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[MTGomer]

Shines

I sent you an email with that video. Did you get it? We can discuss on there more about the ram and his age.

If you didn’t get it my email is [email protected]

 

[MTGomer]

And dear God Shines. You look like an absolute killer in that photo. I am beyond impressed

 

[shines@times]

Shines@times,

Thank you for the stories and pictures you've provided in this thread. They're outstanding.

I'm pulling for you to get back in those mountains and come back out with another ram on your back.

Those are compliments I'll treasure whether I make it to the high country again or not.

Thanks Randy.

 

[shines@times]

And dear God Shines. You look like an absolute killer in that photo. I am beyond impressed

More kind and appreciated words!

I just sent an email regarding the video clip--I'm hoping it get through alright.

 

[C Bow]

AMAZING Thanks for sharing

 

[shines@times]

I haven't been following this thread. That is some story and song Gomer, thanks for telling it.

I had heard about the guy they found but didn't know his background. This spring someone at the BHA campout told me they had found a bunch of lighters around him as we were discussing how useless lighters are in cold, wet weather - based on our mutual experience. I thought he was making up the part about the lighters for drama, but it looks like it played a role in his demise.

Poignantly, it calls to mind the Jack London short story "To Build a Fire."

 

[shines@times]

I just ordered this book Thanks

Hi Coy,

I'm rereading the Unlimited Sheep threads to glean information and inspiration. It's been a year; did you find Butler's book "The Versatile Trophy Hunter" an informative and worthwhile read?

Also, if you don't mind the question, did your first trip include hunting; or were you only exploring the country and conditions?

Will

PS: Thanks for the compliment on my trailhead photo.

 

[shines@times]

At the Sheep show this year we had 3 guys at our table that had taken 7 sheep between the 3 of them from MT unlimited units.. One was taken last year scored 180"

Was that ram 10.5 years old?

 

[shines@times]

Satellite phone or texting function on DeLorme inReach

Hi mdunc8,

I understand that the satellite phone will certainly let you call the hotline--however, does FWP in fact post and/or respond to text messages so that DeLorme inReach is a viable option?

 

[shines@times]

Quote Originally Posted by RobG View Post
"I haven't been following this thread. That is some story and song Gomer, thanks for telling it.

I had heard about the guy they found but didn't know his background. This spring someone at the BHA campout told me they had found a bunch of lighters around him as we were discussing how useless lighters are in cold, wet weather - based on our mutual experience. I thought he was making up the part about the lighters for drama, but it looks like it played a role in his demise."
===============================================================================================================================================

Guys,

I've already made comment that the incident brought to mind Jack London's story "To Build a Fire." Thinking about it, I was inspired to read it again--it had been several decades since I'd last read the story. I'd totally forgotten that a dog was featured in the tale, as in the real-life story that played out near Cooke City. Time was, Jack London's literature was read in public schools in this country. I don't know if that is still the case. Assuming that it is not, or that others like me have not read the piece recently, here is a link where one may read the story online:

http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Jack_London/To_Build_a_Fire/To_Build_a_Fire_p1.html

The tale bears relevance to hunting Montana's Unlimited Bighorn Sheep Districts, particularly late in the season (subject to quota closures, of course), which I hope to expound upon in future comments.

I'm leaving it up to followers of the thread to rein me in should they feel that I am straying too far off topic. Defending my stance in advance, I'll mention that some of the best advice I can offer related to hunting the UL units is that one need acquire a reasonable degree of confidence in coping with weather in all conceivable circumstances. While the coldest ambient temperature I measured while hunting UL units was -5F, the winds that lashed me in those temperatures added significant threat. On my second hunt I was, in fact, unable to ignite my Optimus backpacking stove, even though huddled under an overhanging rock slab, due to spindrift diluting the preheating fuel.

I'm still in the process of finding and scanning 35mm slides of a few bivouac camps that will illustrate how I learned to cope--I bought some hardware a couple days ago for a shelf I need to build in order to house my slide scanner. I'll post the photos as soon as they are processed.

