Any WY unit 5 sheep reports?

DonVathome

Very Active Member
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Any word on how guys are doing? I will be able to start hunting 10/1 and I am dying to hear about what guys are seeing/taking. I heard about a 190+ taken already but cannot share any details.
 
Think you might want to knock about 20-30% off that score.

Do you realize how many 190 rams have ever come from Wyoming?
I think you might want to check your math with a calculator. 20-30% off 190 is 133-152. That would be sad AF if guys are shooting 2 horned rams of that caliber in Area 5, or any unit for that matter.
 
I think you might want to check your math with a calculator. 20-30% off 190 is 133-152. That would be sad AF if guys are shooting 2 horned rams of that caliber in Area 5, or any unit for that matter.
Yeah, sort of exaggerating, about like a 190+ ram out of 5.
 
Couple I know are area 5. The 2 big ones I have no idea. For all to see on Facebook

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Any word on how guys are doing? I will be able to start hunting 10/1 and I am dying to hear about what guys are seeing/taking. I heard about a 190+ taken already but cannot share any details.
Thought you'd be done by now...worst case you'd be back end of October...good luck and get a good one.
 
Hey Don,
For kicks and giggles I checked my latest Boone and Crocket record book(2012) Admittedly it is 10 years old so bigger rams have probably been recorded since it was published, but it lists the biggest Wyoming Rocky Bighorn ever recorded (up to 2012) at 183 5/8". That could be the reason behind the skeptical responses from some about a 190+ being taken especially in unit 5, which is not known for producing big rams.
My son killed a very big ram for Wyoming last year and it taped out just over 170. I'm pretty sure it was way bigger than the average Wyoming ram taken last year.
In my book, any older age heavy ram is a real trophy, regardless of what it scores. My 2004 ten year old Wyoming ram (attached pic) measured slightly less than 160" and I have always been more than happy with him.
In my book, it's all about the experience.
Best of luck in your pursuit!

Wyo Rocky pic.jpg
 
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I do know a 180's ram is very rare in WY. I saw an article about a guy who killed one but he knew a rancher and I think he killed it on private ground where no one ever hunted sheep.
 
I can start hunting unit 5 on 10/1/22. Archery season has been open 6 weeks and rifle almost 4 weeks. I just spoke to the game warden and biologist and what I heard was not fantastic. Foot hunters not doing good. Horse hunters going way in and wilderness guys doing good. I cannot hunt wilderness and I am solo on foot.

Does anyone have any intel from this season? Please PM me. I am in great shape and backpacking in. I am a lot nervous about what warden and bio just told me.
 
I can start hunting unit 5 on 10/1/22. Archery season has been open 6 weeks and rifle almost 4 weeks. I just spoke to the game warden and biologist and what I heard was not fantastic. Foot hunters not doing good. Horse hunters going way in and wilderness guys doing good. I cannot hunt wilderness and I am solo on foot.

Does anyone have any intel from this season? Please PM me. I am in great shape and backpacking in. I am a lot nervous about what warden and bio just told me.
Maybe worth getting a guide and packer to not loose out on the opportunity of that tag
 
more success in the wilderness area, cuz that is where the rams are.
You can hunt the end of the season in area 22, some sheep are there year round but more move into the area late Oct. out of the wilderness area.

ride low in the saddle and stay off the ridge tops
 
I go DIY 99% of the time, including my 2 other sheep tags. I prefer it that way. I have hired an outfitter for some of my gator hunts because of all the specialty gear, other then that I do it all DIY.

It is not just about the $$$$$ that is what I prefer.
 
I reached out to Beech18, who hunted that unit a few years back. He said you two have already talked. I recall he waited and got his ram in 5, but it was after a huge snow storm. He shot his ram in 2 feet of snow. It sounded like a brutal hunt and he didn't see that many rams, given he also had to hunt outside the wilderness.
I'm sure if you can stick with it you can find success. You seem to be covering all the bases. DIY is pretty darn satisfying if you can get it done.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
 
Went over to Dubois Friday afternoon for the weekend. Got down to 40 degrees in town, torrential rain and heavy snow above 8000 feet. Up on top around 11,000 they got two feet. That will get the critters started down!!! Three BIG grizzly on Friday, and my big camera was dead! Charged it up overnight, and never saw another animal worth taking a picture. Darn it. :(

First sheep started showing up in 22 from the badlands yesterday (only one half curl, and a bunch of ewes and lambs). Quite a few WT's with couple nice bucks, the MD I found up around Togwatee and Brooks Lake are bunching up. 32 degrees and frost this morning.

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My boat will need that snow this coming summer.
Come on Wyoming snow, don't let me down. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

I don't have a Wyo tag so that's all I can say except for this is a fun thread for sure!!!

Zeke
 
Hey Don,
For kicks and giggles I checked my latest Boone and Crocket record book(2012) Admittedly it is 10 years old so bigger rams have probably been recorded since it was published, but it lists the biggest Wyoming Rocky Bighorn ever recorded (up to 2012) at 183 5/8". That could be the reason behind the skeptical responses from some about a 190+ being taken especially in unit 5, which is not known for producing big rams.
My son killed a very big ram for Wyoming last year and it taped out just over 170. I'm pretty sure it was way bigger than the average Wyoming ram taken last year.
In my book, any older age heavy ram is a real trophy, regardless of what it scores. My 2004 ten year old Wyoming ram (attached pic) measured slightly less than 160" and I have always been more than happy with him.
In my book, it's all about the experience.
Best of luck in your pursuit!

View attachment 86943
I agree with LBH as I normally do! Genetics is a huge factor....many of those Montana Toads 195 plus are in the range of seven years old and live in the Breaks while a 10 plus Wyoming ram and a much more classic sheep hunt in much more formidable country are just generally smaller all around. But the cool thing (there are mannnnnnny) with Sheep is we can count their age...and usually with ages come cool factor character...brooming and chips and gnarly faces and such...plus knowing that badd ass ram survived in the toughest country in North America for a long time until he crossed paths with you. its all about the overall experience and sheep hunting seems to have magic way of providing mind blowing experience.
 
I hunted unit 5 for a solid week, backpacking in and glassing a 9 mile stretch from the road. The road glassing is actually very effective you can see miles in many spots.
I have heard over the past 5 years that the sheep populations have dropped. Locals confirmed that. I met a few serious outdoorsman, including some sheep fanatics.

