All good things come to those...

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Well, after the better part of four and a half decades, I have hit the lotto. Multiple State Game and Fish lotteries have verified I am, at last, a winner! Quite a shock for a fat, old, cranky man. Notices began pinging the email account in early May. Simultaneously I was forced into a mandatory exercise program to prepare for these hunts, 2 of which are truly OIL's, one by fact, one by shear time required to draw. NV Desert Bighorn, Utah mid season Elk, Idaho late trophy Elk, and a pair of ID Whitetail tags. Really? If that wasn't enough blessings for a few decades, the wife drew a cow Elk hunt beginning September 1. I hope that hunt will be a one day affair, just like last year.
The exercise program was going fine. 4 -5 miles every other day, walking the neighborhood. We live at 5300' elevation, with vertical hills adding up to 800 feet vertical. Suddenly the day of a 5 mile stroll (think 2.5 mph) we returned home. By 3pm that afternoon I was in agony. Sciatica like symptoms pulsed relentlessly down my left side. All through that evening and the next day and night. Being of a stubborn nature, I thought I could walk it out. after first half to three quarters of a mile it vanished. Great I thought, come about 3pm again, not so great. Repeat, cycle of pain and stubbornness for a week. Enough. Called, made appointments with Physical Therapist, and Spine/Bone Doctor in only 2 weeks. Really? I'm dyin' here people (a little whining here partially justified). Just last week appointments completed, next appointments made with "Specialists".
Today I finished my MRI, only two hours ago, was told they would be read to me this Wednesday. Boy oh boy, now if I can only get to Wednesday, and they can identify/cure the problem... oh and the wife's elk hunt opens 9 days later, and last year we walked a total of 7 miles to get it done. As Blank and I frequently commiserate, "If your gonna get old, you better be tough!" Or stupid...

 

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Today, I learned a bit about MRI imaging and the incredible results they display. Short version, I have a cyst in the L5 right side. About 2 centimeters long (vertically), and 8mm in diameter. Most likely the cause of the PAIN. A 2 shot solution (epidermal) is pending, and hopefully I can get back with the program.
Tomorrow we shoot at 300 yards for a small group each to verify all is good with our weapons. Wife's 7mm-08 Remington 700, built by Pachmayr, and my pre '64 Mdl 70 .300 Win Mag. Both wear Swaro glass and are better able to complete their tasks than we are.
We will then travel to her hunt area and do look see. Photo of last years elk hunt. Note herd of approx. 100+ upper left. Her cow down about 40 yards on right front of her (just out of pix). 267 yard one shot kill.

 

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Just a quick note to update any interested. Scouted last Wednesday from dawn for 5.5 hours and found nada. I mean NADA. No elk of any kind, no deer, either species, no antelope, not even the usually plentiful Hungarian partridge, or grouse of any kind. Lots of doves though in one big sunflower field. Figured we'd try again Sunday late afternoon. Arrived around 5pm and bingo, about 45 elk in a very hard to get into place. 4 WT bucks, 3 does, 8 doe antelope, Huns galore. Go figure... The elk were in a place that looks easygoing , but the winds keep them safe. No access due to private property on 2 sides, depending on prevalent wind direction, the other 2 sides are a no go. If wind gives us an intro/chance it will require a 2.5 - 3 mile walk/hike and that distance for a retrieval. We'll see. Going to re-scout again before September opener.
Rifles were both as advertised, my .300 Win Mag put 3 shots into 1.75" @ 300 yards. Wife's 7mm-08 was 4" @ 300 yards. All good on weapons front.
Medical news, waiting for authorization to receive procedure to get left leg operational again. Maybe this Thursday, or next, depending on insurance powers that be...

 

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Here is a pix of my son's NV desert bighorn. Unit 267. He had 2 points, it was his FIRST North American big game animal... 2004 I believe @ age 15... Score 160 & 6/8, mature class IV ram. He missed him broadside standing @ 300 yards from a prone position. Next day found him again. Spent 5 hours watching him as Tony Diebold (NV Master Guide and good friend) made the stalk. I watched this old guy fight another ram, break a half dollar sized chip off his horn, kick the crap continually out of a huge one horn ram, just to bully him. Everything went to hell when the wind changed and the herd spooked, running hard uphill across the face of a mountainside. In slow motion I watched through the spotting scope as the entire scene played out. Tony got Ryan down to a sitting position, the sheep weaving in and out, 5 rams changing position interspersed with about 40 ewes. They were 300 yards from the hunter when I spied the big ram collapse, seconds before I heard the shot. The kid punched him clean on the run, and from further than the previous days missed shot... Go Figure... Tony Diebold is a legendary human being, National Geographic photographer, Super guide, with his stabilized Zeiss binos he frequently glassed as he trotted up hills with that giant stride of his. Thank you my friend for the memories!

