Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: highcountry on October 28, 2010, 05:46:00 PM
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Dave does not toot his own horn, so I'll do it for him. One beautiful ram, and a nice bow too!
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/highcountry_photos/IMG_2209.jpg)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/highcountry_photos/CopyofIMG_2196.jpg)
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WOW,congrats to Dave,what bow is that one?it is pretty!!
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Nice job Dave. That is a nice Ram. Well done.
Thanks for letting us know Highcountry.
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Congrats man!!! That is just awesome :thumbsup:
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What a beaut! Great symmetry. I hope a story is forthcoming. :clapper:
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WICKED RAM, Dave! Most excellent! :notworthy:
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world class bowyer... and hunter too it looks like!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Excellent! Congrats!
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Arizona is treating you well Dave, congratulations on a beautiful animal.
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Wow, what a nagnificent animal! Congrats
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I hope it is a dream come true to him like it would be for me! What a ram. Montana is the place for big, bighorns that's for sure.
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Wow! That is a beauty for sure Dave! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Was taken in Dave's back yard in Montana. Oh, if we had mountains like that In Arizona! :jumper: Going to have to shake Beth's tree to get a story from Dave.
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That is an amazing animal.Congrats
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NICE!!!
:clapper:
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Very nice Ram- excellent person, bowyer, father.
Congrats.
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WOW! very nice ram...and a nice set of cojones too. Congratulations!
Now I gotta go shoot my Silvertip.
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AWSOME!!! One day I'll have one of his bows with a checkered grip!!!!
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:thumbsup: Congrats!! Dream hunt right there :)
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Beautiful Ram!! :clapper:
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Great ram!
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Great job, way to go Dave!!
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:notworthy: :notworthy:
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Thanks for sharing the pics, I talked to Beth about two hours after Dave had called her about the Ram. I'm glad you got it on here, He's an amazing bowyer and must be quiet the huntsman also.
Keep the faith
schafer silvertip
Custom big horn
Curry mad dog
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WOW!
:thumbsup:
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Very nice ram....Congrats! :clapper:
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Congratulations :thumbsup: Awesome ram
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What a trophy. Those just don't come easy. Congratulations!
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Awesome animal
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That's a flat impressive animal. Congrats on a magnificent hunt!!! :clapper:
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Congrats Dave, that is a stud of ram!
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Dave I agree with you. A ram of that quality is worth a few late bows. ;-)
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Congratulations Sir. :thumbsup:
Can't imagine how you must feel.
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Way cool...that looks like some pretty rugged country!
congrats on a great animal and what looks to be a super hunt...any details would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Glenn
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Great ram! Congrats Dave!
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Perfect
:clapper:
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That is an absolute toad of a ram!!! Sure would love to hear the story with al the details!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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:archer2: :archer2: :archer2:
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Man thats a beautiful ram!
GLENN
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WOW :thumbsup:
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Awsome,
Let's here the story! How about some specs on that longbow.
Jason
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WOW !!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Congratulations, that is a very impressive ram
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Taking up where Paul left off....
Excellent !
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Wow that is great!!! :notworthy:
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simply awesome...i love bighorns,they are so cool lookin. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Awesome!
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Very nice ram,congrates!
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Yeah! I'm very happy for you, Dave!
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congratulations. Great Ram, God has blessed you and vicariously blessed us with those wonderful pics. Steve
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Very nice Ram!!!!
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:thumbsup:
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Very nice ram!!!
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Great job Dave Congrats!
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Incredible! That has to be one of the most impressive animals of the year. Congratulations Dave!
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That is one beautiful animal. Very nice Dave!
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Wow, what a ram. Congratulations
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Congrats
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Congratulations on an awesome animal!
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Originally posted by maxwell:
Very nice Ram- excellent person, bowyer, father.
Congrats.
X2 CONGRATS DAVE :thumbsup:
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Wow! What a beauty of a ram. Way to go Dave. :bigsmyl:
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Well deserved.
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Excellent Dave! How did the backstraps taste?
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Congrats my friend!
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Trophy of a lifetime!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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What a magnificant animal and terrific accomplishment! :notworthy:
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Beautiful ram, congrats!
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Wow, what an awesome ram, so majestic.
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What an amazing ram! What does he score? Does he break 180"
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out standing..... Joe
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That is an awesome looking animal. Wow, wow, wow! That guy is one heck of a bowhunter and is carrying on the tradition of his mentor! Cool deal!!
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What a Ram... Way to go Dave. Now get back to making my limbs.... :biglaugh:
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That is a STUD of a Ram!!
