First Sheep Hunt in the Books

[wildwillalaska]

Well, back in January 2017 I made a pact with myself, a resolution of sorts, to focus on getting into better health and promised myself as a carrot to go on my first sheep hunt, which I have dreamed of since a child. After 19 months of the gym 4-6 times a week, and 8-25 miles of mountain hiking most weekends I made sure I was ready. To be solidly sure, my brother and I went and hiked all over Yosemite including a 19.6 day-hike assault on Halfdome and cables in June, and returned to California in July to climb Mt. Whitney, which we did as an overnight excursion. To help prepare, I carried a 48-lb pack on Mt. Whitney with most our camp and food from the 8,000' trailhead to the 12,000'+ trail camp, and then back down again after we hit the summit. Decided to be lazy and drop my pack weight to about 12 pounds for the summit part of that trip.

Anyway, fast forward to August and my hunting partner and I flew into a secreted strip in a hidden drainage of a mystery valley. The Wrangells area apparently has quite a bit of guiding pressure, so we were asked to keep tight lipped about where we hunted, and location of the strip which made sense. Also why you only get a couple of tightly cropped shots, but was worth it. I had a great time. Carried out the entire part of my hunt in true style and even helped my hunting partner a good portion of time. Was happy to help and very proud that my fitness allowed it. The hardest part was getting enough calories. I burned way more than I consumed each day, and even with packing as much as I could, I still dropped over 10lbs in the 11 days afield. Again, all solidly worth it and cannot wait to try again next year. Had an amazing time in a beautiful part of our state, completely choked out with glaciers and grand views everywhere you looked. It was an epic camping/hiking excursion with the two rams being icing on the cake.

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[kings6]

Will! I recognize that deck of cards sized rock right in front of your left foot! It's one of the geo cache points! A dream of a lifetime right there my friend and one that I will always have to live vicariously through my friends.

[bushog]

Congrats!

You're lookin' lean and mean!

[Fowler]

That has truly been my dream hunt since I was a kid. Marvelous.

We will need a hit more story from the hunt though please.

[Snyd]

Like I said on the other forum. Way to go Will!! It's great to see local boys DIY gettin some rams! I sure miss fire roasted sheep ribs! There something about the first one... You know what they say. You never get another first. Enjoy it while it's still fresh and "raw"... What were the measurements on your rams? Just curious. Any legal ram is much hard earned trophy.

I'm "sheep hunting" through you guys this year since we had to pull the plug on our "Freedom Hunt". Partner had life issues come up and a day later my back acted up bad. Just got back from Acupuncture and Chiropractor this morning... again. We swear we'll be ready for next year... good Lord willing.


Now you can identify with my poem I penned a few years back...

An Alaskan Sheep Hunters Poem
By Snyd


With the sun at my back and the breeze on my face
I hope to find that magical place
Where the Dall Sheep live in the their majestic home
Alaska, the Last Frontier

From the Wrangells to the Brooks and the Alaska Range
From the Chugach Mountains to the Talkeetnas and Whites
From the Tanana Foothills and Mentastas too,
To the Kenai Mountains to name a few
These are the places the Rams call home
In Alaska, the Last Frontier

In search of great Rams, my partner and I
Together we go with hopes as high
As the mountains we hike
In Alaska, the Last Frontier

Tis the hunt of a lifetime if one can go
It's not like hunting the Whitetail you know!
There is nothing quite like the stress and the strain
Sheep hunting puts on the body and brain

But the rewards are great for the ones who make
The arduous trek for that's what it takes
For a chance to see the Mountain Sheep Ovis
Ovis Dalli in the Last Frontier

If one can get
The chance at a shot
He surly has earned it
But then if not
He still has the joy deep down in his soul
Of knowing he stood
Where many can't go

To that place of a dream for many a hunter
To the tops of the Mountains
Ovis calls home
In Alaska, the Last Frontier

[wildwillalaska]

Great poem for sure. Thank you.

[onegoodshot]

Congrats. Give us more details. What were you using. How far was the shot. How many rams did you see. Details details.

[bula]

Congrats and nice pics ! Love the above the clouds pics. So, Synd does poetry too ? That raises the bar too high for me. LOL. 

[markhampton]

Congrats on two fine rams -- well done!