438 sheep

[jack88]

Sheep and Sheep Hunting- Jack O'Connor

Chapter 16-The Future of the Wild Sheep(page 298,299)


Old man O'Connor had it right, even 40 years ago.

[MathewsZ7]

Originally Posted by Mountain Guy

how is the ''draw system'' supposed to differentiate die hards from lazy azzes

Because if it wasn't so easy and cheap to apply you would only get those that are dedicated to the tags. Last year half the tags were wasted by guys both unprepared and unwilling to put the effort in. Done just not showing up at all. There are plenty of rams to go around so to save one by not showing up is as retarded of a comment as is the ease of draw entry. People apply that put in for no other draws. People apply that think is just a chance at an easy ram. Then see the truth in the hunt and quit and wast a tag many would hunt very hard and be very proud to have. Many people apply because it's $3 not because they want to hunt sheep. It's a waste of tags the way it is done now. It is a huge joke!!

And I'm far from saying the OP will be like this but it's became more of the norm lately.

[jack88]

And he quotes:

"I am going to make some suggestions which I am sure will raise some hackles, will get me hanged in effigy, and which are probably unworkable.
In an effort to eliminate the casual, just-for-the-hell-of-it type of applicant I think a failry high application fee should be required. I would suggest $100. This would be nonreturnable but it would put the applicant, in case he did not draw the first year, on the list of paid-up applicants for the four succeeding years.
My next notion is that the license itself should be high enough to keep it out of the range of the meat hunters and the just-for-the-hell-of-it hunters but not so high that only fat cats could afford it."

Four decades later and..................

[muleyhunter7]

I drew the tag and have zero sheep experience jealous of that to? Lol

[medicmoose]

^^Hilarious drawing a 438 tag by no means will guarantee you a ram let alone a BC ram. In fact I don't think a single BC ram was shot there all of last year.

[pikeslayer22]

Originally Posted by medicmoose

^^Hilarious drawing a 438 tag by no means will guarantee you a ram let alone a BC ram. In fact I don't think a single BC ram was shot there all of last year.

Your wrong there

[Weatherby 300]

Originally Posted by muleyhunter7

I drew the tag and have zero sheep experience jealous of that to? Lol

Then you have no idea what you're in for......it will be the experience of a lifetime.....best to stay quiet and be happy about your luck.....go a few days early, scout the trails, and talk to everyone you run into.....when guys see you on top of a mountain, they tend to be willing to help a guy out......

Good luck ......

[medicmoose]

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

Your wrong there

I very well could be. I know one members came close. But there was allot of 5-6 year old rams shot.

[pikeslayer22]

I know of 4 and I live a pretty sheltered life!

[saskwhitey]

One ram was 179, i think the ministers was mid to high 170's, mine was 170. There was a heavy broomed ram shot, that i believe was 10 plus years, and the one lady shot a 7.5 yr old probably in the low to mid 160's. The first 4 rams were all 8 plus years. There was two shot in the miiddle season, that I never saw puctures of, and i'm pretty sure nobody tagged out in the first season. So all in all, 7 out of 16 tags were filled.

[medicmoose]

I guess your life must be more sheltered than you know pikeslayer. But I am 99% sure no one did. If so I would like to see some pics.

[pikeslayer22]

Did you read Sask Whiteys post?

[medicmoose]

Yeah the biggest ram was 179 that's not a book ram. And that ram took the wsf gold buckle for the biggest ram shot in Alberta for the 2013 season.

[Speckle55]

MINIMUM ENTRY SCORES FOR NORTH AMERICAN BIG GAME

Below is a chart that lists the minimum entry scores for all the North American big game animals recognized by the Boone and Crockett Club. Trophies that meet the Awards minimum but not the All-Time minimum will be listed in the Awards book. Trophies that meet the All-Time minimum will be listed in both the Awards book, as well as "Records of North American Big Game."



CATEGORY
AWARDS ALL-TIME

bighorn sheep
175 180

desert sheep
165 168

Dall's sheep
160 170

Stone's sheep
160 170


David

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

I know of 4 and I live a pretty sheltered life!

Better figure out how many inches are in a book ram junior

[pikeslayer22]

I read your post as not a single ram was shot in the November hunt...sorry for confusion my bad

[pikeslayer22]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

Better figure out how many inches are in a book ram junior

Will do Dad

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by muleyhunter7

I drew the tag and have zero sheep experience jealous of that to? Lol

"Jealous".....is the key word!

My advice for the hunt is to go to Safeway and buy the biggest two bags of old dutch chips you can find....when your sitting on the mine boundry line,shake them bags as hard as you can and rattle EM in!!!!.....They prefer salt 'n vinegar

Congrats on drawing the tag.....good luck!

[Mountain Guy]

Originally Posted by MathewsZ7

Because if it wasn't so easy and cheap to apply you would only get those that are dedicated to the tags. Last year half the tags were wasted by guys both unprepared and unwilling to put the effort in. Done just not showing up at all. There are plenty of rams to go around so to save one by not showing up is as retarded of a comment as is the ease of draw entry. People apply that put in for no other draws. People apply that think is just a chance at an easy ram. Then see the truth in the hunt and quit and wast a tag many would hunt very hard and be very proud to have. Many people apply because it's $3 not because they want to hunt sheep. It's a waste of tags the way it is done now. It is a huge joke!!

And I'm far from saying the OP will be like this but it's became more of the norm lately.

ok.....so how does the ''draw system'' differentiate between die hards and rich lazy azzes ?

[dshaw]

Originally Posted by Mountain Guy

ok.....so how does the ''draw system'' differentiate between die hards and rich lazy azzes ?

