went scouting for sheep today

[andrew_12gauge]

well my dad and i went up to the umptanum today saw a lotta sheep, over 100, but they were almost all ewes, so the question for you guys that know. we stayed pretty low and close to the canyon there do the rams head up to higher elevations, into the timber and such or do they just make themselves scarce near the river? Boneaddict, Popeshawnpaul, anybody help on this one.

[popeshawnpaul]

You know, I'm not terribly familiar with that specific herd.  I can say in general, from everywhere I have seen sheep in zillions of locations the rams get high and tree up this time of year.  Good luck finding a twister.

[andrew_12gauge]

that was kinda what we were figurin, saw one decent(nowhere near big enough) ram he was tryin to chase ewes already but he aint gettin anywhere with that, a few small rams too, really small. nough said

[Antlershed]

When I lived in the Burg, I would never really see the bigger rams down low by the river until about November.

[Bean Counter]

I used to hike through Umptanum Canyon all the time when I lived out there, but they were usually up on the ridgeline rather than down by the creek. I saw quite a few 3/4+. That's a beautiful area to hunt--congrats on the draw.

[BC CHASER]

They will be higher.  We have seen them in the canyon right at the foot bridge at this time of year though!  When is your tag for?

[Ellensburg]

are you walking over the bridge from the canyon highway and then hiking up or goin to another area?

[Bean Counter]

are you walking over the bridge from the canyon highway and then hiking up or goin to another area?

Man I loved that area when I went to college.  I spent so many hours in there, and probably saw 10x the number of sheep than I did deer, esp bucks.

[BC CHASER]

Eburg who was your question directed to?

[andrew_12gauge]

its actually my dads tag and it opens september 15th, we have seen quite a few rams in there in other summers but it just seems like they arent there this year, we did cross the footbridge at umptanum creek and saw some ewes up on the hillsides but there were quite a few tree-huggers up there hikin around so we decided to let them have the canyon to themselves for now, did run into one other tag holder there at umptanum canyon and he said he hadnt seen any rams around either, im sure well find some me and dad are headed back up on sunday afternoon to take another look and possibly heading up one mornin next week and stoppin in and talkin to biologists there in the yakima region fish and game office, just gotta get our project that were workin on done first

[andrew_12gauge]

another side question for anybody who knows in the higher elevations(up away from the yak river) what type of habitat should we look for to find rams the thickest steepest country we can find or just some steep country with a little more open timber?

[popeshawnpaul]

Knowing nothing about this unit...  they should not be in thick timber.  They will be in pockets near steep hillsides they can escape to.  They usually range out quite a bit this time of year.  I can see you can only hunt until October 10 so you can't wait until the rut to bring them down.  You care going to have to go after them and locate them.  Have you spoken with previous tag holders?  Also, if you aren't a member of WAFNAWS now is the time.  Talk to Landrus and some of the other members in that group.  They will put you right in the sheep or get you talking to someone that knows where they are...

http://www.wafnaws.com/

[andrew_12gauge]

so pope when you say they range out do you mean the rams will not be together in bachelor herds or do you mean that these bachelor herds will be spread everywhere throughout the unit? im checkin out that link right now

[rosscrazyelk]

call Todd Peyser of Peyser Taxidermy in Salah. he already got his so I am sure he is willing to share info.

[kirkl]

There is no thick timber in that umtamun unit.  Another good spot to scout is follow the ridge above the river.  You can get there from the lt murray.  Follow the road (sheep company) to the towers and take a right. You can then glass down to the creek in all those coulees and glass down the hill toward the river.  Ive seen quit a few sheep doing that.  Also park at the dam and glass across into that big bowl.