrees when I left the truck. I could feel the humidity despite the lower temperature. It was over 80 and humid on my descent.

I started in for this long journey with about 45 minutes in the timber. After that, it was 6 hours and 15 minutes of straight uphill. I love my trekking poles. I was breaking in a new pair of Hanwag boots with some Lathrop inserts. My 3rd pair of this particular boot and my first set of Lathrop inserts. I had worn the boots for a few days on concrete and asphalt before hitting the dirt with them. The boots did as expected and the insoles were great. I am going to buy another pair for my 2nd set of Hanwags. The small inserts fit perfectly in my size 10 1/2 Hanwags.

As I climbed 4,000 ft., it became obvious to me that the runoff was finally starting to decline. A little spring that I was going to tap for water along the way was now dry. The snow was also beginning to recede. I think much of it may be gone by early August. However, the snow berms on the north facing ridges were still deep in the shadows of the white bark pine forest.

I did get some glassing in of some the basins. Keeping it real, I did not see a single sheep. The largest creature I saw was a marmot. I did pick up a 4 point muley shed on the return trip. It was not much. When they are chalky like this one they end up in the zeroscaped front yard.

I am going to have to replace my gaiters. I lost a calf buckle and the strap under the boot is about worn through. They were OR crocodile gaiters. They didn't last a whole two years but lasted longer than the Kenetreks I had before them. I am waiting for the new First Lite Bramblers to be available in Dry Earth.

Water is a concern of mine. This unit is very dry when you get above 10,000 ft in elevation. Crawling 3,000 down to gather water or packing enough water is going to be tough. I am thinking about asking some friends to haul by horseback a 5 gallon jug to a couple of locations.

I overdid it yesterday. After getting back to the truck after 6 PM, I needed more water than what I had already consumed. For all my future day scouting trips I am going to pack at least 64 ounces for my all day adventures. Cramping in my legs sucks.

Although I am knowledgeable about my area, I am still surprised at how few trails there are in this unit. I have hunted the Wyoming Range, Wind River Range and others in Wyoming and I am amazed at how few real trails exist in this part of the Beartooths. The ridge I followed was an obvious spot to locate a trail. The best I could find were a couple of bleached out surveyor ribbons hanging from some old trees. I think after the Yellowstone fires, a lot of what were once trails have gone to seed.

If anyone is bored with these reports, let me know and I will cease and desist. If I have any single observation about sheep hunting this area, it is a real simple. This place is going to kick my butt when I start to hunt it.

just sayin...mh
 
David
Love the reports keep em coming. This might be the closest many of us will get to an actual sheep hunt!!
Maybe add a few pics to your posts to satisfy our cravings for the high country.

I'm fishing with the family this week in northern Minnesota and it is HOT here too.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-06-17 AT 11:34AM (MST)[p]What SDB said about keeping us up on your adventures and maybe some pictures to go with them. 64 oz. of H2O sounds like a lot, but probably not nearly enough for rough terrain along with the heat and humidity you mentioned. Cramping, as you know, is a sure sign of dehydration.
 
MH here is an idea for you on the water issues. Buy some 10 liter MSR bags and pack them up with you. they are very light, very durable and black so they collect heat from the sun well. Fill them with snow and let them melt. repeat a few times and a 10 liter bag can be pretty close to full of water. Then stash them on top and you will have your water come hunting season.
 
Your thinking right! Water is your friend! No water and getting dehydrated, every joint in your body will kill you! Have a stash!
 
I remember a trip in July to your sheep area MH, it was a hot dry trail. We had the purifiers going nonstop. That country can be brutal!
 
Tknez,

I just ordered a 10 Liter bag from Moosejaw. It cost me $ 31.00. I will take it into one of my dry spots and get it stashed. Thanks for the tip.

mh
 
Keep the updates coming! I've also packed in and stashed dehydrated food at camp locations. It's good to know you have some extra calories if you need them.
 
After my long hike on Wednesday, I was looking for something a little different (easier) today. I usually do not hike, scout or hunt much on Saturdays but I made an exception today. I left the house around 5 AM to head to my jump off spot. On the way south, I passed a small mountain lion running north on the west shoulder of the Belfry Highway. You don't see that every day. When I arrived at the jump off spot, a young range bull got real aggressive and for a minute I thought I was going to be testing my bear spray on him.

I headed south with the idea that I would climb in elevation to a great glassing spot that would allow me to Look across into most of Area 1 and also into a portion of Area 2. I was actually in Area 2. The sky was clear and I was able to glass and see Pilot Peak, Index Peak, Windy Peak, Hurricane Mesa, the highest point of Closed Creek and also the tip of Squaw Peak. My goal was to see where I was on Wednesday and to also look for a better access point into the north region of Area 1. The better access was easy to spot and I will try it on foot next week or the week after. I was also able to see a very nice looking basin not far from where I stopped hiking on Wednesday. I wasn't aware that it was there until today's adventure.

