Made our second scouting trip in search for the elusive Bighorn Ram this past week. On our last trip, my buddy and I started in the lower elevations of our zone along the Salmon River. In three days of scouting we saw four groups of ewes and lambs, but no rams. This trip we decided to try a different approach and try to get above the sheep country and look down. Most of the higher elevations are heavily forested with steep rocky country in the mid and lower elevations. Our goal was to use the old logging roads at the higher elevations and then walk down different ridges and find outcroppings to glass the rocky cliffs faces below.
A long way to the Bottom
Old burns and downfall made for some fun hikes along the ridge tops.
Any botanist know the name of this flower? They were all over ridge top that we camped on the first night.
Our first day of scouting turned up two nice mule deer bucks, a black bear, a small herd of elk and one amazing sunset, but no sheep.
Early the next morning we saw another nice 4x4 mule deer and finally a few sheep. Unfortunately, they were all ewes and lambs once again. They were easily 2000+ yards down the canyon so getting a picture of them with my phones camera was out of the question. After lunch we decided that our best option was to move back down in elevation and explore some more country closer to the valley floor. With the 4000 foot drop in elevation came the intense midday heat (mid 90's). We decided that no self respecting bighorn would be out in these temps, so we set up camp along a creek and did a little cooling off and fly fishing.
Picked up a few small cutthroat on my three weight rod. The biggest was around thirteen inches, with most in the 5-7" range.
In the evening we walked up a "gulch" to glass for sheep. Half way up the trail we ran into this old homestead. I can't imagine spending a winter in this country back when this was first built. Talk about cabin fever.
A view from the bottom looking up.
Where the road ends the walking begins. My buddy and his son planning our next mornings hike.
On our third and final day of scouting, we saw another small group of sheep. Once again only ewes and lambs. Pictured here are a ewe and a lamb bedded behind the rock in the center of the picture, with another ewe poking it's head up from behind the rock directly below the others. During our last day we also saw two more herds of elk, one of which had a couple of small bulls.
As we were heading home along the Salmon River, we ran into our third band of sheep. Once again they were ewes and lambs, and this time they were outside our hunt zone. Overall our trip was a success. We saw some promising country and have an idea of where we will start our hunt. Hopefully, the weather will cool down a bit before the opening day, and the rams will be ready to come out and play. I will let you know how the goes in a few more weeks.
A long way to the Bottom
Old burns and downfall made for some fun hikes along the ridge tops.
Any botanist know the name of this flower? They were all over ridge top that we camped on the first night.
Our first day of scouting turned up two nice mule deer bucks, a black bear, a small herd of elk and one amazing sunset, but no sheep.
Early the next morning we saw another nice 4x4 mule deer and finally a few sheep. Unfortunately, they were all ewes and lambs once again. They were easily 2000+ yards down the canyon so getting a picture of them with my phones camera was out of the question. After lunch we decided that our best option was to move back down in elevation and explore some more country closer to the valley floor. With the 4000 foot drop in elevation came the intense midday heat (mid 90's). We decided that no self respecting bighorn would be out in these temps, so we set up camp along a creek and did a little cooling off and fly fishing.
Picked up a few small cutthroat on my three weight rod. The biggest was around thirteen inches, with most in the 5-7" range.
In the evening we walked up a "gulch" to glass for sheep. Half way up the trail we ran into this old homestead. I can't imagine spending a winter in this country back when this was first built. Talk about cabin fever.
A view from the bottom looking up.
Where the road ends the walking begins. My buddy and his son planning our next mornings hike.
On our third and final day of scouting, we saw another small group of sheep. Once again only ewes and lambs. Pictured here are a ewe and a lamb bedded behind the rock in the center of the picture, with another ewe poking it's head up from behind the rock directly below the others. During our last day we also saw two more herds of elk, one of which had a couple of small bulls.
As we were heading home along the Salmon River, we ran into our third band of sheep. Once again they were ewes and lambs, and this time they were outside our hunt zone. Overall our trip was a success. We saw some promising country and have an idea of where we will start our hunt. Hopefully, the weather will cool down a bit before the opening day, and the rams will be ready to come out and play. I will let you know how the goes in a few more weeks.
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