Evening folks. Don't know how much I should talk about, but with Doug in camp away from the computer, I will give you a little update. We spent Saturday and Sunday at it hard and Doug is staying until the 8th...on this stint. We had tough weather on Saturday and again today so it hasn't been easy. Spotting sheep in any country, let alone the white rocks and cedar of the Pryors is tough business, but by the end of the day Sunday, I think everybody had their sheep eyes developed.
This particular hunt area has ewe bands that stay pretty much in the same place all year. As with most sheep, the rams have a summer area and then come to the ewe bands at rut. When I hunted this unit in 2000, I had a good handle on the rams from June to Sept 19th and then lost contact with them. I couldn't find a ram from Sept until late Oct/early Nov. when they came to the ewes bands to rut. Well guess what...it's Oct. 1st and we couldn't come up with a mature ram to save what little hair is left on my head. There were 4 of us with good optics and experience and I am confident we covered the most primary country. Saw plenty of ewes and a great lamb crop and have the rut areas nailed down, but where these rams go pre-rut remains a mystery. I sure hope Doug can figure that out this week, because I have provided little help. This is sure a concern for him and it is always a gamble to wait on the hunt until the rams come to the ewes as the rut is very late in the hunting season. Keep him in your prayers because the mental pressure of hunts like this are worse than the physical. There have been some fundamental changes in this sheep herd since I harvested and that really worries me. They deal with location of the rams, accessibility and so on.
When I left last night, Doug and Walt were in good spirits after riding off the mountain on a 4 wheeler with a flat tire. Walt was going to stay today and then Doug is on his own for a while, which I am sure he will enjoy. I am going to try and go back next Saturday morning armed with some equipment for a new approach. I find myself repeating thoughts that I had 7 years ago to justify the situation. "With that many ewes, the rams are here somewhere". None the less, a guy gets the feeling every ram in the herd somehow died this summer and it is frustrating.
Keep Doug in your thoughts because these once-in-a-life-time tags are special. They load up the pressure and stress. I know this is going to be a hard fought victory and some prayers and good thoughts would help.
Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I don't have a digi cam. Walt may have one and might have something to post tomorrow or so.
Topic: SHEEP -v- CAMPBELL (Read 883 times)
