Reddawg
10-20-2003, 11:18 AM
Our season began with panic due to the backcountry closures here in southeastern B.C. Not wanting to endure a september without going to the highcountry we hastily planned a last minute stone sheep hunt.
Though the weather only cooperated about half the time the six day backpack was incredible. Didn't come home with a ram but not for lack of opportunity. I over shot at a dandy at about 33 yds. The wife convinced me to make the half day hike back to where the rams were the next day.
We made the trek and found the rams again. I made another stalk on the heavy ram I had missed the day before. Lo and behold I was able to get within 22yds. from him in his bed undetected. I sat down after ranging him,went through the shot in my mind, slowly rose up and attempted to draw my bow. This is when the I realize the rock that is providing my cover does not afford the room to draw . The lower limb hits the rock, the ram turns his head, (it seems like his eyes are now the size of saucers) leaps from his bed and is almost instantly 60 yds. away when he stops and looks back. What he sees is a hunter standing in shock and disbelief. After all the preparation,practice,belly crawling etc. , a ridiculously obvious oversight blows this incredible opportunity. On the way back up to my wife and dogs I found myself actually laughing out loud at my incompetance. Oh well, such is hunting .
Another highlight of this trip came earlier in the hunt when I was stalking another ram. I had been within 20 yds. of this ram that morning but didn't shoot because I could not be 100% sure he was legal. I went back that evening and found him again hoping for a better angle to judge him. Got about 50yds above where he was feeding, on one of the times I would peek over at him he must have detected movement. Curiousity must have gotten the best of him because next thing I know he jumps up on my rock about six feet away. No kidding, my bow was laying between us and he was literally closer to it than me! Now this is where it gets interesting, he doesn't spook right off he stands there for at least 3 minutes. Now I can judge him. He doesn't only stand showing me one side he does a 180 and shows his other side. He's 7 1/2 years old (yes lots of time to count annuli)full curl,though tight and has his second incisor tooth from the right missing.(believe me I couldn't make this up)
Anyway he finally spooks, I grab my bow, he stops quartered away at about 9 yds. I probably had time to shoot before he ran again but I think I was still in shock. To top it all off when he does take off, one of the 3/4 curls that were with him comes over my rock and just about runs me over on his way out. What a trip!
We came home,went back to work for a week and then I had another week off to hunt moose.
Seeing as I've already been so long winded I won't go into details other than to say I was fortunate to call in and take a 41 inch bull at 16 yds.
Since then Ive been out a couple of days hunting goats and just got back from a 3 day bighorn hunt. Found 5 rams but none legal.
We set up our wall tent camp yesterday,as my wife also has a moose draw that she will rifle hunt starting on Oct. 25.
That's what's been happening with us so far.
Though the weather only cooperated about half the time the six day backpack was incredible. Didn't come home with a ram but not for lack of opportunity. I over shot at a dandy at about 33 yds. The wife convinced me to make the half day hike back to where the rams were the next day.
We made the trek and found the rams again. I made another stalk on the heavy ram I had missed the day before. Lo and behold I was able to get within 22yds. from him in his bed undetected. I sat down after ranging him,went through the shot in my mind, slowly rose up and attempted to draw my bow. This is when the I realize the rock that is providing my cover does not afford the room to draw . The lower limb hits the rock, the ram turns his head, (it seems like his eyes are now the size of saucers) leaps from his bed and is almost instantly 60 yds. away when he stops and looks back. What he sees is a hunter standing in shock and disbelief. After all the preparation,practice,belly crawling etc. , a ridiculously obvious oversight blows this incredible opportunity. On the way back up to my wife and dogs I found myself actually laughing out loud at my incompetance. Oh well, such is hunting .
Another highlight of this trip came earlier in the hunt when I was stalking another ram. I had been within 20 yds. of this ram that morning but didn't shoot because I could not be 100% sure he was legal. I went back that evening and found him again hoping for a better angle to judge him. Got about 50yds above where he was feeding, on one of the times I would peek over at him he must have detected movement. Curiousity must have gotten the best of him because next thing I know he jumps up on my rock about six feet away. No kidding, my bow was laying between us and he was literally closer to it than me! Now this is where it gets interesting, he doesn't spook right off he stands there for at least 3 minutes. Now I can judge him. He doesn't only stand showing me one side he does a 180 and shows his other side. He's 7 1/2 years old (yes lots of time to count annuli)full curl,though tight and has his second incisor tooth from the right missing.(believe me I couldn't make this up)
Anyway he finally spooks, I grab my bow, he stops quartered away at about 9 yds. I probably had time to shoot before he ran again but I think I was still in shock. To top it all off when he does take off, one of the 3/4 curls that were with him comes over my rock and just about runs me over on his way out. What a trip!
We came home,went back to work for a week and then I had another week off to hunt moose.
Seeing as I've already been so long winded I won't go into details other than to say I was fortunate to call in and take a 41 inch bull at 16 yds.
Since then Ive been out a couple of days hunting goats and just got back from a 3 day bighorn hunt. Found 5 rams but none legal.
We set up our wall tent camp yesterday,as my wife also has a moose draw that she will rifle hunt starting on Oct. 25.
That's what's been happening with us so far.