NWT Dall Sheep Hunt!!!!!
Wild Sheep
Have you ever had a feeling of pure joy and excitement while at the same time being completely terrified???? Well, that's the way I've been feeling for 10 days. I just found out I'm going on a Dall Sheep hunt in the NWT with Jim Lancaster on August 10th!!!! I'm not ready!!!! lol I’ve been waiting for this call for 4 years now, so it is what it is.
I thought I would start a thread of my hunt and my preparations. First, off I'm not in the best shape of my life but I don't know the word quite so at least I have that in my favor. I started out at 230lbs but have put the hammer down and lost 12 lbs so far. I'm trying to go to the gym everyday for an hour and half. I've been doing Cardio and weights mostly on my the legs
Congratulations! You will have the time of your life!
Mental, mental, mental ... good luck!
I leave in 17 days for the NWT chasing dall for the first time as well and I've been in better shape before a hunt. I might even feel a bit under prepared, but you know what? I will not quit and I'll be in the NWT chasing sheep! How bad can it be?
Good luck and enbrace the grind!
front, side and back lunges then with weights. stairmaster with leg weights.
Have a great hunt! My one and only sheep hunt was at Nahanni Butte with the Lancasters. Fine folks in a special place. Prepare to be humbled! C
Good luck, like pvdesert mental toughness plays a big part of sheep hunting.
Good luck on the Dall! You were lucky to get a cancellation as they had a several year wait to book a bowhunt as of last winter.
Stay with it, you have lots of time! Make sure you also reast your muscles so you don't injure yourself! Water, Water and more water before, after, and during your workouts! I You'll do great, a trip of a lifetime for sure!
Scar.
Best of luck, keep working hard and remember that most of the hunt is mental. Try to eat as healthy as you can between now and then and you will see far quicker results.
I just got back from the gym on a Friday night, how fun!!!! I did an hour of cardio and 30min of weights. I got some new Items in the mail today. I bought a Goal Zero Venture 30 Solar Kit and a pair of Leki Graphite trekking poles. My old poles had seen their last day!! I'll post pictures later tonight.
Ops I'm seeingv Doubles!!!
I weight to the gym today and than came home to shoot my new bow.
My excitement was short lived when in my second shot I heard a crack!!! Not sure what's wring with it but it appears that my cam is bent
I'm so frustrated right now. My send shoot at home with my new bow and this happens. I'm sure the shop will say they can send it to Hoyt but I don't have time for that crap.
That sucks. Do you still have your previous bow?
Yes, I was going to use it as a backup bow. Just wasn't planning on using the bow has a backup before I left on the hunt!! Lol
I'm taking the bow to my shop during my lunch. I'm hoping they will just swape the bow for another one.
Yes, I was going to use it as a backup bow. Just wasn't planning on using the bow has a backup before I left on the hunt!! Lol
I'm taking the bow to my shop during my lunch. I'm hoping they will just swape the bow for another one.
Good News !!! It was a bearing in the lower wheel and since I caught it no damage was done. The bow shop took a wheel off another bow for me to replace mine!!! So back to business!!!
I would love to see some pictures from other fall sheep hunters.
Good news for you! Glad your bow was fixed easily
Exciting stuff! I am envious! Do well, but most importantly suck it all in and have the time of your life!
HF--- Hopefully I'll meet you on the turnaround.... I arrive on the 20th. If you're already gone by then, I'll be sure and check out your skull in the shed! You're in for a great trip. Jim runs a class operation. Can't wait to get back.
You arrive into the NWT on August 20th?
Yes sir.....Arrive Norman Wells on 20th.....then fly out to Jim's camp same day. If I see you on the dock, I'm sure I'll recognize you as the guy who just had the time of his life....
And with a grin ear to ear !!!
I received all my new Kuiu gear and my new Kenetrek boost,
I received all my new Kuiu gear and my new Kenetrek boost,
You don't have much time to get those boots broken in. I recommend you wear them everyday, even if just around the house.
LOL man you need to get rollin. Those Kennetreks are great boots, but stiff as hell and need broken in...quite a bit. I'd wear them to work and everywhere else in your remaining days.
Man ya my kenetreks took quite some time to get in good shape...make sure to wear them under a load after a few days and try and work them on incline - decline as well!
Good Luck! Do what you can do and enjoy yourself. You are the one paying the bills, and paying for the holiday!
