Burning points on EWE tag?

Also posted in "Sheep, goats" forum-

I have 3 MT sheep points and have been considering hunting w/ an ewe tag - probably 680 Breaks. Here's my line of thinking: That tag with three points is near 100% odds. It will burn my points BUT I can begin reapplying next year. My boy is 1 1/2 yrs old, so I think if I drew ram in the next 3-5 years I would be doing a "quicky sheep hunt", not exactly what I'd like to do with a coveted tag. However, if I burn points for the ewe, then I have 5 to 8 years of points building again which puts him on the hunt with me. Plus, it gives me an ewe on the wall with a reseverved spot right beside it for the ram. Thoughts?

Have the elk/deer combo tag and will be applying for Breaks archery tag. It'd be sweet to draw that archery tag, hunt elk and bowkill a sheep.

edpre

I have been over this same subject with people many times. So heres the deal. If you want to shoot a sheep and want to shoot one now the ewe is the way to go. I understand that family is a great part of your life and you put them first but when it comes to a "RAM" you might need to change your thoughts. Your thought process of not wanting to do a quicky sheep hunt is right because if you draw the tag you want to be able to hunt no stop with as much persistence as possible. Even in the breaks a good ram is not a guarantee so a lot of time may be required. Every year you apply your odds get better but with the breaks sheep they are still bad. If you kept applying and drew you might have to hope your wife takes good care of your son while your out hunting and hope you get one early so you can get back to your family.
Now on to the magically words. "you can shoot the big one when you shoot the little one" some people apply their whole life for the opportunity to hunt bighorn sheep and never draw the tag. Such as my father who is going on year 20-something. With that being said my suggestion to you is keep applying for a ram if you really want one.
another possability for you is to skip this year applying and then apply next year. that way you have no chance of drawing but also keep your bonus points you have currently. I believe you can skip every other year and not loose your points. I have done it with moose as i knew i wouldn't be able to put in enough time if i would have drawn. (check the current regs before you skip a year though) Also in the end make the decision that will make you happy not because someone on the internet told you too, i'm sure you will make the best one.
Also this is easy for me to say and smile due to having already draw a sheep tag and killed a 190 4/8 inch ram at the age of 18. Good luck and let me know what you decided to do. Find the horn Goose!

Dont burn your points,that kid will be out of high school before you get a good ram tag.

If I were you, I would take my chances with drawing a ram tag no matter what the situation. As long as my wife was not in labor I would go shoot the ram if I had the tag. I have a 20 month old daughter and we are having a boy next week. If I get lucky enought to draw a ram tag I would find a way to go THIS year. I wouldn't care if I had to stop fishing the Big Horn all summer and not elk, deer, antelope, and coyote hunt this fall to do it. I would watch both kids in December and fly my wife and her twin sister to Hawaii and put it all on a credit card if I had to in order to shoot a decent ram. : )

I love my family, but they love me enough to realize how hard that tag is to get.


"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"