Post by: Hornseeker on September 17, 2015, 10:27:39 PM
On the other hand, I also simply wanted to have a good hunt and know, when I did pull the trigger, that I would be satisfied. Judging Rams is not the easiest thing... So in the end, I decided I "would know" when I saw the right one.
I got six days of scouting in this summer and saw about 30 rams. None were huge, I'll post a few pics eventually. Then I got about 5 days of bow hunting in. While bow hunting I had three different mature Rams that I passed stalking ops on because they just didn't look like what I wanted. I don't think any of them were much over 175... And they just didn't have "that look" I was hoping for.
I'm going to expand on the story tomorrow... But about 7 hours into rifle season, this is the view I had.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F98A2067F-B351-4D23-95D6-8AFD43261E44_zps3yunswrp.jpg&hash=b2d28494627f845dc0a14e726b464d79e18dd567) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/98A2067F-B351-4D23-95D6-8AFD43261E44_zps3yunswrp.jpg.html)
Post by: ghosthunter on September 17, 2015, 10:29:40 PM
Post by: FWilliams on September 17, 2015, 10:31:24 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 17, 2015, 10:34:09 PM
Post by: Houndhunter on September 18, 2015, 03:54:08 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on September 18, 2015, 06:41:47 AM
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 18, 2015, 06:55:11 AM
Post by: CNELK on September 18, 2015, 06:55:15 AM
Post by: Falcon on September 18, 2015, 10:50:59 AM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on September 18, 2015, 10:56:27 AM
Post by: huntnphool on September 18, 2015, 11:00:11 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 18, 2015, 11:02:24 AM
Post by: Elkterd on September 18, 2015, 11:12:59 AM
Post by: gaddy on September 18, 2015, 11:16:04 AM
Post by: quadrafire on September 18, 2015, 11:58:29 AM
Can't wait for the story
Post by: Hectocotylus on September 18, 2015, 12:54:36 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: X-Force on September 18, 2015, 01:14:54 PM
Post by: wheels on September 18, 2015, 05:18:54 PM
Post by: USMC86 on September 18, 2015, 06:58:07 PM
Post by: M_ray on September 18, 2015, 07:09:34 PM
Congrats Ernie. Don't tease us!You're one to talk! :rolleyes:
Congrats that looks like a stud!!! :tup:
Post by: Mark251 on September 19, 2015, 04:10:46 PM
Post by: grundy53 on September 19, 2015, 04:34:40 PM
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 19, 2015, 04:47:55 PM
Post by: lokidog on September 19, 2015, 05:57:32 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 19, 2015, 10:36:02 PM
That is a fantastic pic! Can't wait to see more. Congratulations! :tup::yeah:
Post by: bearpaw on September 19, 2015, 10:38:39 PM
Post by: splitshot on September 20, 2015, 10:32:02 AM
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 11:15:14 AM
Thanks for all the congrats. It was a great hunt!!
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 04:48:53 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F823BEA01-5524-4999-9C5C-F64ACA57CBE1_zps0p97r7ma.jpg&hash=81ebaf5906756df8d2cde235940b9eb46889aa30) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/823BEA01-5524-4999-9C5C-F64ACA57CBE1_zps0p97r7ma.jpg.html)
In about 6-7 days of scouting, I saw far few rams than I wanted to. I had high hopes of seeing umptine rams... and getting a look at a few monsters. Didn't happen. I think I saw 27 rams, and the biggest were a few in the mid to upper 170's. Now, we all know, those are good rams, and they looked damn good... but in this unit... you want to find something a touch bigger.
