A Stone Sheep Story Part 2
Wild Sheep
In 2019 I did a thread about a Stone Sheep hunt I did in British Columbia with my friend and outfitter Ryan. I have attached a link above if anyone wants to read through Part 1. I was able to scrape together enough $ that he would take pity on me and let me buy another hunt for this year. We would be hunting the same general area, as we saw a good number of sheep in 2019 and he had a hunter in there last year and saw similar numbers. So we planned to fly in as high as we could a couple days before season and hike into the high country.
—Jim
Flight in was smoky as heck. Fires around but nothing immediately close to us.
—Jim
We get dropped on the same lake I killed my moose on last September. Ryan is working in the infrastructure in his guiding area and we had a really nice brand new cabin to stay in for the night.
—Jim
Wish we had had this cabin last fall for the moose hunt! And I wish we had it up in the sheep mountain this trip! More on that to come…
—Jim
Starting pack with 12 days worth of food.
—Jim
We had 4-5 miles up through timber then around the mountain and into the next valley first day to camp. It was kinda marginal for sheep habitat but certainly a nice possibility. We didn’t get to this valley in 2019. By the time we got into the bush in the next valley it was raining, and kinda all went downhill from there.
—Jim
After a foolish river crossing attempt and 4 hours of hiking in rain and wet bush we were soaked to the bone. Fog moving in and sun going down. We pitched the tent in the rain and tucked in with some good freezdried for the night.
I hate being wet and cold, I’m a sissy. Ryan on the other hand must be part beaver or something, he doesn’t even seem to notice! And we are soaked and no way to dry off and seemingly no break in the weather soon.
—Jim
River crossing as ice chunks float by.
River crossing as ice chunks float by.
The weather set in and we were tent bound for the next 2.5 days. Long days I caught up on some sleep, and tried to get stuff dried out. Luckily it wasn’t cold (50’s) and actually got most stuff pretty dry.
Finally we decide we had all we could take and catch a break in the weather about noon on the 2nd day of the season so we make a break for the next valley. It was my favorite are of the last trip and where we saw 2 (maybe 3) shooter in 2019. We have to hike way up the river to cross at the glacier outflow after learning the hard way the first day we couldn’t cross lower.
—Jim
Soon as we get across it starts pissing rain, but we gotta keep going. It clears a bit, but still basically no visibility on the mountain tops (where the sheep would be).
Hike back down the river right across from our camp the night before and start up the hill. I’m fat and old, but Ryan only cussed me out a few times for being slow. At least I was well rested.
—Jim
We get up and over the mountain and guess what, big rain starts rolling in. We throw up our tarp and sit it out. Decide we have a good vantage point if the dog lifts and set up the tent for the night. Tomorrow we will push up the valley to to where the rams were in 2019.
—Jim
Spot for the night, cleared a bit for the last hour or 2, but still hard to see the tops. Headed up that valley tomorrow.
—Jim
We get jump to the top of the valley mid morning set up camp as we plan to watch this area for 2-3 days. We hike up the hill and get to looking. Nothing spotted except a goat about 5 miles away! Goats are soooooo much easier to see than Stone Sheep!
—Jim
We sit the next day and glass hard all day and just can’t find anything moving and figure we better get up one to the next valley as we were pretty convinced no sheep here and need to make up a lost day or so.
We got up early the next morning to clear sky. We glass a couple hours first thing and head up to the glacier at the top of the valley.
—Jim
We had to walk up the glacier about 3 miles to the saddle where we could cross the mountains and drop over and try to dodge the glacier on the other side.
—Jim
We roll up to the camping site about dark and on my last drop of gas. It’s where the previous outfitter did most of his sheep hunting and great area for them. Again we planned to hang out here 2-3 days and try to find them.
—Jim
We glass from our point rhe next morning, but Ryan can’t sit still, he is all go. Fat Kid From Oklahoma wants to sit and glass for the day. Ryan heads up the mountain and later spots 3 ewes and 2 rams. He comes back down to finish the evening with me.
The next day we plan to take the tent up to a high bowl on the other side of the main mountain we looking at, but plan to glass till noon or so.