I drew a unit 22 tag that lets me hunt unit 5 starting 10/1, all other rifle hunters start 9/1 and archery 2 weeks earlier.

#1 Lots of grizzly bears. Lots. I have hunted AK solo fly in 3x, all 3x harvesting and packing meat alone, sometimes for days (moose). I do not carry my rifle packing meat. I am not bragging but simply making it clear I respect griz but do not fear them. Hunting near Cody, near Buffalo reservoir a couple years ago we saw a lot of griz. I was tenting spooning a loaded shotgun.

I was actually nervous on this trip I saw so many bears. It got the point where I climbed into a spot I saw sheep and spotted a griz feeding on moths heading towards me. I decided to hold my ground and not back down if needed so I could hunt sheep and not have to leave AGAIN. I saw 5 different grizzly bears in 7 days.

During my trip I found lots of ewes & lambs. Rams: one day packed in I saw 3 rams walking across a mnt top a 6 hour hike away. I spotted to immature banana rams one day that I could get to. I spotted a group of 3 sheep, for 5 minutes crossing a distant but accessible, ridge for 5 minutes 2 morning. I spotted 1 ram in cliffs I could not get to. That was it.

It was tough and other sheep hunters were seeing even less. In fact I think the 3 sheep hunters I talked to had seen 0 rams. Some hard core, horseback elk hunters (also die hard sheep hunters) spotted a few rams, some the same ones I spotted.

I am home now and planning to go back the last week of October.

It was a difficult hunt to do on foot. Guided hunters in the wilderness all tagged out FYI

I have one heck of a good story I might share here later............
 
I don't know anyone who has decided to DIY a sheep hunt who has come back saying, "well that was easy". I hunted Stone sheep 20 days (on two different hunts) with an outfitter before I saw a legal Ram. Even with an outfitter sheep are not always a slam dunk.

The country sheep live in is usually brutal. Their numbers are often low and then throw in a possible bear attack.
My hat is off to you DonVathome. You have taken on a serious challenge. I hope you can get back in a few weeks and make it happen.
 
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I have the money to hire an outfitter I just do not want to. I want to DIY, even if that means no sheep. My NV DIY desert bighorn hunt was easy. So not all sheep hunts are hard. That said most rocky mnt sheep hunts are! I did DIY in CO archery, tough and I misjudged distance by 3 yards and grazed the belly of a broomed 3/4 ram after 17 days of hard hunting. It will hunts me. 3" higher and I hit his heart and would have a solid P& ram on my wall.

I have made some aggressive bets against the stock market and bought a lot of oil about 2 weeks ago. Friday alone I made enough in the market to hire and tip a sheep outfitter. I still will not do it.

It might very well cost me a rocky mnt sheep and I accept that. I have had many once in a lifetimes hunts and did not always harvest. One more/less bighorn on my wall will not make a difference to me when I am laying on my death bed. I gave this a LOT of thought because I actually cancelled my trip 2 weeks ago then rebooked a day later because of health issues with my my daughter. It was HEARTBREAKING and despite my 30 year dream to harvest a rocky bighorn - my #1 most want game animal on planet earth, when I decided I could not go I was sad but realized I have had so many unbelievable experiences one more or less will not matter.

I am very lucky even if I do not tag a sheep this year.

BUT I AM GOING TO GIVE IT HECK TRYING!!!!!!!!
 
Okay I admire you tenacity...but more of my two cents. I have been blessed with laying my hands on two awesome bighorns ( one just a few weeks ago and I'm still floating in the clouds) on incredible DIY hunts so I get it for sure....but your circumstance is different. I agree with you Bighorns are the Holy Grail and more than likely sounds like you last viable chance. Sounds like you are getting screwed by the Non res wilderness rule that is a bullshit rule but a rule. I have alway been a DIYer except for my Cape Buff and Kyrgyzstan Ibex. Guides were just never part of the picture and most of my life the DIY lots of solo stuff aspect and I guess a point of pride. In the past several years I have a buddy who is a guide in NM and I have applied through him and had three incredible hunts. I feel like I'm just going with a buddy but in reality he is a guide and we are following his lead. I realized I was missing lots by having someone cool to share the incredible things hunting offers. Never had a sheep guide but I got a feeling they are a cool and interesting bunch and up your chances greatly on laying your hands on your ram. My two ram hunt kill days are tied for the two best days of my life. I have had some incredible days... but those two are not of this world they were so cool. You deserve that. Not like you have been strolling around with a fat wallet buying you way to success. You have earned it and then some.
 
In order for you to harvest a sheep, you need to be able to hunt where they are. I do not believe you will see any migration to the lower country this year before your hunt is over.. a co worker used Cody couple years ago late October to get his ram and got a great ram and hunt... we had a lot more snow that year already, and they still had to pack into the wilderness and hunt from a backcountry camp up Wiggins to find the rams which were still up at 10k'. You chose a tag that isn't really non-res diy friendly, cause those sheep don't come down till November unless you get a ton of snow, which our current forecast doesn't seem like it's happening anytime soon.. just a thought that if you waited 21 years for a tag, you might want to give yourself an ability to at least see a good ram if you have the funds to do so. Good luck with whatever your choice, I'll be up there looking for whitetail for the freezer this weekend and will let you know if i see a ram hiding somewhere
 
Thanks guys! When I drew my CO archer bighorn tag I also had a lot of guys pulling for me. I would me lying if I said I would not wish I hired a guide if I do not fill my tag!

Weather is not looking helpful. I also have 22 as an option, and a deer hunter there who often sees and takes pics of sheep who can let me know if they are there and on public land.

I really regret not staying a couple more days. I had 2 sheep pegged one low 160's, 3/4 curl. Trouble was griz and a dangerous steep cliff. It was so steep you could only climb it when it was light out because you had to pick your route. I had tracks to a route but even zoomed in if you got 15 feet, which happens constantly, you had to pick a new route. Point is you could not climb it in the dark.

I trained all year for this, 7 days a week (4 cardio, 3 free weights). By that time I was used to altitude and could push it hard. That said it was impossible to get the sheep that crossed the tiny opening I saw them cross at 8:30am, before 9am best case. I never made it there because the last time I watched a griz feeding on moths in the scree between me and the only route to the sheep. He left feeding towards where I saw sheep from the road.