I wore them all day today and after work put 2 miles on them. Before I ordered the boots they asked if I needed a Narrow, Medium or Wide. I had no clue, lol. So, I went and got measured and I was an A which is real narrow come to find out. So, I got the narrows.
By the end of today the side of my big toe was sore but only my right foot. It seems I have a narrow foot but an usually large big toe. Kenetrek said I could try their mediums or they can stretch that area out. Just not sure if I have time to do that and break them in. I might have to stick with my old boots.
On a serious note!!! I'm trying to decided the course of action if I get a sheep. Fingers Crossed!!! I'm trying to decide weather to bring the sheep home with me or have a taxidermiest from the state's that travels to the NWT bring it back and mount my animal. The issue is the cost. It's an additional $1400 just in transportation. He charges $650 to just get it over the broader that $900 to ship the mount to my home state.
What have you guys done in the past. I've brought bears with me from Canada is it much different?
I would prefer to bring the animal home with me as opposed to leaving it. I have left animals in the past with local taxidermists and although the work was ok, the issue was the time, it seemed as though since I wasn't a regular there was no sense of urgency to get the animal back to me.
I shot my Dall many years ago and salted the cape and put it and the head in my carry-on bag and brought it home with me. Only got questioned about it by the guy running the xray machine at airport. He asked me what I have in there so I told him and his response was "Nice one A"
Take a large lightweight duffle bag with you packed in your luggage. Put your salted cape and horns it and bring your sheep home for the cost of an extra checked bag.
I bring animals with me when I can. Sheep are perfect, as they fit in a duffle bag with ease. I've brought animals as large as a full musk ox on the plane with me before.
Regarding the boots, you'd be crazy to take a new pair of Kene's on a hunt like this. Kene's are the most loved and hated boot made. Guys either love them or hate them. I can't imagine being on the mountain and hating my boots.
I should have 30 to 40 miles on them before I leave but I do have my others boots of their not broken in.
Took about 50-60 miles in my Lowa's before they were broke in good.
Anyone know of a really good taxidermiest in the Dallas Area or Memphis for sheep?
Don't forget to sand your feet :)
I hunted Nahanni Butte in the early 1990's when it was owned by Greg Williams. The terrain will be steeper than pictures may indicate. There is no such thing as being in too good of shape. Be prepared for the mental challenges as they are every bit as big to overcome as the physical ones. Your legs will hurt and your throat will be thirsty. You will sidehill on steep talus slopes where a fall could be fatal. And if/when you finally get that shot, you can't help but think of how much money you paid for that shot. Talk about pressure! Good luck.
Anyone know of a really good taxidermiest in the Dallas Area or Memphis for sheep?
HF- Here's my only advice on the Kenetreks, from personal experience... I have the same boot, and really like it. However, it probably took me 6 months to really get it broken in to the point of no blisters. And that was through some pretty rigorous hiking. My first "hikes" were on level ground around the neighborhood. Started with blisters, but then got them broken past a point the blisters stopped. Then started "hiking" up some fairly steep roads. Blisters started again, until I got them broken past that point. Then started actually hiking some even steeper, rougher terrain. And again, blisters started, until I got them broken past that point. Basically, every time I took them in new, steeper terrain, the break-in process seemed to start afresh. Looking online, they recommend 50 miles to be broken in. I was way over 50 miles, and still breaking in. It wasn't just the length of break-in, but the terrain as well. All were factors. Kenetrek makes a great boot, and I still use mine today after 5 years. But I personally wouldn't take one on a sheep hunt that fresh out of the box. Nothing will ruin your hunt faster than not being able to walk. Just my two cents from personal experience. By the way, I'm shooting you a PM about taxidermists in the Dallas area. Look forward to seeing you in Normal Wells next month. Alan
Thanks!! I'm sending them back to Kenetrek. They just don't feel right to me.
Kenetreks dont work with my feet at all. Have tried different sizes and models. I ended up with Lowa's in a wide size and they fit perfect. Each foot is different but once you find the right size and boot... it's all good
If you can swing it... call Lathrop and sons... got custom insoles and fitting... let them choose my boot (scarpa).... no foot problems 15 days in NWT right out of box, cause my old faithfuls imploded on me right before trip... last thing you want is foot problems on your first sheep hunt - I couldn't believe there was such a thing as a boot you don't have to "break in" - Lathrop does it
9 Days Until I Leave!!! I tell you the stairmaster is a beast!!! How long and far do you guys workout on that machine?
I'm trying to find some individually wrapped cheese that doesn't go bad. Similar to what you get in the baskets at Christmas.
