LAST EDITED ON Aug-21-17 AT 09:31AM (MST)[p]Thanks for posting my pic Ltsheets.
My hunting story
We left for the Gorge and to say our travels were entertaining would be saying it nicely. We intended on getting up to the Gorge 1-2 days before the hunt in order to scout. After two blown RV tires on one of the RV's and the truck pulling the other RV having fuel pressure issues, we made it to camp the night before the hunt rather than 1-2 days before. Luckily, I had been in contact with another forum member (nmbighorn) and he was willing to do some scouting for me. So we weren't to far behind getting started. Opening morning we seen several sheep and a few rams. Had one in my crosshairs at 221 yards and decided to pass him up. He was probably 165-170" and was with another one who was significantly smaller. Later that evening I was able to get within 25-30 yards of another Ram and decided to pass him up as well. During this encounter I was 15-20 yards from some Does and kids as well. Was a really cool moment.
The next morning we set off to hopefully find something a little bigger. My friend and I are on the west side of the gorge and nmbighorn is on the east side glassing. we text and call back and forth. Again my friend and I are within 100 yards of a group with 2 rams and a bunch of Ewes and kids. We pass them up and move on up the gorge. Nmbighorn then says he sees a group of Rams and believe one may be around 185" with a broomed left horn. We move above where he is watching them and get within 80-90 yards. They are 80-90 yards down inside the Gorge on a 45-60 degree face covered with 8' trees. I couldn't see them so we moved 50 yards to the south in hopes of getting a look at them. We did for just a second, they were moving to the north now. So my friend and I move quickly about 125 yards to the north and get on a flat rock out cropping and look down. There I see 3 rams and then one stops broadside, slightly quartered downhill, and turns his head to the left. I see the broomed left horn and decide to take the shot. The 7mm Rem Mag cracks and echoes off the gorge walls. The Ram takes 2-3 hops forward then turns around and comes right back to where I shot him. He then does the death wobble and falls right where he was shot. The time was 8:10am. I call my wife and kids and they ride out to where we are. My friend, nmbighorn, myself, and my two oldest sons work on getting the Ram taken care of. First we had to rope him to a tree because about 20 yards away was a huge drop into the gorge. Then we took turns holding, we took turns cutting, and by 11:30am we had him caped, quartered, packed, and was heading back to the RV. My hunt was definitely one I will always remember, so much fun. As you can see, my Ram is not the 185" Ram, but he is beautiful and I am beyond happy. That's my hunting story and I hope many of you get the opportunity I just had.
I have a recommendation to any other though as well. If you can avoid shooting one in the gorge, do it. Unless you are in a lot better shape than me, LOL.