It was a terrifying 1.5 hour climb down at times skirting 15' - 20' cliffs. I hated doing it with an empty pack. A full pack bringing a sheep down would have been risky. I swore to my fiancée and kids I would be careful (health issues with one daughter recently). Also I saw griz there everyday.

I do not even know if I could have got to them since I only made it a little over halfway. I think I could have.

Any way I decided to not try for them and hope for late season. I head back 10/21 and will be in the unit looking for sheep at sunrise 10/22. I will stay until the end 10/31. That gives me a full 10 days. I will give it heck!

Thanks again guys. At times when I was tired and wanted to take a break I thought of everyone rooting for me and who would kill for my sheep tag. It motivated me and will continue to! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks guys! When I drew my CO archer bighorn tag I also had a lot of guys pulling for me. I would me lying if I said I would not wish I hired a guide if I do not fill my tag!

Weather is not looking helpful. I also have 22 as an option, and a deer hunter there who often sees and takes pics of sheep who can let me know if they are there and on public land.

I really regret not staying a couple more days. I had 2 sheep pegged one low 160's, 3/4 curl. Trouble was griz and a dangerous steep cliff. It was so steep you could only climb it when it was light out because you had to pick your route. I had tracks to a route but even zoomed in if you got 15 feet, which happens constantly, you had to pick a new route. Point is you could not climb it in the dark.

I trained all year for this, 7 days a week (4 cardio, 3 free weights). By that time I was used to altitude and could push it hard. That said it was impossible to get the sheep that crossed the tiny opening I saw them cross at 8:30am, before 9am best case. I never made it there because the last time I watched a griz feeding on moths in the scree between me and the only route to the sheep. He left feeding towards where I saw sheep from the road.

It was a terrifying 1.5 hour climb down at times skirting 15' - 20' cliffs. I hated doing it with an empty pack. A full pack bringing a sheep down would have been risky. I swore to my fiancée and kids I would be careful (health issues with one daughter recently). Also I saw griz there everyday.

I do not even know if I could have got to them since I only made it a little over halfway. I think I could have.

Any way I decided to not try for them and hope for late season. I head back 10/21 and will be in the unit looking for sheep at sunrise 10/22. I will stay until the end 10/31. That gives me a full 10 days. I will give it heck!

Thanks again guys. At times when I was tired and wanted to take a break I thought of everyone rooting for me and who would kill for my sheep tag. It motivated me and will continue to! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great response DonV.
One of the coolest things about this forum is being able to vicariously hunt with other members who have great tags. The best part is occasionally connecting with other MM members on a personal level. I now count some on here good friends. I believe lots of fine people frequenting this site and I sense you are one of them.
As a die-hard (some would say blow-hard) sheep guy, I greatly admire your determination to do this hunt your way and regardless of the outcome, I can't wait for a report around the end of the month.
Best of Luck to you!
 
I have no doubt you will get it done!

Take some microspikes with you. They will help you feel comfortable on steep slopes. Also nice if the grass is frozen they help with safety.

Forget about the bears. It’s an overblown component. Unless there is literally a grizz standing between you and the sheep forget about them. And if he is standing there scare him off.

You’ll get it done. On a side note I often reminisce about a particular unsuccessful sheep hunt over many of the successful ones.

Good luck! And be safe!
 
Keeping our fingers crossed waiting for that grip and grin photo. Make sure you keep your batteries charged.
 
Thanks guys! I have met MANY great guys here and on bowsite. On purpose and on accident (meaning seeing them in the field and then figuring out we have chatted online). One thing I always wanted to do is horseback on a hunt. I did that for elk last year with a friend in WY who has horses. I did what I could to help care for, load, and walked horses in/out. It was cool. Had I not done that I might have hired a guide for this trip, because of taking horses in deep.

Next I want to do DIY lamas. I considered that for this trip and wish I had. I was ok backpacking but minimal gear made it rough. Even with minimal gear I was still carrying to much weight to get in as far as I hoped. Loosing a trail I had never seen in the fresh snow did not help:)
 
Funny you mention bears. I have been around them often but this trip was rough. I did actually have a griz between me and where I thought sheep were. Microspikes, I might look into that. Never used them but I can picture what they area. I have used things that go over our boots for walking on snow/ice. Many they help a lot. When climbing uphill in snow you do not slip back 1/4 of the way with every step. It really helps.
 
I am back. I did not get me sheep. It weighs on my heavily. Given the fact I did not get a sheep, if I could go back in time, I would probably hire an outfitter. That said I am not very disappointed I did not. NR foot hunting was significantly more difficult then I expected. I was in great shape but sheep were typically 2,000 - 3,000 feet up. What made it a lot harder was most times I was traveling over very very rough terrain. At times I climbed for an hour straight up lose scree & rocks that shifted with literally every step. It took me twice as long to climb/descend then any other trip have every taken.

I passed on a small ram and I missed a half curl. It was only 300 yards but I did not take my time and get a good rent. I got excited. Had I been calm and taken am minute to get a better rest I would have easily taken that ram.

I saw at least 1 huge ram, a solid 7/8 curl. There were a LOT of griz. I laid eyes in 7 different bears in 18 days (1 was a cub). I saw fresh sign everywhere. The last 10 days of October I spent at Kiriwn. Nighttime temps were 10 - 20 degrees. I slept in a 1999 for explorer along with my gear. It was rough. I was alone and the recent attacks, daily fresh griz sign, and getting woken up by a griz trying to get into my truck, with me in it, on my first trip weighed heavily on me. I have a in reach - but the last attack the emergency helicopter could not get to the scene. I was in the roughest terrain in WY and it seems obvious the chopper would not have got to me. The last 2 attacks, 3 victims, likely would have died if they were alone. I was alone, in rougher territory and cutting fresh griz tracks in every fresh snowfall, in under a half mile every time was concerning.

The sheep were there, not a lot. There were a lot more the last week of Oct vs. the first week. I found rams in only 2 areas. I am happy to help out anyone who draws the tag. Being a NR without horses was a big disadvantage.

I have dreamed about getting a rocky mt bighorn for 30 year. I am still sad I did not but I had a very memorable hunt.

