45th B-Day success

[RadSav]

Well, the B-day trip to NWT was a success!  Typical jack wipe sheep guide sort of ruined the first hunt though I am very pleased with the ram.  Swapped guides on the caribou hunt and had a great time.  Chased this guy from 10am until 7pm when I put an arrow through his heart at 60 yards.  Probably one of my top three hunts ever.  45 yards from the very top of the mountain took everything I had to give.  Worth every aching breath.  Can't wait for B-Day #50 when this trip is finally paid off and I can treat myself to another.

[rasbo]

wow both animals are awesome,looks very steep,I got winded looking at the pics...Hey radsav at the ages we are at best not to rush them

[BOWHUNTER45]

awesome .....man I really want a Dall sheep ... he is a Dandy 

[BOWHUNTER45]

How much did it set ya back ?

[RadSav]

I've tried to block the total expense out of my mind.  I paid the Outfitter over the course of three years so I might be off a little, but I think including trophy fee for the Caribou and before travel and special gear cost was about 15,000 peep sights at wholesale (around $27,000.00).

[Icdeadelk]

 Those are some real beauts.
     congrats on your success. Awesome pics....... you look very happy.

[Bigluke1981]

Congrats on a great Hunt!!!!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Looks like you had a great hunt!  Some great looking animals!

[3nails]

Very nice! What was it about the guide that was bad?

[BurleyDog]

Congrats! Wonderful animals.

If you don't mind sharing more details of the hunts I'd appreciate it.
What about the sheep guide didn't you like?

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats those are some top notch trophy animals right there

[3nails]

 Oh yeah, how many inches on your rams curl?

[RadSav]

Very nice! What was it about the guide that was bad?

To be fair I really do not like hunting with guides period.  So what is a poor experience for me might be advantageous to someone who has limited experience with alpine hunting.

I want a guide to share his knowledge of the terrain, animals and help get my fat arse up the hill.  Once an animal is spotted I prefer they get the heck out of the way and let me hunt.  So often (with sheep guides especially) they simply want a shooter and not a hunter. 

I felt like I should have put on a halter so the guide could lead me around with a 10' rope.  Any time I would stray off 20 to 30 yards to glass an area he missed I'd end up getting rocks thrown at me with a stern gesture to get back in line.

Unfortunately the nature and expense of sheep hunting breeds clients that only cherish the self promoting trophy.  If you really want to hunt you have to get in the guides face and have a serious man to man argument and that's just not in my nature.  Would surely have benefited my hunt and that is my fault I did not.  There was a much larger sheep in the area I really wanted, but I let my passive nature and irritation drive me to say, "Screw it!  Let's just kill a sheep and get me off this dang mountain."

I'm going to give the guide the benefit of doubt.  Later this year he takes the owner of Kuiu (co-founder of Sitka Gear)and his 12 year old son on a hunt aimed on becoming the youngest kid to take the Grand Slam.  He was probably using me as practice for having the 12 year old in tow - It could happen.

This guide was a human mountain goat!  Packed huge loads with ease, was a pleasure in camp, was honestly concerned for my health, and definitely wanted me to succeed in getting a nice ram.  Just his idea of getting there and mine were quite a bit different.  I share the blame for not making my point sternly enough.

My second guide, however, took the time to get to know me and asked the right questions as to how I preferred to hunt.  They don't usually chase a single bunch of Caribou for nine hours over two steep mountains and take one so high they send in a helicopter to pack out the meat.  But this young kid listened to what I wanted and helped me succeed with great enthusiasm.  It was almost like hunting with "Crazy Larry" my main hunting partner.  Unlike the sheep hunt it was an abnormal experience for the species and we both enjoyed the uniqueness of it all.  Even if it busted our butt.

[RadSav]

Oh yeah, how many inches on your rams curl?

If I remember correctly it was 34" tip to tip with the right side at 36" and the left at 35". 

I'm damn happy with him regardless of how much I've been whinning about the hunt.

[3nails]

 Wow. I'd say you got way more out of the hunt than the "self promoting trophy". Sounds like you learned from and grew from the hunts which is what hunting is all about. (for some) Thanks for sharing.