There seems to me to be a lot more snow still hanging in Area 1 as compared to Area 2. For any of you who have an Area 2 tag, I believe you could now access Trout Peak, Robber's Roost and the east side of Jim Mountain from Monument, Mooncrest, Jim Mountain and Four Bears trailheads. Dead Indian Peak looks like it still has a ton of snow so I don't know if the Big Creek trail could get you there yet. In any event, crossing the North Fork of the Shoshone River in Wapiti to get to the Big Creek Trail might be problematic due to high water.

The mosquitos and deer flies are out. Summer is here in full force with temps into the 90's. That should knock a lot of this snow down. Afternoon thunder storms are the order of the day.

I obviously did not see any sheep in my area because of the distance between my vantage point and the areas I was looking into. I am very confidant that my Leica 10x42 HD-R range finding binoculars will be used for most of my glassing. My old Fujinon bayonet lens spotting scope should do the trick with the 25x lens. I get too much distortion and wave action when I use the higher power lens.

I am starting to think of spots to stash food and especially water before I start hunting. I have a lot of Mountain House meals courtesy of Costco. Anyone want to trade some other flavors for my large supply of Chili Mac with Beef? Not my favorite for sure.

I plan on going out again on Monday. No cramps today in my legs because I consumed 64 ounces of water along the way.

mh
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-08-17 AT 05:58PM (MST)[p]No way Jose on trading for any of that Chili Mac, LOL! I'd sure love to be up there in that high country with you on one or two of your scouting trips. Stay safe MH!
 
This is just a a heads up for anyone with an Area 3 Goat Tag or an Area 1 and 2 sheep tag. The Sunlight Road, from Gas Creek and past the closed gate will not be open for quite some time. The closed road section just past Spring Creek, is usually opened by July 16th. I was informed by the USFS that the road past the gate will be closed at least through August 5th. This is all due to the washed out sections from the high water that has been experienced. I can honestly say I thought this was coming. The washout at Gas Creek is really bad. I can only imagine what the rest looks like. This should not alter hunting plans but scouting may be problematic. The closure won't involve horse traffic but I hope your horse is a good swimmer.

I have been scouting the North parts of Sheep Area 1. There is still lots of snow. Some of the streams are finally starting to clear and drop. At 9,600 on Monday, I was still walking through a few snow drifts on the north facing slopes. Glassing back into some of the higher elevation areas, the snow is still present in large amounts. I will also warn anyone who is scouting or hiking in the north end of this area that the deer flies and mosquitos are especially bad.

I should be out again on Friday morning to explore a new trail system.

just saying...mh
 
so....do you have any good news? LOL

That's valuable info to anyone trying to hunt those areas. You guys got pounded this winter and it's still affecting you even now. Tough deal Mr MH.

If the USFS said a road would be open by August 15th around here, it might really mean 2018 or 19!!!!

Best to you MH and I love your reports.

Zeke
 
Glad to help you out with the MSR bag idea. It really has worked well for me in the past. Good luck on your awesome adventure you are on this year.
 
>This thread needs pictures!

The only pic I need to see is a successful harvest of a ram!! Great post MH and I'll be looking forward to a pic of a wyo ram!!
 
I was thinking the same thing as DoubleDropMuley.

I have never seen a picture of MH with a smile on his face. Maybe if he is holding the horns of sheep he will be smiling?
 
Sloshed through abit of alpine for other reasons; might not do you much good at this stage but saw 5 rams at the head of line creek. All but 1 was missing his lamb tips, my favorite was a chocolate colored ram broomed but still a full curl or better. I really don't know enough to say how tight the curl is or how thick the bases on any of them , just know it was a nice site. Especially in the north part of1
 
I suck estimating a ram! The curl always gets me. Maybe if a guy carries one out on his back, he would learn pretty quick what a good one look like? lol
 
The last 10 days would be best described by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead as "a long strange trip". Last Monday I was scouting sheep in the North End of the area. I did about 12 miles and glassed some great country. On the way home, I called my wife from the top of the Chief Joseph Highway. She told me she wasn't feeling well. Considering the last time she didn't feel well was when my middle son was born 39 years ago, I was concerned. Road construction and bad cell reception delayed my return home. When I finally reached her by phone again, I asked her to meet me on the Belfry Highway so that I could get her to Cody. We went to the emergency room in Cody and the next thing you know she is in an ambulance headed to Billings. Monday night, my old "hiked out" bones spent the night on a plastic couch in a Cardio room in Billings. That was still better than her being in a hospital bed with people monitoring her constantly. The next day, she has a pacemaker installed and by Wednesday I brought her home. She had never experienced any heart trouble until this adventure.

At my wife's insistence on Saturday, I was told to go hiking with my daughter in law and her friend. I needed to stay within cell reception and close to home. My daughter in law got sick Friday night so I took her girlfriend on Saturday morning. Her friend was a novice hiker and wanted to know if we would be near grizzly bears. I assured her that on the hike I had planned, I had only seen bears one time many years ago. On the way in, just a few miles off the Chief Joseph Highway, we jumped 5 grizzly bears feeding on a couple of dead Angus cows. Geez. After some assurances from me, we did the hike. Although it doesn't involve my unit, I did glass up some sheep up high on the east side of Jim Mountain near Robbers Roost.

