MTNTOUGH - Use promo code RANDY for 30 days free

Google Bot Data Mined Super-Fund Site

Here are a few grainy phone scope pictures of a band of rams I found while bear hunting last spring.
The broomed one is a shooter for the UL units. And, if he doesn't die of pneumonia first, that sneaky one bedded in the shade at base of tree just might live long enough to be a good ram too. Makes me think he had a close call with a golden eagle when still a lamb.

I am way late saying this, but welcome aboard Hams!
 
Do any of you adjust your backpacking gear differently given the low success rate?
If you know you may spend weeks hunting and never need to haul a load, it would seem more beneficial to switch to a pack that is much lighter even if its load-hauling capabilities are inferior. Then if you get one down, leave camp, haul out what you can, and grab a better frame or pack at the truck.
That's not a bad strategy in my opinion, especially for a solo hunter. Unless one has shot the animal to scavenger tidbit ribbons, the lone hunter who can pack out head, cape, boned meat and camp and hunting gear in a single backpack load is as rare of an animal as is a 40" ram in the unlimited units.

However, if one was to "spend weeks hunting" at a single go during a period when and where the quota went unfilled, it would still require a fairly capacious and stoutly-built pack just to haul so much gear and provisions.
 
I rarely listen to podcasts, but knew this would be a good listen about sheep in unlimited areas. Interview with Tim Shinabarger.
Thanks for that recommendation Greenhorn. I was nearly a year into not recovering from a debilitating injury that had me quite depressed with contemplating the prospect of perhaps never being able to get into the harness again when you posted it. Wallowing in that misery kept me away from the MT Unlimited thread almost as much as the injury kept me out of the woods and mountains.

With another six months elapsed, I can now at least get a ruck onto my back again. I finished listening to Tim Shinabarger's two hours with Peter Panda just a few minutes ago. It was well worth the time! I especially appreciated the acknowledgement and due credit that both the interviewer and guest extended to Shawn Stewart for the continuing opportunity that Montana's (sadly) unique Unlimited Sheep hunting units provide working-class souls who have a passion for pursuing the high country monarchs. In the last couple minutes of the interview, Tim credited the opportunity to buy a tag and hunt wild sheep more than once in a lifetime in the UL units with his becoming not only a sheep hunter, but a wild sheep hunting and conservation advocate. That's a pretty compelling endorsement of the program. Like Tim, I hope the concept not only endures, but inspires the creation of similar programs elsewhere.

Thanks again for bringing the podcast to my attention.
 
Last edited:
FYI, anyone considering going up "that road" in 500, another bridge washed out further down the canyon. We where able to make it out over the bridge last night, which was sketchy AF, but we didn't die.
Custer/Gallatin NF is saying the road is closed this morning.
View attachment 293517
You crossed that with a vehicle when it looked like that?
 
He did another podcast on it or is this one from earlier?
The earlier one with Shinabarger, it was brought up again recently in this thread so it reminded me of that duo of podcasts that dont seem to be in the best interests of MT sheep hunters.
 
The earlier one with Shinabarger, it was brought up again recently in this thread so it reminded me of that duo of podcasts that dont seem to be in the best interests of MT sheep hunters.
I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.
 
Last edited:
I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.
That’s because all of that coverage lets them see what they are really getting into. It ain’t for the faint of heart.
 
I could listen to Tim's stories on repeat.

Its interesting that more people hunted the unlimited units in the 70s and 80s compared to today. Even with all the talk, the online information, podcasts, social media or even recently videos on youtube.

Now obviously that can change but the amount of participation really hasn't followed the same trends as other western hunting adventures.

I just hope that things maintain and these opportunities continue to live on for future generations. It's pretty unique to say the least. There needs to be more opportunities though..... maybe even from other states.
There was no 7 year wait then, and the Spanish Peaks were unlimited. I think it is more appropriate to look at the last 20 years- the numbers have sky rocketed, and the actual participation versus just having a tag in the pocket has gone much higher.
 
There was no 7 year wait then, and the Spanish Peaks were unlimited. I think it is more appropriate to look at the last 20 years- the numbers have sky rocketed, and the actual participation versus just having a tag in the pocket has gone much higher.
Wasn't 302 also unlimited as well? Same with the north half of 300 which is now 304.
 
Back
Top