My Colorado Desert
Contributors to this thread:Wild Sheep
From: whipranger
18-Dec-17
From: Bowbaker
18-Dec-17
Congrats, very nice ram
From: casekiska
18-Dec-17
Nice trophy. Nice bow. Nice photo. Congratulations on your success!
From: Tim M
18-Dec-17
congrats!
From: Joey Ward
18-Dec-17
Awesome. What kind of recurve?
From: t-roy
18-Dec-17
Congrats on a great trophy.
From: TD
18-Dec-17
More sheep wid sharp sticks! Congrats! Great job!
From: IdyllwildArcher
18-Dec-17
Grats! Tell us about the hunt!
From: whipranger
18-Dec-17
It's a Cascade Golden Hawk Magnum. The hunt started by accident, I only put in for desert because I didn't have enough to apply for rocky Mtn. Pretty remarkable I drew the only nonresident tag.
From: sticksender
18-Dec-17
Congratulations. That is such a super tough tag to get as a NR, and you most definitely made the best possible use of it!There have been very few Desert Rams taken by bow in the entire history of the hunt in Colorado.
From: Bowboy
18-Dec-17
Awesome please tells us the story.
From: 'Ike' (Phone)
18-Dec-17
Waiy to go, congrats...
From: Surfbow
18-Dec-17
Sto-ry, Sto-ry, STO-RY!
From: cmbbulldog
18-Dec-17
Awesome, congrats!
From: whipranger
18-Dec-17
From: whipranger
18-Dec-17
First I'd like to say thank you to fellow bowsiters that gave me info on the unit. Ill add story tomorrow
From: Whocares
18-Dec-17
Wow! Now that's an accomplishment! Congrats. Do we get a story?
From: Wapiti Hunter
18-Dec-17
It's hard enough to draw the tag, but to get him with your recurve was a true accomplishment! Nice job.
Mike
From: Nick Muche
19-Dec-17
How awesome is that! Way to go!!
From: deerhaven
19-Dec-17
Good job! A ram with traditional equipment is a real accomplishment. Would love to read the story!
From: Treeline
19-Dec-17
Awesome, Paul! Looks like a good one!
From: BULELK1
19-Dec-17
Damn nice Ram
You did great
Congrats
Good luck, Robb
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
In this area the majority of the sheep a shot along the river. I knew the other 3 hunters would be going down river in jet boats and using rifles so I did some ground pounding farther up the canyons. There's nothing like stalking something only to have it blown off its feet in front of you. Day one I found a nice ram in some cliffs and spent the next 5 hours trying to get to him, but the closest to his level I got was 80yds above him. Day two found a group of sheep that included a couple of small Rams. Day 3 my dad came up to help. After hunting most of the day not seeing any sheep, or sign we decided to try moving down and glassing on the river till dark. I had ran into a DOW officer and they had informed me two Rams had been shot opening down river. With only a little over an hour till dark I raced my Toyota to hopefully find a place to glass. Using maps and not knowing the area I picked what I thought was good glassing point, but no road closed atv only dam! We turned around and we went to what the map showed as a open road. Luckily this one was open I parked and was getting out the spotting scope while dad glassed. Didn't look like a very promising spot but sheep had be shot there in the past. As the sun set I had to take care of some business only to be interrupted by dad saying he found a sheep. I got the scope in position and found over 40 sheep. Several Rams nothing huge but a place to start in the morning.
From: midwest
19-Dec-17
Sa-weet!
From: Mad Trapper
19-Dec-17
CONGRATS!!!!!
From: M.Pauls
19-Dec-17
Fantastic! Congrats! I’ll be following along on this!
From: Charlie Rehor
19-Dec-17
So happy for you! Thanks for sharing. I admire that you were committed to stick and string. Enjoy your success! C
From: Treeline
19-Dec-17
So glad your Dad was able to get out there with you on this hunt!
Lots of hunting experience right there...
From: Franzen
19-Dec-17
Very satisfying I am sure. Congratulations on a fine trophy! Sometimes it is definitely better to be lucky...
From: buzz mc
19-Dec-17
Awesome!!!
From: njbuck
19-Dec-17
Way to go, congrats!
From: GotBowAz
19-Dec-17
Great story so far, keep it coming. Big congrats to you and a fine ram and what a great picture as well.
From: TravisScott
19-Dec-17
Incredible to say the least. Congrats!
From: OFFHNTN
19-Dec-17
Super cool........sheep.........recurve............wow! BIG CONGRATS TO YOU!!!
From: wildwilderness
19-Dec-17
Well done! looking forward to the rest of the story! Also where are you from?