Congrats on a fine animal :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Travis
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Oh man. I have dream hunts but that one (and that ram) is so far out of my grasp that I don't even think of it when dreaming about a hunt I would love to do.
Simply awesome Dave.
Congrats TJ
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congrats, your living my dream.
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Beautiful animal, country, and bow! Congratulations!
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Beautiful Ram .... makes that old saying " hunt of a life time " an understatement. Congrats
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That is a dream for most us. Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Dan
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Well done Dave!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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:clapper: :clapper:
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Keep this one up for awhile, man that is a just cool.
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Absolutely outstanding. :clapper:
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:notworthy: W-H-O-A! That ram is a beauty…congratulations! :clapper:
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Wow, that is awesome! Congrats,
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Awesome animal!
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Dave, Wow! That couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow. A very well deserved atta boy. Some of that horn would look great on my next 'tip', kidding! How are you going to get that beauty mounted? Would love to hear the story...play by play. Brad
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Congratulations! Dave I just noticed that your bow is wrong handed. :biglaugh: Really great job just had to rag you a little.
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Congratulations on a beautiful animal. :thumbsup:
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Congrats, on one fine animal.
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Awesome. :clapper:
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Beautiful Ram Dave, Congrats!
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What a tribute a beauty.
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Wow! What a beautiful animal. :clapper:
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No easy task there. Great job Dave! See if we can get Beth to tell the story, Dave is a man of few words. His actions on the other hand...well thats a different story!
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What a tank ! :thumbsup:
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Hi Everyone,
Dave got on here a couple nights ago to read your comments. He appreciates them all and feels very fortunate to have drawn this tag and to have taken such a beautiful Ram. Dave jotted down a short story on the hunt but he is gone now for a week and I can barely make out his writing:) I will try to get something posted next week when he returns. In the meantime I hope you are all having very exciting and successful seasons. God Bless and be safe!
Beth
PS That was nice of you to post this Victor. You are right Dave probably would not have put it out there but is glad for you all to have had the opportunity to share in his success. Thank you.
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Cool! Cant wait to hear the story!!!
Howdy Beth! :wavey: :notworthy:
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so...
and who is making my bow while you are hunting such monster rams? :pray:
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So Beth...which mount style did you give the OK on? You know a Boone & Crockett ram taken on your own with a longbow deserves to be life-sized, right? I know Dave shoots big bucks and bulls all the time, but he won't have many of these...
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I am so very glad that I finally decided to open this thread.
I didn't find what I expected. I thought I was going to be looking at a "Big Horn bow".
Man! Was I ever wrong!!!!!!
All I can say is: How stinking cool is this? Way!!!!! I'm saying....
Congratulations!! What a trophy!!
Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.
I will be back... looking for the details of the hunt.
God bless,Mudd
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Is the story coming....
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Wow! What a beautiful animal!
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Very nice,and congratulations
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AWESOME!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Congrats!!
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What a trophy, congratulations on a beautiful animal.
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Wow that is a fine ram indeed! :clapper:
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Yes, that is one fine animal....Phil
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That's awesome! Dream come true!!! :thumbsup:
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congratulations Dave..a hell of alot of hard work.The most shocking thing about the picture is I never expected to see a longbow lying on him. that is a awsome picture... :coffee: now waiting on the story.
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:biglaugh: And Dave thought we would forget and go away! While Dave's hands are messy with glue, I am sure Beth would type for him.
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Awesome ram! Great bows!
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way to go victor!! :thumbsup:
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Awesome ram- good job Dave!
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congrats Dave, looking forward to the story Beth...
:clapper:
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Reminds me of that Cheech & Chong movie.... Banging on the door "Dave's not here man"!! "No, it's me..Dave". "No man... Dave's not here Dude"
:laughing:
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Wow, Thats awesome! Beautiful Ram. And, I Love hunting with the bow you made for me!!!!
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That is an awesome ram! Beautiful creature..been dreaming of even an encounter with one since I first set eyes on one.
Looking forward to the story
:thumbsup:
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Beautiful ram, Dave. Congratulations!
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Only one word: WOW!!!!
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GREAT JOB DAVE! Those are awesome animals!
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Very nice...Congrats
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Great ram thanks for posring Shane
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Outstanding! Lets hear the story its got to be good!
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Story?
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Awesome Ram!
What is worse, waiting on this story or waiting for Pete :)
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Absolutely amazing. That would be my dream hunt.
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Beautiful animal!!
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Congratulations with a very nice Ram!
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Hi Guys,
I did my part and typed it out for Dave but it's pretty rough. It's in his hands now but I will let him know there are some pretty eager people waiting patiently! Hope you are all having a blessed holiday season!