Good luck on your hunt.
Good to see a fellow Arkansan going sheep hunting. I'm currently preparing for a late September moose hunt in the Yukon. I use a stair master a lot. Usually do 30 minutes at level 12 to 15. It is a real leg and lung burner!
I was hoping for a chz I could put on a begle with summer sausage.
Your feet should break your boots in, not the boots break your feet in...
'No foot, no horse'
Pre-taping with Leukoplast tape will save you any amount of grief, preventing hotspots before they appear, even with the best fitting boots
I have never tried or heard of Leukoplast tape before you brought it up. I've always used athletic tape. It does look good though. Looks like you use it the same way.
I was leaning towards a full body mount but after talking to my cheap as dirt hunting partner since college I'm thinking of a shoulder mount. My hunting partner would probably only do a european mount on a world dessert bighorn !!! Lmao. He might get pissed when he reads this but it's true!!! Lol. I hate to say it but I'm thinking of only doing a shoulder mount with some rocks. It will say me alot of money and space.
What do you guys think of this mount?
I better not count my eggs before they hatch but it pays to be postive!!!
Get the kill first! Worry about the mount later. I had those thoughts deep in the back of my head and it did not end good!
You know you are getting old when your 12 year old daughter can kick your butt in the mile!!!
I would suggest Meindl boots. I wear them guiding and don't worry about break-in. These boots are supposed to be stiff. They don't "break-in." Take surgical tape and tape any hotspots. Lace your boots as tight as you can stand it so your feet don't move in them. The movement causes friction and that causes the blister. Most guys don't lace their boots tight enough. With a tight laced boot, there shouldn't be any movement and no break-in required. Good luck on the hunt!
Only 2 days until I leave!!! I started packing my food today!!! Basic items of course.
1. Jerky 2. Trail Mix 3. Fritos 4. Bagels 5. Summer sausage 6. Electrolyte drink mix 7. B12
I use small zip lock bags for each item and put 1 days worth in a zip lock bag. That way I just have to grab a bag for each day. I havevmtn house for breakfast and dinner.
I put all my food in Kuiu's new meat packing bags!!
I would suggest skinning your ram for a full mount. You can always make up your mind later...and you can't put the skin back on once the cape is cut off!
Good luck to you! I look forward to living vicariously through you!
Hunt,
Maybe you said it and I missed it in the thread. How many days are you going for? How much is your pack going to weigh? Will you be utilizing horses much?
Hunt, do you have access to a vacuum sealer? Vacuum sealing each bag of food would reduce the size in your pack and keep it fresh longer.
My pack will weigh less than 60 lbs plus my bow.
Hunt, I've really enjoyed following along on this thread. A question as far as food. Obviously this is a guided hunt, every guided hunt I've been on the outfitter takes care of the food.I would bring a couple snacks that I liked but that's it. I've never done a sheep hunt though, is it standard to pack and bring your own food for on the mountain with most sheep hunts?
The outfitter I'm going with does provide all food. I'm just particular about my calorie intake on hunts that require alot of energy and Im not crazy about pwoer bars and etc.
Given the necessary $$ and wall space I personally wouldn't do a full body mount. Love the wall pedestal style of the photo you are considering. I think wall pedestals look pretty darn good without habitat too. Sometimes the habitat can take away from the taxidermy. Have a great hunt.
I'm on the plane waiting for my departure. I sat in line at the ticket counter for over 30 min. I was the second person in line but those dang priority members keep getting in line and there was only one attendant!!!! When I nicely brought up I had been waiting for 30 minutes he said, " Yep we know we have been under staffed for a long time and shrugged me off. I wasn't about to piss him off or my bags could end up in Russia!!!! Lol
My pack will weigh less than 65 lbs plus my bow.
Just got back from NWT. You are in for a treat but if u tote that 65# every day you are either a beast of a man or u will be begging for mercy, just like me! Best of luck and enjoy every moment!
8/10/17
Words can't express the excitement I'm feeling at this moment. I feel like it's my first real big adventure up North. I've wanted to hunt a sheep for years but have never been lucky enough to draw a tag in the U.S. I knew if I was patient I could one day do a Dall Sheep hunt!!! Well, here I go!!!
While waiting to leave Edmonton airport I decided to treat myself to a blueberry something would be my last for 12 days. It's actually my first blueberry scone!! Lol
Patience and perseverance... Oh and good Luck!