I stayed home Sunday and Monday to care for my wife. Yesterday, I headed out early for a long hike into the country I had glassed up the previous Monday. The mosquitos kept me moving at a brisk pace. I spent the bulk of my time glassing the west end of Hurricane Mesa and Closed Mountain. I didn't see any sheep, but that country is amazing. It is the closest thing to perfect sheep country I have ever seen.

Every time I go out, I am amazed by the vastness of this sheep unit. Right now, I am scouting places to hunt sheep if I am not successful in the first two weeks of September. I already know where I will go in October if I come up short in September. The days have been hot and humid and we are experiencing thunder storms virtually every night. On my hike yesterday, I was wearing my worn out gaiters. I was soaked from my waist down to my boots because of the rain storms. My new gaiters from First Lite are scheduled to arrive on Thursday.

I wish I had more to report on the actual sheep I am seeing. I am keeping it real and I haven't seen much for weeks. I appreciate everyone's desire to see some pics. I appreciated the report from the previous poster on what he has seen. I sent him a pm.

just sayin...mh
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-22-17 AT 08:05AM (MST)[p]I decided to spend a night out and do some late evening scouting and also some early morning scouting the next day. There was a thunderstorm with lots of afternoon rain on Thursday. The humidity was high and the mosquitos were just awful. I won't miss the mosquitos come September.

My intent the first evening was to glass some areas that I knew held sheep. I hiked about a mile from the trailhead to start my glassing. I thoroughly glassed the front and up from top to bottom. Not a thing. I headed back to the truck and reached it by dark. I was going to stay the night at the trailhead but the mosquitos were so bad I bailed out and headed to higher country away from the water.

The next morning I was up early. Things had cooled off considerably from the day before. I hit the trailhead at 5:30 AM and started my walk. It was my intent to get high on the north side of the drainage and glass across to the other side. There were two small creeks running out of a couple of high steep canyons and also a large rock cliff just west of them. I crawled uphill about 1,500 ft along an old fire line. By about 8:00 AM, I was a couple of miles in and in a perfect spot for glassing across the basin and also behind me.

On the west side of the huge rock cliff, are two grassy basins towards the top. Access to those spots can be reached by wading across a creek and walking the open ridge line up. It is steep but doable. The largest grassy basin at near 9,600 ft. elevation held nothing. The other basin was partially obstructed by some burnt timber where I was so I moved uphill to a more open glassing spot. These spots look like prime sheep habitat. They are just over the ridge from a well known sheep spot I intend to hunt.

I hit the lower and smaller basin with my Leica binos and spotted some animals laying down in the open below a large snow field. The elevation was around 9,400 ft. I dragged my spotting scope out of my backpack to confirm that I was looking for what I would soon be hunting. When I sized the animals up there was 4 laying down sideways on the steep grassy hillside and one was up feeding. They were a bachelor group of bull elk. Not a raghorn in the bunch. All were nice big bulls. Crap. For those of you with a 51-1 elk tag, there are going to be some nice bulls to hunt in 2017.

I am going to hit it hard next week and see what I see. So far, it has been weeks without a sheep sighting. Glassing is a little tougher because of the smoke in the air. I believe most of it is coming from the June Creek fire which is burning in Sheep Area 3 along the North Fork of the Shoshone.

I realized when I was out again this week, that I am scouting geography and access and not necessarily sheep. They may be timbered up because of the heat. Because I live in an area with a large migratory mule deer population, I am used to doing this. I am hoping to get into my prime hunt focus area by next week. Hopefully, the water will have receded considerably by that time.

As a final note, while I was glassing, a small red and white airplane circled the entire drainage down low working every nook and cranny. Last year, I saw this same airplane working some sheep and goat country further south. Last year, I was told by Game and Fish that it wasn't theirs or from USFWS. I am sure they were just sightseeing.

just sayin...mh
 
>As a final note, while I
>was glassing, a small red
>and white airplane circled the
>entire drainage down low working
>every nook and cranny. Last
>year, I saw this same
>airplane working some sheep and
>goat country further south. Last
>year, I was told by
>Game and Fish that it
>wasn't theirs or from USFWS.
>I am sure they were
>just sightseeing.
>
>just sayin...mh

Most likely they were scouting MH, regulation prohibits use of an aircraft for spotting and locating game from Aug 1st-Jan31. Just talking with a high country hunter last night, would like to see that moved up to July 1st.

Keep up the reports, good luck!
 
I was finally in position to start scouting in the south end of my hunt area. Getting into these areas is no small task. Traveling through lots of water and blow down makes for a long day. The area I am scouting has very little game in it. I didn't see a deer, elk or moose during my trip and very few tracks. Fortunately, there is also little grizzly sign. The abundance of wolf sign is a concern.

The stream crossings were problematic. The streams were still high and a little off colored. I went over my gaiters in one spot when I stepped down into some off color water. I find it hard to believe that it is August 1 and that I will be hunting in just under a month. Everything is green and it seems more like June.