The sheep are not difficult to hunt. The terrain made it very difficult. Climbing back down after may hikes/stalks was difficult with nothing in my pack. Doing it with 80# would have been risky and taken a a lot of care/time.

More when I have time.
 
Was waiting to hear how you did. I really expected you to get a ram. Glad you had an exciting and safe hunt.
 
Sorry you didn't get that ram. Reading about your hunt, and talking to you, I'm sure you're disappointed, but gave it a real try.
 
Thanks guys! I really hope future tag holders contact me, I found rams in 2 very specific areas I can share and help with the "easiest" way to get to them. It was amazing and I went well out of my comfort zone many times. I routinely climbed steep/loose rock areas for an hour that I would not have set foot on a few years ago. I will get some pics out soon
 
Well honestly, that sucks for you but you sucked doing it your way. Ya, that one will sting for a long time.
(Not being mean, just stating what I think)

Glad you made it out safely as opposed to one guy I know well who tangled with a Wyo griz and shot his own leg. Ouch! At least you didn't do that.

Zeke
 
In the last 3 years I lucked out and drew 2 Sheep and 1 Mtn Goat tags. Did all hunts DIY with my daughter, a good friend, and my son-in-law for the 2 sheep hunts. A lot of hard work but would not have it any other way. Not bad for 2 B&C animals. I was exhausted on the Desert Ram hunt and chose to take the first ram I liked the look of whether it would make book or not. The ONLY thing in my opinion missing on your hunt was not having family and or a good friend along! Hats off to a great experience!!
 
haha as always SS your all over the board. I packed in the first time and it was a waste of time. I found plenty rams glassing into basins, which is exactly what the most of the experts in this area suggested.

I am trying to help out future hunters, sorry if that offends you.
 
mta5672 and SS I did not know you guys were familiar with WY unit 5? I talked to quit a few people familiar with this area including biologists, game wardens etc. I followed their advice. One guy I was in touch with has been in on killing over 100 rams, including dozens in this unit.

How often do you guys backpack when temps the lows in in the teens? I have and it is not fun. How often have you backpacked?

Anyone who makes a blanket statement about you must backpack in for sheep is a moron.

I give up, sorry to offend you guys, I am done sharing info here.
 
I am trying to help out future hunters,
Sometimes the truth hurts and it is hard to accept. The reality is you should strongly steer future tag holders into booking with an outfitter. If someone draws a sheep permit I’m assuming the goal is to go kill a ram. If you’re indifferent to it then I would suggest going camping/hiking when the weather is nice in July, taking an empty rifle, sighting in on a ram and dry fire on him. Can that tag be done DIY, ya maybe by some well prepared and lucky folks. Why spend 30 days of misery with little chance of success? Spend those 30 days doing something you are good at (plumbing, electrical, framing, landscaping, truck driving, dentistry?..) and pay the folks who are good at what they do to make your 1x a lifetime tag a success. I’d like to think we are all inherently nice people and there is no way to say this nicely, but half curl rams aren’t a trophy by any standards-if we are talking a 3-4yr old half curl. A 12yr old broke in half on both/either side from fighting-different story. Sorry you didn’t tag out, hope you had fun and look back with no regrets.
 
I give up, sorry to offend you guys, I am done sharing info here.
Don't let them get you down. Some folks simply can't understand that there are those who view hunting differently than they do. Sure, a good guide will greatly increase your odds for many types of game/areas and certainly for something like a sheep. But if you view hunting as a "whole" experience (like many DIY guys)- it just isn't for you.

My dad had a sheep permit in unit 10 30 years ago. He spent 28 days backpacking everywhere, and never got on a ram. He talks about that hunt all the time.

Then my mom got a sheep permit in unit 8 10 years later. Through dad's experience and mom's perseverance she got a beautiful 165 ram after 21 days of DIY efforts. Hunt of a lifetime again, and I'm sure they regret neither experience.
 
Don V.

The nice thing about choice is that everyone gets to decide what to do. Win, lose or draw, you made a choice and that's good enough!

I hope the adventure you orchestrated was the exact experience that you wanted regardless of what the rest of us "might" have done or not done.

There is not a right or wrong answer here so don't take your ball and go home. Lots of people can learn something from your experience.

Zeke
 
I wonder how many rams are killed in unit 5 when people DON'T set up a camp and stay in?

I don't have experience in unit 5, but where I hunted my sheep in Wyoming near there, unless you have horse support, day hunting would have been pretty darn difficult on foot. I think it would mentally and physically crush a person having to hike in and out the same day for a couple weeks.

When I hunted on foot, I backpacked in, 2 separate trips. On both of those trips, I could have killed rams no problem. It makes a big difference not having to hike 4-6 miles each day to just start glassing.

I was fortunate that a good friend had some awesome horses and a mule that allowed us to day hunt a fair bit too.

The day I killed my ram it was a couple hours before daylight until a few hours after daylight. Long day by any standard and a majority of it on horseback...would have been brutal, if not impossible, on foot.

I agree there are multiple ways to get it done, but if you plan on successfully day hunting sheep in units 1-5 in Wyoming, you better be tough.
 
mta5672 and SS I did not know you guys were familiar with WY unit 5? I talked to quit a few people familiar with this area including biologists, game wardens etc. I followed their advice. One guy I was in touch with has been in on killing over 100 rams, including dozens in this unit.

How often do you guys backpack when temps the lows in in the teens? I have and it is not fun. How often have you backpacked?

Anyone who makes a blanket statement about you must backpack in for sheep is a moron.

I give up, sorry to offend you guys, I am done sharing info here.
Don,
Look back through this thread and you’ll see my positive posts of encouragement.

But you pull a dick move saying you’re going to finish the story on another website? You do realize this website makes @Founder money and you post a link to a competitor’s site? Dick move.

News flash. Temperature and bears don’t matter when it comes to camping out. Man up and do it. You didn’t hunt the unit right and I’m not going to give you the respect or time to point it out.

If you wanted to road hunt a ram you should of put in for a different unit.
 
Don,


News flash. Temperature and bears don’t matter when it comes to camping out. Man up and do it. You didn’t hunt the unit right and I’m not going to give you the respect or time to point it out.

