Field Judging Sheep for legal 4/5ths

[ABLT7]

I looked for a thread about tips for field judging sheep for legality. Given that the cost is high if you make a mistake, I thought it would be worthwhile to gather the tips in one thread and if possible it may become a sticky. For the experienced this may be second nature, but for the inexperienced there may be some important pointers.
thanks in advance for your help.

[Acesneights]

Best way is to get in the field and take some pictures of some perfectly broadside and try and figure it out the when you get home you can mess with a ruler and learn that way. The number one thing is if your not 100% sure don't shoot

[BackPackHunter]

Looking up at your ram will make him look bigger
Looking down could make him look smaller

I like to be on the same elevation, and just watching could take over a day to get the right angle to see if there's enough horn

I make sure that the bases are lined up then draw the legal line in my head to see if it comes past the eye.
Don't ever count on there being a 1/2 of horn under the hair that could push it over the line.

If you know any sheep hunters that have killed rams , ask if you can come over and put a square on the horns the same way F&w do


Another tip.....

Look at every ram kill pic you can n put a clear ruler up to the screen to make the line and see how the horn comes past
Outfitters websites are a good resource for this

[mk63]

Last year my partner and I took our first sheep, we ended up watching it for 5 hours and got within 200 yards to confirm it was legal. And it wasn't even that close, 2-3" past 4/5ths, but when your starting out and have spent 3-4 years without seeing a legal Ram, sometimes you can't believe your eyes.

When in doubt get closer and don't pull the trigger until you are absolutely certain. Might also want to think about buying a phone scope and downloading some APPs that let you draw straight lines on the Photos.

[Grizzly Adams]

When in doubt get closer and don't pull the trigger until you are absolutely certain

Better safe than sorry.If he looks doubtful, probably isn't legal. When you bring him into the office, they're going to throw a framing square on him to line up with the opposite horn, that in itself can affect the "size". You don't have that luxury in the field. Always figured it was a poor way to make someone decide whether to shoot or not, especially since some ancient rams can fail the test. Elk, you count points, length is easy enough to judge.

Grizz

[bdub]

There are exceptions, but most legal 4/5 curl unbroomed rams horns start to tip up from the deepest part of the curl.

A ram with his profile facing slightly away will appear longer and one facing slightly towards you will apppear shorter.

Rams horns usually do not grow perfectly symetrical, one horn will very often have a tighter curl than the other. A ram may be legal on one side and short on the other.

Look at lots of field photos, mounted heads, take a visit to Cadomin or the Parks and have a close up look at the real thing if you can.

Like others have said take your time and be sure very of yourself before you pull the trigger.

[old dog]

A couple more things u can try is using a phone scope on your spotting scope, take lots of pics and review them. Use your rifle cross hares to line up bases with the eye and horn. Buy the best spotting scope u can afford. PS don't by 3 spotting scopes over the years before u by the best one like I did. Lol. Good luck