The "Not so glamorous side of Sheep Hunting"

[Snyd]

They're not all "Blue skies and big rams"

We had the best weather going in on the 8th and 9th. Opening day the 10th was socked in until early afternoon for a couple hours. Then socked in until about 7 for a couple hours. Weather came in again and it rained all night and was socked in/rain the entire day of the 11th, all night in into the 12th. The 12th we had a couple hours of visibility as we traveled back further to another destination. During our trek that afternoon the ceiling and the rain fell once again through the night….. as so it went.

At some point this all becomes a wet, grey blur. It rained everyday and night, let up some sometimes. Most of the time the ceiling was low and the ground fog filled the valleys. We had a couple hours scattered here and there between the 10th and 16th that we could see to glass/hunt. We did end up seeing 9 rams, none legal, and about 30+ ewes and lambs. Last time we were in this area 3 years ago we saw legal rams and 15 sub legals, made two unsuccessful stalks and I slipped in a steep chute and dislocated my shoulder. We popped it back in and hunted for 4 more days.

Of course my mind is thinking…. “if we had better weather maybe we could have spotted a legal ram”… but, who knows, that’s Sheep Hunting! It was great to get back to the sheep mountains after not sheep hunting last year. It was also very cool to be packing the 45 Colt BisHunter. Good Lord willing and if our bone structures hold up, we’ll try ‘er again next year!

[bushog]

It's good to hear how it really is.....

Have hunted in AK 9 times and come home empty handed 4 of the 9.

I've spent many days rained in in a tent up there....

I've also learned the expensive way to book my flights back to the CONUS at least 2 days before and 4 days after the planed hunt dates.

You've got to roll with the flow and enjoy the experience.

[sixshot]

Snyd, I tip my hat to you buddy! Although I've never hunted them I know that Sheep hunting is like no other. It takes a special person to hunt the tall mountain peaks of Alaska, Canada, the western US & other parts of the world. I've seen them in Alaska along the south fork of the Kuskukwim & the Hartman Rivers & many times here in Idaho but never had a tag in my pocket. I salute anyone who dedicates the time to be a real sheep hunter. It takes not only time & money but much patience & being able to accept failures. Not many can stay in the game when it comes to hunting sheep in the high country. In my book that makes you a winner.

Dick

[zac0419]

No filled tag.
Socked in with weather.
Soggy everything.
Cold.
Hunting Alaska.

Yup. I'm jealous.

[mart]

That's why we often refer to hunting in Alaska as "armed camping in the rain."

[jfs]

God bless you my friend.... Your a better man then me.... My brother once asked about doing an Alaskan sheep hunt and I told him "fine..after you climb the mountain I meet you at the top after the helicopter drops me off".......