The area I am scouting is familiar to me. It involves a long steady uphill climb. I was scouting camp sites for a stay between September 14th and the 20th. I have a couple of younger guys coming in to assist me for this part of the hunt. It gives me some extra eyes and some strong backs. I do not like to camp on top of the animals that I am hunting. This area will allow me to be in various glassing positions before first light with just a short 30 minute walk from camp. It will also allow me to maneuver east and north to cover lots of ground. There was one pocket I wanted to glass yesterday but wasn't able to find a suitable spot to do so.

Fortunately, in this part of the unit water will not be a problem. In other areas I have scouted, it will be a real problem.
The area will vary in altitude from 9,600 ft. to just over 10,400 ft. I better be in sheep shape. I sure don't feel like I am there yet. My butt was dragging when I came out around 5 PM.

I have a was able to glass numerous potential areas. Last year, in early September, I was able to glass up a decent group of mature rams in one of those spots. In another spot, I saw a couple of mature goats rolling in the dirt.

I didn't see any sheep on this trip. The warm weather and my travel time into these areas makes it difficult to spot sheep. I suspect that many are timbered up long before I get there. I realize why so many use airplanes to cover the areas. With the exception of a couple of spots, most of my pre season scouting areas take at least 5-7 hours of steady walking just to reach a suitable glassing spot.

just sayin...mh
 
Just know that you're doing it the right way mh and that these guys scouting animals by airplane suck!
 
I have been out a couple times since my last post. Both trips were in the North part of the unit.

The trip last Friday is an area I have been familiar with for the last 15 years. In 2005, I took a 29" mule deer buck who was a real old timer. I wanted to explore some pockets that I have never wandered into before. After walking 3 miles or so, I took a hard North turn to check out a side drainage. In this same area, a few years back, I had glassed up 3 decent rams in late October. At the time, I wondered where they had come from. I discovered a nice basin that had the look. The West and South areas of the basin were especially appealing. I am looking at this spot as a potential day hunt in late October. The mosquitos were around but obviously on the decline. I saw no sheep.

Yesterday, I hit another spot that I have been curious about for many years. Access is not marked on the USFS travel map and does not show on any of my Topo maps. I have tried to reach this place on two occasions previously. The previous approaches would never have worked now that I have seen the geography from a different vantage point. I basically had run out of ideas for access so I decided to bushwhack in. Using logic and lots of luck, I actually found an old fire road and a narrow trail that lead me into this drainage. After a 1 1/2 mile walk, I reached a mesa where the trail disappeared. I had a choice of bushwhacking up two different ridges. I elected to climb the farthest ridge. After busting through downfall for about 1/2 mile, I walked straight up that ridge. There were remnants of an old trail that I followed. It took me straight up to a very nice glassing point. Because it was just after noon when I reached the spot, I elected to go no further. I was at about 9,000 ft. By my calculations (how fast can a 62 year old man walk), I determined that I could be in prime sheep country in about 6 hours from the starting point. That would include, the initial trail walking in the dark, with a headlamp. My concern for this spot, Is I discovered no water after I started my climb from the bottom. I am looking at hunting this spot in October. I saw no sheep today. In fact, I saw no big game animals at all.

Again, many would be frustrated by the fact I am not seeing that which I seek. Because of high daytime temps, I just think the sheep are timbered up during most daylight hours. At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

The best part of the two spots I scouted is simple. I could camp in one central spot, and visit both spots with very little vehicle travel time. That is a real plus for me when you consider how few places there are to purchase fuel.

I am slowly working myself into sheep shape. Because of the heat, I am having to carry more water than I usually would. The water is mixed with equal parts of Propel and Vitalyte. My snacks consist of Baby Bell cheese, a Larabar and an apple.

When driving to these spots, I have been thinking about starting a post on the outhouses of NW Wyoming. Some are just gross, some filthy and others just smelly. One is fantastic. I may not disclose it's location for fear that others may use it and ruin it.

I have not been posting pictures and likely won't until after my hunt. First, with the changes in image hosting by Photobucket, I don't know what service I should use. Second, many of the places I have been in could be identified with photos. Although, there are only 20 tags for the entire area for a 60 day hunt, I do not want to have any tag alongs. A few years ago, I sent some photos to a couple of Utah deer hunters. Because of an inadvertent email to me, I discovered that they were trying to pinpoint where I was hunting. I will tell anyone where I was scouting and hunting sheep after the season is over. I want the hard work to pay off for me this year, with the hope that I can help others in the future.

By the way, I have yet to run into anyone scouting sheep this year. My only contact with a guide was when I bumped into Jordan Martoglio who was clearing a trail for the USFS in the north end of the unit.

just sayin...mh
 
Thanks David
I love reading the scouting updates.
I think you nailed it about the sheep being holed up in the timber during the heat of the day. They will become more visible as it cools off. You are definitely enjoying this tag!!!
Keep it up.
 
Too bad you didn't have a tag for the Greybull River because I just cleaned all the trails up there for the forest service and found a lot of sheep. But if you hit Windyy Mountain don't forget to use that outhouse because it's quite the drop it goes
 
The Wyoming outhouse thread! Ha..would be interesting!
6hrs from the truck would be sweet! Hopefully you will start seeing some rams soon.
Good luck!
 