Here's a couple nice ones we saw...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FE18A632C-2AC3-4E6F-99EA-E5AE2844A2A7_zpshbtg59r4.jpg&hash=238e461b143f4ef77d43f741aced921bd1ae729e) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/E18A632C-2AC3-4E6F-99EA-E5AE2844A2A7_zpshbtg59r4.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F06D99895-A05C-466E-8FAE-92F15C03B690.png_zpsg41pls4j.jpeg&hash=4799f1c77dbd212a51cdf979cf3271ef513c2aa2) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/06D99895-A05C-466E-8FAE-92F15C03B690.png_zpsg41pls4j.jpeg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 04:50:55 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F3A9CEA8A-D4FF-419D-A544-9C622CC90B9F_zpsm4bnpvir.jpg&hash=3c30bfa047c64ca6b1eca73a1c7f2f4c4519ea6a) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/3A9CEA8A-D4FF-419D-A544-9C622CC90B9F_zpsm4bnpvir.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F51E77028-BDE2-44E7-B3D9-B36B6F897F40_zpsosdumbuo.jpg&hash=9a5caf9d23fb7b948bdbdbe71c59ad45a0715573) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/51E77028-BDE2-44E7-B3D9-B36B6F897F40_zpsosdumbuo.jpg.html)
One of the three was "close" to having "the look"...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F49B83AE4-5813-41F4-B538-720D927CA427_zpscuijk6w1.jpg&hash=bcb395d7198249530e430d090ce820e1959c7825) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/49B83AE4-5813-41F4-B538-720D927CA427_zpscuijk6w1.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 04:56:15 PM
Which leads me to September 11... I headed north and put the boat on the river at about 6:30 pm. My plan... get down river about 29 miles... set up camp and bowhunt for 3 days... then put the bow in the case and use the rifle starting the 15th... if need be. ON this section of the Missouri, you are not allowed to travel upstream between June 15 and September 15. You could travel downstream Thursday through Saturday at no wake speed only. That's what I did. That first night I camped about 6 miles down from the launch...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FDAFC5F43-0006-4156-96E0-5539BD0F539A_zpsfwvlrqdu.jpg&hash=e219b26a86c7707f230ad176f2ef9a2491936a58) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/DAFC5F43-0006-4156-96E0-5539BD0F539A_zpsfwvlrqdu.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FD9F23F41-B1E0-4C46-8C64-FB1E9E135A28_zpsgzicvbhr.jpg&hash=1b6cc84218b559c631162ed9cff2fa37265bee0b) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/D9F23F41-B1E0-4C46-8C64-FB1E9E135A28_zpsgzicvbhr.jpg.html)
I didn't see a sheep that evening. 23 miles or so to go... Certainly I'd see a pile of them tomorrow!!
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 05:00:43 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F172DE682-328D-4B21-AA14-9D09B91DF71E_zps04jcmvtz.jpg&hash=1c342d28520765addbf35fe696fd58da15bd569d) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/172DE682-328D-4B21-AA14-9D09B91DF71E_zps04jcmvtz.jpg.html)
However, 5 hours later... I was wondering if there were any sheep in the unit. I knew where I wanted to go and heard it was a good spot for sheep... but man, I figured I'd see all sorts of bands of lesser rams along the way. Naw.
At about mile 27 I did spot 5 rams. Again... one that was "interesting" but not so much so that I gave him much time. The others were all little guys...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F29A55E3B-F63D-4C95-BDC0-2293DEB28E97_zpshjsi8bs6.jpg&hash=f60170880f9d491ed6ee2c55e23d988ca1bf28bd) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/29A55E3B-F63D-4C95-BDC0-2293DEB28E97_zpshjsi8bs6.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F3ABD2DA0-A811-4822-8B8C-B31EC0A82FDC_zpsnk4vqis5.jpg&hash=8611ac558afbb0351fe2aaf9dc317748a78d452a) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/3ABD2DA0-A811-4822-8B8C-B31EC0A82FDC_zpsnk4vqis5.jpg.html)
The good thing was, I could at least see them on the ridge 2 miles upstream from Camp through the spotter!!!
Post by: Hornseeker on September 20, 2015, 05:08:06 PM
Looks tame enough... each of those folds... are deep gashes that you DO NOT go through... you have to go wide around them...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F71D79DC0-A24E-4245-B1D4-B369B97BFA64_zpsnma8fs9i.jpg&hash=28b6b6589f344393e2fff5cd97483538bf8bd6f0) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/71D79DC0-A24E-4245-B1D4-B369B97BFA64_zpsnma8fs9i.jpg.html)
Post by: Gringo31 on September 21, 2015, 09:56:08 AM
Post by: andersonjk4 on September 21, 2015, 10:11:02 AM
Post by: lokidog on September 21, 2015, 09:05:13 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 21, 2015, 10:29:26 PM
Post by: elkrack on September 22, 2015, 06:29:48 AM
Post by: TommyH on September 22, 2015, 07:28:47 AM
Post by: stew pidasso on September 22, 2015, 09:36:26 PM
Post by: quadrafire on September 28, 2015, 07:48:28 AM
Did you fall asleep at the keyboard........?