If you wanted to road hunt a ram you should of put in for a different unit.
Yep, I've spiked out in way colder temps than the teens, with a lot crappier gear than I had on my sheep hunt. Gear that was heavier and less effective than what I have now. I almost laugh at the gear I used on my backpack goat hunt in Montana. Glad I was younger and tougher...what a joke that gear was. But, it worked and I didn't die.

I was right comfortable on the backpack trips I made hunting rams, and it got down into the teens most nights. Grizzly tracks/crap almost everyday on the way to glassing spots, on the trails, and near my tent.

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... Given the fact I did not get a sheep, if I could go back in time, I would probably hire an outfitter. That said I am not very disappointed I did not. ..

No way! Be happy with your decision to DIY Solo. You could be $12K poorer with that outfitter and still not tagged out. I have been in both situations and one hurts alot more. The guided animals I have don't feel the same to me either.

Spiking out is a huge game changer because of the sketchy terrain you described. Overall, you just get so much more hunting done. Equipment still isn't that heavy with lows only down to the teens.

Solo spiking out in grizzly country isn't for everyone but perhaps you will try it next time. Bear spray 100% of the time and just eat/camp/hike smart. It was hardest for me when I had young kids at home.

Hopefully the somewhat jerkish replies are due to past history with you and those guys. I hope those guys don't walk around that way full time.
 
I did spike camp the first 5 days of October the first time I was there. The only sheep I saw were looking back toward the trailhead. A few years ago I spike camped in this unit for archery elk twice (2 different years), over a week each time.

In this scenario spiking was not a game changer, in fact it was not the best choice. If sheep were not in the basin with my camp, which they were not the first time, it took me 5 hours (roundtrip) to climb a ridge to glass another area, which held no sheep. This was a bad use of time. On the road I could glass small parts of dozens of drainages in 2 hours. Or I could glass one or 2-3 drainages in an entire day spike camping.

Checking the drainages I could see from the road first is what the most experienced people I talked to suggested I do.

Keep in mind NR cannot hunt the wilderness which is where most of the sheep are in unit 5 area. Also keep in mind with the upcoming changes to the draw, NR not allowed to hunt the wilderness and my point level and wanting to be DIY I had very very few options for a sheep tag app.

I have spent about 6 months of my life, backpacked in the Rocky mnts, above 10,000 feet, alone hunting with rifle & bow. I have also spent 4 weeks on solo fly in trips in AK.

I can easily afford to hire any outfitter in this area. I have enough disposable income each month to hire sheep outfitter. I would not flinch at the cost - I still chose to hunt DIY. I hired an outfitter 25 years ago for my first big game hunt that was not whitetail deer. I also hired guides to kill about 1/2 the gators I have taken - because of the specialized gear required (like fan boats). Other then that I have done about 50 big game hunts, for 17 different species, out west all DIY.

On my last trip I found mature rams to hunt every single day.

My fiancée was very worried about me because of recent mauling's in the area. She stayed home, helped run my rentals, took care of my 2 teenage daughters, dogs, house etc. On my first trip I was woke up by a griz shaking my rental SUV. My fiancée was terrified and asked I do not sleep in a tent when I went back in late October. I promised her, and my girls, that I would avoid tent camping if at all possible. I found rams constantly, including a huge 7/8 curl and at least 2 different 3/4 curl rams. Packing may have been better but IMO my odds were better moving and glassing new areas.

My 16 year old daughter also had a new serious health issue that started 2 months ago. I did not want to cause stress for her, which were a huge cause of her new health issue. She specifically asked me to sleep in a vehicle after hearing abut all the griz I saw and the recent mauling's. I actually initially cancelled my firs trip 2 weeks before I was going to leave. After a lot of thought and conversations with my family I decided to go and rebooked my flight.

I passed immature rams and got excited and missed a mature ram. I have dreamed about a Rocky mnt bighorn for 30 years and it really hurts that I did not get my sheep. I am sorry I did not live up to some of your expectations and thanks for kicking a guy when he is down.

I can only hope that one day I am half them man several of you think you are.
 
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I did spike camp the first 5 days of October the first time I was there. The only sheep I saw were looking back toward the trailhead. A few years ago I spike camped in this unit for archery elk twice (2 different years), over a week each time.

In this scenario spiking was not a game changer, in fact it was not the best choice. If sheep were not in the basin with my camp, which they were not the first time, it took me 5 hours (roundtrip) to climb a ridge to glass another area, which held no sheep. This was a bad use of time. On the road I could glass small parts of dozens of drainages in 2 hours. Or I could glass one or 2-3 drainages in an entire day spike camping.

Checking the drainages I could see from the road first is what the most experienced people I talked to suggested I do.

Keep in mind NR cannot hunt the wilderness which is where most of the sheep are in unit 5 area. Also keep in mind with the upcoming changes to the draw, NR not allowed to hunt the wilderness and my point level and wanting to be DIY I had very very few options for a sheep tag app.

I have spent about 6 months of my life, backpacked in the Rocky mnts, above 10,000 feet, alone hunting with rifle & bow. I have also spent 4 weeks on solo fly in trips in AK.

I can easily afford to hire any outfitter in this area. I have enough disposable income each month to hire sheep outfitter. I would not flinch at the cost - I still chose to hunt DIY. I hired an outfitter 25 years ago for my first big game hunt that was not whitetail deer. I also hired guides to kill about 1/2 the gators I have taken - because of the specialized gear required (like fan boats). Other then that I have done about 50 big game hunts, for 17 different species, out west all DIY.

On my last trip I found mature rams to hunt every single day.

My fiancée was very worried about me because of recent mauling's in the area. She stayed home, helped run my rentals, took care of my 2 teenage daughters, dogs, house etc. On my first trip I was woke up by a griz shaking my rental SUV. My fiancée was terrified and asked I do not sleep in a tent when I went back in late October. I promised her, and my girls, that I would avoid tent camping if at all possible. I found rams constantly, including a huge 7/8 curl and at least 2 different 3/4 curl rams. Packing may have been better but IMO my odds were better moving and glassing new areas.

My 16 year old daughter also had a new serious health issue that started 2 months ago. I did not want to cause stress for her, which were a huge cause of her new health issue. She specifically asked me to sleep in a vehicle after hearing abut all the griz I saw and the recent mauling's. I actually initially cancelled my firs trip 2 weeks before I was going to leave. After a lot of thought and conversations with my family I decided to go and rebooked my flight.