MH,

I just stumbled across this thread. Kudos to you for hitting it as hard as you have, at your age.

BUT your ram will be more special than any of the others killed in your unit this year because of your efforts.

I wish you the best of luck and am envious.
 
I was out again today. The sky was really hazy and slightly overcast. This is the first Friday I haven't been rained on. I left the house at 4:45 AM and reached the trailhead around 6. The climb to where I wanted to be was steep. Everything in this part of Wyoming is steep. The hike involves a bad trail at first with another mile of bushwhacking until you hit another trail that winds to the top of the ridge. I jumped some grouse on the way in.

I got to the "glassing tree" around 9:20 this morning. The temperatures were still very cool for the time of the year. I immediately glassed a basin directly north of me and located nothing. I broke out the spotting scope and hit the same area without finding anything. After that I started glassing the ridge directly west of me. I also looked over the entire area with my spotting scope. Nothing.

I took a break and started filling my pie hole and drank a little water. I got the spotting scope out again and made another pass over the ridge to the west. Instead of using the scope side to side, I started to glass up and down. While doing this, I noticed some movement just under a small snow field and just to the right of a rock outcropping. I first located two rams and than a 3rd and a 4th ram. A fifth ram popped up after another ten minutes. Not long after that, another ram cam in from the south and moved into the group. They would feed a little and lay down. They were out in the open and at about 10,800 ft. in elevation. After a couple of hours, they all headed for the top of the ridge and it was cool to see their white rear ends.

I watched this band of rams for over 2 hours. They were all good rams. One ram had a particularly dark, almost black cape, the rest were chocolate brown. I plotted a strategy for putting on a stalk if I were hunting them. It involved going over a ridge due west of my position and than moving north behind the ridge until I was just above them. I figured that the stalk would take maybe 4 hours. I felt confident I could have been on them well before dark.

It was great to see some rams after having seen nothing for almost 5 weeks. These rams will not be very far from where I anticipate starting my hunt on September 1st.

just sayin...mh
 
MH. I too have just read all your posts about your sheep hunt. Sounds like your already making some great memories just getting out there so much. I'm envious. I have deer hunted up in Sunlight basin several times over the years in that big burn to the North of the main road. There's a trailhead at the end of one of the dirt side roads up there I'm sure you've been on. It heads North and splits not to far from the end of the road. It goes up and over the top and down to another trailhead on the North side of that range. I remember one hunt I stumbled across four nice rams in that country. Of course it was in November though. I remember hearing a story one year about a few Irish brothers that took off on that trail and came back at dark packing a 30" buck. Said they knew where to go. We ran into a father and son hunting up there one year. The father was close to the trail a ways in and said they saw a nice buck that his son had went after. I was thinking after reading your posts, maybe that was you and one of your boys, but then thought naw, you would have been going after it too.
 
Awesome you found them! Hopefully your the only one who knows about those? Always suck to have some yoyo blow them out before the hunt.
 
The last few days have included a lot of rain in the high country. I haven't seen any new snow. The temperature is cool but not cold. I was out on Monday to test my new Kryptek Poseidon II packable rain jacket. I was glad I had it. This part of NW Wyoming is as green as I have ever seen it. The streams are still full, but not so as to impede travel and access. The hazy skies are about gone as a result of the rain. This has made the glassing a little easier with the exception of some low clouds.

In the middle of the afternoon, I spotted a single ewe on a south facing slope. The area was solid rock and very steep. After glassing for a few minutes, I was able to spot 6 ewes and 3 dink rams. It was fun to watch them jump and climb around. I would call their location a two bouncer as far as distance. That means if shot they would bounce once on the steep slope until bouncing for the last time when landing on the flat below the slope.

It was good to be out. I have firmed up my plans and locations for the upcoming sheep hunt. I am having a friend horse pack some water into one of my spots. Crawling downhill 4,000 to get water has little appeal to me. I am in this for the long run unless my body craps out.

just sayin...mh
 
MH,
You're deriving maximum "pleasure" (through physical pain) from this tag because of all your work and preparation.
THAT, my friend, is what sheep hunting is really all about to me.
Well done,
Zeke
 
I hit it again on Thursday. I was scouting camping locations and a place to cache some water. I was also flagging a trail for the friend hauling in some water. The camp spot selected was not as far in as I would like. It takes me 5 1/2 hours to get to the spot. There are two ways in and they both are awful. I went about another 3/4 mile along a knife ridge. The going is a little tight.

I took the time to glass some more. I didn't take the spotting scope this time. Despite this, I found the same rams I saw last week. They had hardly moved from the last place I had seen them.There were also some other sheep in the general vicinity. The mosquitos have all but disappeared so I dumped the DEET from my pack.

I am gathering the food for my first two hunts. I have a Steripen that I have used for water purification in the past. I have elected not to take it, and will rely on a small life straw and some purification tablets from MSR. Just a weight consideration. I have my two spots selected for the opener and for about two weeks after the opener. I anticipate keeping a cold camp.