After landing at the Norman Wells airport, we were picked up by the air charter service " Norther Air" I believe that's the name. We all quickly began unloading bags and placed it all on a big scale. The scale was about the size of my back porch. Next they asked all of us our weight. The results came back negative!! We were all to fat and over packed!!! We would have to take two planes. Two gentlemen, were kind enough to volunteer for the second flight out. I thought about raising my hand but it felt like I had 100lb weights on my arm!!! It turned out fine in the end the men were right behind us on another plane.
Leaving Norman Wells for an hour float plane ride to the Landcasters.
Go get em!!! Best of lick hunt!
8/10/17
We landed at the Landcasters base camp in the NWT camp.
8/10/17
Here is a picture of me walking up to their base camp
8/10/17
Here are a few pictures of their base camp and picture around camp.
I can't say enough about the food. It was top notch!!
8/10/17
Here are a few pictures of their base camp and picture around camp.
I can't say enough about the food. It was top notch!!
Tak8ng a relaxing moment in the hammock!!
They just finished a new horn shed to hold all the horns. I
looks like a good start to the season with all those horns
8/11/17 I woke up to a great breakfast and spent the rest of the morning shooting by bow and packing. We were going to be flown out in the afternoon to our hunting area.
I'm set and ready for my first helicopter ride!!!!
Here's a video of my helicopter ride. It was awesome but will admit at first I was a little uneasy. It's alot different then a Bush plan.
After we landed we begin to setup camp. There is a 12 hour waiting period before you can start hunting so we had time to kill for sure and it gets dark around midnight.
I really enjoy the vestibule 9n my Hellburg Tent!!!
With time on my hands, I came up with idea to build some benches to sit and cook on in the evenings.
With time on my hands, I came up with idea to build some benches to sit and cook on in the evenings.
Should be take forever instead of hunt forever. Lol
We're getting the hunt in real time apparently! Keep it coming!
Dang it The post stopped this is an awesome thread I'm so immersed in it. Wish you a ton of luck what an adventure so far.
Real time? It doesn't appear so. The OP flew from his home on 8/9/17 and his last dated post was his copter ride to spike camp on 8/11/17. So, it appears to me the OP must have already completed his stated 12 day hunting trip and has been back home by now. I'm of course curious about how it all went but please let's cut to the chase.
By real-time I meant he's making the posts take as long as the hunt, not that he was posting live! We're up to four days since the first post following the hunt and we haven't even started hunting yet!
8/12/17 We started the morning off walking the ridge tops and glassing the bowls for sheep. A large old rectangular box caught our attention from afar off. It sit on top of the ridge in the wide open. Upon further inspection, we had found a tail of a helicopter. Helicopter tail 1 Sheep 0. Lol!!!
After looking over the helitcoper tail we headed off to find some sheep.
Within a few miles we located our first group of rams!! Their was 11 in this group!!! To be honest I would have preferred 1 or 2 sheep!! 22 eyes is alot of 8 power binoculars looking at a hunter. But I was still on cloud nine!!! This was the first Dall Sheep I had ever seen in person. The sheep were down in the bottom of a bowl about 1000 yards away feeding in the grass filled bottom!!
Here's a few pictures with my phone scope
Here's a few pictures with my phone scope
Here's a few pictures with my phone scope
The sheep finally bedded about 800 yards from the top of the bowl. We scanned the area for possible stalking locations but the area offer no approach or a way to stalk them so we decided to hold tight and be patience in hopes the sheep would move towards the top of the ridge near us. Around 6 pm the sheep begin to feed towards the bottom of the bowl. After watching the sheep feed for a couple of hours we decided to head back towards camp and start back here in the morning.
Here's a video of one of the rams in group I took with my phone from my swariski spotting scope. This wasn't the biggest ram in the group.
There is patience and then there is torture....;^)
Patience Seldom Goes Unrewarded!!
Awesome hunt! Great photos and storytelling!
Congratulations on the opportunity!
More, please...
8/13/17
We started off hiking to the bowl where we saw the 11 rams. They were right were we left them the evening before feeding at the bottom of the bowl We still had no real option besides to be patient and wait them out. Here some more video and pictures I took while glassing them.