I spot sheep coming over the saddle we are planning to hike up through later. We decide it’s the same ewes and rams Ryan on another mountain the day before.
We get up over into the bowl and camp pretty high. For the evening. Kinda glass from the tent and plan to head up on the hill next day.
—Jim
If you look closely you can see our tent just right of center down there. Not very protected, we knew better, and we would regret that the next eve…
—Jim
We hiked up the mountain behind camp to see both our bowl and the other side where we would head next. Weather started rolling in early afternoon and we had to make a break for the tent. After a speedy kick off the mountain we had to add some rocks to secure guy lines and batten the hatches. The wind blew and the rain poured. It was a bit of a wild ride for then night, but all was calmish by morning. But of course drizzle and fog socked us in.
We finally get out and head up and our around noon I think. I’m kinda loosing track, but I think we are around day 8 I think. Hardly any sheep spotted, and almost as much tent time and hunting time…
—Jim
After a good hike down a beautiful valley and up a steep ass hill side we were able to crest the mountain just in time for the fog to settle in around us…. Freaking fog!!!!!!!
—Jim
I’ve been looking for the end of the rainbow for years. Then I find it and all that is there is my shadow. So maybe I was just chasing my shadow the whole time!
—Jim
We pitch the tent in the clouds and settle in for the eve. Hoping for some clearing but not feeling very promising.
Ryan bumps back over the mountain we just came up for water and comes running back telling me to get my bow. He had only seen a banana ram, but didn’t look hard and certainly could be a bachelor group. We get my fat ass back over the hill and can’t find him. The wind is blowing like a hurricane and the rain is coming in sideways. Finally find him and of course just a single 3-4 year old ram chilling in the hillside. But I did actually put my release on!
—Jim
Common View of the trip
Common View of the trip
Darkness falls in the fog and we hope for better tomorrow.
But the mountain gods will not smile upon us. Socked right in all the next day. No more than 100-200 yards visibility the whole day.
We decide if things aren’t clearing by the next day we would hike out, we technically have one full day to hunt and could probably squeeze out another half day if we can see anything.
Wake up next day and the same if not worse. We decide about 10:30 we would pack up and head for barn. The hike out I think we figured would be somewhere about 20 clicks straight line, but of course we don’t walk in straight lines ;)
Once we get down a few hundred feet and things kinda clear, but the mountain tops never do. We certainly made the right decision.
—Jim
Above tree line is nice hiking. A few whoop-d-doos to contend with but mainly enjoyable. Till the rain comes…ugh…
—Jim
About the time we hit tree line the rain is pretty steady but not heavy. And it really doesn’t matter, the bush is all wet, so that means we gonna be all wet!
Follow a sow/cub grizzly track down the trail for maybe a mile in the timber, and finally catch up with them. A bit of excitement, but they mainly want to get out wind and move off.
—Jim
We come out on a meadow a ways down from the sow and cub and Ryan say “Griz” and there is his about 150-75 yards over. We decide we should yell at him instead of trying to sneak by as the trail kind went in behind him. Maybe we should have just snuck by…
We yelled and he stood up on his hind leges. He saws and he was coming! He covered 40-5o and stood up to look over the willows. He ducks into the brush to circle us. Ryan drops his pack and we start to try to get upwind of him.
We move up 50-60 yards and defiantly upwind of him and here he come out on the trail we were waking down. He sees a nice big stinky pack laying in the meadow and thinks maybe he needs it.
We start yelling and trying to shoo him out, we are about 40 from the pack and he is like 10-15 on the other side and not worried about us. Ryan decides a 12gs slug in his direction would probably be good about that time.
The gun going off scared me more than the damn bear! I was digging for my phone and didn’t realize it was coming! The bear was less scared of the gun than I was. He really didn’t want to leave, it finally worked his way down the meadow. Ryan did not like him at all, he was pretty close to getting a slug in the chest I think. He could be a dangerous bear in the future. All my pics are actually after the warning shot, and he don’t look too worried about us still.