Beth
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Sorry guys for the delay. Here is a start.
My dad started putting my name in the hat for bighorn sheep when I was 12. I drew my first sheep tag at the age of 13. I ended up with a nice ram with a rifle and a great experience and introduction to sheep hunting. Ever since then, I have wanted to hunt sheep again and hunt them especially with a bow and arrow. This year, 26 years later I was fortunate enough to draw another sheep tag in my home state of Montana. So fortunate that a couple of my buddies hung up on me after hearing the news.
I scouted 6 days total in July and August. I was immediately optimistic seeing 24 rams my first day of scouting. I first saw this ram in August and got some rough video through my spotting scope. He was with another smaller ram at that time and he looked awesome. He had a big frame and his horns appeared massive compared to other rams I had seen. He had a rich darker brown color to him that I also liked. He was a gorgeous ram. I may have seen this ram one other time earlier in the summer but didn’t get enough time to look him over before he went into the trees out of sight. That was all I saw of him before the season opened on September 5th.
The area I hunted is about 2 hrs from where I live so most of the time I would make two or three-day trips to hunt, then return home for a few days before going back. I would sleep in the truck, tent, or in a small cabin owned by a guy that gave me permission to access the sheep country.
Most of the spotting in this unit is done from the road below, scoping up to the mountainsides to spot rams. I also had permission to access a private road from above if needed. It was about 2,000 feet from the bottom to the tops of the peaks but most of the sheep activity was fairly close to the middle, about half way up. The idea was to spot the sheep from above or below, then try to get in close enough to locate them again and plan a stalk. Their movement varied, some staying in the same area the entire day while others would travel over a mile. They seem to roam and feed but no real patterns.
The terrain is rocky and cliffy with grassy benches and sparse timber. It is fairly noisy so it made stalking very challenging when close. Wet weather made it quieter but with so many rock slides it was still very difficult. The weather was still mild in September, I only had a couple rainy days that were maybe in the forties.
This is another nice ram my brother photographed through his spotting scope.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/124sheep008.jpg)
Another younger ram from scouting
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/124sheep005.jpg)
Will post more shortly.
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Many thanks Dave, a lot of us will never get the chance so this makes it as real as its gonna get!
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My dad and I stayed in the cabin the night before opening day of September 5th and were glassing from the bottom at first light. Within the first hour or so we spotted the ram (my ram) I had on video from August. The ram was easy to identify because he had a big chunk out of the back of his right horn. I guessed it was from a bullet. He was feeding on a bench above a huge cliff and the ram was now by himself which was rare and desired for a bowhunter. Most of the rams were in groups of at least a few. I think the most rams I saw in a group was 21. That makes it tough to get close with that many eyes watching for you. We watched the ram for a while and decided to look over some more country and more rams since it was just the first day of season. Plus, the season is long, ending the last of November. The ram was also staying in the same area and without pressure I figured he would stay there. We spent that day hiking down from above and covered a lot of country without seeing many sheep. That night before dark, we made it back to the bottom and spotted him again in the same location as we had that morning. Since there was not enough light to pursue him that evening, I decided if he was there in the morning I would go after him. The next morning he had moved a little but was still there above the cliff feeding. We then proceeded to climb up the drainage through rock slides and small cliffs to the same elevation, then sidehilled above the cliff to where the ram was. I could not locate him. The wind had changed a couple times and he may have smelled me. We were unable to spot the ram again on that trip but ended up getting more stalks on other nice rams.
About 5 days later, I was back sheep hunting with a buddy of mine from Pennsylvania. Dreux was out on an elk hunt and cut it short to hunt sheep with me. The first morning of hunting, we were glassing from the bottom when Dreux spotted this same ram again on the next ridge over (probably about a mile) from where I had seen him with my dad. We drove to the top and hiked in from above this time. We started easing down the ridge and luckily spotted him again at about 100 yards strait below us. He moved slightly, behind some trees and went out of sight. Dreux stayed back to watch and by the time I stalked to where the ram had been, he had climbed up a bench and once again I couldn’t locate him. I hiked back up to Dreux and found out that I had been within probably 20 to 25yds of the ram. He was watching the ram bedded there the whole time. I took one more quick look at him through my spotting scope and headed back down the mountain now sure of where the ram was. Within probably ten to fifteen minutes I was right on top of him, my heart pounding, looking down from the bench above at about 20 yards. He looked even bigger and more impressive that he did through the scope. He was awesome! He was now standing broadside and after 5 minutes, I was finally able to draw and shoot when he looked downhill. It was a clean miss over his back. He ran downhill for about 100 yards, stopped and after about 10 min or so, started feeding. I couldn’t believe it. I started another stalk and before I knew it I was 20 yards from him, arrow nocked again. I could just see the tops of his horns and he was looking in my direction. He must have heard me. I froze for a minute or so hoping he would go back to feeding, but instead he started walking strait toward me, curious of the sound he heard. I lowered myself as he came up over the crest of the hill to stay out of direct sight. He then turned broadside at about 15yds to head downwind of me. Knowing he was about to get my wind, I knew it was now or never. I rose slowly and started to draw my bow. Before I was at half draw he had seen me and turned to run. After a couple powerful leaps he was out of sight, down the mountain. I watched for a while and could not find him. Knowing that I had just screwed up the chance of a lifetime and I may never see that ram again, I climbed back up to Dreux. To top off my already depressed feeling, he started joking and giving me a hard time about missing the ram. What a great friend. That was the last we spoke. Just kidding, it was great having Dreux to share that hunt with.