I had a friend tout me on Oral Rehydrating Salts for the low spots when dehydration and energy issues set in. I tried them in a liter of water for the first time yesterday. They taste not so good. I did feel the difference and they helped after my long hike in. I am going to carry a few packs of this stuff for hunting sheep country. They didn't make me sick or cramp me up. Better to test something out before using them when it really matters.

Has anybody got any suggestions for caping a sheep for a shoulder mount? Cuts and preservatives? I may be getting ahead of everything, so I am just asking.

This will likely me my last post on scouting these sheep. I have my spots selected and don't see any advantage in looking for yet another spot. The sheep are where they are and I know they move around. Making plans, but surely realize that they could change overnight. It has been a real challenge. It won't be long until I find out if I am up to the challenge.

just sayin...mh
 
David
Glad you got some good rams located and things pretty well figured out. Good luck on your hunt!

As for suggestions for caping. I always carry and X-Acto knife with a couple spare blades for caping. you can get different shape blades to suit what you like. The Havalons with replaceable blades work good too (They work good for everything else to process the animal in the field too). With an X-Acto knife you should be able to cape it out in about 5 - 10 minutes. A tip my taxi told me for cutting along the back and to the horns it to cut the hide "up" from underneath so that you don't cut the individual hairs.
 
Be glad to help with caping tips as I have caped and mounted more than a few rams. I will pm you my phone #.
 
With
>an X-Acto knife you should
>be able to cape it
>out in about 5 -
>10 minutes.

I doubt that is possible even if you just cape it to the head!
 
>I doubt that is possible even
>if you just cape it
>to the head!


Actually yes, that is true. Never had the pleasure of caping a sheep, so it may be a little more difficult, but for deer, elk, and antelope my taxi showed me how to remove the cape from the head in short order. Granted, this is only to get the cape off the head and cutting the ears off at the base. This is what I would call "field caping". Detail work (ears, lips, etc.) gets done after packing it off the mountain.
 
I've caped well over a dozen rams and there's no way I'd rush the job. Sheep capes are NOT a dime a dozen and I don't want any meat left on the hide. I also prefer to take the cape all the way off so it stays pristine and that whole process takes even longer. I will wait and turn ears, nose and split lips in camp.

There's good or there's quick. Pick 1.

Zeke
 
I have gotten some good tips from Zeke, Jeff and Brian. I appreciate them. I think circumstances will dictate the outcome with the caping and fleshing and preserving. It will depend on the temps, the time of the kill (assuming there is one), the place of the kill, the local predators and if I am alone or with some helpers. Worst case, I have nothing to preserve. Middle scenario is a euro mount, or best case, I have the time and skills to cape it right and get it out.

I am reminded of a guy I saw shoot a large buffalo on a private ranch here in Clark. He wanted a full body mount. After the kill, the rancher's hand carefully loaded the buffalo whole so as not damage the hide. A taxidermist was waiting in the barn. Everything was perfect, until the bucket loader tipped over on the way to the skinning barn. It was all downhill after that. I always wondered if the bucket loader ended up as the pedestal mount for the buffalo.

just sayin...mh
 
David
Here is a link to a video that is pretty good. It is pretty much the same as what I do when "field capping".

https://youtu.be/zkpz7HemzD0

A couple suggestions, tips, and things I do differently:

As he mentions in the video, some guys will start by skinning the nose and lower jaw from the front. I prefer to do that as I find it easier, much faster, and better way for me to make sure I leave enough gum on the hide. I start by opening the mouth and cutting along the edge of the teeth in order to preserve all of the gums. Skin down and under the jaw then up an over the nose back to the eyes. Then come from the back like in the video.

The screwdriver around the base of the horns/antlers is one of the best tips that he shows. This is especially true on a fresh kill vs a head that has been frozen and dried out a little. Obviously we don't all carry a screwdriver in the field but you can find a suitable substitute. I quarter and debone with a havalon knife. I take the blade out and use the blade holder to pry the hide away. Use whatever you may have with you. If you don't have anything with you, then use knife or x-acto and cut upward to the burr util the hide pulls away. This will get al of the hide/hair off the burr. Never cut from the base of the burr where the hide stops and go down. You will get a much closer and cleaner result going up to the burr. My taxi said that is one of the hardest details to make look good if the hunter cuts around the burr and goes down as it leaves hide/hair on the burr/skull cap.

You don't have to hang the head to cape it but getting it off the ground will help keep it cleaner. If I don't have a good clean flat rock or other clean surface to work on, then I will hang it with a piece of parachute chord tying off each horn/antler to a tree limb. By tying off both horns/antlers in opposite directions will help keep the head from spinning while you are working on it.

When I first stated out I would cape every animal our family ever shot even if we didn't plan to mount it just for practice. After 2 or 3 times it becomes pretty easy and you will become pretty confident. The guy in the video does it in about 15 minutes on a head that is still per tally frozen and not fresh but and he is also stopping and explaining a lot while skinning - so yes it can be done that quickly even tho Jm and Zeke say I can't do it or that I'm doing "poor quality".

