Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 12, 2015, 02:26:14 PM
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-bq3kDTT/0/L/IMG_1558-Edit-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-LWbKhN3/0/L/IMG_1561-Edit-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-WXv7fcK/0/L/IMG_1704-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-BQLRL45/0/L/IMG_1580-L.jpg)
Over the years we saw less and less ear tags until only #13 was left. My friend and I spotted him and got some images of him from last year.
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-3QqW9qM/0/L/5D3_6245-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-vjBF6QZ/0/L/5D3_6235-L.jpg)
I inquired about who from the game department was going to take the disabled hunter this year. This is some steep country and could be a difficult hunt for someone with a disability. It's also hard to locate one ram in a large herd. The tag holder contacted me and the bio had told him to contact me to go with him to get #13. I was excited to be a part of this hunt. There were about 20 sheep transplanted there 12 years ago, starting this herd. There must be about 150 sheep in there now.
While it was controversial to open up the unit for additional hunts this year, I can say we are fine. I personally saw 5 upper 170's class rams yesterday and one pushing 180". I saw a lot of nice mature rams. While I think this unit can handle the 5 rams that will be taken out of there this year, we may want to scale it back next year.
That being said, this is a conservation success story. I met with the hunter, Dick and his son Cory on top the butte at daylight. We started glassing the canyons below and I spotted a mature ram in some shade, heading down into a steep canyon. We put a spotting scope on it and Cory and I thought we might see some white on his right ear. I got out my 600mm lens, and zoomed in on his head and we could clearly see a white #13 tag in his right ear. So lucky it was the first sheep spotted. We talked about driving down below, but ultimately I thought let's just go at him. We had plenty of cover behind a ridge and he would likely stay in that canyon. While they are rutting hard now, #13 is just too old to rut and was likely going to stay put in the canyon.
After hours of hiking down to the spot where we could see into the canyon, we finally got the disabled hunter there and in position. However, we couldn't locate the ram. Where did he go? I scanned everywhere but couldn't find him. With Dick being tired from the long stalk, I offered to go through the canyon and to the next ridge to see if he popped over in the next canyon. We had also spotted another sheep in that next canyon and I wanted to see if it was #13 but we needed a closer look. As I was hiking up the opposite hillside, I looked up and a ewe, kid, and small ram stood up from behind some rocks at 30 yards. They weren't spooked and I didn't see any other sheep with them. I kept working up and around from them. When I got a ways away, I heard a boom. I guess I pushed him out of somewhere was my first thought. I saw Cory in my bino's and he was happy with his arms up. Excited, he led me back to where the ram had fallen. I had apparently jumped it but it was behind rocks I could not see. I don't mind bird dogging big sheep up!
It took a while but Dick finally made it to his ram. Dick is almost 80 years old and I think he killed the oldest ram I've ever heard of in WA. #13 should be 15 years old but he would never be the size that tag holders would likely pick to kill because most people shoot rams based on score, not age. I was happy to be the volunteer to help them out and ensure we got the right ram. What a great couple of guys that I as happy to help with this hunt. What a great hunt and great trophy this hunt provided. In looking at his teeth, he didn't really have any molars left. He likely would have died this winter. Additionally, his hoofs were torn up and tattered.
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-TJkdK8S/0/L/5D3_1111-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-55fVJCw/0/L/5D3_1199-L.jpg)
(https://shawnmccully.smugmug.com/Family-1/Hunts/2015-Chelan-Butte-Hunt/i-ZM5bb8Z/0/L/5D3_1288-L.jpg)
Post by: Brute on October 12, 2015, 02:27:44 PM
Post by: RadSav on October 12, 2015, 02:38:48 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 12, 2015, 02:43:06 PM
Post by: huntnphool on October 12, 2015, 02:43:34 PM
Post by: h20hunter on October 12, 2015, 02:44:49 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 12, 2015, 03:32:25 PM
Thanks for the story. I'm glad the hunt went well. What did he shoot it with and how far was the shot?
He shot it with a rifle at about 250 yards. I don't know the type of gun but they all shoot lead at fast enough speeds to kill. I think it had a silver barrel and black stock.