 

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September 1 - Today saw no opportunity for a shot on my wife's cow elk hunt. We had pre scouted 4 hunt periods and figured (wind dependent) we had a good opportunity. We slipped into our "spot" in the pre dawn dark, and sat quietly for 15 minutes until legal light. The elk were there about 400 yards from us, bedded and feeding. We were closing the distance as the wind began to shift, when a barrage of shots filled the air. Dozens upon dozens, then more. the shots were behind us and on one side. The elk, well they made for parts unknown away from the noise and into the solitude they thrive on. Dove hunters. Happily plying their pursuit of swatting feather bombs from the brightening sky. First time in this area in 2 years that the bird chasers had disturbed the peace and quiet of the elk habitat. Oh well, a three mile hike was not totally wasted. I found the limit of my leg's ability in the tangled undergrowth, only fell once on the way out, but couldn't get up with light pack frame on. When we returned to the truck, I was beyond tired. Still pooped as I write this... more hunting to come this week! Oh, the herd was fairly big, 60-65 animals total.

 

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Another quick update, today's cow elk hunt (wife's) was a refreshing change of pace. Weather, check driving rain/lightning/thunder/crazy winds. Saw elk, check about 75 and a bonus yearling straggler on the way out @ 400 yards. Winds way too squirrelly to allow any approach although we did a 7 mile end around, and round, and round until they blew out for the timber. Leg worked through the pain in about 3/4 mile then all good. Walked 3.5 hours total. Dodged the worst of the downpour for the most part, only got partly damp/wet. Thank you Skre and Badlands...

 

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Update 5 Sept. Hunted hard, found elk, got into elk. 25 yards to 450 yards. No shot possible. They were holed up n 6 - 7 foot tall sage, bedded and standing. Worked into their midst until wind busted us... crap. When yo are 6'3" and the wife is 5'4" in tall sage it makes for a lot of frustration from all involved.
7 Sept. this morning felt right. Made a 2 mile walk into the area where we thought the elk might be. Bingo. moved to within 240 - 290 yards as they began to move. Worked with the wind to set up sticks for a clean shot. Nice clear shooting lane. The elk walked thru in dribs and drabs for 20 minutes. Again No Shot from the hunter. To her credit the sun was low directly on the other side of the moving elk. She didn't have a good enough sight picture for the crosshair and the target elk (many), so she held off. Highlight of the day the herd bull posed in every way possible against the rising sun. Wow. 350 class six point, 48" plus wide, long beams about 54", and great points! Made the day.

 

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Our time on the cow hunt has ended for several weeks. Time to regroup, repack and head west to look for Desert bighorn sheep. We will have 4.5 days of looking during, hopefully, some intensive rutting behavior. Only time will tell. Will keep all of you posted if and when we get internet coverage, and some good pix! Fingers crossed...

 

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Departed 12 September for long drive to NAS Fallon Nevada, in preparation for briefing to enter base on open dates and scout/hunt for desert bighorn. Season begins 20 November, winter time. 10.5 hour drive, Fallon is not a vacation destination to those who have not been there. In summary, cleared base requirements, and scouted 6 plus hours behind the binos to no avail. Inspected the east side of Fairview to Slate range, where possible. Good winter habitat, not summer habitat due to only 2 water sources. No sheep found. Thursday at south end of range well before sunrise on very good glassing spot. Hours later, still nothing. Moved north to a less advantageous spot. Hours later, eagle eye wife says, “I got sheep!” We watched 11 animals for over an hour. 2 lambs, 7 ewes, 2 rams. One ram 4-5 years, the other mature. 2.5 miles away, 88 degree heat waves extreme, can’t get detail on size, or pictures, very boxy headgear. First sightings are great! Balance of the day, no more sheep.

Next day, repeat early start returned back to 11 sheep spot. No sheep. Tore the mountain side apart, nothing. Moved to another spot to glass, just pulling in to get set up, and eagle eye wife again says, “I got sheep.” Quick look with Swaro STS HD 80 scope confirmed young ram 5 years old, but great genetics. This is the ram pictured. In 3 - 4 years what a trophy he will be. Balance of the day glassed until our eyes wanted to fall out, no sheep. Oh well.

