Bighorn Sheep questions

D

dirtygrass

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I drew my CO sheep tag, I found some good rams, I looked at them from a distance two times about 6 days apart and they were in the same location, the third time after a storm they where gone. I was there for two days and they never showed back up. I was hoping some experienced sheep hunters could answer a few questions for me.
When the weather is bad like hard rain and lightning will them rams move down into the trees?
Do the rams typically if undisturbed stay on the same mountain or will they use a couple different ones.

Thanks!
 
Lightning probably got them. Happens all the time ?

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I bet they didn't go far. Just keep watching though they may have moved a drainage or two away.
 
We just got back from my son's Wyoming Bighorn hunt. He found a ram on top of a mountain. The next morning we went after him, but it stormed on us. After a 3000ft climb we got to where he was and he was gone.
The next day we found him much lower down, but he gave us the slip again.
Sheep will be sheep and big rams get old by not being stupid.
They may be back or they may have moved on. You just never know.
I'd keep checking back but don't count on them being predictable.
 
Not sure what unit you're in, but if it gets nasty, and they are alpine sheep, they may drop into the trees during horrific weather.

If they weren't bumped, I would think they're still close by. From my limited experience, sheep just don't "Change Mountains" without a significant reason. They will travel from drainage to drainage without a doubt, and those drainages can be a mile or so apart. I saw that in S32 if the sheep got kicked out. Also, if there is a saddle between where you saw them, and another "Side" it's very easy for them to go up and over.
 
There are so many factors it's tough to say. I've hunted sheep in Colo several times. Quite a few Colo units have lots of hikers, bikers, etc. In those type of units rams often hang out in hidden pockets where they aren't disturbed. In most units rams don't like human disturbance even during the summer months. If they are disturbed they may hide out and possibly return to favorite spots where there is lush food and water during the summer.

Colo rams often move locations certain times of year. Colo also has a lot disturbance from OTC archery elk and deer hunters, bird hunters, etc. Some may change slopes depending upon the weather. They may be in hidden avalanche chutes, saddles, shaded cliffs, etc during the summer and switch to south facing slopes that are out of the wind once night and daytime temps get cooler.

There are so many factors. The best scenario is to spend days upon days watching rams in your particular unit and learning all their hangouts and areas where they tend to move when disturbed and spend time during certain months of the year.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the input, the sheep I am hunting do not get disturbed by people. I have seen sheep on that mountain every year I have been in there. I spent 2 more days in there watching sheep and watched a group of ewes walk into the trees when the storm hit and didn't go back up until late the next day. All the storms come from the South, I believe they go over to the north side trees to wait out the storms.
 
That’s great news you know a couple spots where they hang out. They can be a bugger to find in the tress. It’s sometimes best to just sit back and wait for them to come back out.
 
I have watched them for 2 days, they pretty much do the same thing everyday, south side feeding in the morning, north side afternoon bed/feed, back to the rocks for night time bedding.
 
Solo sheep hunting is hard. I was blessed to have the opportunity to hunt such a majestic and beautiful animal. It was first time in my life it was hard to pull the trigger and end the life of such an awesome animal. He was difficult to age even for experienced people. He will be listed as 9+. His teeth were wore down to the gum line, probably didn't have much time left. I hiked over 300 miles scouting and found 39 total rams. I believe he may be one of the largest rams ever taken in this area, we scored him around 190".
A huge thank you to everyone who answered my questions and helped, including the DOW officers that I bugged the **** out of.
 

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