One Sheep Tag!!!

[Heat]

Got a couple of texts from Tom today...

 

"moe and curly spotted 3 rams on the N side of xxx Mtn, 1 is NICE!"

 

"they went out of sight W-A-Y up there - trying to figure out game plan."

 

Sounds like things are starting to get good!

 

PS - names changed to protect the innocent...

[Heat]

ATTENTION SHEEP HUNTERS, GLASSERS, ETC! Tom (Lv2hnt) is having a tough time on his hunt in the Gilas. We've seen a number of good rams on this hunt, but we haven't been able to get to them to kill one. We need help finding a ram in a shootable position. Time is running out for Tom and his "help" has gone home for the most part. We need your help! If anyone ever wanted to get in on a sheep hunt, here is your chance! Contact me here by PM and I can put you in touch with Tom or let you know where to go.

 

I am positive Tom would be extremely delighted and grateful for any assistance he can get this last week or so.

 

God Bless,

 

Nick

[Lv2hnt]

Yep, I realize I’m tardy on reporting back in on my desert sheep hunt from December (life goes on apart from hunting)...

 

I spent 5 consecutive weeks (the entire hunt) camped in my unit, plus many days scouting during the prior months. Approximately 125 total sheep in 125 sq. mi. made for a real challenge (note: the 125 sq. mi. number is horizontal & doesn’t figure in the vertical aspects of the unit!). Maybe 6-8 “shooter” ram among those 125 sheep.

 

My targeted #1 ram was spotted the first few days of the hunt in the company of 3 other rams --- the problem was they were about 500 feet below the tallest mountain (3,200 ft. elevation). Spent several days glassing hoping to find them in a somewhat accessible spot --- never happened. Went after 1 ram who topped a saddle, hoping he might have bedded down or joined up with other rams --- never caught up with him, but saw fresh hoof prints of several sheep going U-P! Finally determined ram #1 was unhuntable for me (just too dangerous – STEEP and loose, noisy rock).

 

Glassed up rams (non-shooters) the first couple weeks, plus 1 NICE ram that eluded us. Also glassed up a few ewes each day.

 

December 15 was a day I’ll definitely remember. A band of 5 rams (1 shooter) was f-i-n-a-l-l-y spotted, bedded and stalkable. Closed the distance to 300 yards and waited for a ½ hour. Largest ram finally stood up broadside. In my crosshairs, safety off, finger on trigger --- I just couldn’t send a round downrange.

 

Largest ram ever taken from my unit measured 168 5/8. My goal going into the hunt was to take a 165 in. ram. The ram in my sights, although a mature ram, was short of that number – plus I just didn’t feel he was “the one” I wanted to look at on my wall for the next 20 years. The ram walked out of sight (never knew I was there).

 

My congrats go out again to David S. (the other tag holder in my unit) --- he killed his ram the same day I passed. David, you earned your ram --- I’m really happy for you!

 

Exactly 1 week later, we spotted the most sheep ever one morning (just over a doz. scattered about the mountainside, feeding), including 3 rams together (1 possibly the same I had passed on). The rams were approx. 2/3 up the mountain and a stalk ensued. 2 hours later found my buddy and I hunkered down 300 yards from 3 ewes. 2 more ewes and a smaller ram eventually blew out of a cut and took the ewes with them. We never saw the larger ram that glassers said was nearby, nor the 3 rams which had drifted into a deeper cut.

 

I was on my own on Dec. 23 and moved my camp to the other side of the mountains (closer to where I passed on the ram earlier). Unfortunately, sheep glassing became more difficult, especially for rams. A couple days saw WIND, with gusts up to 40-50 mph --- not good!

 

I sent out a text on Dec. 27 that I definitely could use some help glassing. That weekend saw about 10 of the Yuma boys turn out to help me --- true sheep lovers!!!

Compressing things a bit, a 160-class ram well-known in the area was glassed up and a stalk was made to within 200 yards. Things didn’t quite work out successfully, and the ram still lives today.

 

Dec. 31 saw a few of the Yuma boys turn out to give it one more go. Wouldn’t you know it, 3 rams were glassed up (1 a bit larger and a shooter on any day)! I was on my way 1 ½ miles across the flats to the mountain’s base, then slowly up and across several fingers. 3:00 p.m. found us above where the rams were last seen, but now nowhere in sight. I called it at 4:15 --- it wouldn’t be wise to bail off the mountain in the dark, headlamps or no.

 

Synopsis:

One tough hunt!!! For some reason, most of the rams were found h-i-g-h-e-r on the mountain than seen in prior years (2-in. rainstorm a few weeks before the hunt greened up everything everywhere). This unit (40B Gilas) will definitely test you once a ram is targeted (ask any of the Yuma boys).

 

I’ve hunted Arizona pretty much my entire life (I’m a native). This hunt was the most challenging I’ve ever experienced. At the time I didn’t appreciate the opportunity the mountain gave me when I passed on the ram ½-way through my hunt. I made a few decisions during the hunt I have to live with now --- I came home with my tag in my pocket, without firing a shot. After applying for over 30 years, it’s hard to believe it’s over. Regrets? Maybe. But I know I gave it my best effort, and I can live with the results.

 

I need to give a shout out to those who helped out in many different ways (if I missed someone, it wasn’t intentional) --- Rex, Scott F. (G&F unit mgr), Desert Sheep Society guys! (Ignacio, John C., Don C., Richard, and more), Heat, Chef and Ernesto, Kent, David. P., Jake, Wayne, Stan, Kendall, Bob D., Jim N., Flatlander, and not the least, ALL the Yuma boys (you know who you are)!

[Swivelhead]

Sounds like an awesome hunt to me. You did pass on a ram and spent the whole season giving it your all. Congratulations to you!

 

The upside is you may get to do it again some day, for that I am envious.