The best advice I can give is talk to your taxi before going. They all have preferences of what they like. Shallow "v" cut vs deep "v" cut behind the horns. Short cut on back of neck vs full neck cut. Etc.
 
Thanks for the updates mighty. You've truly given us wannabe sheep hunters a good example of how it's done. Good luck!
 
>The screwdriver around the base of
>the horns/antlers is one of
>the best tips that he
>shows. This is especially
>true on a fresh kill
>vs a head that has
>been frozen and dried out
>a little. Obviously we
>don't all carry a screwdriver
>in the field but you
>can find a suitable substitute.

MH, DO NOT USE A SCREWDRIVER ON HORNS!

It works great for antlers, but doesn't work at all for horns. Guess you didn't know that SD. Maybe your guides cape all your sheep & antelope?


> so yes it
>can be done that quickly
>even tho Jm and Zeke
>say I can't do it
>or that I'm doing "poor
>quality".

I would like to see anyone standing over a dead bighorn cape it in 15 minutes, without lots of meat on the hide and many skinning cuts. As you know the cape includes the neck and shoulder. It will take five minutes just to "Y" the hide and carefully cut around both horns and remove the thin strip of hide from between the horns. I'm not sure why you are being an a$$hat about this SD, MH thinks well of you. I'll refrain from further comment about this to not ruin this awesome thread of his.
 
I agree, great thread MH.

As to the cape, I would do everything possible to save it. Even if you don't use it and want to go with a euro, you can sell it to someone. They are pretty valuable.

Also, as JM77 pointed out, properly caping a once-in-a-lifetime animal like a bighorn is not a race. Take your time and do as good of a job as you can, do it right.

A quality mount starts with proper field care of the cape...and doing so will only reap one thing, and that's a good final product.

Have fun on your hunt and be safe.
 
Jm
You are correct about the screwdriver is not good to use on "horns". I was wrong. I was referencing more "general" caping tips and not necessarily just Sheep. Also I did say that I have never done a sheep in one of my posts so I agree the narrow strip between the horns of a large mature ram would be a challenge.
Also, when I use the term "caping" I'm only referencing the head. I consider the neck and shoulders part of the "skinning" process to access the meat first. I always take care of the meat before the head. If we are talking about that portion as well then I agree it takes a lot longer and I also don't leave any meat on that portion of the hide even before I come off the mountain.

By the way I have never been on a guided hunt in my 40 years of hunting. And if I ever do go on one I won't let the guide cape my animal. Skinning, quartering, deboning, caping is all part of the experience of the hunt for me and I enjoy it. Heck, if I knew how to do taxidermy, I would want to mount my own animal as well. But I don't know anything about that artwork other than helping my taxi with some easy chores around his shop once in a while.

Thanks for pointing out my error on the screwdriver/"horn". It does work great on "antlers" though.

David
I will be out in western Wyoming the third week of September chasing antelope. If I get done early I would be happy to hike in with you for a few days and help glass and/or pack out some meat. It would give me a good excuse to see some of that country before my son's elk hunt in October.
Your hunt is just around the corner. I wish you the best of luck. I know you will enjoy every minute of it. Keep us all posted on how it goes. This is as close as most of us will get to sheep hunting!
 
As a Taxidermist I know it would be great if all animals brought to my shop were caped and in perfect condition with clean , straight, semetrical cuts.
In the real world that is rarely the case.

Keeping the skin clean as possible is the most important thing. Skin carefully and try to leave as little meat on the cape as possible. Try to cut most of the meat from the ear buds area.
If you accidentally make some cuts or holes it will be OK. A good taxidermist stitches miles of seam a season. It can be fixed.
Just be sure to leave plenty of skin behind the shoulder. Rouphly a hand width behind the shoulder pit is plenty for a shoulder mount. Half way back is neaded for a pedestal type mount in some cases though and won't hurt to have.
Turning the ears and splitting the lips would only be necessary before hand if very warm and over a day travel to a freezer.
The taxidermist can do that. That takes a little more skill to do properly and if you're not comfortable with trying then don't.

Cutting around the horns and the nose and eyes is the big area's to take your time. A very small, very sharp knife is preferred. Especially around the horn bases.

If it's warm and you are worried about insects and rot, a few hand full of 20 mule team borax rubbed onto the skin side and spread out flat on a tarp to soak in and start to glaze over is good insurance. Shake off the excess and fold the cape with skin touching skin. Then place in a clean game bag or paper bag to carry out. A plastic bag is fine to freeze in and it will keep for a couple years in a freezer like that if needed.

If cool out it will be fine to fold skin to skin bag and carry home to a freezer.
Just keep it dry as best you can.
Wet, bloody, muddy, and meat covered capes will rot quickly and have hair slippage.
It is not as tuff as it all sounds. I'm sure you can handle your cape and get it to a Taxidermist just fine.
Hope you the best of luck and a hopefully weather freindly hunt.
 
I hope I am not getting the cart ahead of the horse with caping and cape preservation talk. I do appreciate the input. I took a long hike yesterday just to keep my conditioning up. I enjoyed the eclipse in the great Wyoming backcountry. On Saturday, a friend and I are going to pack about 12 gallons of water into my second hunt area. His horses will do the packing. I hope I still remember how to ride a horse.