There is a link below the picture above
Around noon we noticed what we believed at the time to be a large storm coming from our south. It was black not dark but pitch black!! It covered the whole horizon!!! It reminded me of a tornado system in the south but much worse. The closer it got the more we begin to worry/wonder at what was going on. We saw no lighting or rain just a wall of darkness that kept getting closer and closer. Than we started to see red mixed in the clouds. Than thoughts of North Korea begin to creep into my thoughts. Neither of us had ever seen anything like this before. When the darkness arrived it turned the midday into total darknesst!!! It was darker now than it was at night!!! I remembered the eclipse was coming but it was a week away. I must admit I was nervous for my family back home and us.
Here is a picture from the same area around the same time before this occurred
The system has it turned day into night
As the system passed over us we began to see yellow and red in the sky
I saw the same cloud a few kilometers away in Canol Outfitter's camp (adjoining NWT outfitter to the NW of Lancaster's) that day.........heck of an eerie sight. Was glad to see it pass over. I too had thoughts that N Korea had nuked Whitehorse or maybe Ross River! At least it started the cool down.
Yeah, I really enjoyed the cooler weather after. The weather was all over the place on my hunt
Any luck or did I miss something?
We are exercising patience, TX. Hanging from the cliff, awaiting the sweet release of the rest of the story
And now we have "Stormy" Bradford reporting the weather from the Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories where a massive cold front is rolling in.....
Geez get on with the sheep hunting already! I have work to do.
We finished the day watching the sheep feed in th bottom of the bowl. Still no chance of a stalk. We are hoping they will feed and bed near the top but they didn't today. We will be back here in the morning!!
Keep itoming. You got me hooked.
The first thing that morning we headed back to the bowl with the eleven rams. They were doing the same pattern!!! Ahain!!! We decided to see if we could go down either ridge after them but we couldn't make it pass either way. Our only real option was still to hope they would move up higher in our direction.
On our way back, we noticed 6 sheep about 5 to 6 miles out. We decided to get a closer look to determine if they were rams. So, we closed the distance as quick as possible. We put on the brakes around a mile away and pulled out the spotting scope. We quickly determined they were rams.
So we packed up our gear and started after them. On the way, to them we ran across our first caribou, two small bulls. We moved on we had no time to waste. It took us around 2 hours to close the 5 miles to 400 yards from where we last saw them. When we got there the sheep were gone. We searched with no luck. After an hour or so we saw them again , the damn things made a big circle and where at the spot we glassed them from a couple miles out. The were heard off the side of the mountain. They didn't appear to be spooked but you never know. We now had a 7 to 8 mile hike back to camp!!!! We finally got back to camp at midnight!!! I was so tired and sore!!!
Mystery..... Arthur Conan Doyle has nothing compared with this !
He's home a week and we still don't know if he avoided blisters !
Lol, I'm really trying guys. Just with work, family, planting food plots and getting ready for elk season. I will try and get it done.
8/15/17
Well, the sheep finally left the bowl we had been waiting so patiently for them to give is a chance. So, off we went to see where they moved too. We spent the day hiking our butts off again. We located about 22 ewes and lambs during the day. That evening on the way back to camp we found the rams. They had moved to another bowl closer to camp but it was to late to try anything so we went to camp for another late night dinner of backpacker dehydrated salmon and pasta and for dessert we had Chocolate Cheese Cake
On the edge, Brady! Can't wait until the next post!! Of course, I could call or text to get the scoop, but that would be unfair to the others......and, just plain wrong! So, I await patiently with the group.
8/16/17
That morning we decided to make the steep and dangerous decent to the bottom of the bowl to the sheep. There was a creek that lead to where the sheep have been bedding. Our hopes where we could use the creek as cover for a stalk.
The decent was around 1600 yards but literally straight up and down!!! On the way down, it seemed every rock I stepped on either moved or went down the mountain rolling. At one point every rock within a 20 foot area begin to move down the mtn with me. I'm talking big rocks!!! At that second my heart begin to sink with the thought of a huge rock side with me in the middle of it. Luckily the rocks and me stopped moving down the mtn. At one point I was using the 5 points of contact going down the mtn. 2 hands, 2 feet and my ass!!!! We took a break at the bottom of the bowl.
As soon, we got to the bottom we spotted the sheep feeding. We watched them until they disappeared than we hauled butt for 800 yards until we reached the bottom of the creek located below the sheep. We setup and started glassing the rams. All the sheep were above us about 700 yards. The problem was they bedded in a spot so they could see the creek so we couldn't use it to get closer to them!!! So we had to wait them out in the hopes they feed to us.
