Zeke
Long Time Member
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LAST EDITED ON Aug-15-12 AT 09:12AM (MST)[p]Dear MM friends,
At the behest of good friends and in the spirit of sharing I'll post up a bit of our recent hunt in the NWT Canada.
I was thrilled when my oldest daughter won a Dall sheep hunt at the very first ever Full Curl Social. THANK YOU FCS!
It wasn't just any hunt, it was a hunt for Dall sheep with Arctic Red River Outfitters in NWT Canada! I was more than thrill because I have first-hand knowledge of this wonderful spot in the world with a previous outfitter. I was privileged to hunt there in 1981 and again in 1984 with my brother (before some of you were born). I also knew it was still a full backpack experience. It would be tough, long and dirty yet full of promise, thrills and freedom.
After travelling on 4 planes, over the course of 3 days, we were finally ready to start our backpack hunt. Jess would hunt sheep and her husband, Rusty, would hunt caribou. I would be a tag-a-long and grizzly protection/bait (maybe hunt caribou if time permitted). My wife put me in charge of keeping them safe. I guess I did my job since we're all home safely.
After a quick yet tough 3 days, we had passed on 2 rams which the guide would allow her to shoot. ARRO has a strict management/trophy rule based on 10 1/2 year old rams. We had also found our new "target" ram. We even started a stalk which was aborted when out route was blocked by smaller rams. We thought it best to relocate the ram the next day.
We were out of camp the following morning before 7am. The ram was relocated by 9am but he was moving around and a stalk route could not be planned until he bedded. The basin was huge and we knew we had to get close enough for a shot or the climb would be wasted. The route had to be planned carefully.
He finally bedded at 2pm and we were well into the tough climb when the wind shifted and yet another ram blocked our path. We had to pull all the way off the mountain and start over with our 3rd stalk on this ram.
This new route was steep and the footing was....well....poor. We were into the stalk for over 3 hours when we were almost to crest the highest pinnacle. Kent, the guide, would crawl up and locate the ram, range him, set up the pack for a shooting rest and all would go as planned, NOT.
As soon as Kent crested the ridge he turned back to us and was frantically waving us up the last few feet. So much for a nice calm, controlled shot.
As Jess wiggled up next to Kent, Rusty and I crawled up so we could see the show. The big ram was walking briskly AWAY at 421 yards. My heart was sinking lower with every step of the ram. Kent and I called out the range at the same time. Jess lined up on the ram and leaned into the mountain for a makeshift rest and the ram stopped. Kent asked Jess if she was comfortable with the shot. The answer was "yes" but the shot went just inches high. The ram ran a few steps before the echo rolled back and stopped the ram again. Everyone was excited but calm voices said "you were just high, he's 432, settle down". Boom, the second shot was true and the ram was down for good!
The ram sunk to the grassy slope then started to roll, then tumble, then cart wheeled into a rock chute and finally out of sight behind a rocky ridge. Perplexed, I didn't know how to feel. No one thought he would fall that far or that fast! We were ecstatic with the great ram and the fine shooting but the ram was last seen high off the ground and spinning headed head-over-heels into terrible terrain.
At the shot it was just after 7pm and it would be a full 3 hours before we located the ram and made our way to him. There was some damage but the cape, horns and meat were all intact. Lucky!
As we arrived at the regal ram we drew a ragged breath. It was an emotional time. I was so proud of what she had done to prepare for the hunt and the difficult days we'd enjoyed. And what a fine ram!
The ram did not disappoint. He was 11 1/2 years old and 38 1/2" X 35 1/2" but we never knew how long he was until we reached base camp after the hunt. None of us hunt with a tape in our packs, never have and never will. We just knew he looked really good to us and was plenty old to satisfy everyone. After skinning and deboning we headed for camp just after midnight. We arrived at 4:15am the following morning. Thank goodness for 24 hours of light! We never did use headlamps on the trip.
4 days and 2 camps after Jess shot her ram, Rusty hammered a great caribou at 250 yards which scored right at 432". The day that Rusty scored was a long one. We started hiking at 7am, passed on 4 other bulls and his caribou was finally down at 9pm with 1 well placed shot. After photos, and all the work we started trekking for camp. It was a difficult non-stop march until well after 5:30 am the following morning. OUCH! The trophy photos don't show evidence of all the difficulties but it was a glorious time for all. I love a tough hunt!
After a few hours sleep we decide that since we had all the caribou meat, cape antlers and camp, we'd better head back to the original drop off point especially since the hunt was essentially over. We'd only have the last day and a half of the hunt after we arrived back to our original camp. Our packs were heavy and the going was slow and it was punctuated with crossing the river 4 times.
The weather had been pretty good with just a little rain every day but on the last day it was bad. We decided that we should relax, stay close to the tents, work on the caribou cape and make a little push up river in the afternoon if the weather cleared. The weather moderated at 3pm and we loaded up some gear and started up the river.
By the time we arrived at a good glassing ridge we were literally surrounded by grizzly bears. At 9pm we decided to call it a day, get away from the bears and march the 2 ? miles to camp. All of the sudden there were 2 big caribou bulls! Kent thought the one on the left was a bit bigger but he said "both are shooters". After a running stalk, using pines for cover, I set up for the shot at about 240 yards and one shot was all it took. A perfect cherry on top of a perfect hunt!
In total we saw 5 grizzly bears, 3 wolves, 1 wolverine, 3 porcupines, 9 caribou bulls and over a dozen different Dall sheep rams! It was truly an epic adventure in some of the most pristine country in the world!