I have got all my food together for the first sojourn into the hunting area. We will be hitting the trail in the early AM on the last day of August. I am hoping to find a suitable campsite about 8-10 hours in on foot. Just because this area has tough horse access and limited water, I will be packing in a 2 1/2 gallon MSR bag of water on my back next Monday. I will also be strategically placing a long rope into a rough spot along my path. I have negotiated it in the past with just my trekking poles, but a full pack and hunting rifle next week may make it more difficult. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have been going through all my stuff for the first trip. Over the years, I have lightened my pack with ultralight gear in anticipation of this hunt. I am fortunate that my oldest son (the human pack mule) can carry the tent and the spotting scope/tripod for the first hunt. His eyes on the glass will also be extremely helpful. His bear awareness is a little suspect, but the rest of the package he brings to the table is great. His company is always appreciated.

Other than the trips with water, I am going to take it easy for the next week or so to make sure my left leg (knee and ankle) is fully rested. I am excited to be going. I think much of the excitement is generated by the fact I will be going into some new areas that previously I had only glassed. Going in and out through only day hiking for the last months has been extremely helpful in locating sheep and good country, but actual foot prints on the ground will be better.

The perfect scenario for me would be to locate a decent ram and take him down early in the day. This way, I could stumble through the sheep caping and still get back to camp. Because the usual scenario for me involves a walk with a headlamp after dark, I have made sure I have lots of fresh batteries.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement. At age 62, going DIY is going to be a real challenge. I do not consider this hunt to be a walk in the park or a mere formality. I know that I will have to hunt hard to get a ram. My rifle is sighted in. I will be using my .300 Winchester Magnum using 178 grain ELD-X Hornady bullets. The load uses a WLRM primer, Nosler Brass and 72 grains of H4831SC powder. The load will consistently shoot around a 1 inch group at 300 yards.

just sayin...mh
 
MH,
Just a couple quick notes and I'm not sure it will add very much to your thread but here goes.

1- I'm shooting the 212 ELD-x in a 300 RUM and I questioned it's ability to hold together under high-velocity impact at closer ranges. Fears were unfounded since I just shot a cow elk at 147 yards, found the bullet in the off-shoulder on a raking shot (DRT) and performance was excellent. Your load should work to perfection on a ram at all reasonable ranges.

2- I was just in my own sheep area of 2015 (Wind River Range) for the eclipse viewing and was thinking of your own hunt. It was a wonderful experience and my thoughts are with you.

Have a great hunt!

Zeke
 
Glad to get a good report on that ELD-X bullet Zeke.
I'm shooting the 178gr. this year and haven't hunted it yet.
I hate using new stuff that I haven't tested thoroughly yet on a hunt.
It shoots well for me in my 300 win mag but live animals are always the deciding factor.
 
Yesterday I packed in some water to a remote location. Straight uphill which included a very steep haul on solid rock. I was hauling 10 liters of water in a MSR Dromedary bag. I used an old Cabela's freighter pack instead of my usual hunting pack. I ditched the water at the 5 hour mark. This should provide my son and I with enough water next week to last a couple days before we have to find another water source. I was surprised to find a huge patch of raspberries on the way up. They should still be good when we pass through next week.

As part of this excursion, I was looking across a drainage to get a better view of an obstacle in another potential hunting spot where I have been seeing sheep. It would appear that the obstacle can be skirted to the south without an real potential for an incident. Of course you never know until you actually walk it.

I really didn't glass for sheep for any significant period of time. There was plenty of sheep sign after I crested the steepest part of my hike. I anticipate seeing even more as we move further into the drainage. Next week will be the real test. I sincerely hope that I am up to it.

just sayin...mh
 
Good luck sir. Glad to hear your son will be on the hunt with you.

I always enjoyed being out with my son. All our trips out together will always be the best memories of my life.
 
Packed in 12 gallons of water on Saturday to my secondary hunting spot. It was really hot. The horse pack trip in with the water reinforced my usual perceptions of hunting with horses. No one was seriously injured. My pack is ready and my rifle is sighted in. I checked my sheep tag to make sure it hadn't disappeared or morphed into something else.

My oldest son (human pack mule)is scheduled to arrive Wednesday afternoon. We will be off early Thursday morning to start our 10-12 hour hike into sheep country. Today I am not going to be thinking about sheep. My youngest and I are going to do a little trout fishing close to home.

The weather for my first hunt is not promising. Lots of heat and no precipitation.I will let you all know how the first trip goes. I anticipate being very tired upon my return. We will be hitting it hard. I am up for the long haul.

just sayin...mh
 
MH,
How long have you set aside for this first trip?
We just need to know so we check back to see how you did.

Best of luck to you!

Zeke
#livelikezac
 
Good luck David!
You are making the most of this special opportunity. I am looking forward to the conclusion.
 
Might Hunter this is an awesome thread. I wish you the very best of luck and hope you get the ram of your dreams. Take care and good luck.
 

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