Post by: Timberstalker on October 12, 2015, 03:35:13 PM
Post by: h20hunter on October 12, 2015, 03:40:13 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on October 12, 2015, 03:44:39 PM
Post by: bearhunter99 on October 12, 2015, 04:03:10 PM
Post by: X-Force on October 12, 2015, 04:15:58 PM
Post by: wheels on October 12, 2015, 04:21:28 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on October 12, 2015, 05:01:29 PM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 12, 2015, 05:34:36 PM
Post by: Archery King on October 12, 2015, 05:53:38 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 12, 2015, 05:57:32 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 12, 2015, 06:04:30 PM
Post by: quadrafire on October 12, 2015, 06:19:24 PM
Great story and ending. Congrats to all
Post by: Whitpirate on October 12, 2015, 06:34:52 PM
Congratulations to the hunter on his lifetime capstone hunt.
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 13, 2015, 05:20:03 AM
I thought they rut in November? :dunno:
Rocky Mountain bighorn rut in November. These California bighorn rut earlier in October. When thinking of mating strategies they time it based on when food is available in the spring. Our low elevation areas that these Cali rams live in are areas that green up sooner in the spring than the places high in mountains that might still be under snow. When they drop them in april-may there is plenty of food around.
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 13, 2015, 05:24:57 AM
Was he tagged 12 yrs ago during the transplant? What do you think happened to the other tagged animals. Death or dropped tags? Just curious.
Great story and ending. Congrats to all
Good question because a hunter has never taken them. I've also never heard of a scull being found either. I have pics of them all and would likely recognize them if I saw one. I'm guessing they died of old age or mtn lions. Last photos I have of a couple of them had them over past Wal-mart 4 years ago. I doubt any are still alive given the man hours we've put in there and we've not located one. I haven't heard of any others from other hunters either.
Post by: coachcw on October 13, 2015, 06:09:11 AM
Post by: gunnarnewt on October 13, 2015, 01:45:58 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on October 13, 2015, 02:22:43 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 13, 2015, 02:36:05 PM
I can clarify a couple of details. The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared. #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old. The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings). The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two. Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.
Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams. I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.
Post by: bowtech on October 13, 2015, 06:45:43 PM
Post by: chukarchaser on October 13, 2015, 09:54:41 PM
Post by: GameHunter1959 on October 13, 2015, 11:06:41 PM
Love to hear about older hunters harvesting trophy animals. Thanks for sharing..
Post by: popeshawnpaul on October 14, 2015, 09:01:22 AM
Congratulations to the hunter and you.
I can clarify a couple of details. The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared. #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old. The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings). The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two. Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.
Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams. I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.
Thanks for the clarification on the details. I'll try and get a moment to post pics of all the ear tag rams for comparison. I was able to count 11 growth rings on #13 and it was my understanding he was 3.5 on release based on what Jon told me. Maybe 14.5 yo?
Post by: 250savage on October 14, 2015, 02:59:05 PM
Post by: Dr. Death on October 14, 2015, 03:15:34 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 15, 2015, 09:24:59 AM
I could be misremembering too. Past 14 the counts get really challenging!Congratulations to the hunter and you.
I can clarify a couple of details. The transplant was in March 2004, and a total of 35 sheep from Clemans were released on Chelan Butte; all were ear-tagged with the white tags, and some ewes were radio-collared. #19 was the "big" ram released (upcoming 4 yo in 2005, just shy of 3/4), I'm not positive but I think #18 was the 1/2 curl upcoming 3 yo, and there was also an upcoming 2 year old. The other two ear-tagged rams would have been ram lambs at the release (upcoming yearlings). The only documented mortality during the early release period was a radio-collared ewe hit by the train near Knapps Hill Tunnel during year one or two. Most if not all of the transplanted ewes were pregnant, and there was pretty good lamb survival.
Pope is entirely correct that by age 4 or 5 the transplanted ram lambs and those born on the Butte had much larger horns than the three transplanted rams. I was curious whether the lambs born on the Butte would show better growth than the transplant ram lambs, but wasn't able to keep track past 2006 so never got an answer to that question.
Thanks for the clarification on the details. I'll try and get a moment to post pics of all the ear tag rams for comparison. I was able to count 11 growth rings on #13 and it was my understanding he was 3.5 on release based on what Jon told me. Maybe 14.5 yo?
Post by: Bullseye108 on October 16, 2015, 07:49:08 PM
Post by: hirshey on October 29, 2015, 05:59:15 PM
Post by: Shawn Ryan on October 29, 2015, 11:24:08 PM
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Post by: mkcj on October 30, 2015, 01:22:06 AM
Post by: Elkpiss on October 30, 2015, 02:37:02 PM
Two old timers on the hill. Two go up one comes down.
You kill me man... lol... Great story, really cool..