Post by: Miles on October 03, 2015, 09:47:52 PM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on October 04, 2015, 06:30:41 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 05, 2015, 07:26:02 AM
Post by: jackelope on October 05, 2015, 07:53:05 AM
Post by: quadrafire on October 08, 2015, 11:41:23 AM
Hey I won a $1,000000 in the WA lotto and wanted to share some with you, but you gotta finish this story first :rolleyes:
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 08, 2015, 11:44:36 AM
Post by: Miles on October 27, 2015, 07:11:27 AM
Post by: hirshey on November 03, 2015, 08:44:56 AM
Post by: 2MANY on November 03, 2015, 09:01:57 AM
This Ernie cat is a hunter.
When things slow down....Ernie will post.
Until then I hope he is stalking into the wind.
Post by: jae on November 05, 2015, 07:01:17 PM
John
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 08:36:24 PM
Where was I? oh yeah... I was bowhunting for sheep in the Missouri Breaks. And holy smokes... it was hot and dry and I was hiking all over the dang place... in an area where I just knew I'd see 200 inch ram after 200 inch ram... and I didn't see JACK! I did see Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum a few times... a couple 2 year olds that fed on the slopes near camp quite often... but no big guys. Ugh! I also was stuck as far as the boat went, as I couldn't use the motor until the 15th!
I stumbled upon a little bone... while searching for horns....
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FA32EC787-5CC6-4EDB-80DB-B26409E63BB1_zpsihr4q9xp.jpg&hash=4a6f7d9b7b3a7d7001f04b90b2c19d855ca859a0) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/A32EC787-5CC6-4EDB-80DB-B26409E63BB1_zpsihr4q9xp.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 08:43:04 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FA424B950-F6EC-4D70-8B0E-E1C3DE3C6097_zpsyvdjmcgr.jpg&hash=8db770d29fbc25f2497c2a2b025f6a49ee52bb62) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/A424B950-F6EC-4D70-8B0E-E1C3DE3C6097_zpsyvdjmcgr.jpg.html)
September 14 found me stumbling back to camp in the late afternoon, after having seen NO rams on a nice little walk with my bow... All I could think was how great it would be in the morning when I could actually get in the boat and head up or down river and try and find some sheep! Right before dark I spotted 12 sheep moving up a ridge about 2 1/2 miles upstream. The low light and a cheap spotting scope led me to believe it was one of the famed groups of rams known in this area! I was pumped... couldn't wait till morning! THen, at last light as they skylined on a ridge I was sure I was looking at a bare head against the sky behind... there certainly wasn't a big set of horns. I deflated a little, but was still pumped to get up and run the boat around and glass some new country.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F198423CB-123C-45A7-86D3-5CC203435471_zpsnhvecxli.jpg&hash=2969c8e56a964ddb2daecb32146a83a6c3ee8956) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/198423CB-123C-45A7-86D3-5CC203435471_zpsnhvecxli.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 08:57:48 PM
I took off at the first glimmer of light and ran up the river 2 miles to see if those sheep were still on the ridge. As I got near the ridge in question, I saw a boat tied off and 4 orange vests heading up the ridge! Blasted!! I blazed by there to the next corner and there was a boat camp and orange vests heading up the ridge! YOu have got to be kidding me! So... rethought my plan... I only had so much gas and no matter what, had to make the 29 mile trip upstream to my truck. I couldn't jet around too much. So I decided to motor down and glass as I went. I motored and tied off and glassed for 20 minutes... then slowly motored and tied off a half mile further... this went on for about 5 1/2 miles, until I was about 3 miles below camp. At this point, I had seen Tweedle D and Tweedle Dum and maybe 15-20 ewes... I was deflated, but you know what? I WAS SHEEP HUNTING IN THE MISSOURI BREAKS!! AND... I STILL HAD 2 1/2 MONTHS of SEASON LEFT! I might have been a bit deflated... but all things are relative, I was still flying HIGH!
I motored back to camp, tied off and marched up and started disassembling camp. I had to pull out, motor upriver and find a new spot to hunt for a couple days. I only planned to hunt the 15th and 16th, and was anxious to get after a different area. But dang... I had heard so much good about this spot!!