I passed immature rams and got excited and missed a mature ram. I have dreamed about a Rocky mnt bighorn for 30 years and it really hurts that I did not get my sheep. I am sorry I did not live up to some of your expectations and thanks for kicking a guy when he is down.

I can only hope that one day I am half them man several of you think you are.

Every spring after a long winter up here I see trucks all along the highway glassing for black bears. They think they are bear hunting when in reality they are bear watching. Once they spot a bear and climb 3-4 hours up there it isn't there. Sure, a small few get lucky and bump into a bear but its an anomaly to get one using that tactic.

I have a friend who is a pilot that drops off a ton of hunters every fall. He has a saying that has held true. Satellite phones and inreachs have saved more sheep from being killed than all other factors combined. One can persevere through the weather, being out of shape, terrain, lack of experience etc but you start talking to the family back home and that will trump it all.

The high and lows of sheep hunting are what keep many people going back. Honestly once you find that legal ram they are not that difficult to kill. I've seen pronghorn more difficult to kill. It really how you handle the lows that makes the hunt a success in terms of blood on your knife.

If you don't have experience hunting a particular animal its always best to go with someone that has or get the advice from someone who is successful at it. I wouldn't change how I hunt because someone is afraid of what may or may not happen. I especially wouldn't listen to a non hunter on how to hunt a once in a lifetime tag either. To come to hunting forums and ask advice and then listen to people who have no experience due to news stories and personal fears is disappointing in the least.

The above may or may not apply to your hunt. The only thing I see right with this thread is you take your crying to bowsite.

Very unfortunate circumstances with your daughter. Hope it all works out. Everyone has stuff in their personal life going on. It does make hunts more difficult but also a good reason to go out there and disconnect. Some use it for motivation to get it done and get home. When you're on the side of the mountain and its pissing rain and it would be easier to go back to camp you push on. Then when the weather breaks you're where you want to be and not sitting in camp eating cheetos. All **** you learn from others and experience. Go kill and get the **** home.
 
Well, all I know is sheep hunting can get into a guy's blood and there's no looking back. I've been bitten pretty hard since my first sheep hunt in 1980 and have been on way more than a few since then.

Sheep are not the hardest to hunt or the hardest to kill but what they do is make me go into country that I'd otherwise be too damn lazy to enter.

Years ago my bro and I tried to sum up sheep hunting:
Too hot, too cold, too close, too far, too dry, too wet, too steep, too flat, too hard, too easy, and then we can finally get to see one that's too small ....but no matter what, we push through with heavy packs, long distances, bleeding glassing-eyes and remember the whole time that to kill a trophy ram is a gift from God!

Don,
You did it your way and I commend you for that. Sure, it would more than sting for me to have a sheep tag in my pocket at the end of the season but I'm hoping that the overall experience provides some satisfaction for you.

Zeke
 
Well, all I know is sheep hunting can get into a guy's blood and there's no looking back. I've been bitten pretty hard since my first sheep hunt in 1980 and have been on way more than a few since then.

Sheep are not the hardest to hunt or the hardest to kill but what they do is make me go into country that I'd otherwise be too damn lazy to enter.

Years ago my bro and I tried to sum up sheep hunting:
Too hot, too cold, too close, too far, too dry, too wet, too steep, too flat, too hard, too easy, and then we can finally get to see one that's too small ....but no matter what, we push through with heavy packs, long distances, bleeding glassing-eyes and remember the whole time that to kill a trophy ram is a gift from God!

Don,
You did it your way and I commend you for that. Sure, it would more than sting for me to have a sheep tag in my pocket at the end of the season but I'm hoping that the overall experience provides some satisfaction for you.

Zeke
Love it zeke. I’m going to quote some of that in future discussions. Love the part about getting into country one would be too lazy to go to otherwise.

Good stuff, always love @littlebighorn and yours perspective on sheep hunting.
 
I did spike camp the first 5 days of October the first time I was there. The only sheep I saw were looking back toward the trailhead. A few years ago I spike camped in this unit for archery elk twice (2 different years), over a week each time.

In this scenario spiking was not a game changer, in fact it was not the best choice. If sheep were not in the basin with my camp, which they were not the first time, it took me 5 hours (roundtrip) to climb a ridge to glass another area, which held no sheep. This was a bad use of time. On the road I could glass small parts of dozens of drainages in 2 hours. Or I could glass one or 2-3 drainages in an entire day spike camping.

Checking the drainages I could see from the road first is what the most experienced people I talked to suggested I do.

Keep in mind NR cannot hunt the wilderness which is where most of the sheep are in unit 5 area. Also keep in mind with the upcoming changes to the draw, NR not allowed to hunt the wilderness and my point level and wanting to be DIY I had very very few options for a sheep tag app.

I have spent about 6 months of my life, backpacked in the Rocky mnts, above 10,000 feet, alone hunting with rifle & bow. I have also spent 4 weeks on solo fly in trips in AK.

I can easily afford to hire any outfitter in this area. I have enough disposable income each month to hire sheep outfitter. I would not flinch at the cost - I still chose to hunt DIY. I hired an outfitter 25 years ago for my first big game hunt that was not whitetail deer. I also hired guides to kill about 1/2 the gators I have taken - because of the specialized gear required (like fan boats). Other then that I have done about 50 big game hunts, for 17 different species, out west all DIY.

On my last trip I found mature rams to hunt every single day.

My fiancée was very worried about me because of recent mauling's in the area. She stayed home, helped run my rentals, took care of my 2 teenage daughters, dogs, house etc. On my first trip I was woke up by a griz shaking my rental SUV. My fiancée was terrified and asked I do not sleep in a tent when I went back in late October. I promised her, and my girls, that I would avoid tent camping if at all possible. I found rams constantly, including a huge 7/8 curl and at least 2 different 3/4 curl rams. Packing may have been better but IMO my odds were better moving and glassing new areas.

My 16 year old daughter also had a new serious health issue that started 2 months ago. I did not want to cause stress for her, which were a huge cause of her new health issue. She specifically asked me to sleep in a vehicle after hearing abut all the griz I saw and the recent mauling's. I actually initially cancelled my firs trip 2 weeks before I was going to leave. After a lot of thought and conversations with my family I decided to go and rebooked my flight.