 

[Southern Elk]

Hi mdunc8,

I understand that the satellite phone will certainly let you call the hotline--however, does FWP in fact post and/or respond to text messages so that DeLorme inReach is a viable option?

I love my inreach. I'll never rent a satellite phone again. I use it in the backcountry and even on day hunts when there's no cell service. I've used it to text my wife just to let her know that I'll be late. It gives her as much peace of mind as it does me. If I used it in the unlimiteds, I would have a friend keep tabs on the quotas and text that friend for an update.

 

[C Bow]

My first trip was to scout and explore and try equipment my second trip was to hunt. Was a butt kicking. This year I have decided to make some changes to my equipment and go in another route. I enjoyed the read about Butner for me a great book

 

[shines@times]

THANKS Southern Elk and C Bow

I appreciate the insights.

 

[shines@times]

I'm a little late to the party on shines picture but I gotta saw that's one of the most badass pack out pictures I have ever seen. Absolutely awesome photo.... the snow shoes make it

Thanks EYJONAS!,

The Sherpa snowshoes have some pretty aggressive teeth on the "Snow Claw" bindings; and they were absolutely essential to the success of the hunt. That said, upon the windswept plateau portions of the hunt a typical day would find me removing and putting the snowshoes back on again several times. Where snow was hard-crusted the teeth would drag and actually slow me down. I'd then walk gingerly on the crust in boots until I started breaking through into "post-hole" depths, when I'd again don the Sherpas. Another situation that required removal was encountering very soft or fluffy snow in chunk rock and boulder fields--where the safest option was then to slowly pick my was across from rock-to-rock and hope my boots didn't slip.

Those boots are Koflach Ultra, an 80's vintage ice climbing double boot (just slivers of white toe and heel are visible behind my rifle case in the photo). While stiff as hell and aggravating to walk across normal surfaces, necessitating a clunky heel-toe stride, I feel the boots were just as critical as the snowshoes. Indeed, I'm fairly certain that they saved my ankles at least once.

By the way, I noticed your earlier posting of a photo showing "I [heart] sheep hunting" scratched into a lightly snow covered, sandy patch. Don't know if you caught it, but I commented that it was first "graffiti" I've ever found inspiring. I have a hunch of where you drew it--email me if you'd like to know my theory.

 

[BigHornRam]

Poignantly, it calls to mind the Jack London short story "To Build a Fire."

I read that story in grade school. Taught me to respect nature. Also when I was in about 6th grade, my class visited Jack London's remains of his burnt down home.

Killer pack out photo and looking forward to seeing some of your slides from back in the day!

 

[Carnage2011]

This has always been one of my favorite threads, but it just keeps getting better!

 

[MTGomer]

Email sent, Shines. I somehow missed the "underscore" the first time.

 

[HSi-ESi]

Another situation that required removal was encountering very soft or fluffy snow in chunk rock and boulder fields--where the safest option was then to slowly pick my was across from rock-to-rock and hope my boots didn't slip.

So many memories in two words. The boulder fields alone can drive a fellow insane even when dry.

 

[shines@times]

Email sent, Shines. I somehow missed the "underscore" the first time.

I got it Gomer--enjoyed the heck out of both videos! I'll write more tonight.

By the way, did you watch the "Solo Dall Sheep Hunt" video on YouTube? I know you'll both appreciate it and be impressed.

Nice shot on your Dall ram. Not knowing what focal length lens was on the camera, it's difficult to estimate distance--I'll SWAG it at about 300yds. Am I even in the ballpark?

 

[shines@times]

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO MISS A RAM:


MTGomer posted a photo (see # 166 posting to this thread) of a great ram “in DEEP” that he missed during the 2016 unlimited season. Riley stated “...blowing my chance at this guy will haunt me."