I rolled my bag, pads up. Packed my gear. Took my tent down and gathered all my junk... I packed them all the 100 yards back down to the boat and packed it up. I couldn't get out of this spot fast enough. I had to go find some rams...
After getting the boat packed I decided to walk up to the camp spot and my glassing point and make sure I hadn't dropped or forgot something. Nope, nothing there. I am obsessed with glassing, and am always optimistic.... maybe guardedly... but still optimistic... so I raised my binoculars to scan the deep gash of a canyon that led southeast of camp... and the very first thing I saw was four white asses with massive amounts of horns bobbing here and there... I could NOT believe my eyes. WIth my binos at 850 yards, there was no doubt in my mind that every ram in the group was worth a closer look...
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 18, 2015, 09:08:51 PM
Post by: Widgeondeke on November 18, 2015, 09:11:13 PM
Post by: TheHunt on November 18, 2015, 09:13:13 PM
Post by: jasnt on November 18, 2015, 09:28:25 PM
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 09:33:04 PM
I ended up climbing a steep slope and getting behind a little ridge from them. The hill was super steep and it started raining. The Missouri breaks are made of a clay called Gumbo. This stuff, if you haven't experienced, is maddening. Its sticky and slippery when it gets wet. Even with a light rain, the clay started sticking to my boots... within 5 minutes I had an inch of mud where my soles should have been. I didn't have far to go. IF I could get up to the little ridge ahead, it would put me about 350 yards from where I saw them. I figured at that point I'd be able to get a good look at them and hopefully judge whether one was worthy of having this tag hanging off him. I was still nervous about making a good judgement, but at the same time, I had decided if I saw a ram that "looked good" and I killed him... I WOULD BE HAPPY with him... and myself.
Back to the stalk. I slowly crept up to the ridge and peered over. No rams in sight. THe breeze had hit me in the back of the neck several times during my stalk, so if they had flushed out of there I just wouldn't be surprised. By this time, the rain was falling steady. Not "hard"...but hard enough for me to think "man... if I kill a ram and it keeps raining... ugh... just dressing him would be horrendous in this mud... then packing him out would be a killer"... oh well, what the heck right? HOw many chances do you get to stalk big azz sheep?!?! :IBCOOL:
I eased over the ridge and saw that there was fold after fold in the terrain ahead of me. There was also a patch of timber near where they were feeding last time I saw them... would they take cover in there? Nah... I don't think so, not these breaks sheep... I didn't completely discount the idea, but I did chose to inspect the draws ahead of me instead of the patch of timber off to my left.
I eased over the next little ridge.... nothing. The next...nothing. It was deep cut and the head end of it topped out over the ridge. They could be over and gone... :dunno:
I eased over the next ridge... Nothing...
I kept going... and the rain turned into a gentle sprinkle... my boots were worthless... I was moving toward a saddle that they probably went over and from there... who knows... I scanned across the canyon and made sure I wasn't missing them heading up the other slope or emerging out of a steep cut draw. I stepped forward and glanced ahead... and he was staring at. Laying head on. I could see a white butt to his right, but no other sheep or horns. He looked awesome. I pulled my rifle up and got him in the scope and flicked the safety off. As my finger settled to the trigger I cussed myself "for chriminy sakes... chill... you don't have any real idea if this is "the one"... and you've got 2 1/2 months of season left..." I flicked the safety back on and lowered my gun... I didn't want to lift my binoculars or move at all... so I just looked at him. He stared at me. I wondered how big he was.
Was he big enough? Would I be happy with him? If the hunt ended right now, would I be satisfied? Was he even the biggest of the 4?
This was one of the 4.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F99D39F3C-968C-4F35-83A9-8AC29DC6A917_zps4co8rnza.jpg&hash=e6c730f3cc0b21a724860d4cca4e7542fa8dffe7) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/99D39F3C-968C-4F35-83A9-8AC29DC6A917_zps4co8rnza.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 09:34:29 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FFB73BAF6-C48B-4930-9EDB-CBDC277E02BE_zpsrbwcyzxa.jpg&hash=2456d1eea48d88d610917a4059238b270d9a3727) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/FB73BAF6-C48B-4930-9EDB-CBDC277E02BE_zpsrbwcyzxa.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 09:49:18 PM
He stared at me... then he turned slightly to look at the other sheep and I saw his right horn was LONG... I liked it. I looked at his mass and thought... "it is Good".... then I then he stood up. I didn't know what to expect. Would they all bolt and run like a bull elk and never give me a shot or a look ever again? I raised the rifle and looked at him through the scope. At 6 power, his head filled the lens. He looked to the right and I saw his left horn in full... I thought " It is good"... at which point I flipped off the safety and let him have it. The bullet went in his chest and exited out his rear hip. He leaned back and turned broadside so I put one in from the side and he crumpled.
