Chelan Butte Disabled Hunt 2015

[popeshawnpaul]

I had been asking the WDFW issue a special "ear tag" hunt in Chelan Butte since 2010.  It was that year Brian/Ridgerunner pulled his tag and we scouted the unit and every ram.  There were 5 ear tag rams that year and they all had essentially stopped growing.  They were born on Cleman Mountain and the first 2-3 years are essential in a ram if they are ever going to be Boone and Crocket class rams.  With little growth early in life, these rams broomed off and their offspring even at 6 years of age were larger than their fathers.  Here are some scouting trip photos of #13 from 5 years ago.  Notice his right horn is not chipped like it is now.









Over the years we saw less and less ear tags until only #13 was left.  My friend and I spotted him and got some images of him from last year.





I inquired about who from the game department was going to take the disabled hunter this year.  This is some steep country and could be a difficult hunt for someone with a disability.  It's also hard to locate one ram in a large herd.  The tag holder contacted me and the bio had told him to contact me to go with him to get #13.  I was excited to be a part of this hunt.  There were about 20 sheep transplanted there 12 years ago, starting this herd.  There must be about 150 sheep in there now. 

While it was controversial to open up the unit for additional hunts this year, I can say we are fine.  I personally saw 5 upper 170's class rams yesterday and one pushing 180".  I saw a lot of nice mature rams.  While I think this unit can handle the 5 rams that will be taken out of there this year, we may want to scale it back next year.

That being said, this is a conservation success story.  I met with the hunter, Dick and his son Cory on top the butte at daylight.  We started glassing the canyons below and I spotted a mature ram in some shade, heading down into a steep canyon.  We put a spotting scope on it and Cory and I thought we might see some white on his right ear.  I got out my 600mm lens, and zoomed in on his head and we could clearly see a white #13 tag in his right ear.  So lucky it was the first sheep spotted.  We talked about driving down below, but ultimately I thought let's just go at him.  We had plenty of cover behind a ridge and he would likely stay in that canyon.  While they are rutting hard now, #13 is just too old to rut and was likely going to stay put in the canyon.

After hours of hiking down to the spot where we could see into the canyon, we finally got the disabled hunter there and in position.  However, we couldn't locate the ram.  Where did he go?  I scanned everywhere but couldn't find him.  With Dick being tired from the long stalk, I offered to go through the canyon and to the next ridge to see if he popped over in the next canyon.  We had also spotted another sheep in that next canyon and I wanted to see if it was #13 but we needed a closer look.  As I was hiking up the opposite hillside, I looked up and a ewe, kid, and small ram stood up from behind some rocks at 30 yards.  They weren't spooked and I didn't see any other sheep with them.  I kept working up and around from them.  When I got a ways away, I heard a boom.  I guess I pushed him out of somewhere was my first thought.  I saw Cory in my bino's and he was happy with his arms up.  Excited, he led me back to where the ram had fallen.  I had apparently jumped it but it was behind rocks I could not see.  I don't mind bird dogging big sheep up! 

It took a while but Dick finally made it to his ram.  Dick is almost 80 years old and I think he killed the oldest ram I've ever heard of in WA.  #13 should be 15 years old but he would never be the size that tag holders would likely pick to kill because most people shoot rams based on score, not age.  I was happy to be the volunteer to help them out and ensure we got the right ram.  What a great couple of guys that I as happy to help with this hunt.  What a great hunt and great trophy this hunt provided.  In looking at his teeth, he didn't really have any molars left.  He likely would have died this winter.  Additionally, his hoofs were torn up and tattered. 

[Brute]

 

[RadSav]

He has much more character up close than I expected!  Score or not he is one beautiful animal.  So glad a deserving hunter was able to harvest him before the coyotes, cats or mother natured did him in. 

[bobcat]

Thanks for the story. I'm glad the hunt went well. What did he shoot it with and how far was the shot?

[huntnphool]

  congrats to the old guy.

[h20hunter]

Like you said, a success story in many ways. Thanks for sharing.

[popeshawnpaul]

Thanks for the story. I'm glad the hunt went well. What did he shoot it with and how far was the shot?

He shot it with a rifle at about 250 yards.  I don't know the type of gun but they all shoot lead at fast enough speeds to kill.  I think it had a silver barrel and black stock.

[Timberstalker]

Thanks for sharing.  Glad a hunter was able to take this ram and it didn't die of old age. 

[h20hunter]

Two old timers on the hill. Two go up one comes down.

[Watimberghost]

Congrats to the hunter! Good on you for helping 

[bearhunter99]

Those are great pictures!  Congrats on a successful hunt!