I hope by sharing our experience you can enjoy it with us!
Zeke
At the behest of good friends and in the spirit of sharing I'll post up a bit of our recent hunt in the NWT Canada.
I was thrilled when my oldest daughter won a Dall sheep hunt at the very first ever Full Curl Social. THANK YOU FCS!
It wasn't just any hunt, it was a hunt for Dall sheep with Arctic Red River Outfitters in NWT Canada! I was more than thrill because I have first-hand knowledge of this wonderful spot in the world with a previous outfitter. I was privileged to hunt there in 1981 and again in 1984 with my brother (before some of you were born). I also knew it was still a full backpack experience. It would be tough, long and dirty yet full of promise, thrills and freedom.
After travelling on 4 planes, over the course of 3 days, we were finally ready to start our backpack hunt. Jess would hunt sheep and her husband, Rusty, would hunt caribou. I would be a tag-a-long and grizzly protection/bait (maybe hunt caribou if time permitted). My wife put me in charge of keeping them safe. I guess I did my job since we're all home safely.
After a quick yet tough 3 days, we had passed on 2 rams which the guide would allow her to shoot. ARRO has a strict management/trophy rule based on 10 1/2 year old rams. We had also found our new "target" ram. We even started a stalk which was aborted when out route was blocked by smaller rams. We thought it best to relocate the ram the next day.
We were out of camp the following morning before 7am. The ram was relocated by 9am but he was moving around and a stalk route could not be planned until he bedded. The basin was huge and we knew we had to get close enough for a shot or the climb would be wasted. The route had to be planned carefully.
He finally bedded at 2pm and we were well into the tough climb when the wind shifted and yet another ram blocked our path. We had to pull all the way off the mountain and start over with our 3rd stalk on this ram.
This new route was steep and the footing was....well....poor. We were into the stalk for over 3 hours when we were almost to crest the highest pinnacle. Kent, the guide, would crawl up and locate the ram, range him, set up the pack for a shooting rest and all would go as planned, NOT.
As soon as Kent crested the ridge he turned back to us and was frantically waving us up the last few feet. So much for a nice calm, controlled shot.
As Jess wiggled up next to Kent, Rusty and I crawled up so we could see the show. The big ram was walking briskly AWAY at 421 yards. My heart was sinking lower with every step of the ram. Kent and I called out the range at the same time. Jess lined up on the ram and leaned into the mountain for a makeshift rest and the ram stopped. Kent asked Jess if she was comfortable with the shot. The answer was "yes" but the shot went just inches high. The ram ran a few steps before the echo rolled back and stopped the ram again. Everyone was excited but calm voices said "you were just high, he's 432, settle down". Boom, the second shot was true and the ram was down for good!
The ram sunk to the grassy slope then started to roll, then tumble, then cart wheeled into a rock chute and finally out of sight behind a rocky ridge. Perplexed, I didn't know how to feel. No one thought he would fall that far or that fast! We were ecstatic with the great ram and the fine shooting but the ram was last seen high off the ground and spinning headed head-over-heels into terrible terrain.
At the shot it was just after 7pm and it would be a full 3 hours before we located the ram and made our way to him. There was some damage but the cape, horns and meat were all intact. Lucky!
As we arrived at the regal ram we drew a ragged breath. It was an emotional time. I was so proud of what she had done to prepare for the hunt and the difficult days we'd enjoyed. And what a fine ram!
The ram did not disappoint. He was 11 1/2 years old and 38 1/2" X 35 1/2" but we never knew how long he was until we reached base camp after the hunt. None of us hunt with a tape in our packs, never have and never will. We just knew he looked really good to us and was plenty old to satisfy everyone. After skinning and deboning we headed for camp just after midnight. We arrived at 4:15am the following morning. Thank goodness for 24 hours of light! We never did use headlamps on the trip.
4 days and 2 camps after Jess shot her ram, Rusty hammered a great caribou at 250 yards which scored right at 432". The day that Rusty scored was a long one. We started hiking at 7am, passed on 4 other bulls and his caribou was finally down at 9pm with 1 well placed shot. After photos, and all the work we started trekking for camp. It was a difficult non-stop march until well after 5:30 am the following morning. OUCH! The trophy photos don't show evidence of all the difficulties but it was a glorious time for all. I love a tough hunt!
After a few hours sleep we decide that since we had all the caribou meat, cape antlers and camp, we'd better head back to the original drop off point especially since the hunt was essentially over. We'd only have the last day and a half of the hunt after we arrived back to our original camp. Our packs were heavy and the going was slow and it was punctuated with crossing the river 4 times.
The weather had been pretty good with just a little rain every day but on the last day it was bad. We decided that we should relax, stay close to the tents, work on the caribou cape and make a little push up river in the afternoon if the weather cleared. The weather moderated at 3pm and we loaded up some gear and started up the river.
By the time we arrived at a good glassing ridge we were literally surrounded by grizzly bears. At 9pm we decided to call it a day, get away from the bears and march the 2 ? miles to camp. All of the sudden there were 2 big caribou bulls! Kent thought the one on the left was a bit bigger but he said "both are shooters". After a running stalk, using pines for cover, I set up for the shot at about 240 yards and one shot was all it took. A perfect cherry on top of a perfect hunt!
In total we saw 5 grizzly bears, 3 wolves, 1 wolverine, 3 porcupines, 9 caribou bulls and over a dozen different Dall sheep rams! It was truly an epic adventure in some of the most pristine country in the world!
I hope by sharing our experience you can enjoy it with us!
Zeke