This is my fourth overall sheep hunt, as hunter twice, parent once. I would offer a word to all would be sheep hunters. Sheep hunting is discipline, mental discipline. It is equally important to physical conditioning. If you don’t find the sheep, you cannot go after the sheep. If you don’t believe the sheep are there, you will fail. The sheep are there. Put in the time and have good glass, and BELIEVE… run and gun, repeat. You will find sheep. Now for the long 2 month wait…

 

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Utah's Fishlake mid-season bull tag hunt has been underwhelming. One of, if not the most difficult elk hunts I have ever experienced. In sum, IF you apply for this hunt, review checklist below on what to expect and what you must prepare for. Having stated that, we have seen elk on every outing - morning or evening - except 4 hunt periods out of 21...
1) Expect huge crowds, road hunters are every where to the point that crossing any road, dirt or paved, makes you look both ways before you cross. No jest.
2) The "big bull" season coincides with the opening of cow elk, unlimited spike elk, and on day 5 a bonus Deer hunt... see #1 above.
3) "Big bull" is an oxymoron. Any 5 or 6 point bull is a shooter. This hunt was represented as 330 - 340 top end bulls, and in past years maybe true. This year I'll bet 300 is pushing the average by 10-15 points.
4) Utah DWR should all be summarily executed, er... fired... these people are a joke. That said it must be a form of Covid that infects most if not all Western States game departments. Ok, you may ask, how would I know? I'm 72, hunted all of the west, and guided in most states. I've taken over 30 bulls myself, and guided more than 30 more. Enough already...
5) Practice with your weapon of choice. Practice some more. IF YOU CANNOT shoot accurately to 1000 yards, DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS HUNT. I have seen a half dozen whiz bangs shoot at that range and wound 4 elk that were never recovered. One young lady banged away 11 times, at a 5 point bull over the course of 5 plus minutes. The elk never heard the shots (wind was 25-35 mph with gusts to 45) her spotter encouraged her to continue, and finally with the elk cresting out she fired and brained it, Yeah, oh joy, you got your elk! Celebrate your marksmanship. It really Pi55ed me off, others not so much.
6) Did I mention practice with your weapon? With the price of ammo, the time it takes to learn to shoot properly, the mentoring required from someone who KNOWS what they are doing, it is no wonder hunting, and hunters are all in a downward spiral. Everyone is an internet expert, and only a rare few can change a lightbulb, with or without a YouTube video...
I have one last day left to hunt, and boy do I hope I have an opportunity to see if I can connect! You see I left my beloved .300 Win Mag home and borrowed a friends new whiz bang 300 PRC sighted in to 1000 yards. Verified it myself to under 1 MOA @ 736 yards, the weapon is amazing. Now if only the elk will offer an opportunity. By the way the left leg nerve issue still sucks, severe pain is only present when I move... Season wrap up with pictures and critiques to follow...

 

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Fish Lake mid-season Elk hunt 2023 wrap up

In the previous post I highlighted the negatives of this hunt, here I will accentuate the positives, and there were many.

In total I hunted 21 hunt periods over 11 days. I saw the nearly the entire scope of the “season. I observed a lot of questionable “hunting” behaviors, and some very honorable ones as well. I never laid eyes on a live bull over 340 @ the max. Most were in the 280 – 320 range, with one exception (pictured above x 2). Observed some beautiful scenery, made some new friends and acquaintances, saw the Utah spirit of family hunting properly on display for all to see, and made some lasting memories of what was my last fall in the elk mountains (I have an Idaho Bull hunt beginning November 1- 30).

Fish Lake is a special place. It is at high altitude. The slopes begin around 9000, and go to over 11,000. I was at both extremes, bad left leg and all. My longest hike was a little less than 4 miles overall. I experienced no altitude problems or lack of oxygen. The hill sides here are best described as dense typical elk habitat. The cover at this altitude is a mix of green timber, aspen, and mountain mahogany in patches of varying size, mostly greater than 600 to 1000 acres. You cannot see into it, and will have great difficulty walking through it (lots of deadfall). There are sage and mixed grass meadows where the elk are quite visible for 10 – 30 minutes in the morning and evening.

I also hunted the low country, a traditional mix of PJ country, some of which has been chained, providing large expanses of open cover to generate feed for the elk and other species of wildlife. It is at a lower elevation and would be more recognizable to those of you who have hunted Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, and other places in southern Utah. It is a vast rolling landscape with some truly difficult terrain to hunt. In other words, typical elk country. We saw good numbers of elk here also.

I wanted to wrap up by saying I never expected the hunt I experienced, but would not trade the experience for another. At my age the educational value of what hunting has become was truly shocking. It seems IMHO that the goal of killing an animal has taken precedence over the “rules of the game”. Morals, ethics, and sportsmanship have all been trampled by the desire to kill at any cost. I watched groups of people shooting over the heads of other people in disbelief. Notice I did not say hunters. This situation was precipitated by greed on the parts of both parties. Party One found the elk and began a stalk. Party Two then tried to cut them off by racing towards the elk up a steep slope. Party One shot maybe 40-50 feet over the heads of party Two to harvest the elk. This ws not an isolated incident. Sheesh… I watched a father and his adult daughter earn their opportunity for a shot at a bull by climbing nearly a thousand feet vertically each hunt period in pursuit of a certain bull elk. I watched (through a spotting scope) as they repeatedly strived to get in good range (think less than 200 yards) of this small herd and it’s bull. I hope they were successful on the last evening, but I imagine they were not. They deserved the opportunity. I never had an “at bat” during this hunt, and I still have no regrets.