From: APauls
19-Dec-17
Nice!!! Congrats!
From: Quinn @work
19-Dec-17
Paul, Congrats on a CO Desert with a recurve!!
Is your Dad's name Gary?
From: bowbender77
19-Dec-17
Most excellent Paul ! Congrats !
From: iceman
19-Dec-17
Incredible! Congrats
From: elvspec
19-Dec-17
wow! That is cool. Congrats!
From: Shrewski
19-Dec-17
That is the ultimate stickbow accomplishment. I don’t think I will have that dedication if I am ever drawn for any Desert sheep tag. Congratulations.
From: THP
19-Dec-17
Paul, way to get it done with a recurve!! I've been anxiously waiting to see how your hunt went, looking forward to the rest of the story
From: wkochevar
19-Dec-17
Congrats on a fine trophy!! I was going to ask which unit but I think I know from the start of your story. I was with my cousin 3 years ago when he took his Desert on the Delores....awesome hunt and even better animals!!
From: DL
19-Dec-17
Great going! You’re in for some of the finest eating too.
From: PeteO
19-Dec-17
Wow what an accomplishment!
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
The next morning we got to our spot to glass again to see if we could locate the sheep again. After a few moments we found them but the herd had shrunk to 20 some. I think the group that left was pushed over from the gun hunters. Now to pack the kayak half a mile down off the ridge to the river. After getting kayak and gear down I loaded up for my first time ever In a kayak. A little shaky but I made it waved to dad and he left headed home. Wish he could've got across to hunt with me. I charged around the ridge to gain some ground on the herd. While working around the back side I see several sheep below me. After watching for a few minutes several more come down off from my side and joined them. Dam did I spook them did they smell me what caused them to leave was running through my brain. I backed out of view and climbed to the top and started around the other side to start over. Just walking down the ridge frustrated and I come over on the original group I started after. They hadn't move those were different sheep, but big oops as the herd is standing there looking at me at 40yds. I just stood there looking thinking I just blew my chance. After a few minutes sheep still watching I decided to retreat and pout, as I walked parallel to them they just stood there. Dang I wonder if slightly angle to them if I could close the gap. 40 is out of my range i needed 30 and in. I managed 30 and got ready waiting for a ram to be open and clear, after what felt like days a nice 3/4 curl was clear. I raised and drew thinking full draw, pick a spot but SHEEP FEVER took over. As I jerked the snot out of it and sent the arrow 5 ft to the right and 3 ft high. I wanted to puke. Sheep ran away and I sulked all the way back.
From: Bowboy
19-Dec-17
Keep it coming good stuff!
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
The next day found me back where the sheep were after hunting a couple hours I found them again. I spent most of the day waiting for them to get somewhere stalkable. Finally they moved around and started heading to where I could intercept them. I was able to move along a rim of rocks looking down on the herd patiently waiting as they moved closer then away several times. I had them 55 yds and feeding closer. With the sun starting to set I waited just as everything looked promising the lead ewe snapped her head up looking to my right. I slowly panned to the right to see 3 more ewes and a nice 3/4 coming down. I'm stuck between two groups and can't do anything. The second group moves down and gets to about 60-70 feeding, then the ram beds down facing my direction. As the sun sets I have to just stand up and walk away. Listening to both herds run off in the dark. Then I still have to cross the river in the dark, if you've never kayaked up stream so you can make your way across to the only landing point in the bank in the dark DON'T
From: The last savage
19-Dec-17
More..more..more!!
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
Group I fell apart on
Group I fell apart on
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
Group next day at 55yds
Group next day at 55yds
From: THP
19-Dec-17
Glad you made it across the river and didn't end up in westwater in the dark. Must of been a hell if a pack back up to the truck
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
Spent the next day back hoping for another chance but sheep weren't cooperating. The fallowing day I found some different sheep to go after and after a long stalk they busted in range. 2 Rams and 3 ewes ran up and looked down at me roughy now 50-60 yds away while 1 ram ran past me and up on the cliff at17 yds. He stopped almost broadside looking at me. Flustered I rushed the shot a sent it just low into the cliff wall. Dam choked again. Anothe long walk and kayak ride back. I couldn't resist the fallowing day and returned to where I had seen the most sheep. Another long day of stalking and I'm in range. Just have to wait for the shot. Finally a opportunity 30yds broadside and feeding, take my time and send the shot just low again. Disgusted again sitting there watching the biggest ram so far walk over the hill ( 160"ish) The next few days I tried several different places the DOW believed there were sheep but I logged 53 miles on gps tracker and never saw any sheep or sign.