—Jim
Pretty uneventful from there, other than looking over my shoulder for Mr. Bear the next 3 hours. We hiked out in the wet bush and rain on a “Pretty Good Trail”. If Ryan says it’s a “pretty good trail” you can pretty much expect it to be the sh!ttiest trail you have ever been on in your life. Then he says “the last 50 yards were pretty good” when you get there. But it really wasn’t either…
—Jim
Just a tough damn hunt. We lost basically 6 days (counting 1/2 days) to weather in the tent. Saw one banana ram, 3 ewes, and 2 lambs. 8-9 goats and 11-12 griz. None of the bears were too close other than the ones on the hike out. Weather was tough, visibility was poor, and I just don’t think the sheep were in there like they have been. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you get blown out!
—Jim
Ryan had a rifle hunter who connected with a nice ram earlier in the week hanging out in camp. His guide had headed home, so he came down to pick us up with snacks! It was nice to get back to the lodge with a hot shower and warm cabin after 13 days out in the big world! And real food!!!!
—Jim
Big country out there boys. Enjoyed the time even with the lack of sheep. I think Ryan was more upset with the outcome of the hunt than I was though.
—Jim
This is Ryan, one of the hardest working most honest outfitter/guides out there. He can hike your ass off and make you feel not so bad about being fat and slow. Tough as nails and can go for days, and can pack twice as much as me. I’m proud to call him a friend, not an outfitter or a guide. I honestly feel very uncomfortable tipping him at the end of the hunt, because you don’t tip friends…or I can’t tip him enough. Not sure which, or maybe both…
—Jim
Great write up Jim. Just going to have to do 'er again!!
Great pics and write up!! That NW BC weather can be brutal no doubt and not hard to lose a lot of time to rain and fog! Previous outfitter had a hard go on the stone sheep in that area as well year to year. Some amazing country and some giant goats and grizz in there as well!! I did get excited to see your name next to a sheep thread as I knew it would be well detailed and full of pics. Just wish there was a shot opportunity for ya! You've hunted hard for them from the sounds of it!
Excellent recap of your "unsuccessful" hunt. I might expect that there are more of them than we realize and are not reported at all. Your hunt, a reality check for sure.
my best, Paul
Those views are incredible, buddy! Sorry about the weather and lack of rams but you sure have the right attitude. I get the feeling there will be a part III. Thanks for sharing the recap, the pics, and keeping us peons up to date with your InReach texts!
Good writeup Jim! Typical Stone hunt in my experience.
And I still might hold the Bowsite record, as it took me 8 backpack trips over a 6-year period to arrow my Stone. No one-day wonder trips...until the 8th hunt when I got a ram opening day.
Hang in there...you will get one if you persevere!
Great write up, man that's tough weather and how things can go on a hunt. Appreciate your positivity and attitude
Hell of an experience! Sure was hoping this was the ONE! You’re definitely on the board for EARNING one! I know there will be another installment and that one will have a stellar outcome! Congratulations on another Hunt of a Lifetime!
You are one mentally tough man. Inspiring. Amazing determination and outlook.
Wow. Those glaciers up close are unreal... They look so flat and smooth from a distance... A tough, physical hunt.. Great effort!! Thanks for the write up, I enjoy reading these far away places I will never get to.
When Treeman posts up an adventure, I read!!
Great write up and pics Jim!!!
It took me 4 backpack stone trips to BC to release the arrow!!
You will get your shot and make it count!!
Mark
Sounds like a great adventure even if it didn't go has hoped.
Major bummer when weather steals a lot of the hunt from you. Sitting in a tent for that long would drive me stir crazy. On a positive note, I know I speak for several guys on here, we appreciated getting the InReach updates from you, and we’re even more thankful that you haven’t figured out how to send memes from it yet! ;-)
Awesome trip as always Jim. I’ll be waiting for part 3
Great thread Jim! That’s the reality of a $60,000 to $90,000 Stone Sheep hunt. You better enjoy it for the adventure because you might not even see one.
Thanks for sharing Jim. Sucks the weather was so bad for you.
Thanks for sharing the good and the not so good. Your due…
Thanks for sharing!! Sounds like a fun adventure hunt!