Couple photos of the ram I ended up getting that my brother took through the spotting scope
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/bearsheep006.jpg)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/bearsheep005.jpg)
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:campfire:
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Great story Dave. Thanks, keep it coming.
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Very exciting,love those animals.
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Awesome bighorn!!
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I got my bag of popcorn, now I am ready for the adventure!(Thanks Beth for twisting his arm).
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Wow! My heart was pounding just reading that story. Nice ram and great story or great ram and nice story. Either way... :thumbsup:
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Congrats Dave! The bighorn is my ultimate traditional bowhunting dream.
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:campfire:
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The next trip I headed down to the sheep area with my dad again on Sept. 14th for a couple days. The first morning was foggy and rainy and it was tough glassing through intermittent holes in the fog. We did happen to spot a group of about seven rams with a couple that were worth taking a closer look at. We made our way up the mountain, then split up. Dad hiked up a different drainage to watch for other sheep while I climbed up and over a ridge to the next drainage where we had seen the group of seven rams. I wandered in the fog in the direction I thought the rams were. I did hear rocks clanking together from the sheep crossing a rockslide but could not see the bunch of rams in the fog. As I hiked through the fog heading back to dad, I did see a group of smaller rams. It was a neat site to see their ghost-like shapes appear that close in the clouds. I left them and as I dropped elevation, the visibility increasingly improved. I spotted more groups of sheep as I crossed the ridge back into the first drainage and one of them was by himself just below a knob directly across the drainage about ¾ of a mile away. I took my spotting scope out of my pack to get a good look. It was my ram with the chunk out of his horn in a great stalking position. I dropped into the drainage then up the other side and circled around to come up over the knob from the backside. It was wet and quiet and the terrain was mostly grassy with a little brush to weave through. I was moving rapidly and closing the gap quickly. I was getting closer and being more cautious as more of the side hill was exposed. It was a reoccurring nightmare when I could see the tops of the rams horns again looking strait at me. The wind was good so he must have somehow heard or seen me. Again, he took off and didn’t look back. The next day we spotted more sheep but again, not the right one.
Hoping to get some pictures my brother took of the terrain. Beautiful country!
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My brother and I spotted my ram early on the second morning on the next trip to the sheep area. We got above him from the access road, hiked out to a vantage point where we spotted the ram again. He was out in the open, grassy basin above the cliffs and steeper country below. I was planning a stalk while Mike got a few pictures of him through his spotting scope. He was gradually working his way toward the rougher country as I began closing the distance. Mike had his three boys (still sleeping) that he had to get back to so he decided to stay back and watch until he had to leave. He was planning to do some bear hunting with his boys. The ram moved ahead of me out of sight feeding slowly down the rocky ridge. I finally spotted the ram about 35 yards in front of me and he hadn’t spotted me yet. He crossed the ridge in front of me at about 35 yards but it felt a little far so I passed. The ram crossed the rocky ridge in front of me and made it into a rock slide and up into another small ridge spine about 60 yards away. I tried to stay with him, following him when he was walking straight away. But, I think they have eyes in the back of their horns and he busted me again. I thought I might get away with it because I was screened by a small tree. The stare-down lasted about 5 minutes it seemed, and then he turned and ran down a few benches to about 150 yards away. I watched him for about an hour until he finally bedded there. I started my next stalk on him. When I got in about 50-60yards, he heard me and headed downhill again. I lost sight of him so I scouted the benches below sneaking and peaking over ledges, but had no luck finding him. I finally gave up after about an hour of looking and started to head back up the mountain toward my truck.