I passed immature rams and got excited and missed a mature ram. I have dreamed about a Rocky mnt bighorn for 30 years and it really hurts that I did not get my sheep. I am sorry I did not live up to some of your expectations and thanks for kicking a guy when he is down.

I can only hope that one day I am half them man several of you think you are.
Not following all this.

It does you no good if you find rams in the 20 drainages you were looking in, but don't have the time to get to any them. Which sounds to me is exactly what happened.

I would rather commit to a drainage or three via a spike camp, knowing I'm limited the "where" but also knowing that if I do find some rams, I have time to actually get to them and get one killed.

The grizzly issues are pretty well mitigated by keeping your food, toothpaste, anything edible away from your camp. I also packed in a portable electric fence, was extra weight, not sure I would do that again. But, if I were really that worried about it as you and your family were, it would be another layer of mitigating a bad deal with a grizzly. I think just keeping things clean, not eating near your camp, and keeping bear spray and your rifle handy is enough. Be smart about it.

As to the issues at home, yep everyone has those too. But, once I get out there, I try to leave that baggage behind me. That's why I hunt, so I don't have to worry about the chit of everyday life. No doubt it can impact a hunt.

That all said, I think the value in your posts is more of a cautionary tale of what NOT to do. I think the deck was stacked heavily against you on how you went about it. I think the fact you couldn't hunt the wilderness early was one big thing against success. I think how you tried to day hunt it was another limiting factor. I think the IMO, irrational fear of grizzly encounters was a limiting factor. I think stuff at home limited your ability to be successfu.

All of those things provide great value to those contemplating the same hunt. In particular if they want to be successful. Most times, I learn more when things don't go right.

I think its pretty impressive you tried it the way you did, I wouldn't do it the same way if I had the same tag. But that's the cool part, your tag, your hunt, do it how you want. I respect that.

Finally, my friend that helped me said a couple things that sort of stuck. He posts on this board once in a long while and has been in on lots of rams being killed in the Cody area.

1. "If you kill a ram right away you never experience sheep hunting. If you don't almost die a couple times, its not really a sheep hunt".

2. "sheep hunting: hard to find, easy to kill".
 
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Not following all this.

It does you no good if you find rams in the 20 drainages you were looking in, but don't have the time to get to any them. Which sounds to me is exactly what happened.

I would rather commit to a drainage or three via a spike camp, knowing I'm limited the "where" but also knowing that if I do find some rams, I have time to actually get to them and get one killed.

The grizzly issues are pretty well mitigated by keeping your food, toothpaste, anything edible away from your camp. I also packed in a portable electric fence, was extra weight, not sure I would do that again. But, if I were really that worried about it as you and your family were, it would be another layer of mitigating a bad deal with a grizzly. I think just keeping things clean, not eating near your camp, and keeping bear spray and your rifle handy is enough. Be smart about it.

As to the issues at home, yep everyone has those too. But, once I get out there, I try to leave that baggage behind me. That's why I hunt, so I don't have to worry about the chit of everyday life. No doubt it can impact a hunt.

That all said, I think the value in your posts is more of a cautionary tale of what NOT to do. I think the deck was stacked heavily against you on how you went about it. I think the fact you couldn't hunt the wilderness early was one big thing against success. I think how you tried to day hunt it was another limiting factor. I think the IMO, irrational fear of grizzly encounters was a limiting factor. I think stuff at home limited your ability to be successfu.

All of those things provide great value to those contemplating the same hunt. In particular if they want to be successful. Most times, I learn more when things don't go right.

I think its pretty impressive you tried it the way you did, I wouldn't do it the same way if I had the same tag. But that's the cool part, your tag, your hunt, do it how you want. I respect that.

Finally, my friend that helped me said a couple things that sort of stuck. He posts on this board once in a long while and has been in on lots of rams being killed in the Cody area.

1. "If you kill a ram right away you never experience sheep hunting. If you don't almost die a couple times, its not really a sheep hunt".

2. "sheep hunting: hard to find, easy to kill".
? !
 
It happens , I know of 2 guys that have mnt goat tags left in there pocket here in Wyoming, don’t hang your head to low , sure it stings but ain’t end of the world!!
Send them my # if they want redemption. For only 15,000 they can spend a week with me and get a goat. Can’t beat the views and for perspective that dead goat is only 230 yards away:
75CCCE09-A076-4DE6-9118-2A78F231B519.jpeg
 
Not following all this.

It does you no good if you find rams in the 20 drainages you were looking in, but don't have the time to get to any them. Which sounds to me is exactly what happened.

I would rather commit to a drainage or three via a spike camp, knowing I'm limited the "where" but also knowing that if I do find some rams, I have time to actually get to them and get one killed.

The grizzly issues are pretty well mitigated by keeping your food, toothpaste, anything edible away from your camp. I also packed in a portable electric fence, was extra weight, not sure I would do that again. But, if I were really that worried about it as you and your family were, it would be another layer of mitigating a bad deal with a grizzly. I think just keeping things clean, not eating near your camp, and keeping bear spray and your rifle handy is enough. Be smart about it.

As to the issues at home, yep everyone has those too. But, once I get out there, I try to leave that baggage behind me. That's why I hunt, so I don't have to worry about the chit of everyday life. No doubt it can impact a hunt.

That all said, I think the value in your posts is more of a cautionary tale of what NOT to do. I think the deck was stacked heavily against you on how you went about it. I think the fact you couldn't hunt the wilderness early was one big thing against success. I think how you tried to day hunt it was another limiting factor. I think the IMO, irrational fear of grizzly encounters was a limiting factor. I think stuff at home limited your ability to be successfu.

All of those things provide great value to those contemplating the same hunt. In particular if they want to be successful. Most times, I learn more when things don't go right.

I think its pretty impressive you tried it the way you did, I wouldn't do it the same way if I had the same tag. But that's the cool part, your tag, your hunt, do it how you want. I respect that.

Finally, my friend that helped me said a couple things that sort of stuck. He posts on this board once in a long while and has been in on lots of rams being killed in the Cody area.

1. "If you kill a ram right away you never experience sheep hunting. If you don't almost die a couple times, its not really a sheep hunt".

2. "sheep hunting: hard to find, easy to kill".