Sorry about the weather Jim, but you just experienced an adventure most bowhunters only dream about. Congrats and thanks for sharing!
Dang good reading man.
Thanks for sharing,
Robb
Another great hunt recap!!! Reading your stories makes me want to find a “co-signer” for my first sheep hunt:) Thanks again for sharing and looking forward to reading “part 3” in the future.
Wow, way cool, thanks for sharing...
Thanks for sharing another hunting adventure! I much prefer these "real" experiences! Rest up so you can take us on your next epic hunt!
Enjoyed reading your story & pics. If it was easy to kill a Stone Sheep with a bow, well, what fun would that be?
Good write-up, buddy. Sorry for the crappy luck. Will make it even sweeter when you do get one.
Great recap Jim you’ll find them next time!
Great write up Jim, we were all pulling for you to get your stone, but we also appreciate all of the hard work and adventure! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Great stuff! Perfect Monday morning pick me up. Thanks!!!
If you’d bring me, you’d have killed, if not a Stone definitely me! Lol We can always go bad to hammering Camels!
Thanks for sharing bud! I know you worked your ass off and you have definitely earned it when you get it done. Let's hope third time's the charm!! Now go spend some time with Ace!
Good write up amigo, even with the crappy weather you sure were in a beautiful place. Knowing you, you left a deposit there before you even left!
Helluva hunt right there. Thanks for taking the time to share Jim!
Thanks for taking on your adventure, hope that next trip the weather co-operates!
Great job on the recap Jim! Great adventure!!
Long way from Oklahoma! Congratulations Jim on a epic hunt.
Thanks for sharing your second sheep hunt story.
I had no idea so many guys do multiple trips to get one.
Like another guy posted above, you don’t hear the unsuccessful stories as much.
I always knew sheep hunting was tuff and expensive, but this thread really changed my perception of it.
Are you planning another stone sheep hunt?
Wish the weather would've cooperated for you, but I loved the pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking us along! I’m just curious who the previous outfitter was.
Another great adventure in the books.
Another epic adventure. Thanks for sharing Jim. Third time will be the charm!
I think both were with the same guide/outfitter.
Way to go Jimmie! You hunted hard, and it sounds like you are the type of fella who is a pleasure for an outfitter. Was certainly pulling for you, but that's some tough conditions.
Mentally and physically tough hunt. I remember reading Part one and thinking how brutal that would be considering the cost. Thought for sure this was your redemption! That reward is going to be even sweeter if you connect one day on one!
Hell of a hunt Jim. I'm with the others who say they're looking forward to the next sheep write up.
Great write up jim. Hopefully you get another chance one day to punch that ram tag.
APauls Jim is an awesome client. Lucky to have had him in our camp several times
A great synopsis of your hunt. Third time will be a charm!! Awaiting story #3. Hang with'em!
Thanks for all the kind replies guys. I’m not saying if I will or won’t return. But it’s a possibility. Probably be 2-3 years before Ryan can fit me in. But at the same time I may have hunted my last stone sheep too….we shall see.
—Jim
Amazing recap and pics Jim, thanks for sharing with us.
Sorry to hear of the poor weather and lack of game but it looks and sounds like you had a great adventure.
Well Jim, I’m not sure if you’re much a sheep hunter, but I know you’re no friggin quitter!!
Just shoot forty or fifty weird and wonderful creatures from around the globe over the next couple years to take your mind off it for now.
Great thread, Jim! Being in the mountains hunting sheep sure is fun, glad you were able to swing a second trip and I am counting on you to seal the deal on #3!
Jim I would never associate trying it, let alone twice, and then deciding enough is enough on to other things as quitting. If you never went again you would always be a stone sheep hunter not a stone sheep quitter.
Fantastic pics. Fantastic attitude and a fantastic hunt
Thank you for the write up
"I'll get a goat, but I'll never hunt sheep."
-Jim Treeman, January 2016
Jim, the less you think you'll do, the more you end up doing.
Nice writeup by the way.
Great write up, thanks for taking the time to share it!
Seems like your feet did better on this trip.
That is always best,
Robb