While we waited on them we saw 6 caribou and 2 of them where small bulls. The sheep finally started feeding but the dang things started feeding up the mtn of course the day we come down after them. They feed right over the tip of the ridge. I hate things sheep!!!! There was nothing we could do but watch the sheep walk away!!
Now, we had to walk up the mtn. I was really looking forward to it I must admit!! Lol Well, 2 and 1/2 hours later we made it back to camp
Me resting at the bottom of the bowl and my guide Rusty glassing
Those seen man boobs I have 4 layers under that jacket keeping warm!! Lmao
Those aren't man boobs!! I have 4 layers under my jacket in the picture!! Lmao
8/17/17 We spent most of the day looking for the rams but couldn't locate them just a bunch of ewes and lambs. We called back into base camp to get moved into a new area. They said they would pick us up in 2 hours. We quickly loaded up camp and waited for our pick up.
That evening we landed at our new spike camp!!! We unpacked and set up camp for the night. We would start hunting tommorw. We have 2 days left until we are due back at base camp!!!
8/18/17
We woke up that morning and made breakfast!! After eating we packed up our gear and lunch for the day. We made it about 10 yards before spotting a couple ewes looking at us form about 400 yards above us. We had to back up and wait them out!! I was ready to go nuts with only 2 days left to get my sheep and these ewes are holding us up!!! We had to wait at least an hour or more. Finally they feed off. So off we went!!
We hiked for a couple of miles. When we saw a small hill we could use for cover to glass a flat plateau. Will crawling to the top I saw the back of a sheep. It was a ram and only 225 yards away the closet ram to date. After slowing looking around we had a group of 6 to 8 rams some were bedded with other feeding. After closing looking over the area there was no way to get closer to the sheep. We would have to hang tight and hope they feed our way!! This sheep hunting!!!!
We waited for a couple hours. Than a storm started to blow in rain and colder temps!!! We put on our rain gear to wait it out the storm. The storm must have woken up the sheep because they begin feed towards us!! Than, the unexpected happened the wind started to swirl due to the storm. We backed down the hill about 20 yards to discuss moving to get the wind in our favor. Than I heard something in the diatance!!
Let's go Brady ! Move it along...... Doctor just informed me I only have about 35 years left to live !! :)
Were you a stripper in a past life?
The slow tease while we crane our necks.
I'm bored. Will this story ever end? Will be right back. Gonna go plant an acorn, grow a live oak, hang a swing, swing for a while and then log back on to read the next post.
In Brady's defense....his chosen handle is "hunt forever".
Hunt duration - 10 days Post duration - 12 days...and counting.
Hoping to get the end before I leave for my mountain goat hunt in four days!!
Good luck with your hunt bigeasy!! You'll prob have better luck there than reading the end of this one before you leave....
After the noise, I peaked over the small hill to located the noise ??? Nothing!!!! They were all gone!!!! The fog and storm was rolling in and getting worse. We went a few hundred yards but the sheep must have caught our wind and jetted!!! It snowing now and was getting colder fast!!! So, feeling defeated we headed back to camp since we couldn't see more than 50 feet anyway. On the way back I could sense my guide thought that was our last chance since we were being picked up tomorrow evening. Once, a sheep smells you they can go miles and miles my guide said!!! I was getting very nervous but have learned it's never over until the day fat lady sings!!!! We got back to camp and late an early breafest and called it a day.
8/19/17
That night was a restless one to say the least. But the morning finally came along with some Mountain House breakfast skillet. We made a plan to cover as many ridges and bowls as possible since today was our last day. We were scheduled for pick-up around 5 or 7pm today. After an hour of glassing and hiking we had seen a number of ewes and lambs but still no rams. So we kept to our plan to cover ground and more ground.
After glassing a few other areas I spotted a few sheep on the other mountain to our south in a bowl. They were around 4 miles from us so it was difficult to see them even with a spotting scope but we could tell they were rams. We talked and concluded they were probably the same rams from the day before.
Now, the sheep were over 4 miles away and the canyon we may have to cross to access the rams would require rope and other mountain climbing equipment we didn't have with us. We decided to hike along the top towards the sheep in th hopes of finding a way down the mtn.
Along the way, we ran into 9 ewes and lambs on top. We easy walked to with 100 yards of them and they simple starred at us!!! Why couldn't the rams do that but that's hunting. After a couple miles we found a way to access the sheep and where able to determine they were indeed the same rams from yesterday. After, we gain accessed to the same mountain the sheep were on he hit a snage!!! If we went any further they would see us. So, we had to wait again. Lol. The sheep were in the best place for a stalk we had to date. So, I was feeling good but time was an issue. It was now around noon and we were still over a mile away
If you want to forward me some details, I can type this stuff up for you a little faster. Focus man
I have found out what happened from social media about 7 days ago!