On to the next hunt opportunity!

 

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Next Chapter Idaho Bull elk hunt: First day of the season is in the books, same result(s) as previous 11 days in UT. Hunted for 12 hours hard. Temps warm, upper 50's. roads a little slimy @ 8000' plus. Snow line around 9000', except on north facing slopes, and tight canyons, where snow was still 3" + deep. Saw 2 sage hens, about 75 antelope, 16 deer, including two forkies getting into a heated sparring contest. Truly spectacular country, best reward was the sunrise! Oh well, still have 29 more days. get to undergo another spinal injection CAT scan guided this time next Wednesday, hoping for some great results... Lesson learned from UT, yesterday I carried two rifles. .300 WIn Mag, and 300 PRC. If I have any opportunity I will be prepared!!

 

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Idaho Elk Chapter 2
Elk hunting has been beyond tough. Long days, No Winter yet, Blue bird weather. All in all perfect fall weather for anything BUT elk hunting. The 3 units combined that make up my area are spectacular, and many thanks to God for that! Scenery beyond belief and perfect examples of dream like elk habitat in every direction, but no elk. Old tracks, and droppings, very old. We hunted to the roof of the unit and still nada. A friend found 15 elk on private yesterday, yes 15, wow (I know)... This unit combo regularly lets you see herds in the 75 -100+ numbers in a normal winter. The snow is hanging (barely) on the very top most edges of the peaks. There are No tracks anywhere. Where are they? All guesses appreciated... we cover everything from the highest terrain to the high desert floor... All in there are 3 vehicles, with 6 sets of great glass and over a century of experience combined. We will find them!! Good Lord willing, we will have more days to come and a Winter, sometime on the horizon. 2 days next week to hunt, and then preparation for our travels to the Nevada sheep hunt!

 

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Nevada Sheep hunt prep and pack
I thought I'd share a bit of my kit for the hunt I'll carry on my back for the duration. I wear on my body Swaro 10x42 EL's, and my rangefinder at all times. A Badlands 2200 day pack, with a Frankkenstud carries the kit. A Velbon carbon fiber full height tripod (2lbs. 1 ounce), SunPak pistol grip head (15 ounces), 8"x8" tactical table (10 oz.), multi purpose ultra lightweight bag w/carabiner (8.3 ounces), rotational shooting fork (5 oz.) all w/integrated quick releases for rapid change. I carry the tripod in it's most compact form strapped into the exterior of the pack, usually with the the Swaro STC attached, or the forks depending on the last usage. For access hikes into the area the Swaro slips into it's internal Badlands batwing pouch. Additionally the bag carabiner allows attachment to the exterior of the pack freeing up volumes of interior space for jacket/gloves/etc... I also carry a StreamLight Pro Tac 660 lumen tac lite, and a Nite buddy LED headlamp, Havalon w/ 8 blades, and a Kershaw folder. A compact lightweight first aid kit and a few odds and ends. Cell phone does the multi function camera, OnX, compass, and misc. duties.

 

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The first part of my desert bighorn hunt is officially over. 7 days of hard hunting across and over and around 2 mountain ranges with very questionable results. Challenging? Without question. In total over 160 sheep seen – no double counting. The 4 rams pictured were the only mature rams seen with photo proof, plus one more about the same class w/o photo evidence. I passed on these rams. I’ve been told I’m an idiot, and cannot disagree, but… this is a one and done in my lifetime hunt 41 years in overall application with max points. I used to live 3 hours from the unit, now it takes a 9 hour drive with all the variables winter and Mother Nature can offer. Mix in 2 good elk hunts in 2 states, one a bust, and the other with 4 intensive days to go of dawn to dark hunting, a cow elk hunt still ongoing for my wife, and 2 WT deer hunts to offer a ‘distraction’ ending December 9, and I get exhausted just contemplating the calendar. Holidays, bah humbug, I ain’t getting many more bites at this apple, and might as well go out in one last burst of memories of what may, or could have been.

Hope you enjoy the photos, all credit goes to my lovely and talented partner, her dedication to this life we pursue is truly unmatched on so many levels! Let me know which if any rams you would've shot and comments on the size. Happy Holidays and the Blessings of the Season to one and all!

