Desert Bighorn Success

AdrenalineAddict · Nov 24, 2017

I finally had the opportunity to hunt Desert Bighorns. I found about 35 Rams over a three day scouting period. One of the Rams was a 7 or 8 year old that I'm guessing would have gone low 160's, but he disappeared two days before the opener. The second best Ram I found (158 4/8) was still in the area on the opener. My son and I worked our way around the mountain and into the basin the Ram was hanging out in. We ended up getting closer than we had anticipated and had a stare down with the Ram at 90 yards, he stared a little to long!!! I learned that real solid older Rams are not very easy to find, The Ram I killed has a lot of character with an inside Argali Rim and brooming that looked like a broken tree limb. Very fun hunt, I hope my son Chris draws in the next several years, I would love to get in on another sheep hunt before I get too old to call it fun.

unclebuck · Nov 24, 2017

That's a awesome ram ! Congratulations. Head out Monday for my desert sheep hunt. Hope I do as well as you did.

littlebighorn · Nov 24, 2017

Congrats unclebuck.
It would be great if you could do it again with your son.
Good motivation to stay in shape!

What unit?

kalielkslayer · Nov 24, 2017

Good story and way to get it done.

Dreaming of my tag some day.

Wapitiwilly · Nov 24, 2017

Beautiful Ram...congratulations and thanks for sharing ??

littlebighorn · Nov 24, 2017

Oops My bad AdrenalineAddict.
Slopy post calling you the wrong name.
I was too busy looking at the ram pics

PleaseDear · Nov 24, 2017

Damn nice Ram

congrats

Robb

AdrenalineAddict · Nov 25, 2017

It's funny how hunts work out sometimes. I had visions of spotting long distance Rams, working my way to about 500 yards, taking my time with set-up and windage, then executing a well placed shot. The next thing I know I had a Ram nearly licking my rifle barrel and wondering if I should have carried my bow up the mountain. I really liked the terrain in 183, lots of good glassing points you can hike to. Middlegate Jct. makes awesome food if you get tired of camp cooking.

BradA · Nov 25, 2017

Congrats! I hope one day to draw a sheep tag and be able to take my son ! Very awesome glad you got to enjoy that once in a lifetime experience with your son! Mind me asking how many points it took you to finally draw ?

AdrenalineAddict · Nov 25, 2017

I had been applying every year since I moved to Nevada 31 years ago. Most other folks I've known have drawn in 15 to 20 years. They are giving out a lot more sheep tags now than in 2001 for instance.

blacktailBC · Nov 25, 2017

Nice ram and nice pics. Looks like a blast.

littlebighorn · Nov 25, 2017

AA, I agree about the shooting distance thing.
I have had 4 sheep tags and obsessed about being able to hit one at long distance every time.
But like you, my kill shots were relatively close, averaging less than 200 yds.
Congrats again on a very fine ram and best of luck to your son drawing.

458win · Nov 25, 2017

Dandy ram! Well done! Good job getting close! Takes more skill getting close then it does shooting long range.

AdrenalineAddict · Nov 26, 2017

The best part of the hunt was having the opportunity to share it with my son. He's been a hunting fool since age 12. We learned a lot about Deserts, he is now that much wiser when his turn comes along. I would love for him to draw a tag in the same unit, we've been talking hunting strategies since we got home. I've never been much of an explorer when it comes to new hunting units, it's fun to pick a spot, learn it well, and work it. I hope we get to work it over in the next five years or so in search of a mid 160's Ram. He is not nearly as trigger happy as myself.

Onelegwonder · Nov 27, 2017

Congratulations!! Great Ram. One day ????

MuskegMan · Nov 28, 2017

Nice looking ram you got there AA.

Did a father-son Dall sheep hunt this past August with my son drawing the 1% odds tag. Hopefully I'll get my turn here before I get too old (only 55 now).

AdrenalineAddict · Dec 2, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-02-17 AT 10:59AM (MST)[p]I was also fortunate in drawing a 1% odds tag for Nevada Mountain Goat about 10 years ago. I was all geared up for a 5 day pack trip, I parked my truck and took a peak over the hill into Cave Creek. To my surprise there was a solid billy browsing at 430 yards, I went back to the truck grabbed my gun and drilled him, another fun very, very lucky short hunt. If you live long enough you eventually get the opportunity to hunt whatever your state has to offer, unfortunately some Bighorn applicants are going on their second knee replacement before they draw and hope to find a solid Ram close to the trail, funny, sad, but true.