The other rams walked up the hill 30 yards above me and looked at him... then me... Then fed along like nothing ever happened. I was happy to see none of them impressed me like he did. I pulled out the camera and took pics of them. I took out my range finder and my ram was laying 42 yards away. The rain stopped.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F7FE1F26F-04ED-489F-82C7-6F610D6C8B5C_zpsm80gricl.jpg&hash=fb316fd8ef937f33108024b4fc2521f0ce3a9788) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/7FE1F26F-04ED-489F-82C7-6F610D6C8B5C_zpsm80gricl.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 09:56:07 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F6CB19C65-2770-4E55-83DD-705C26DEF32B_zpsashcw3tw.jpg&hash=bb445ac189a2aa22a8bcb6334f983ed712c3c28c) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/6CB19C65-2770-4E55-83DD-705C26DEF32B_zpsashcw3tw.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F8AD3B143-E59C-46CA-B184-8EAB705B589C_zpsq5dxt8zk.jpg&hash=6e93dab69665bdefcf60096b9f384324df3776b1) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/8AD3B143-E59C-46CA-B184-8EAB705B589C_zpsq5dxt8zk.jpg.html)
He had great bases... and I knew he had good length... How good? How great? I didn't know. I was happy, but I was also nervous... it was an interesting predicament. I was preparing myself... reassuring myself all was well! I had a great hunt... some great scouting... it was awesome and he was beautiful... But dang, did he "measure up"... no matter how many times I told myself it didn't matter, I still couldn't quit thinking about it. I tried to estimate size and found I couldn't. The horns simply didn't look "40 inches"... 40 inches seemed like so much...
anyhow...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F28772A06-4E49-4C7E-949C-D6956ADEA33E_zpsoenlsmqk.jpg&hash=2c62098adf8611d612c93f7b365a382763f266af) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/28772A06-4E49-4C7E-949C-D6956ADEA33E_zpsoenlsmqk.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F5188CF15-FF76-45C3-907B-1F84C80C7EE1_zpsw61kaafe.jpg&hash=6be8905ca962eff8d514a4d211511dfe668a6598) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/5188CF15-FF76-45C3-907B-1F84C80C7EE1_zpsw61kaafe.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 09:57:40 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F9798287A-27E7-454A-9A8A-0BA7857F795D_zpsg8othfj8.jpg&hash=6f89f2a0f0f6cee8c14631a7b6713b3917ff874e) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/9798287A-27E7-454A-9A8A-0BA7857F795D_zpsg8othfj8.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F4E3B40B4-0AFB-4CC5-B1F0-9BA9CEEC59D4_zpscvjouekg.jpg&hash=4d6684d3191123302489249f214efa402a5fb9ce) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/4E3B40B4-0AFB-4CC5-B1F0-9BA9CEEC59D4_zpscvjouekg.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2FF79988D9-1F28-4CBC-82F3-7A4167C129E7_zpsd7i6euea.jpg&hash=ea28b81874d84527f0831b0ec9e68249c1187231) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/F79988D9-1F28-4CBC-82F3-7A4167C129E7_zpsd7i6euea.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 10:03:57 PM
Evidence of cloud nine... hundred pounds and 3/4 mile later... with mud choked boot soles. Smiling from ear to ear!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F2425BF22-7DE3-4F38-9714-A04072328380_zpsqc7ooa7l.jpg&hash=97b26a7c3467ca1203fc92bf84dd0e77a474daee) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/2425BF22-7DE3-4F38-9714-A04072328380_zpsqc7ooa7l.jpg.html)
I put the meat in the shade of the little steep cut stream channel and went back for the cape, head and my gun...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F7BE0A433-0DA9-40F2-8988-A94085347B4D_zpsck39jo3f.jpg&hash=24d0c69e9c96b8c58a26315c6b3fdd40cb66f32a) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/7BE0A433-0DA9-40F2-8988-A94085347B4D_zpsck39jo3f.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 10:13:21 PM
I was really nervous to tape him...