 

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Idaho Elk Hunt over...
Wrapped up all our efforts in the 30 day season for an ID bull elk, unsuccessfully! Seems to be a pattern this year... 18 days afield and nothing to show for it but memories of a lasting series of "Find the elk". Our last morning 28 Nov found us high and 2 degree cold at the top of the world about 2.5 miles from the Montana border. We leave every morning about 4:45 am to make the 2+ hour drive up into our zone(s). This morning we found the elk. 200 of them spread out over a high knob for about 250 yards vertically, and 500 yards horizontally. Picture attached is a very small portion of the group. We glassed them with a growing sense of confidence, making a plan to approach the last mile and a quarter. They didn't get up until 7:50 from their mostly frozen bare sage scattered hillside. It was a memory of elk hunting in the past. About 8:15 the elk get alert, then nervous, then proceed to go over the top. The solid 350 class 6x6 bull retreated with them. He was my target animal. The source of the elk retreat became obvious when a cream colored truck sped up the hill rushing after the animals. At the top of the now vacant rise, a sole hunter gets out, walks to the edge where the herd departed now 4-5 minutes ago, lays down his bipod rifle and steadies for a shot. Who knows if it was a hit or miss. One shot. Gets back in car and drives away out of sight. This same guy had seen us, sped around us to a cutoff trail and floored it in pursuit of the elk. I hope he got one. Alas this is elk hunting in the new public land age...
All in all a great final memory, minus the jerk in the truck, a great elk found, watched, amid a large herd. It has been a year of hard lessons regarding modern day elk hunting. No ethics on public land, no ethics regarding the animal. Kill at any cost. Is there a theme here? I guess the modern era is no place for old hunters, it's all about speed, damn the consequences... If you read sour grapes here, please don't. Just honest reportage of what others know all too well. I have only myself to blame, my health, age, conditioning in not being the fastest cheetah on the field...
We are back on the desert sheep trail starting tomorrow once again, and there are only 2 of us left in my unit, and the other hunter is wished all the best, good people. It will be my last turn at bat, for a species I've waited many decades for. Stay tuned...

 

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NV Desert Bighorn Part 2

After initial 7 days of hunting we took a brief break and then went back for another 5 days. The “addiction” of trying to dig a sheep or group of sheep out of vast undulating mountain ridges and many thousand folds, creases, and valleys of hidden terrain is a disease! Rocks, bushes, clumps of grass, burnt tree pieces everywhere you glass. Some you get to know by name, some fool you with the changing light, one thing learned with certainty – sheep are where you find them! You can’t kill one, until you find the one you want.

This trip had some great highs. We met fellow hunters – a husband and wife team and their 12 year old son, who like us reveled in the chase. We heard their story of 2 missed shots at 500 yard plus distance, a fruitless search for any sign of a hit, and the reality that indeed, she had missed a well described trophy. Tough pill to swallow in the OIL game for your only ram. We hoped they would relocate the ram, and wished them the best of luck.

The next morning we were in the same general area. We drove to a high spot to glass miles of country, got set up and began to take the surrounding area apart. After about 15 minutes, I found my ram. A great looking sheep long of horn and of good mass, even at better than 1.5 miles. We watched the bedded ram facing to my right on a distant ridge backlit by open sky. He looked like a smaller version of a Marco Polo in that setting. I watched him as I tried to find a route that I could hike into the area, when he suddenly stood and took a few steps, tilting that headgear right, then left, much like a rutting moose when he approaches a caller. Suddenly the ram staggered and fell heavily onto his right side. He struggled again to his feet and took 2 more steps, then fell to his left side, rear end facing us.

What did I see? Did someone shoot? All was quiet. Then the realization hit me, this was the lady’s ram from the previous day. Frantically we tried calling their phone. No answer. We glassed everywhere while keeping my Swaro 80 HD fixed on the ram. My wife climbed a nearby hill, looking for any sign of our fellow acquaintances, to no avail. After 40 minutes of watching this ram lying on his side with right horn in the sky, parallel to the ground, I thought he was dead. Suddenly his horn twitched and bobbed a bit.

Far below us a vehicle appeared, I flashed my lights repeated and sure enough it was our “new” friends. When they arrived, they glassed the ram and agreed it was the lady’s target ram from the day before, and clearly she did not miss! We agreed to spot for them using our headlights as a signal, and they disappeared to drive around the mountain to try and recover the ram. More than an hour passed and still they were nowhere in sight. The ram however was stronger, he sat up now facing left, providing more views of those wonderful horns. 2 ravens landed within twenty feet, and his head swiveled with purpose from one to the next, as if to say, “Not today, not today”. Another half hour lapsed with the ram growing stronger with each passing minute. Suddenly our hunter was in sight less than 200 yards east, on the same ridge top. I flashed my lights, then used my right turn signal to indicate direction.

