Bighorns

[medicmoose]

Just got in from the most difficult time I have had in the mountains in recent memory! It's official fall skipped the mountains straight to winter! 18" and drifts waste deep. Buuuut I did manage to put a little weight in the pack. A little short on horn but a real trophy non the less. Post pics in the am. It's was 12 straight hours out on foot today!

Matt

[pottymouth]

Congrats! Looking forward to the pics! By the looks of it, she's going to be a tough one out there this season! Good to hear, there are people still going and connecting!

[Blanka]

Congrats! Any legal ram is a trophy in my opinion. Looking forward to the pictures.

[Brink]

Congrats! Sounds like you earned it. Hopefully not to short on the horn department....JK

[medicmoose]

universal symbol for bighorn down!!

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Ram or ewe? Congrats Matt

[shooter]

Congrats! Ewe should have some great meat!!

[medicmoose]

could write a book on the trip 18" of snow waste deep drifts up on the hills trails buried in snow and willows. spotted some immature rams when the weather broke then this group of ladies with a 6 year draw in my pocket. We decided to make a play on them. Pretty long shot outta the 270wsm sealed the deal with a perfect lung shot. 2 days of packing and trail breaking to get her out! Griz everywhere had a real bad moment with a bear on the pack out with meat. realized pep spray freezes and things can and will go sideways in the blink of an eye. Here are a few pics.

Take care out there

Matt

[brother1]

Looks like a tough hunt with a great reward for your efforts, Congrats!

[packhuntr]

She is beautiful dude congratulations!

[Blanka]

Shes a Beauty. Congrats!!!

[jspar]

Nicely done. Congrats!

[top predator]

Great work, and excellent point about frozen pepper.

[littlered]

Thought you got your backpack issues sorted out????

[Bigfeet]

Are you willing to put up more info on your bear encounter?

[Dallen Baugh]

Originally Posted by Bigfeet

Are you willing to put up more info on your bear encounter?

X2

[medicmoose]

Originally Posted by littlered

Thought you got your backpack issues sorted out????

Yeah pack was great! Handled the 100 lbs coming out better than my body. My gators blew out. Tent wasn't 100% in the big snow. Stove had issues in the cold. And the pepper spray almost cost us.

[medicmoose]

Originally Posted by Bigfeet

Are you willing to put up more info on your bear encounter?

I probably won't unfold the whole story here. It has been reported to F/W. Basically I was headed out up a trail with a bag full of meat. griz was coming down I was stalked and then charged. Pepper spray failed. Allot of scrambling and quick thinking. Avoided an attack....

[mad mountain mike]

Regardless of wether that bear is now dead or alive I'm glad you made it out alive. Sounds like a great hunt and congratulations on securing some mighty fine meat.

[packhuntr]

Sounds like you got lucky Medicmoose... Glad u cats are ok.
I do have to wonder aloud though. Lota guys calling for a specific dead bear post recent griz related tragedy in Ab. Lotsa serious mtn hunters and enthusiasts alike calling for this. I sorta see their point, but disagree based on the nature of the findings there. Gotta ask ya Medicmoose, based on what you guys encountered, and it sounds on par with experiences many of us have had across NA in bear range, is you guys perception on your incident/near miss, one that might cause reasoning to consider this bear an anomaly, and a bear that should be dispatched for its actions? Are bears acting in such ways not doing what they've done for thousands of years, or is this behavior out of character, and cause for repricussions ?
Again, congrats on an awesome adventure!

[medicmoose]

I have grown up in bear country my whole life wether it be in the mountains or the northern bush. Ran bear baits for years. I have a pretty decent gauge on bears. How ever I have never had to try and use bear spray nor felt the need. U can almost always avoid a bear. Scare, or deter a bear. I believe what happened the other day was a bit of a perfect storm. 1 both the bear and I ended up way too close before realizing eachothers presence. 2 I had just skinned and de-boned a bighorn and had it in my pack. 3 the bear may be hungry or somewhat desprite in the high country after a large storm came through? Either way being all of 15 yards away it didn't leave either of us with allot of options. Both the bear and I left unscaved. And I am happy for it. I won't lie the thoughts of our kananaskis brother were heavy on my mind the whole trip and this struck very close to home having 2 young kids. Having said that I was very close to dispatching the bear and I would not hesitate had it 100% warranted it. I think the ol g bear pulled his head out of his rear and realized this was not a fight to be won! Would bear spray have helped? I would like to think so. He was definitely in range

[bighornram]

holy, lots of snow. Did you wake up to the snow while you were on the mountain? Thats a fine looking specimen, congrats.

[packhuntr]

Cool thx man. Was curious what you guys though of it. I too believe circumstance can be major factors in how we all approach or base timely decisions. Just wondered if scenario in your eyes dictated going back in there to kill a bear that was maybe just by and large acting like a bear? If youd have dumped it I don't think anyone would question ya one bit dude, just curious where lines are drawn and we feel need to go back in to punish what some might see as normal behaviors,, within reason of course. We don't shoot range cows cause they defend calves etc etc, however some behaviors are extremely undesireable and obviously must be dealt with. Same reasoning stands many places in life. Intriguing stuff, and very open to interpretation. Thx hey, enjoy that sheep dude and good luck rest of the fall!

[medicmoose]

Originally Posted by bighornram

holy, lots of snow. Did you wake up to the snow while you were on the mountain? Thats a fine looking specimen, congrats.

Yeah we camped up in there te snow fell the night of the 9th morn of the 10 almost collapsed ye old tent. Wet heavy 12-18" sure made sheep and freash trail easy to find

[bchap22]

those are awesome pics i would get the one of you carrying the animal on your shoulders framed. Those are some good memories and congrats on your success it looks like you had to definitely earn that one.

[Junglefisher]

That's cool.
Indulge a foreigner here, are you hunting just for meat with a ewe?
I didn't think anyone hunted bighorns just for meat.
That's a lot of work to go to for a sheep.
I'm sure you had a lot of fun though.

[medicmoose]

Yeah I guess you can call it a meat hunt. Mountain hunting and sheep hunting runs pretty deep in my soul not sure how else to explain it than that.
2 days of packing that sheep will defietly make every ounce taste that much better!

[CROWROCK]

I have done a few K-country ewe harvests over the years and they sometimes rival successful ram adventures. Better meat and less to carry. Get back out there soon.

[moosehunter3-0]

Congrats on the sheep. I've been 999ing non trophy sheep since I was 12. Might have to actually go for one next year.

[sixpoint1]

A big congrats and thanks for the story,glad everything worked out.I also have a ewe tag and am hoping to get out soon.Again congrats.