From: Kurt
19-Dec-17
Paul, congratulations on the tag and ram and say Hi to your father for me! Kurt
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
After the 3day death march I spent the morning glassing finding nothing. I went back to where I had gotten into sheep. Deciding to make a hunt for the evening I headed back across river. Hunting my way up and around threw all the places I had seen the sheep. Finding nothing dang it apparently you can only spook sheep a handful of times before they leave the country. Making my way back early enough so the return boat ride is during daylight I run into the sheep which had been in some low cliffs along the river. I quickly move to get in position as the now bumped sheep move onto the next hill. They stop and look back all standing in a line. The sheep is a nice ram I raised and shot. This time my arrow finds its mark. The ram runs over the hill as I also ran to be able to see where he goes. I can see the ram make it up the next hill stop and stager then fall. I think I only touched the ground twice covering the 150 yds in 2 tenths of a second to his side. The impossible dream of getting a desert came true.
From: whipranger
19-Dec-17
Loaded up for the final trip across, the rope on the ram was tied to my waist
Loaded up for the final trip across, the rope on the ram was tied to my waist
From: Quinn @work
19-Dec-17
What a cool hunt! Congrats again. How many desert sheep do you see pictured in a kayak!!!
From: linehunter
19-Dec-17
Great story thanks for telling it! Congrats bud!
From: Shug
20-Dec-17
Congratulations... great story
From: elkster
20-Dec-17
"Goats from Boats!"
From: Orion
20-Dec-17
it is a sheep
From: elkster
20-Dec-17
I understand its a sheep.
Do you understand that doesn't rhyme?
From: Orion
20-Dec-17
so misclassify an animal for a rhyme?
From: Fuzz
20-Dec-17
Awesome hunt! Congratulations!
From: TREESTANDWOLF
20-Dec-17
Good Deal !
From: GotBowAz
20-Dec-17
Awesome hunt, fantastic story! Thanks for sharing it with us. I can only imagine the rush you had. You gave me the feeling when you said you only touched the ground twice to get to him, LOL. Also like your pictures. Is a good an understanding of what your up against.
I would have tied the rope from horns to kayak though, not my waste. js.
From: whipranger
20-Dec-17
Tying rope to kayak would've been safer, but had I flipped I was going with the ram the kayak i didn't care if it went to the ocean. Lol
From: Treeline
20-Dec-17
Awesome adventure, Paul! Congratulations on a great hunt and trophy!
Maybe a moose tag next year;)
From: Oryx35
20-Dec-17
Awesome!
From: smarba
20-Dec-17
Congrats & thanks for sharing!
From: Nesser
20-Dec-17
Incredible! Living the dream! Thanks for posting
From: wildwilderness
20-Dec-17
Yes, the mental side of sheep hunting is the hardest! Way to stick with it and congrats.
From: otcWill
21-Dec-17
Dream come true for sure! Congrats
From: Paul@thefort
21-Dec-17
I have know a few guys that had wanted to kill that Colorado Desert Ram with their bow but then gave up and shot it with a rifle. Thanks for sticking with the stick.
I guess the only way I will draw that tag is to leave Colorado, get residency in another state, and then apply as a non resident. I am glad you get the tag. my best, Paul
From: sticksender
21-Dec-17
Ha! Paul I know you're joking of course...resident odds being 4X better than NR.Congrats again to whipranger!
From: loesshillsarcher
21-Dec-17
Congrats!!!
From: eddie c
21-Dec-17
congrats, cool story.
From: Heat
21-Dec-17
Awesome man!
From: whipranger
21-Dec-17
Can't use a rifle if you don't own one
From: trkyslr
21-Dec-17
Awesome trophy!!! Well done!!!
From: Hawkeye
21-Dec-17
Congrats!!
From: IdyllwildArcher
22-Dec-17
Great story and what a hunt. Grats! Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it.
From: sureshot
22-Dec-17
Great story, congratulations
From: deerhunter72
22-Dec-17
Talk about perseverance! Great job, thanks for sharing.
From: PA-R
22-Dec-17
Great sheep, and a heck of a story and pictures, congrats, Peter.
From: Jaquomo
22-Dec-17
Great story and congratulations on an awesome trophy! Good job sticking with it through all the adversity. Misses happen with any sort of bow (Yeah, I know too well..) but you kept your chin up. Great effort!
From: ilandhunter
25-Dec-17
Congratulations on a great hunt, well done
From: hooch08
26-Dec-17
Sheep with a recurve. ....is that even possible? ???
Phenomenal!
From: loopmtz
26-Dec-17
Very cool. Good job!
