I drew a ewe bighorn tag!

[mmgrode]

Hey Gang,
    I have been fortunate enough to draw a ewe bighorn sheep tag in Montana for this fall. Yeehaawww!!!!   I've never sheep hunted before and am looking for any advice for a newbie sheep hunter. ie. where to find them from September to November, stalking strategies(hand signals, etc.), glassing, etc.  
Any advice would be very appreciated.  
Cheers, Matt
ps-I'll be hunting unit 213 near Anaconda

[steadman]

WOW!! That is a dream hunt, to hunt sheep. Good luck! Take lots of pics!

[Breakfast Boy]

Originally posted by steadman:
WOW!! That is a dream hunt, to hunt sheep. Good luck! Take lots of pics!

Yeah, what Steadman said!!  Congrats!

[Gun]

I hunt them like I'm out having a picnic. Once you spot some go very slow. Pick at blades of grass and brush like something feeding. Thats worked for me a couple of times. Try to get ahead of some feeding and set up in ambush. Bone out every speck of meat. Some of the best venison there is IMHO. Good Luck!

[Steve O]

If you go late in November, you will be able to find the ewes by sound--rams battling.

If you have a good partner to guide you from the bottom on your stalks it is a LOT easier.

If not, watch them till they bed, make sure they stay put, and get yourself some landmarks and go at it. I found Bighorns to be very patternable, but was not able to close the deal.  It can be done for sure.

If you don't have good binocs, break down and get some.

Start training NOW if you haven't and get in the best shape of your life as quickly as possible!

[Bjorn]

Wow! Get a mentor!

[arrowflinger1]

Congrats buddy! Ive hunted ewes twice and its awesome! It is tough though.....but very do able! PM me and Ill tell you what I know as it might help a bit.

[twostrings]

Congrats!  I'm pumped for you.

[jason1040]

How cool is that! Make sure that you post your hunt for all the rest of us to dream about.

[Zbearclaw]

Congrats.  I am going to start building points for hunting sheep next year.

[Sheepshooter]

Gun, Did you move buddy. I heard that you were thinking about it. We're gonna miss you here!

I agree with Gun. Have hunted ewes a couple of times and been on a couple more hunts. Once I find them I slowly walk towards them at an angle never making eye contact, in fact don't even look at them. Don't walk too fast but don't look like you're sneaking either. The toughest part is getting them out. Best meat there is!!

[Jmgcurve]

What Steadman said...X2!

[vernon]

Never hunted ewes but been on multiple ram hunts and harvested a nice ram, with a rifle, about 5 years ago.  Like mentioned before you don't need to bull rush sheep.  Take your time and do a nice stalk.  I've had alot of luck getting extremely close to rams either when I'm above them in the rocks or if it's really hot and they are sticking in the timber.  Again like mentioned before sheep can be pattern to a certain extent.  I've found that sheep like a certain ridge/drainage and can spend alot of time (weeks/months) in the same area.

good luck and pick a spot,

James

[Partagas]

Just watched Fred Eichler on Bowhunting TV shoot a ewe in colorado last week.  Too cool.

[KentuckyTJ]

Awesome take lots and lots of picts so we can live it through you. Congrats and go get on that exercise bike.

[mmgrode]

Thanks fellas!  Are there certain areas on the mountain I should focus my scouting efforts (ie. northern aspects, alpine, timberlines, ridges)? Will the sheep typically be found in different areas as the season progresses?
It almost sounds like the ewes can be fairly easily approached.  Is it better to stay out of sight or do they tolerate quite a bit of intrusion?  What kind of numbers will I be looking at per ewe group?  

Thanks gang, Matt

[elkken]

I have hunted sheep once many years ago. It was a tough hunt, very steep and hot weather. I passed on a ram with a broken horn the very first day, I walked right up to him and had him broadside at 25 yards. I thought if it is that easy why shoot one with a broken off horn, the other side was 3/4 curl the legal limit. Needless to say that was a BIG    mistake. I never got that close again and never had one stand there and look at me.

I hunted 10 days and saw several nice full curl rams but could not get close enough. Most of my hunting was on the open faces and canyons. I did not hunt the timber side of the mtn because I was seeing rams every day. Good binos are a must and spend LOTS of time glassing.

Get in shape, hunting in shale and rocks is two steps up three steps back at times and the heat can be draining.

Best of luck to you ... sheep hunting is awesome and if you see a big ram up close there are few experiences like it in the hunting world. And watch out for rattle snakes. I saw lots of them.I was hunting in eastern Washington.

[Wiley Coyote]

If you don't mind me asking what does a Ewe tag cost???? Just wondering!  :confused:

[Sheepshooter]

The ewes in the areas I hunt seem to like the grassy slopes which is nice cuz they're easier to spot there. Don't discount the rocky areas in between though. I do think they'll hit the woods in bad weather.

Again, where I hunt them the ewes are more easily approached and do tolerarate a certain amount of intrusion but they will eventually move on even if you pose no threat to them.

I have seen them in the same general area 2 weeks after I took a ewe out of the herd. I think only permament snow or the rut will move them much although they do seem to move from year to year a bit. As far as numbers go, I've seen as few as 2 and as many as 32 in a group although 15-20 seems common where I hunt. Hope this helps a bit.

[Sheepshooter]

After missing one at 22 yards I got to within 30 yds of this ewe by walking at an angle towards her and looking at the ground. She died 20 yds from where I hit her. Notice the absence of stalking cover! I can't wait to get drawn again. 1-2 more years!