My sheep hunt in the Picachos (37A east)

[Couesdeer]

I was lucky enough to have drawn the first hunt in the Picacho Mountains (37A east) six years after the reintroduction of sheep to the area.  Because the area is so close to my home I chose to go about the hunt self guided.  First call was to AZG&F to figure out what I had gotten myself into.  Officer Smallwood, the manager for 37A, kept me on the phone for well over an hour during my first phone call to him.  He gave me areas to access the mountains and information on where they had been seeing sheep.  This was huge.  

In all, I spent at least one day almost each weekend from beginning of September until the hunt in the area looking for sheep.  I managed to wear out a set of tires on my Jeep on that road.  

Hunted seven days.  It was physically and mentally strenuous. At one point, we found ourselves up on the mountain as the sun was setting.  Coming down in the dark with headlamps on, moving from cliff to cliff was no picnic.  I vowed that if I was ever in that situation again, I'd sleep on top of the mountain and come down in the daylight.   I had several friends help out.  I was never alone.  My hunting partner, Jeff was with me every day of the hunt.  Made two new friends from this website.  Luis (Lucafu1) and Patrick (PatrickJr) each accompanied me for a day.  Solid guys.  Helpful to a fault.  

In fact Patrick glassed up the Ram that I ended up killing, he prepped the cape/head and hauled the meat off the mountain for me!  I hope to repay the favor someday.  

I am including pics from scouting as I had as much fun looking at lambs as I did looking for mature rams!   

I did not kill the biggest ram in those mountains, nor the oldest.  That said, I am super happy with him and he is going to look great on my wall!

G&F determined it to be a 6 year old ram (probably born in the Picachos the year they were introduced)  He nets 164 inches. 

An amazing once in a lifetime experience!  I totally understand the fascination and addiction to finding sheep in the mountains.  I hope to be a helper on somebody's hunt in the future!

 

[Lucafu1]

Thanks for letting me tag along. I wish i didn't have to got back to flagstaff to pick up my elk meat or I would have been there. I can't believe how many hours we watched this guy not move from his spot. It was funny after about 3 hours. Not for you I am sure. Congrats again!

 

[bonecollector]

Congrats!

Good to see the sheep doing well in there.

[Phil Carr]

Congratulations. So happy to hear you got your ram.

[wildwoody]

Very cool.

[Couzer]

Well done!

[eddielasvegas]

Congrats, good story and good job.  What a beautiful ram.

 

 

Eddie

[DUG]

Awesome! Congrats on a nice ram!

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Well done!  I'm glad the population there is doing well.  Congratulations on the beautiful ram and thank you for a great write-up with pictures!  The hard work in beautiful country with old friends and new friends helping out is worth it but the beautiful ram is the cherry on top!  Thanks again.

[twigsnapper]

Congrats!!! Welcome to the club 😉

[CatfishKev]

That's awesome man thanks for posting

[RJ75]

Great ram! Congrats! 

[gonhunting247]

Very cool. pretty ram. Congrats!

[DUG]

Just curious how much solicitation you and other tag holders received from guides for your sheep hunts?

[Couesdeer]

21 minutes ago, DUG said:

Just curious how much solicitation you and other tag holders received from guides for your sheep hunts?

Honestly I did not receive any solicitation other than a friend of my cousin who is a guide.  He was happy to talk about the hunt with me even after I told him that  I was going to give it a go unguided.