5 minutes later the scene unfolded in slow motion. The hunter and the ram were less than 50 yards apart when they startled each other. The ram launched from his bed like a quarter horse released from the gate. Full speed down a steep chute, the hunter swinging offhand, ram then tumbling headfirst as the sound of a shot reached us. Great trophy, even better movie to watch, unfolding in real time with a great ending! We left to continue our search, with the overall good feeling of knowing a well-earned harvest had been completed.

The following days passed with too perfect weather, no wind and temps in the upper 50’s and low 60’s. The rams were obviously on a beach somewhere, leaving only the ewes and youngsters to roam the normal habitat. We did see 3 ewes each in a separate band with collars. Most days we would find a band of 6 sheep or so, one group numbered 22, including 4 small rams, plus a 155-158. They were acting nuts. The lead ewe led them over a 1.5 mile run. They would stop, huddle, confer, run again, repeat. This group were shot at the next day repeatedly, by the last tag holder other than me. Perhaps, unjustly, but I nick named him Machine Gun Kelley, apologies for any offense… We saw two groups of mule deer totaling 48 animals – impressive I’m told for this unit. The day after MGK expended some ammo at the group, we heard, then saw a group of songdogs tearing into something very near to where the gunfire had erupted, probably a rabbit…

Chapter 3 will commence, with the Lord’s permission on 15 December. Forgive some of the pix, they were quite distant, but they give the idea of the subject matter!

 

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G'day all... I wanted to take a few seconds and acknowledge all the great members who have followed this thread, contacted me via pm, and have given their much needed guidance, shared some really great intel, introduced me to experienced hunters and generally just been outstanding "friends".
To all, Merry Christmas and a very wonderful holiday season. We are going back for another round of sheep hunting, this time for 5 hunting days. I'm the last hunter in my unit. I say that with mixed emotions, and a bit of stubborn pride that we've survived 12 days of hard looking so far for our sheep. I've met some wonderful people in the field, made some great contacts, and have personally experienced all aspects of the weather in this wild landscape. I feel blessed to have finally drawn a tag, overcome some bad health issues, and can now walk a bit in this special place.
Without the partner of a lifetime, my lovely and eagle-eyed wife, friends new and old like, Blank, 2lumpy, DeerMadness, Homer, littlebighorn, Hackleback and more, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. More importantly not enjoyed the journey nearly as much! We'll keep you all updated and wanted to let everyone know we are having the time of our lives in enjoying this oh so rare opportunity.
Standby...

 

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Narrator:
… and some folks say, he’s up there still… Cue music… Jeremiah Johnson.

19 days in field, no shots fired, nor ram killed.
The hunt continues…

Hello to all. Just returned this evening for a brief resupply and laundry, and a day or two of rest. As stated before, best partner wife and I have been afield for 19 long, tough days. Through variable weather, sheep less days, and sheep filled days, I had the opportunity to actually pull the trigger on 5 different rams. First up were 4 rams all around 153-158… maybe. 460 yards slightly above us, lying prone on pack and tactical bag. After a long discussion, over 30 minutes in real time, I pulled off and walked away. This performance was viewed by no less than 5 distant individuals, including the local CO (Game Warden). I must be a special kind of stupid… opinions may vary… but not by much! Next up was a 158-160 ram @ 400. No audience, just me and my partner, and the ram and his ewe. I actually passed this guy twice over the course of 2 hours. Sheesh, I must be really dumb…

Next day my friends (spotters) came to help, and help they did. They climbed high into the ridges and found a herd of 26 ewes and 5 rams, including one slammer. They called and we came, fast. Here the mis-information cluster f*#k began to develop. We climbed as hard as my body would allow only to blow the stalk when the sheep spied us and got moving. I was fairly well set, bag over a rock when the sheep passed under 300 yards at a fast walk. Rams 1-4 were briefly in the crosshairs while I looked frantically for the monster. He was completely shielded by a closely packed knot of ewes, never to be clearly seen as they disappeared around the mountain.

We gave chase for several miles and lost them. Late that afternoon we found them while glassing. The ram was everything anyone would want and then some. That singular moment made the hunt for me.

Another ram was a shooter also, a solid 160+ ram. How do I know you ask? Well, the next morning a team of guides from a to be un-named outfitter, cut us off and took their 76 year old client up into the group of sheep and after a 4 hour hunt killed the 163 and change ram… Later that day I personally greeted the hunter, shook his hand and told him: “You did in 4 hours what I haven’t been able to do in 15 days, congratulations sir”! He was on an elk hunt for the past weeks with the same outfitter/guides and killed a wonderful 350 class elk. Some guys are just blessed like that. Nothing gained by dwelling on the bad conduct that seems ever present in the hunting industry today, and certainly not to discredit the hunter in any manner.

