BuzzH
Well-known member
I hate long posts but in this case I think its worth it to tell a couple stories within the story about my Montana sheep tag.
For starters, I've applied since I was a little kid in Montana, 43 years to be exact before I found out I drew my tag. It's funny how what you believe will happen on a hunt, never really does, the story just unfolds around itself. Life happens around you as you try to plan the perfect hunt.
Once I drew the tag, I started getting advice and help from people on the board, Tony J., Randy H. and mtmuley all helped and were supportive all along the way. Very unselfish people who probably deserve a tag way more than I do.
I also got in touch with the local biologist, who I talked to all throughout the summer and is a big part of my story. The story within the sheep hunting. Around the first part of August I got word from the biologist and Tony J. that my sheep area was suffering a die off. In July a ewe was found dead, then starting in early August, 5 dead rams found in a rather short time frame. While talking to the bio, I learned that the rams were 2-9 years old, not looking good for the sheep in there. That troubled me a lot and I told the biologist if they needed to close the season or whatever, I would be supportive and do whatever I could to help. The RCFWA worked really closely with the biologist including helping look for dead rams.
As to the local bio, I can't say enough good about the hard work she does for the good of the wildlife in Montana, but also the way she dealt with the 3 hunters in this unit. I'm sure my questions via email and phone conversations were about all she could tolerate. I don't know what the bio's make, but in her case, it clearly isn't enough and she deserves a pay raise.
Its also frustrating to me that she just wasn't getting a response from Helena on anything that was going on. Test results from the dead rams are still not available and it saddens me that the FWP leadership doesn't seem to much give a flying F about Montana sheep. This in no way is a slight for whitetail does, but when the FWP leadership cares this little about Montana sheep, I wonder how much less they care about deer, elk, and pronghorn?
So back to the story. When I heard the sheep were dying I made a 9-10 day dash to Montana to look and scout. I looked at quite a few rams in the summer areas and didn't see any signs of anything bad. No rams coughing or acting anything other than normal. In the meantime, I got a letter from the biologist that said it may be a good idea to hunt early since they still didn't, and currently don't know what those rams died of. While scouting I also noticed a fire across the highway that was just annoying as it made glassing a real PITA.
For starters, I've applied since I was a little kid in Montana, 43 years to be exact before I found out I drew my tag. It's funny how what you believe will happen on a hunt, never really does, the story just unfolds around itself. Life happens around you as you try to plan the perfect hunt.
Once I drew the tag, I started getting advice and help from people on the board, Tony J., Randy H. and mtmuley all helped and were supportive all along the way. Very unselfish people who probably deserve a tag way more than I do.
I also got in touch with the local biologist, who I talked to all throughout the summer and is a big part of my story. The story within the sheep hunting. Around the first part of August I got word from the biologist and Tony J. that my sheep area was suffering a die off. In July a ewe was found dead, then starting in early August, 5 dead rams found in a rather short time frame. While talking to the bio, I learned that the rams were 2-9 years old, not looking good for the sheep in there. That troubled me a lot and I told the biologist if they needed to close the season or whatever, I would be supportive and do whatever I could to help. The RCFWA worked really closely with the biologist including helping look for dead rams.
As to the local bio, I can't say enough good about the hard work she does for the good of the wildlife in Montana, but also the way she dealt with the 3 hunters in this unit. I'm sure my questions via email and phone conversations were about all she could tolerate. I don't know what the bio's make, but in her case, it clearly isn't enough and she deserves a pay raise.
Its also frustrating to me that she just wasn't getting a response from Helena on anything that was going on. Test results from the dead rams are still not available and it saddens me that the FWP leadership doesn't seem to much give a flying F about Montana sheep. This in no way is a slight for whitetail does, but when the FWP leadership cares this little about Montana sheep, I wonder how much less they care about deer, elk, and pronghorn?
So back to the story. When I heard the sheep were dying I made a 9-10 day dash to Montana to look and scout. I looked at quite a few rams in the summer areas and didn't see any signs of anything bad. No rams coughing or acting anything other than normal. In the meantime, I got a letter from the biologist that said it may be a good idea to hunt early since they still didn't, and currently don't know what those rams died of. While scouting I also noticed a fire across the highway that was just annoying as it made glassing a real PITA.