I ran the tape around the base and pulled it tight... tried to make sure there was no hair under it. wiggled it to make sure it was laying nice... I didn't look at the numbers... I found where it crossed at zero and held my finger there, then raised the tape, took at deep breath and looked... 17 1/4 inches. OK... so... I know its green... and I know its possible I was over a little hair or something... but oh Hell Yeah... the bases were HUGE... :tup:
I then pulled the tape around the shorter horn... one horn was slightly shorter, slightly broomed... Again, I didn't look at the tape. I just held it in the right spot and pulled it around until I got to the tip. When I got to the tip I again, didn't look, but marked the tape with my finger, pulled it up... then turned it over. 40 1/2 inches... the short horn was over 40" long! Hell Yeah...
After studying the harvest records for the unit.... I had two numbers in my head... 17 and 40. 17 was a dream number, as there were only 8 rams harvested with 17+ inch bases in the last 10 years... There were many rams harvested over 40"... but it was still a good number to shoot for.
I'll come clean right now, the bases were actually more like 16 7/8 green... they have shrunk about 1/4 inch since. BUT 16 1/2 is still awesome... oh that MASS!
The longer horn is 42 1/4!!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F9B80836E-6B6D-4324-A88F-58CCB72EAA95_zpsosoymxbt.jpg&hash=77823153c4dbc5528079a1b0519bad23e176e990) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/9B80836E-6B6D-4324-A88F-58CCB72EAA95_zpsosoymxbt.jpg.html)
Post by: Hornseeker on November 18, 2015, 10:15:07 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F4CF4C667-58FC-4005-8138-924F2EF9F94A_zpswmkfkbo8.jpg&hash=3b493bf2ba422b8b6f51fa6faff0cb2fb0aee810) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/4CF4C667-58FC-4005-8138-924F2EF9F94A_zpswmkfkbo8.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F716AFD0B-8D5B-4C1C-95BA-6397E25F5BF4_zpsq0xys4rj.jpg&hash=c7653dfd2d7abbc9a971fea61fdb7fa7ff7565bd) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/716AFD0B-8D5B-4C1C-95BA-6397E25F5BF4_zpsq0xys4rj.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv351%2Fhornseeker%2F724D0F2B-A728-4DE2-A8D5-1C754C5420FC_zpsip2j1zby.jpg&hash=5e5c65f83f595191b00ebd38f9841b52b864adcf) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hornseeker/media/724D0F2B-A728-4DE2-A8D5-1C754C5420FC_zpsip2j1zby.jpg.html)
Post by: HUNTaHOLIC5 on November 18, 2015, 10:19:43 PM
Post by: GurrCentral on November 18, 2015, 11:03:50 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on November 19, 2015, 12:00:33 AM
My only issue is you did a sheep hunt by yourself :yike:...Ive got like 20 people waiting for me to draw a sheep tag so they can go with me... :chuckle:
Post by: KNOPHISH on November 19, 2015, 05:15:19 AM
Post by: boneaddict on November 19, 2015, 05:33:06 AM
Post by: quadrafire on November 19, 2015, 07:33:40 AM
That hill where you shot him looks a lot more brushy than I was picturing of the area.
Post by: blacktailer on November 19, 2015, 09:14:53 AM
Post by: M_ray on November 22, 2015, 10:34:50 AM
Post by: jimkirk on November 22, 2015, 03:04:01 PM
Post by: lamrith on November 22, 2015, 04:13:33 PM
Post by: chinookie23 on November 26, 2015, 12:21:19 AM
Post by: Chet43 on November 29, 2015, 12:49:07 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on December 01, 2015, 03:45:14 PM
Post by: Falcon on December 01, 2015, 05:02:28 PM
What an adventure👍 Congrats.
Post by: Rufous on December 04, 2015, 11:45:51 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on May 31, 2016, 03:59:34 PM
Thanks for sharing!
Post by: quadrafire on May 31, 2016, 08:23:31 PM
Post by: Kit Carson on June 01, 2016, 09:59:37 PM