With certainty now, I have the unit to myself. It seems NDOW cannot count their numbers and total the digits properly. Now it’s us versus the myriad of “chukar hunters” some driving Toyota Corolla’s with women in tow, punk rock dyed hair in lime and pink, all with pupils dilated to the size of dimes that are just hunting Chukar… hmmm… Another team of 2 white vehicles speeding into no go zones, at speeds approaching the Baja 1000 while doing whatever it is they would do. More than once I greeted these folks with all the credit they were due, and my right hand full of responses.

Back to the sheep. We were in a pattern. Around 80 sheep every day. Same sheep. Same smaller rams. Until 3 days ago. The rams split off the ewes and picked up their own ewe, obviously in second estrus or maybe just craving male attention. Up the mountain, across the mountain, down the mountain, repeat… at speeds interrupted by only the incessant sparring and breeding breaks. Head butting echoing for a mile of more.

On day 18 bingo. 2 bigger boys showed up. 2 solid mid 160’s rams, both shooters. The wife and I climbed and climbed and chased and chased then lost these 8 lovesick rams solely due to the lack of a spotter. I was cut, bruised, exhausted past bone tired, and needed some rest. My wife, the trooper, felt the same but never showed a trace. She’s a Jack Russell when it comes to the game and the chase. God bless her. I don’t deserve any of it.

Day 19 was more of the same, except this day as we found and watched our target rams, they had picked up 2 more ewes. 8 rams, 3 ewes, 11 total. By noon they followed the crazy ewe up and over the mountain and out of our sight. The last hours of the day were filled with 47 ewes split into 3 groups as they merged into 2 groups and a new group of 9 ewes all by their lonesome 2 miles to the north… Oh well, a fitting end to the chase so far.

A few observations for any who may be interested. Sheep are very cool to observe. Their behaviors are at times comical, non sensical, and the ewes seem to always take the lead in covering for the rams. Shielding your target animal to the point of frustration, and without question their dominance can best be likened to an aged lead cow elk. I’m in charge, shut up and follow. Rams by themselves, or in small groups are much preferable. A mixed herd seems to perform a dance of sorts. They follow the lead ewe at breakneck speed for 50 to 100 yards then stop, gather in a tight circular band, nervously awaiting some mysterious message from above to proceed in the next direction. Sometimes the pause is filled with displays of testosterone and breeding activity, sometimes not. It’s all so damn interesting I hope each of you has the opportunity to spend the time with these wonderful animals in their habitat.

The best glass made is not good enough. The lightest glass made is too heavy. You will carry all your gear obviously, and every ounce counts. I have had guides/spotters for 12 of our 19 days. They are a highly desirable very essential asset. More eyes the better to cover more of the mountains to focus your search. For 7 days we have been alone, just the 2 of us. I can say on one particular day, if we had had a spotter, I would have killed a very good ram. You just never know. The phrase I hear echoed in the field all the time is, sheep go where they go, they’re sheep. That seemingly obvious statement pretty succinctly sums up our quarry.

We have had a great time, learned a ton, met some new lifetime friends, experienced highs and lows off the charts, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it all. Only time will tell if I harvest a ram. Only God knows if I will have the endurance and mental toughness to finish. Until later y’all, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year…

 

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Please stand by... just returned last night. Will update in a few days, lots of pix...

 

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Final Chapter Part 1
My NV Desert Bighorn once in a lifetime hunt is over. We spent 25 full days in the mountains, plus another six travel days of 8 to 9 hours each, with partial hunting of 2-3 hours tacked on the end of 3 of those days. Initially another 5 days of scouting pre-season. In total, more days in the pursuit of one species than I have spent leading 28-day safaris in search of many species for various clients. It was a very physical experience, especially the last 10 days. We were targeting one or two specific rams.

Stats: We hired Master Guides x 2 for the initial 7 days, with 2 spotters, and the wife & I. Lots of eyes, more foot power, lots of glass power, lots of money. What did we turn up? One shooter ram, a 160+, on day 5. I passed on him to the guides dismay, and my detriment, but hey I wanted to hunt sheep. Be careful what you wish for…

Next period, we had friends Dave and Paul x many others, share our search. I passed a solid 160+ at very reasonable range(s), and was OK with it all. Hired one Master Guide and a spotter to return for 3 days (all our budget would allow). Successfully stalked a group of rams/ewes, had them under the gun, for what seemed like an eternity. Passed on each of them, and we pulled off. We had a full audience about 1.5 miles away watching and waiting for a shot. Next couple of days old friends and new friends helped out and we saw the “one”. There was kind of a strange satisfaction/validation that giants do exist, you just have to find them. As previously mentioned it made the hunt for me, I know I’m weird!