[X-Force]

Cool Hunt. Thanks for sharing!

[wheels]

nice story beautiful ram  hope to get that tag one day

[deerhunter_98520]

Great story thanks for sharing 

[NOCK NOCK]

Great story, Hope I am able to get out there and hike/get it done, when that old. 

[Archery King]

That's outstanding!!! Great job!  I saw that ram a couple times this year on my hunt.  Very glad you guys got on him.  I was worries he would be hard to get to for a disabled hunter.

[Ridgerunner]

Good job, those pics bring back some  memories for sure!

[Boss .300 winmag]

I thought they rut in November? 

[quadrafire]

Was he tagged 12 yrs ago during the transplant? What do you think happened to the other tagged animals. Death or dropped tags?  Just curious.
Great story and ending. Congrats to all

[Whitpirate]

Great work Pope.... you are a tireless advocate of sheep here in WA and we are lucky to have you.

Congratulations to the hunter on his lifetime capstone hunt.

[popeshawnpaul]

I thought they rut in November? 

Rocky Mountain bighorn rut in November.   These California bighorn rut earlier in October.   When thinking of mating strategies they time it based on when food is available in the spring.   Our low elevation areas that these Cali rams live in are areas that green up sooner in the spring than the places high in mountains that might still be under snow.  When they drop them in april-may there is plenty of food around.

[popeshawnpaul]

Was he tagged 12 yrs ago during the transplant? What do you think happened to the other tagged animals. Death or dropped tags?  Just curious.
Great story and ending. Congrats to all

Good question because a hunter has never taken them.  I've also never heard of a scull being found either.  I have pics of them all and would likely recognize them if I saw one.  I'm guessing they died of old age or mtn lions.  Last photos I have of a couple of them had them over past Wal-mart 4 years ago.  I doubt any are still alive given the man hours we've put in there and we've not located one.  I haven't heard of any others from other hunters either.

[coachcw]

Congrats to both the hunter and Pope ..... what a success story ... It's impressive to see you Cary through from conception to finish on this hunt .   

[gunnarnewt]

Great story! Congrats to all involved. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Where is Chelan Butte compared to Chelan ?

[DOUBLELUNG]

Congratulations to the hunter and you.

I can clarify a couple of details.  The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared.  #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old.  The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings).  The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two.  Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.

Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams.  I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.     

[bowtech]

Awesome story! I read this last night and thought it was a great story. As luck would have it I skipped work today to take my South Chelan goat into the Vancouver WDFW office. I also let my 6 year old son skip school to come with me and listen to what the biologist had to stay. As we entered the office the biologist was busy helping an elderly man who had shot a sheep. I instantly recognized that it was Dick. My son and I were lucky enough to get a good look at #13 along with some pictures. I believe the biologist aged him at 15 yrs. Again, great story!

[chukarchaser]

way to go Pope.  You did something very special

[GameHunter1959]

Great story..
Love to hear about older hunters harvesting trophy animals. Thanks for sharing..

[popeshawnpaul]

Congratulations to the hunter and you.

I can clarify a couple of details.  The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared.  #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old.  The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings).  The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two.  Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.

Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams.  I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.   

Thanks for the clarification on the details.  I'll try and get a moment to post pics of all the ear tag rams for comparison.  I was able to count 11 growth rings on #13 and it was my understanding he was 3.5 on release based on what Jon told me.  Maybe 14.5 yo?

[250savage]

Congratulations to the hunter. Glad he had a chance to get that ram before it died from something else. Good of you to help him out.

[Dr. Death]

Awesome Pope! Congrats to the hunter, you and everyone else involved. What a great story!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Congratulations to the hunter and you.

I can clarify a couple of details.  The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared.  #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old.  The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings).  The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two.  Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.

Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams.  I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.   

Thanks for the clarification on the details.  I'll try and get a moment to post pics of all the ear tag rams for comparison.  I was able to count 11 growth rings on #13 and it was my understanding he was 3.5 on release based on what Jon told me.  Maybe 14.5 yo?

I could be misremembering too.  Past 14 the counts get really challenging! 

[Bullseye108]

That is a great trophy!  Congrats to the hunter and everyone that helped. I know from experience its always nice when someone that knows sheep helps on the hunt.  Another job well done!

[hirshey]

What a cool story and an excellent trophy! Thanks for taking the time to assist someone else in their adventures. Makes my heart feel good.

[Shawn Ryan]

Good job Pope.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[mkcj]

Great read Pope, Thank you!

[Elkpiss]

Two old timers on the hill. Two go up one comes down.

You kill me man... lol...  Great story, really cool..