I don't think there are 170 rams all over that mountain. I've only seen one 170+ ram and 300shortmag's friend shot it. I have heard rumors of a limp ram that is supposed to go 170. There may be more than one 170 ram. Plus, a guide I know has been watching a 170 ram in Cleman for a month now. Not sure if it's the same one I had at 172 or if they are different rams but I suspect they are the same ram. The raffle tag holder tagged out in Cleman last Saturday with a 160 class ram.
The auction tag holder is not looking in Cleman much for a big ram. They had the 170 ram spotted as a backup ram. They are looking elsewhere but it's a lot easier to access Cleman than get a boat and find a Manson ram. Umptanum isn't easy to access so nobody wants to go in there despite the fact that I found and have pictures of 2 rams that approach or exceed 170".
It is very possible there are no 170 rams in Cleman right now. That mountain is crawling with 150 and 160 rams and it's hard to differentiate between a 160 and a 170 ram. A lot of people mis judge and just are happy with a nice ram and so the average hunt lasts about a day or two. The record isn't higher because WA hasn't started producing rams like this until fairly recently. We just planted Manson about 10 years ago and we only give out 1 tag in Swakane if that every now and then. The Cleman population had a lot of problems for a while until they supplemented the herd with new genetic stock.
Plus, not everyone enters their rams in the book.