This final period of the season, offered every high and low, elation and frustration, and the widest range of “almost’s” I have ever experienced. My good friend and MM’s BLANK joined us for a few days as a spotter, which was greatly appreciated, and he had the best seat in the house for the entire show!

Each day was a combination of horizontal hiking from 1 – 4 miles, added to the ever present vertical 1000 feet climb, and obligatory 1000 foot descent. Younger readers will say, that’s nothing, and they’re probably right. At 72, after 19 days, I can tell you it was a lot. One day I made a stupid choice, frustration can do that in an altered mental condition. After finding “our” ram, I plotted a short circuitous course to the very top of the mountain for an easy downhill shot. Hell, it was only a little over ½ mile to get there, straight up. So we set out. 4.5 hours later, totally unable to achieve our goal, only 75 vertical feet above us, I called it. 75 vertical feet, pure talus, 75-80 degree slope, and there was the rock outcropping I knew I could rest, relax, and kill the ram of my dreams from that spot. It was not to be. It took us 2.5 hours to get down and safely collapse in our truck. We slid on our butts over a couple hundred yards of talus we had painstakenly inched our way up, in a matter of 10-15 minutes. Tired, disappointed (in myself), happy no injuries were incurred, and my life partner was safe beside me, we sat for a half hour gaining strength in the growing darkness to return to our base. I fell 15 times that day, twice about 15 feet vertical in a combination tumble flip roll, that would make a Romanian gymnast proud. I was amazed I was unbroken. Cut, yes. Bruised, yes. Intact, yes. Oh well, tomorrow God may grant another chance.

Each morning was a glass-fest to find “our” ram, before we could plot a course on how/if we could get to him. Each day “our” boy would start as part of 51 ewes and 6-8 bad boy cookie cutter 150 class rams, then he and his bud, (number 2 ram mid 160’s) would go their own way to some remote ridge/basin to enjoy the day undisturbed. This was our official go time. Wind would often thwart the most direct/sane route, leaving only the most difficult option for us to pursue. Several times in these early morning groupings, and occasionally late in the day, we could make a play and have a legitimate opportunity under the gun at the group. Let me explain, “under the gun” for clarity, this means I was prone, bags placed, rock solid with crosshairs on the group, at ranges from 359 yards to 525 yards. All very makeable shots. The time periods ranged from 12 – 40 minutes in every case, crosshairs on the target waiting. That ram would never offer even a half body open shot. He was constantly surrounded by ewes or lesser rams. Frustrating? You have NO IDEA. I felt truly defeated. Days remaining were in the low single digits now as the pattern repeated itself. Finally the group of 9 rams split from the ewes. The wind allowed a favorable, but long always uphill climb, and we found ourselves in full view of the 51 ewes for the entire last hour, although they were 300 plus yards higher than our target rams.
We crawled the last 35 yards to the hill crest, to find the rams still bedded @ 430 yards. Tired, but happy we made it this far, I set up. My friend Troy lay next to me as we began to look over the rams we had observed initially at over 2.5+ miles distant. We knew “our” ram was there, but frustration began to build. They suddenly they began to stand and stretch, and wander around each other in a tight group, constantly changing position. We had forgotten the spotting scope in our haste. For 35 minutes we watched, looking for our target. As sheep do, they got the whim to move off up the mountain. I believed I had him picked out. I asked Troy. He could not say, but verified the brooming, saying he looks short. At 580 yards they began to open ranks a bit, and I made the decision. Ram down. Rolling down, down, down, to end up feet in the air. I laid there in a mixed state of emotions. Happy, yes. Our ram? Unknown, but right or wrong, it was my ram now. I didn’t want to look. On the long tortuous climb, I couldn’t look.

Part 2 follows...

 

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Final Chapter Part 2

About 50 feet from the ram, I looked, and knew with certainty I had my ram, but not the “one”. We called the group (our wives) and Troy’s young son, and they drove to where we left our rig and made the long climb up to us, where the work began. I can honestly state my 2 female sherpas were the best in the business!

I had taken my ram, enjoyed it all, and had no regrets. I had passed bigger rams, seen the “one” I had wanted, and worked my tail off to get him. In the end, a simple twist of fate, lack of a spotting scope, had proved to be my error. Honestly, I don’t think I could have made it another day. I was spent, but I have a nice ram to serve as the physical embodiment of all the people, events, and memories, that will forever live in my mind. Could any hunt provide a greater overall experience?

Comments appreciated, and thanks for following!