We only had to wait for awhile until the sheep begin to feed. They slowly begin to feed into a creek which took them out of sight and in a stalkable postion for me. We threw our packs over our shoulders and off we went. We had to cover ground as quick as possible while the rams were hidden from our view. We covered about 1000 yards some where between a run and a jog!!! When we reached around 400 yards from where we had last seen the sheep, we hit a large boulder field. Which created a problem because we had a slient drizzle. Have you ever tried to walk on slimy rocks in the river? Try it with normal boots and a backpack!!! This slowed us to a snails pace!!
We finally reached 100 yards from where we last saw the sheep disappear into the creek. The good news there was a little ridge and a big rock that gave us cover to locate the rams. So, I dropped my pack grab my bow and crawled to the large boulder with my guide.
We both peaked over the boulder and right off the bat we located the band of rams beded about 200 yards out and across the ravine. My guide begin to determine their age and size. When all of the sudden I felt the unthinkable!!!! The wind on the back of my neck!!! You got to be kidding me!!! I looked at my guide in disbielf. The sheep had caught our wind and were out of their beds and quickly moving up the mountain!!!!
I will pause here to explain my thoughts before my hunt begin and about me. I'm a die hard bow hunter it's my passion. Along with the adventure and being in GOD'S marvelous creation!!!! Before the hunt, I was asked by my life long friend and hunting partner would I use a rifle? I answered the following, "This was a bow hunt first and foremost but if I give it all I had and on the last evening of the last day I had no other option. I would use a rifle and be happy with it.
Back to the hunt. I realized at this moment I could go home empty handed or try and take the ram with a rifle. I looked at the guide and asked him for the rifle. I will stress the fact the guide nor the outfitter never once asked me to use a rifle. I set the rifle on the boulder but the rams were on a fast pace and getting further away by the second. The rams were walking straight away from us presenting no shot. They went another 110 yards before the biggest ram gave me a board side shot. The ram was now at 310 yards so I slowly squeezed the trigger until I felt the gun go off. The sheep fell down but got back up and starting walking so I quickly put another round in him. The sheep hit the ground and stopped right before it rolled down the mountain edge It was a beautiful 9 year old ram!!! Would I have rather taken him with a bow of course but sheep have the best eyes, smell and live in tough opem country for bow hunting. I had a world class hunt, my guide and outfitter were top notch and did all they coild do for me. I can't say enough good things about them.
Here are a few pictures but my phone died during the day. These were taken back at base camp from my phone off his phone. Lol.
PS. Still more to come the hunt isn't over!! Lmao
Great story and a beautiful trophy ram. Congrats.
Very nice ram, congrats!
The bottom line... you where hunting, and hard at that.
Great accomplishment.
Congratulations!! Good story Brady. Thanks for sharing. I also apologize for not introducing my wife and myself when we pulled into camp. It all was kind of a rush and honest I didn't know if you were a guide a hunter or what. Next time our paths cross I will be friendlier honest. I did hear a lot of your story later in the week we had some serious base camp time.
PS: hope I live long enough to hear the rest of your story.
Good read Brady and congrats on a great ram!
We finished taking We finished taking pictures and skinning out the cape and meat. We called down to base camp to give them the good news and to arrange for an early pick up. About 2 hours later we see the helitcoper in the distance. We loadrd everything up and headed towards base camp. I couldn't wait to jump into a hot shower after 9 days in the mountains. They have a great base camp setup for sure. They had lunch ready for us when we landed and I wasn't shy about filling my plate!!!! We had caribou meat loaf!!! After eating and my shower I decided to ask Clay if It would be possible to stay longer to get a caribou. I new it was a long shot because they had another group coming into camp that day and more hunters the following day. Clay said, let me see what I can do. About 30 minutes later he said you ready to go back out? Well, hell yeah!!! I can't say enough about the Landcasters!! Most of my stuff was still packed and stunk to high heaven!!! But I didn't care, I love to hunt and wanted a caribou with my bow.
They grabbed me a new guide named Ryan. Rusty was heading back out tomorrow and needed to get his things together. But he may have just needed a break from me. Lmao. Just kidding we had a great time.
