Best $11.50 ever spent

[Gringo31]

I'm going to be long winded as I feel there is so much more to a hunt like this than the animal.  As I've said before, this forum has allowed me to live vicariously though people and share in their experience, so putting it all out there is all part of it for me.  Feel free to read the thoughts of Gringo or fast scroll to the end, there'll be a pic 

So, putting together a team.  I touched on this before, but I wanted to share this experience with a few loved ones.  In general, the pics of a sheep or moose or trophy elk with 8 guys behind the animal seem a little off to me, but to each their own!

My plan was to have my brother from Wyoming, a buddy I met in college (who's one of the best men I've even met) and my little brother from the west side was going to meet up with us Friday night after work.

My WY brother flew in tuesday, buddy was going to roll in Friday morning....   Again, thanks to all that offered to help! 

[Gringo31]

My brother rolls in, we pack some things tuesday and the plan was to take off after preg checking some cows Wednesday.  Wednesday went very smooth and we were on our way.  We scouted what was left of that day, counted close to 60 ewe's and lambs as well as a dead lamb that appeared to have been killed by a coyote.

[bradslam]

Congrats.  Looking forward to the rest of the story and pics.  Also, good for you for conducting your hunt the way you wanted. 

[tlbradford]

With all the fun you were having with your arm in a cow's butt, I can't believe you still went hunting! 

[starbailey]

Update?

[WAcoueshunter]

I'm going to be long winded. . . .

Yes, please!  Thank you for taking us along!

[Woodchuck]

 

[Gringo31]

Thursday...

We would start everyday about the same with some glassing low, then some glassing high followed by a plan.  Took off from the top with bow in hand to just enjoy the day.  That country can suck you in!  You start off just going to walk to a point to glass, to then look over the next one and next thing you know you have a hike back to the truck to get your gear when you were just going to do a little glassing.

We worked our way down a ridge, saw 6 rams that didn't do much for us, worked the other side with the same result.  Plan was to grab all our gear and walk out a canyon I've never been down.  Decided to take one more look at the original 6 and saw different rams that looked better.  So, we decided to make a move and see what happened.

Found ourselves about 260 yards above them for 4 hours.  Watched them, studied them.....just enjoyed them.  Talked it over, shared opinions thoughts etc (this is a part I probably looked most forward to prior to the hunt)  Problem was these rams (now a band of 24) wouldn't move to a spot I had a chance with archery tackle.  With my inexperience with sheep, I really had no idea how much pressure they would take or what the flight zone was.  In all honesty, there were 2-3 in that group I would have been fine with harvesting.  I've said it before, but I'm not much of a score guy.  I appreciate scores and know what they mean, but hate people just chasing score.  IMO it takes away from what success is.  I know I wanted a good ram, but looking over this band, I recall telling my brother that if two or three rams were taken off this mountain before me, that would be fine with me as there are lots of good sheep that I'd be happy with.  I suppose it's fun to have opportunities that we each can fill to our own wants and desires.  Every hunt is custom made despite what the "hunting community" may or may not think.   

Pics...

[Gringo31]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MooseZ25]

Tagging along...

[Gringo31]

The real heavy ram in the first big group pic was a cool ram.  But part of me was considering going after the big blonde ram on the right in the second to last pic I just posted.  At times he seemed to be favoring his hind foot/leg.  His right horn was broke off a bit short and as seen in pic had major damage and chucks out of his other side.  Frankly, it kind of broke my heart to see such an old warrior probably passed on due to score.  He was unique, mature and I was starting to grow fond of him.....

[Jpmiller]

Anxiously waiting...

[Gringo31]

Trying to tell a story with interruptions is tough, I kinda forget where I left off and too far behind on everything else to go back and proof read....

So, I decided to put a stalk on them full well knowing that they would see me on the first part of the approach.  I would be exposed, then hidden, then had an opening to get through.......but if I could do that, one small draw should put me on them at under 50 yards.  Everything was going well until I slipped and sent a bunch of rocks rolling.  That busted them.  I figured I had another 15 yards to go before completely hidden and they were gone.  When I busted them I ranged them at 136 yards.  While they were leaving, I tried a sheep call with my voice out of curiosity.  It made them grab the next gear.     I think I might have offended them or something.....

We walked out the bottom with the fun of the experience and your mind starts going.  I was in this constant battle between the people I was with and the weapon I would use.  On that hike out, I decided come the tail end of the hunt, I'd trade the experience for the weapon...with no regrets.  In reality, it kinda felt good.  Again, to each their own but I think the "selfishness" feeling of my sheep, my way, with my weapon of choice never settled well with the lifelong experiences with loved ones. 

[Gringo31]

Friday....

As I said, I now was OK with using a rifle, but with my youngest brother rolling in after work tonight, I'd take the bow again.  I didn't want to harvest a ram without him, but absolutely would should it happen.  This morning my college buddy rolled in first light.  We had spotted a couple real good rams from down low in some rougher country and decided to see what came of the day.
 
Crappy pic...



Just found a better one

[Gringo31]

We bail off the top, picking our way down, spot a ram with one horn and a 4" stub off the other all alone....but we have a canyon in particular in mind but walking, glassing and anxious for another day and what may happen.  We make it to the point where the canyons are forming, double checking that we are in the right one and spot another band that we'll want to check out on our way out.  I sit down to add a chunk of mole skin to my foot as I have a hot spot starting, while my brother and buddy walk ahead of me 100 yards to peek over some rocks.....

I tape up my feet and it's at this exact point......


I realize I'm the dumbest _____ (feel free to use any word you'd like here.... I deserve it) person in the world.   

I could try and make up a story, I could try to cover it up, but it's all part of the experience.  My buddies keep saying that it's not a story that they would share but if you can't laugh at yourself for being an idiot, you take life too seriously.....

So, I tape up my feet, grab my bow and realize I only have my bow......no quiver!  The whole stick and string thing is challenging enough, but trying to get it done with just the string is a bit over the top!   

Fact of the matter is that I NEVER take off my quiver.  It's always on my bow, but when I put it in a case it doesn't fit.  I probably put it in a case once every few years.  So....I took the quiver off and put it in my toolbox and it's sitting in my truck. 

I mean I'm speechless!  My brother and buddy are out of view but when I then tell them we're done for the day they start getting excited as though I stumbled on a ram or something.  Then I start getting questions of, "you had us hike this hill for what?"     I got nothing....   I am embarrassed by it but just shake my head....to make that mistake, on a hunt like this is just unforgivable....and if my buddy or brother ever did such a thing....I KNOW I'd NEVER let them forget it. 

So....back to the "hunt"..... I'm discouraged, feeling like an idiot but figured we'd make the best of it and check out the other band we saw on the way to the bottom.  Where they were at they weren't visible from the bottom or the top....so salvage what we can of the day and intel will help us make a plan for the next day when my other brother shows up.