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I am back. I did not get me sheep. It weighs on my heavily. Given the fact I did not get a sheep, if I could go back in time, I would probably hire an outfitter. That said I am not very disappointed I did not. NR foot hunting was significantly more difficult then I expected. I was in great shape but sheep were typically 2,000 - 3,000 feet up. What made it a lot harder was most times I was traveling over very very rough terrain. At times I climbed for an hour straight up lose scree & rocks that shifted with literally every step. It took me twice as long to climb/descend then any other trip have every taken.

I passed on a small ram and I missed a half curl. It was only 300 yards but I did not take my time and get a good rent. I got excited. Had I been calm and taken am minute to get a better rest I would have easily taken that ram.

I saw at least 1 huge ram, a solid 7/8 curl. There were a LOT of griz. I laid eyes in 7 different bears in 18 days (1 was a cub). I saw fresh sign everywhere. The last 10 days of October I spent at Kiriwn. Nighttime temps were 10 - 20 degrees. I slept in a 1999 for explorer along with my gear. It was rough. I was alone and the recent attacks, daily fresh griz sign, and getting woken up by a griz trying to get into my truck, with me in it, on my first trip weighed heavily on me. I have a in reach - but the last attack the emergency helicopter could not get to the scene. I was in the roughest terrain in WY and it seems obvious the chopper would not have got to me. The last 2 attacks, 3 victims, likely would have died if they were alone. I was alone, in rougher territory and cutting fresh griz tracks in every fresh snowfall, in under a half mile every time was concerning.

The sheep were there, not a lot. There were a lot more the last week of Oct vs. the first week. I found rams in only 2 areas. I am happy to help out anyone who draws the tag. Being a NR without horses was a big disadvantage.

I have dreamed about getting a rocky mt bighorn for 30 year. I am still sad I did not but I had a very memorable hunt.

The sheep are not difficult to hunt. The terrain made it very difficult. Climbing back down after may hikes/stalks was difficult with nothing in my pack. Doing it with 80# would have been risky and taken a a lot of care/time.

More when I have time.

Sorry you didn't get your ram, however it is obvious you put in the effort and had a no give up attitude.

It may not be a conciliation prize, but you have memories most will never have since those tags are so hard to draw and no one can take away those memories.

The one location I found sheep in the last week was easier to access because of a trail. The catch was the Bears use the trail a lot. You could camp above the Sheep but it was in the teens at night and it would have been rough and only saved you a 1 hour hike. The other location I found sheep and had no water at all and packing enough water for a few days up that mountain would have been brutal. It pretty much took me the same amount of time to go in as to come out because the terrain was so rugged. I would climb about 1500 ft of elevation to where I would start looking for sheep that were typically another thousand feet above me. It was only a mile in but it took me an hour and a half each way with no breaks.

The elk were there the first week of October but gone 10/21no elk sighted, heard or spotted. No elk tracks in the snow, none. I saw elk every day the first 9 days of October.

I found sheep in 2 very specific places and would love to help someone else. If I knew now on the first day of my hunt I would have had a much better chance and probably have my ram.

If anyone draws email me [email protected] I am happy to discuss my hunt with anyone but will share exact locations with only those who have a tag. I did see some solid rams very close to full curl, I am not good at score but I know they were nearly full curl. What I call a 3/4 curl is bigger then what G&F call a 3/4 curl. I saw at least 2 solid 7/8" curl. It hurts just typing about it!