I stopped to take a rest after about 5 min of climbing and ended up spotting the ram out in the middle of a huge cliff across on the next ridge from me. He was about 400 yards away, not looking in my direction, but I think he was probably watching me the whole time from that vantage point. I thought about trying to get to him but there was a huge rockslide between us. Besides that, he was bedded on a small shelf on the face of a cliff. There was no way I was going to attempt that. I was starting to feel a little discouraged and beaten by this point so I opted to head to my truck and leave the ram. After reaching the truck, I headed back to the bottom to watch to see if he would move and possibly give me another opportunity. After about 5 minutes of looking at him through my spotting scope, he got up. He then walked up the small shelf and out onto the top of the ridge where he then began to feed. It was about 3:30 or 4:00 with a few hours until dark so it took me a few minutes to decide if I should try again or leave him alone and look for another ram. The next thing I knew I was heading back up to the top to go give it one last try before the day was over. I hiked over to the same ridge he was on and started still hunting down the ridge to the ledge where he came out and where I last saw him. I thought I would see him if he was out feeding somewhere but I didn’t. I figured he must have gone out onto the side of the ridge, so I started side hilling through the small cliffs and benches. After about 100 yards I peaked around a rock and there he was bedded on a large rock about 30 yards away looking straight at me. Between the small ledge I was standing on and the rock wall I was against, I could not draw my bow. I immediately nocked an arrow and climbed a few steps to the next little bench above me. As my feet reached the bench, the ram began to stand and I was at full draw when he turned broadside. The arrow was on the way and buried up to the fletch. The ram took off away from me and disappeared behind some small rock cliffs about 30 yards from where he was bedded. It looked like he was heading for a small saddle in the ridge that I had come down. I ran to intercept him but I did not see anything or hear anything. On the other side of the saddle there was a huge rockslide and I figured he would be visible if he went out on that. I waited and listened for a minute, checked the saddle for blood and did not find anything. I slowly began working my way back to where he was when I shot him. I was scouring the hill below but I was looking too far. The ram was right in front of me about ten yards away. He had fallen just as he went out of sight only about 30 yard from where I hit him. I could not believe that I finally was going to be able to walk up and handle that awesome animal. It was like a dream. I feel really fortunate and thankful to have hunted such a magnificent animal and will never forget the experiences from that sheep hunting adventure.
Another image of a group of rams
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/124sheep004.jpg)
My ram taken from a scope
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/bearsheep013.jpg)
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/bethwindauer/CopyofIMG_2191.jpg)
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Excellent report. Very REAL hunt with many of the ups and downs we come to expect. What a beautiful animal. If you could curve those limb tips a bit that looks like my bow --- about 4 months early!!??
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Congrats once again,for sure a hard hearned trophy.
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Awesome job for sure! Congrats!!
What was your specs on your longbow and arrows?
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Great Story, thank you.
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Wow!!! You are getting a big hand shake from me on this one!! Super job, super story and super ram!!
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Dave & Beth thank you very much for an awsome Christmas hunting story..that was great!!! i can still feel my heart beating..that whats its all about..
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I like stories with a happy ending. Congrat's Dave. Thats a beautiful ram.
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Dave, Congrat's again! Great story! Is that a take down longbow w/ a recurve type riser you used? I don't think I've seen this bow style before from you. I like it!! I may have to get another Silvertip :goldtooth:
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What an accomplishment!
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Thanks for the story, I had been waiting. What an awesome experience!
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Awesome story and pics. Thanks for sharing!
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That's a nice ram Dave. Congratulation!!! Thanks for sharing. It is a great story.
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Great job with the hunt and story! What a ram and it was killed by a real bowhunter with a real bow. Hard to top that.
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I have come back to this post a number of times to look enviously at the photos of your ram on the first page. As a young man, I lived in Billings and was able to spend a great deal of time pursuing sheep in the unlimited permit areas in the Beartooth Wilderness area northeast of Yellowstone Park. You are fortunate indeed to have drawn a permit and you have my congratulations on a magnificent trophy. I spent some time in sheep area 124 this past September with a bear tag hunting with my bowyer and friend Dan Toelke and I enjoyed myself immensely in the beautiful country there. Thanks for the added story and again, congratulations.
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Very nice Dave congrats on such a fine animal.
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Wow...he is a keeper for sure!
Congratulations - I have dreamed of hunting taking a ram like that since I started hunting with a bow...maybe 40 years ago or so. Quite an accomplishment!
Tony
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If you had killed him that first week, you would have missed out on all that additional hunting and maybe not appreciated him as much. You earned that ram.