I shot my bow a fee times to make sure everything was still on. Yep, still good!!! So off we went to caribou spike camp. It waa about a 20 minute ride to our new caribou area. We set up camp for the night and hit the sack.
I got to drag you guys on for a little longer !!!
Good job on that ram! I love sheep and have bow hunted them, but I would rather have a ram with a gun then none at all...Once in a lifetime trip for most people!
Congrats on the ram! You'll enjoy this hunt for years to come when looking at the mount on your wall.
Thanks!!! I had wonderful time and an adventure for the ages
8/20/17
We spotted two world class bulls down the side of the mountain that morning! Ryan thought they would go over 400 inches. Both of the bulls were close in size. One bull was real tall with good top palmation. The other bull was wide with great main beam length and bezs. They were feeding in a spot that appeared to be a great setup for a bow.
So, off the mountain we ran and I mean ran. We needed to cover ground fast before they topped the small hill they were feeding behind. We finally reached the small hill the caribou were feeding behind. I dropped my pack and unbuckled my bow.
Than, I nocked my arrow and slowly creeped over the hill. I didn't go far before I saw the back of a bull. It was the wide bull!! He was feeding at 61 yards. All I had for cover were some small bushes and grass. So, I set my sight to 61 yards and stepped 2 feet to my right to clear some tall standing grass. I settled my pin and squeezed the release and sent my arrow to its mark!!! Than I heard that distinctive thud!!! Dirt went flying from bulls hoves has he tore off in a mad dash. The bull came to a quick hault at 70 yards. The bull had stopped behind a small mound. All I could see were his antler tips. Than his antlers begin to shack and disappeared !!! I loooked at my guide and we begin to high five!!!! Big Bull Down!!!!!
Congratulations, a dream hunt for sure. Way to go !
Lancasters are great folks. Cam treated me top shelf and I miss him. RIP
Nice. Funny how the caribou story went so fast and the sheep hunt took forever.
Nice going buddy. Congrats!! A hunt of a lifetime for sure!
Hallelujah brother !! Congratulations!!
Yes, the caribou were located in more stalkable terrain and a little dumber. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the hunt. I appreciate all the feedback. I tired to be more picture heavy than words. I'm really weak at writing. Lol
Thanks for the great adventure story. Congrats.
Congrats you had a great trip. Thanks for sharing.
JDM x2. I really enjoyed the caribou story. Congratulations.
Awesome story! What was your setup that you took with you as far as the bow/arrow/broadhead? Congrats on two fine trophies, bucket list combo hunt for me!
Congrats on a great hunt and a couple fine animals!
Thanks for taking the time to write the story!!
Hoyt Easton Axis Grim Reaper Boardheads
Congrats, what an awesome trip. If you would have said that you weren't shooting that sheep because you were only there to bow hunt I would have called you a dumb a**. Too far to go and too expensive to fund to not take advantage of whatever good opportunity presented. I am soooo jealous.
Thanks for taking us along.
Thanks for the great story
Congratulation on two very beautiful animals!!
Two beautiful animals! Congrats!
Thanks everyone!!! I didn't have time to personally measure the bull but the guides and outfitter Green Scored him at 403 inches.
Great trophies and trip! Congrats!
Nice Read! Congrats on fantastic hunts.
Which kuiu backpack you use? Wow, what a great hunt
Congrats on a great adventure! That last photo is a killer shot!
Congratulations on a very successful hunt of a lifetime! That country is amazing up there, for sure! You hunted hard and were well rewarded with two very fine trophies!
Congratulations on the successful hunt and great adventure. Keep it up.
Thanks!! I had an awesome time!!! The back was an Icon Pro 5200. I love kuiu's but to be honest I didn't care for the pack. They have some great features it's just the pack doest ride well and even worse when not fully loaded with gear.
What an adventure!! For anyone that missed it.
Dall’s Sheep
Dall’s Sheep
Ha, Brady can’t keep his pictures straight-
Brings back some great memories of my own. You hunted with one of the best outfitters. Good read.
Brady, Congrats on a great hunt! I never read the conclusion until today as you wrote it during hunting season! Excellent ram and caribou! Glad it all worked out at the end!
Add a few mount pictures. Kurt
Brady’s out huntin so here are a couple mount pics
Thanks!! I hope to add another sheep one day with my bow!!
My daughter shot her 1st animal with her bow this weekend!! She has been shooting on her school team for three years but this year I moved her over to bow hunting!!
