Colorado sheep

[Pagosa]

Oak, beautiful ram. You definitely earned him. Enjoy your trophy!

 

[J Deck]

Epic story of a hard earned ram! Thanks for sharing.

 

[IdahoBugler]

Wow... That is such a stud of a ram and very well documented. Congrats Oak on a very well deserved trophy.

 

[3855WIN]

What a hunt. Congrats.

 

[dcopas78]

Awesome ram, congratulations!

 

[Oak]

Thanks for all of the comments. It was one of the pinnacles of my hunting career. Ironically, I packed this ram out of the mountains 9 years to the day from packing my first sheep out of the Chugach Mountains in AK.



The comments about my recent story brevity are funny for those who have been around a while. I wrote sagas like this about my 2007 dall hunt and 2008 mountain goat hunt, which you can find if you look through the archives. Unfortunately I think the photos were lost from those posts during a forum upgrade years ago. After doing this one I remember why I haven't done one recently....a lot of work.

I meant to include this photo in my last post. The remaining rams after the shot. They didn't run until I retrieved my pack and started up towards my ram.

What was the ring count on him? He's kinda tough to count

Looks to be a 10.5 year old ram?

Someone guessed age in a previous response to be 10ish. Any way to show a non sheep hunter how that is counted?

Good questions. So as many of you know, you count the rings in the horns to age them. I'm going to throw this photo up and see what people think. Opinions on this end vary. I apologize for the gore.

Did your "mini me" approve of your choice of Rams?

At 6 years old, he is a little indifferent. He definitely doesn't understand the significance of a sheep tag. Nor does my 3 year old daughter, who asked, "daddy, why did you only bring one sheep home???"

Maybe I missed it, but what rifle/bullet combo where you using?

.300 Wby and 180gr. Accubonds

No doubt now, Ovis Pyrexia.

Since a Dall hunt in 2007, and still!

 

[sneakem]

I'll throw an 11.5 out there for age...

 

[JBS]

I think 10.5

 

[genesis273]

13...but I know nothing about sheep. Just counting rings. Couldn't find a half ring, so I'll stick with whole numbers!

 

[genesis273]

Now for my congratulations:
That magnificent ram and hard to obtain tag deserved more than the average "I shot him" thread, and you definitely capitalized on sharing an epic story from beginning to end, and was an awesome thread to read while traveling 2500 miles back home from an elk hunt. Like I said on page #1, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. And you did an awesome job taking us alone for the ride.
Congratulations!

 

[James Riley]

I'm no expert but I see 13. Nice. Now I have to go back and read the thread.

 

[mtmiller]

I am with sneak and will go with 11.5. No matter what; lots of scouting, hard work, amazing country and a great hunting experience. Work well done and the ultimate outcome.

 

[Bambistew]

I'm going with 11.33

Stud ram!

 

[Southern Elk]

I count 11 too.

 

[James Riley]

Heckuva recap Oak....many kudos for the pics and writing from scouting to deed. Way to stick with it and chronicle the experience for sharing....thoughtful, respectful, and tasteful.

Tip of the hat for the assist fellows.

This ^^^.

 

[fowladdict]

12?

Congrats again Oak!

 

[mdunc8]

Great hunt, Terry. Congrats on a beautiful ram! Gonna do a euro?

 

[Jwill]

Pretty amazing chronicle. Thanks and congrats!

 

[JLS]

With that different angle I would like to change my vote to 11.5

Doesn't matter one lick to the fact that you harvested a hell of a ram in some of God's finest creation. Still amazed.

 

[kansasdad]

12 1/2 years old??.....surely he was the King of the mountain at one time. I simply cannot fathom the life of a Rocky Mountain Bighorn. Altitude and weather and terrain.....oh my.