I am no sheep expert but I agree with those last 2 points. Especially the death part. Ours was riding the horses up some steep shale rock our pack horse rolled over backwards causing my dads horse to lay on tip of him and the pack horse was a few feet from dropping off the cliff. I thought I was going to have to shoot a horse that day. How the horse didn't break any bones or serious injuries I have no idea. Plus all the other horror stories that added up over the summer.. I was fortunate to kill a ram first 20 min of legal light but that included trips from June to August with with a total of only 4 trips of seeing rams. It gets depressing packing in 15-17 miles and coming home seeing nothing but ewes but those failures push ya to keep on trying. All the trails we took would of been brutal without horses. Crossing high rivers on foot would been a bad deal.

Here is my cute little sheep camp. We started with one 2 man tent and upgraded to 2 of them. More like one man tent. Didn't want to pack the wall tent. My goal was if the rams were in another drainage I wanted to tear down camp and get on the move and not take an extra hour to mess around with a wall tent.

Defiantly ended this hunt with a lot more knowledge about sheep. My biggest mistake was shooting a ram right away. That one slight blind spot cost me a few 160 class rams I could not see but in the end I'm happy and can't complain

20210901_144141.jpg

Screenshot_20221104-154050_Snapchat.jpg
 
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You some of you give the guys a break. He busted his ass no doubt about it and admittedly would have done it differently...but that is hunting when it doesn't go right. He is dealing with a lifelong dream that ain't coming back. And if he cares as much as I think he does it has been a hard blow and trying to wrap his head around it. I found this site when I was in Iraq in 2005 and it seems like anymore the threads that have an attack angle are the most popular. He could have disappeared but came in offering valuable advice for any that chose to do it DIY.
 
You some of you give the guys a break. He busted his ass no doubt about it and admittedly would have done it differently...but that is hunting when it doesn't go right. He is dealing with a lifelong dream that ain't coming back. And if he cares as much as I think he does it has been a hard blow and trying to wrap his head around it. I found this site when I was in Iraq in 2005 and it seems like anymore the threads that have an attack angle are the most popular. He could have disappeared but came in offering valuable advice for any that chose to do it DIY.
Busting his ass by sleeping in his truck? ?. And where he for sure lost me was pulling a dick move wanting us to go to another hunting forum so he can finish his story.

It’s like a lesser known quote from a famous sheep hunter

“If you camp in your truck you’re missing out on the sheep hunting experience. And you’ll likely going to regret it. Furthermore pictures from an unsuccessful sheep hunt might as well be thrown away as they are useless to the mind and soul” - Jack O’ Connor
 
Yeah your right taking that helicopter up those mountains day after day after the posh life of hot tubs and and gourmet food sound easy to me... Steep scree.... altitude...high country wyoming weather... Ever think of the benefit of the doubt or is the automatic default to be a dick. It is all too common. I have known him for years and he hunts HARD. I have seen good people here to share their love for hunting get this kind of crap and they never come back and understandably so.
 
Yeah your right taking that helicopter up those mountains day after day after the posh life of hot tubs and and gourmet food sound easy to me... Steep scree.... altitude...high country wyoming weather... Ever think of the benefit of the doubt or is the automatic default to be a dick. It is all too common. I have known him for years and he hunts HARD. I have seen good people here to share their love for hunting get this kind of crap and they never come back and understandably so.
The story would of been more exciting if his truck heater stopped working. Headlights from the truck in the morning probably scared all the rams away ?
 
I got to give it to you Don though, there is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping in a vehicle. I’d rather chance it with the bears!
 
After reading this entire thread, one thing should be clear to future Wyoming bighorn hunters (resident & NR): unless you have the necessary specialized equipment (capable mountain horses, tack, and the gear to camp comfortably in all conditions), hire the best outfitter that is available.
Unlike guided gator hunts, a Wyoming sheep hunt is now a one and done. You cannot have a do-over.
 
After reading this entire thread, one thing should be clear to future Wyoming bighorn hunters (resident & NR): unless you have the necessary specialized equipment (capable mountain horses, tack, and the gear to camp comfortably in all conditions), hire the best outfitter that is available.
Unlike guided gator hunts, a Wyoming sheep hunt is now a one and done. You cannot have a do-over.
Two thumbs up to that!!
My favorite outfitter in Dubois went 8 for 8 on nice sheep this year in 3 different units.
 
My first Ram came out of that country when I was around 25 and I’m 64 now. I hired an outfitter back then to pack me in and out and ended up killing a nice Ram. The hunting just from camp in their kicked my ass and ended up spending the night on the top of the mountain jogging in place to keep warm one night. I know for me I love DIY hunts but that is just to big of country and I could care less about looking at ewes and young Rams, those Outfitters know where those Big Rams are going to hold up once they start moving down. For me personally I would hire an Outfitter in that country. The Wyoming Outfitters that ride that country are truly some of the greatest horseman on earth. I did a Sheep hunt with a friend a couple of years ago with Meade Dominic of 7D Ranch Outfitting, what a horseman he is and I felt super comfortable around all his stock. I have to agree with SS that it was a bone head maneuver to stop the thread and finish up on bowsite.
 
I hope my name comes up for that unit next year, just missed this year. If it does, DVT I will do it similar to your tactics with probably the same results. I’m okay with that. I can’t believe the time and effort you wasted justifying yourself to the few greater than GOD guys on this thread. Keep in mind they think their tactics would have worked but it’s impossible to speculate how they would have done with the same tag. #### ‘em.
 
I hope my name comes up for that unit next year, just missed this year. If it does, DVT I will do it similar to your tactics with probably the same results. I’m okay with that. I can’t believe the time and effort you wasted justifying yourself to the few greater than GOD guys on this thread. Keep in mind they think their tactics would have worked but it’s impossible to speculate how they would have done with the same tag. #### ‘em.
You’re missing a huge aspect of sheep hunting sleeping in your truck. You will not get a ram. And if you do you didn’t deserve it and it was all luck.
 
I hope my name comes up for that unit next year, just missed this year. If it does, DVT I will do it similar to your tactics with probably the same results. I’m okay with that. I can’t believe the time and effort you wasted justifying yourself to the few greater than GOD guys on this thread. Keep in mind they think their tactics would have worked but it’s impossible to speculate how they would have done with the same tag. #### ‘em.
You do know the definition of insanity, right?
 

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