Backpack Desert Bighorn (Pics)

grizzly

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My wife got lucky and drew a Utah Desert Bighorn tag with only 12 points. After talking with some people that had hunted Desert Bighorn in the past and knowing only 1 of 3 hunters was successful last year in the unit she drew, we decided to hire an outfitter. We called a few different guides, but ultimately ended up going with Bronson Outfitting.

Our first trip was the beginning of October for a few days spent learning the unit and hoping to maybe find some ewes to hunt once the rut kicked in later in the month. We spent a couple of days hitting the edges of the unit on the few roads available and one day in a boat glassing from the shores of Lake Powell. Here, her guides, Wayne Brown and Adam Bronson, try to pick up some sheep on a warm October day.

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With only two small rams seen over 4 days of glassing, we knew our next trip would be much more difficult. We planned the last week of October for 5 days of backpack hunting to access the interior of the unit and look for an old ram that survived unseen in the harsh landscape.

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Andrea and I awoke to some of the most beautiful landscape on Earth each morning.

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As breathtaking as it is, I'm not afraid to say it is wholly intimidating country in which to try and find a sheep. Here, Adam and Andrea spend some time behind the glass.

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And even if you get lucky enough to find a ram, the hard part hasn't even started. It could take a day or two just to work your way on the same mesa as a ram... if you can get there at all.

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Adam spotted a ram one evening, but we happened to be with Wayne and by the time Adam got my attention we couldn't get back to him before the four ewes and two rams disappeared into the dusky rimrock ledges. The next morning, the old ram from the group was somehow separated from his harem and stood above us at 800 yards. The old ram eventually started walking away, presumably searching for his ewes, and we would spend the next 8 hours chasing a lone ram as he covered miles of rugged terrain, forcing us up/down/around seemingly countless mesas and canyons.

Finally, the old ram bedded down in some shade and the stalk was fully on.

A stumbling sprint around the head of one canyon and a looping arc to get the wind in our favor had us popping over a sandstone ledge only 124 yards from the bedded ram. Andrea was able to slowly put her gun over the edge and squeeze off a great shot. Here the ram lies immediately after the shot.

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Her ram was measured by UDWR as 8.5 years old and 155 5/8" making it one of the biggest rams ever taken in her unit.

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I got to get in on some of the pictures as well.

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The sun was setting and the moon was rising as Andrea took a short rest on the long pack back to our spike camp. She let the guys take the meat, but she insisted on carrying the horns.


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With the hunt drawing to end, we were able to eat until we were full, drink all the water we had found at a nearby sandstone water pot, and take off our boots by a hot fire. Here, Adam Bronson admires the old ram that he and Wayne were so instrumental in helping us get. We couldn't have done it without Adam and Wayne and will be forever grateful for their help and newfound friendship.

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I don't know if I'll ever be lucky enough to go on another backpack hunt for Desert Bighorn, but I do know it was an adventure I'll never forget. I hope you liked the story and pics.
 
Grey, congratulations to your wife. What an adventure! I would love to experience a sheep hunt like that some day.

-Hawkeye-
 
Congratulations to Andrea and the crew on an outstanding ram.
Hard work and dedication seem to be players on most successful sheep hunts, especially in that country. Your experience is one few hunters will ever get but it sounds like you did it right. Kudos to your wife for taking on such a wild adventure.
 
Wow, Grey your wife is tougher than Aligator Bags!
That hunt is way out of my league

Congrats to all involved

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
She is one tough cookie, That is unforgiven landscape that she hunted in.
What a great ending for her sheep hunt. Congrats to her.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
Love the pic's, congratulations on a great ram and a great adventure

I'm headed down that way to hunt muleys in a few days, although I'll be a little further north what incredible country to be poking around in.
 
Beautiful animal, beautiful country, beautiful story and beautiful wife. Congrats!
 
WOW! Truly an OIL hunt in every sense of the word. Awesome story and photos. Thanks for your willingness to plan and carry out the effort to share with the rest of us. Congratulations to all involved!
 
Fantastic! Sounds like so much fun. Good for you all of some great success.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
LIKE MonsterMuleys.com
on Facebook!
 
Thanks for the kind words. And now here's the rest of the story...

On a training hike on September 10th with heavy packs, my wife rolled her ankle in a rut in the trail. Weeks of icing and rest didn't help it heal but she refused to see a doctor since she didn't want a diagnosis prior to her hunt anyway.

Without going into too much detail, it turns out she has a broken bone in her ankle and torn ligaments that will result in surgery scheduled for next Tuesday. She's one tough chick to do a backpack sheep hunt with a busted ankle.
 
Very nice write-up and great photographs! She is an exceptional lady hunter! Not many woman could pull that hunt off especially with a fractured ankle. In my book she ranks up there with the best of the huntress hunters. It does not get any better!
 
Andrea seems like a mighty fine lady in every respect.
Best of luck with the surgery so you can get back on the mountain.
 
That's an amazing story and such great pictures. I spent time in Page when I was younger and met my wife in that town by Lake Powell
Congrats to your wife what a great ram
 
Awesome read and story! Thanks for sharing it with us. My wife has 12 points this year. Maybe we will get lucky too :)
 
I read this post when it first came up and it was great to re-read it again. Sounds like a fun time. Very nice ram!
 
Tell Mrs Grizzly congrats again from me.

Oh, by the way How did you get such a pretty wife? LOL!
All my friends say the same thing to me

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
Everything about your experience seems text book Utah desert sheep hunting.
And Paul's amazing work has perfectly captured your incredible adventure to be passed down for generations. Awesome!
 

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