Arizona desert sheep tag!!!

[Lv2hnt]

Still in pursuit! Even though I've known this was going to be a pretty tough hunt - it's turning into a lot more challenging hunt than expected. Neither I nor other tag holder have had a shot opportunity. He almost had a shot at 200 yds, but not quick enough with his rifle. Me? Not even close yet.

Have seen one really red horned ram that I have trail pics of - last week ram, but not for now. Went after one ram this morning, stupidly. Never saw him after he cleared the saddle where we first saw him. Pretty sure my # 1 ram is with his buds (4 Amigos) w-a-y up in nose bleed country (saw them last week). No way can they be hunted successfully where they were seen. Rethinking game plan.

Cell service is VERY spotty here in my hunt unit - sorry for the delayed update. I'll work on checking in on a more timely basis in/for the days to come. I'll try to post some pics in the next few days (would be REALLY happy if those pics would be of my downed ram.

Everyone be safe!

 

[Big Fin]

Best of luck out there. Hope you find "Him."

 

[dalbo]

I wish you the best of luck. Keep after them, you'll put your tag on a good one.

 

[BOHNTR]

Good Karma should be coming your way, Tom. Stay safe out there amigo.

 

[havgunwilltravel]

Wishing you all the best! Stick to it, you will have your opportunities I'm sure! Best of luck.

 

[nmelktrout]

This thread is great. Way to document the entirety of this opportunity and provide the rest of us with a window into your experience. Best of luck and safety to you!
-Cody

 

[havgunwilltravel]

How did the hunt end up?? Was really enjoying this post.

 

[Lv2hnt]

Okay, you guys can call me on the carpet! Lots of water under the bridge --- my bad ...

As I re-hash my Arizona desert bighorn sheep hunt from December, view it at your own peril as you find the time ;-) (not a short tale) ...

My hunt took place in the extreme southwest corner of Arizona --- NOT a particularly hospitable piece of geography ...



The largest ram ever taken from my hunt unit scored 168 5/8 in; I had 2 rams on my dream hit list that would score slightly larger ...

"Butkus," who'd push 170 in. ...



And another slightly larger ram (who moved back & forth between units) ...



I set up camp 2 days before Thanksgiving (my hunt started that Sunday) ...



I was very fortunate to have several members of the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society come down to help glass for sheep. My hunt unit encompassed approx. 125 sq. mi. (vertical, NOT flat!), with maybe 6-8 real shooter rams among the 125 total sheep --- a daunting task to undertake truly OYO ...



Opening morning found me glassing with a couple friends. The other guys were scattered several miles apart, glassing up into the mountains ...



After several hours with no rams spotted, my buddy Rex hoofed up to a saddle to check out what we couldn't see from where we were ...

 

[fishing4sanity]

I've seriously been wondering about the outcome of your hunt, so don't keep me waiting too long.

 

[Lv2hnt]

Turned out that a local hunter I've met a few times over the years tagged out opening morning (after applying for a desert sheep tag over 40 years!). Got me pumped when I got his rams' pics in a text

The mountain range he killed his ram in, east of my camp (neighboring hunt unit) ...



Ram scored approx. 165 in ...



Right side looked as nice as this left side ...

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Did you just post another guy's ram to stall?

 

[Lv2hnt]

Fast forward a couple of days ...

North side of mountain where high mountain water catchment is (to right and a bit below tallest peak on far right): on the way for an afternoon glassing session ...



2 miles away from band of 4 rams (unfortunately too far for pic in low light); rams just to left of 2 cream-colored cliff faces in center, 1/4 way below top. Consensus is that Butkus is in the group, and the largest. Finally ...



Next morning found us back glassing from closer --- we spot a couple rams ...



They're moving down into a cut, but we don't see Butkus (they're still about 2,000 yards away, and U-P there!). Frustration ...



The next morning finds me solo, aiming for the saddle on the finger below center "w" on horizon in pic above; this is drainage I hiked across (for size perspective, the green is palo verde trees, not bushes) ...



View back down to where we glassed from (shallow saddle on ridge, just below yellow horizontal slash); still 1,330 yards away from where sheep were. Drat --- no rams seen that morning!

 

[duckhunt]

You got me sitting on the edge of my seat. I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully the next pic I see is of the Ram you shot.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I've got 24 sheep points. Awesome thread. Keep it coming!! Lol

 

[fishing4sanity]

I started following this thread 11 minutes after you started it - back in July! Yes, I'm on the edge of my seat and waiting for more.

 

[Lv2hnt]

Got a text then that my fly fishing buddy's neighbor had also tagged out opening morning after spending over 10 miles in the saddle just to get to the mountains he'd be hunting (desert wilderness area). Ram scored 166 in ...





Okay, seeing other guys' successes pumped some fresh hope into my veins (I hadn't got close yet) ...

 

[duckhunt]

I thought critters moose hunt was exciting. This hunt rates right up there. I love hunt talk.

 

[mr_steve]

This is getting good...

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I'm glad I found out the conclusion to this story on another forum. The suspense was killing me!

 

[Lv2hnt]

Over the years it seems a lot of guys tag out the first 3-5 days of their sheep hunts. Seemed to be playing out that way this year in other hunt units ...

Ram killed on 3rd day of hunt in adjoining hunt unit, the same day we spotted the "4 Amigos," (Butkus with his 3 buddies) ...