Speaking from experience, I have to agree. Over the years I’ve been blessed to make a few shots that were brag worthy (if we’d only had something like GoPro or Tactacam back then to prove it). Conversely, I thank Diana (Roman goddess of the hunt) that no such technology existed which might have documented some of my greater flubs--especially those where I could claim no alibi; where, desperately, I could only point to nerves as fey excuse.

I’ve only sent two rounds at wild sheep during my lifetime (so far ). One killed the ram I have posted pictures of on this forum. The other shot makes me chuckle today, though I am only appreciative of the humor given the perspective of time.

I’d been scouring high, windswept (a recurring theme in my postings that you might have noticed) plateaus for several days. I’d seen rams, even a couple that appeared legal or borderline legal. I’d also focused my binoculars on so many ram-shaped or ram-colored rocks that I had grown blasé.

Traversing the swale at the extreme head of a basin I’d already glassed, and moving too determinedly against the buffeting wind, I paused for breath and glanced at the horizon. “What’s that odd T-shaped rock?” I wondered. I leaned my still-cased rifle against my belly to free my hands; swiveled binoculars up to my eyes; and cursed my incaution!

I didn’t need to see a profile view of the ram staring at me to know that he was more than legal--I needed to get my rile into play with a chambered round before the ram bolted!

I eased my knees to the ground; lowered myself to prone with the cased rifle beside me; unzipped the case; slid the rifle forward into position and chambered a round. Square-on to me, the ram was standing stock-still, staring, as I rotated the power ring on my scope to maximum. The sheep’s legal quality confirmed, my concentration was focused on settling the crosshairs on the center of his chest. I knew I was made--there was no question of waiting for a standing broadside target. I actually got my breathing under control while trying to gauge the wind gusts the way a surfer might time wave sets. The rifle’s muzzle orbits tightened into a small circle on the ram’s brisket as the wind gusts settled into a trough. Between breaths, I squeezed the trigger.

Even when shooting from prone position, a .300 magnum bucks. I must have seen the ram swap ends through my open left eye--I doubt that I observed it through the recoiling rifle scope. He’d disappeared over the same horizon he had recently materialized upon. He could be dead just beyond; but something did not seem right, even though I felt the crosshairs were placed where I’d intended at the breaking of the shot.

I advanced to where the ram had been standing. Sure enough, there, his tracks. No blood, no hair, to indicate a hit. The signs of his U-turn didn’t reveal a stagger, let alone a stumble.

Clinging to rapidly fading hope, I followed the determined tracks while frequently scanning ahead with the binoculars. I lost the track in a snow and frost-free region of the plateau; diverted onto the crossing track of a Mountain goat for a fair distance before I realized my mistake.

Dejected, I sat down on a rock slab to ruminate. Thirty-plus years later I can’t recall for sure; but I think I ate a snack while contemplating what might have happened.

While I sat there, a younger ram climbed toward the plateau along a finger ridge ascending from the very basin into which the goat tracks had disappeared. Grazing along unconcernedly, and apparently unaware of my presence, the ram progressed up the slope.

Initially dismissive, I nevertheless studied him in the binoculars as he approached closer. Gradually deciding the ram was legal, I placed the crosshairs of the rifle scope on his head when he presented a perfect profile view. Sure enough, I could trace a line from the forward base of his left horn across his eye which definitely intersected the same horn before its terminus.

The young ram was then about 125 yards away. Realization smacked me in the forehead at that point--I knew what I’d done wrong!

For years I had been shooting 3-9x variable power scopes. I normally zeroed my rifles at 200 yards with the scope turned up to full magnification. Compromising in favor of reduced pack weight for solo hunting, I had mounted a 6.5-20x Leupold on the rifle in lieu of carrying a spotting scope and tripod. While easily quartering the young ram’s eyeball with the reticle at more than a hundred yards under 20x magnification, I realized that the sight picture I’d viewed of the big ram, which looked like a 200-250 yard viewed through 9x, had actually been over 400 yards!

No wonder the ram had swapped ends--I’d turn and run too if someone sent a supersonic round to crack between my legs!