It doesn't, and thats what great about the tag. I don't fall into either of the categories above of hunters when it comes to sheep but that shouldn't keep me from applying and getting a tag and learning. When it comes to this hunt no matter how prepared and a die hard sheep hunter you are if the sheep don't come off the mine you won't get one.

[shedcrazy]

Congrats to your wife on the tag and ignore the typical AO whiners on here. There are no rules that you need to be "die hard sheep hunter"..whatever that is. That is what make this tag so great. You don't need to be in "sheep shape" to get the tag nor really need to be to get a ram on this hunt. What you need is to be mentally strong, good winter kit and a little lucky! In fact I would say this is the one sheep hunt you really don't need to know anything about sheep..They are in the rut and leave the mine where all the food and the majority of the ewes are. What you need to know is where the trailheads are, where the mind boundaries are, some of the natural corridors are and maybe where some of the rock blinds are to save you from the nasty wind!!

The 7mm-08 would be fine if that is the rifle she shoots most and is comfortable with. The rams aren't that wild so you can wait for the ideal shot.

I was lucky enough to tag along last year with some rookie sheep hunters that got the job done with a great ram and are probably addicted to sheep hunting and dream seasons now

I hope everyone that draws the tags goes and enjoys the hunt. It's an unique experience you will never forget.

[Mountain Guy]

Originally Posted by dshaw

It doesn't, and thats what great about the tag. I don't fall into either of the categories above of hunters when it comes to sheep but that shouldn't keep me from applying and getting a tag and learning. When it comes to this hunt no matter how prepared and a die hard sheep hunter you are if the sheep don't come off the mine you won't get one.

Some people seem to think that this draw should only be for them....or a chosen few. Typical thinking of sheep hunters I guess.

[Speckle55]

To all hunters in 438 sheep hunts don't drink out of any of the streams on or around the Mine sites .. carry in your own water .. the water reports show high Selenium and it can be toxic at those levels and is not recommended that anyone drink .. it has been noted at times above the legal level in some tests(30 times to 100 times on 3 creeks I was told)
http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/7791.pdf

Food for Thought

David

[Blanka]

Originally Posted by Speckle55

To all hunters in 438 sheep hunts don't drink out of any of the streams on or around the Mine sites .. carry in your own water .. the water reports show high Selenium and it can be toxic at those levels and is not recommended that anyone drink .. it has been noted at times above the legal level in some tests(30 times to 100 times on 3 creeks I was told)
http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/7791.pdf

Food for Thought

David

thanks for the heads up speckles! heeding out to do some scouting in a couple weeks

[Speckle55]

np

also be careful if you harvest a Ram as one of the rams harvested had the horn fall off at the truck and another BC 438 Ram(AGFA yearly winner) had some weeping at the horn base .. Selenium cause a break down of horn material it is thought

Food for Thought

David

Originally Posted by Blanka

thanks for the heads up speckles! heeding out to do some scouting in a couple weeks

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Speckle55

np

also be careful if you harvest a Ram as one of the rams harvested had the horn fall off at the truck and another BC 438 Ram(AGFA yearly winner) had some weeping at the horn base .. Selenium cause a break down of horn material it is thought

Food for Thought

David

All horns will and need to come off eventually. That would be the least of my worries.

[Whelen1]

Originally Posted by MathewsZ7

Because if it wasn't so easy and cheap to apply you would only get those that are dedicated to the tags. Last year half the tags were wasted by guys both unprepared and unwilling to put the effort in. Done just not showing up at all. There are plenty of rams to go around so to save one by not showing up is as retarded of a comment as is the ease of draw entry. People apply that put in for no other draws. People apply that think is just a chance at an easy ram. Then see the truth in the hunt and quit and wast a tag many would hunt very hard and be very proud to have. Many people apply because it's $3 not because they want to hunt sheep. It's a waste of tags the way it is done now. It is a huge joke!!

And I'm far from saying the OP will be like this but it's became more of the norm lately.

We're you there last year? If there were so many rams to go around then why wasn't everyone successful? Including the folks who paid good money to be guided and got skunked. By all means voice your opinion but try to throw a little more fact into your statements.

[Whelen1]

Originally Posted by saskwhitey

One ram was 179, i think the ministers was mid to high 170's, mine was 170. There was a heavy broomed ram shot, that i believe was 10 plus years, and the one lady shot a 7.5 yr old probably in the low to mid 160's. The first 4 rams were all 8 plus years. There was two shot in the miiddle season, that I never saw puctures of, and i'm pretty sure nobody tagged out in the first season. So all in all, 7 out of 16 tags were filled.

You are correct about the first week and the two shot in the second week were right around 175 one heavy boomed and the other pretty much had lamb tips. There was one more squeaker that got away. Both rams dropped together.

[brother1]

Originally Posted by shedcrazy

Congrats to your wife on the tag and ignore the typical AO whiners on here. There are no rules that you need to be "die hard sheep hunter"..whatever that is. That is what make this tag so great. You don't need to be in "sheep shape" to get the tag nor really need to be to get a ram on this hunt. What you need is to be mentally strong, good winter kit and a little lucky! In fact I would say this is the one sheep hunt you really don't need to know anything about sheep..They are in the rut and leave the mine where all the food and the majority of the ewes are. What you need to know is where the trailheads are, where the mind boundaries are, some of the natural corridors are and maybe where some of the rock blinds are to save you from the nasty wind!!

The 7mm-08 would be fine if that is the rifle she shoots most and is comfortable with. The rams aren't that wild so you can wait for the ideal shot.

I was lucky enough to tag along last year with some rookie sheep hunters that got the job done with a great ram and are probably addicted to sheep hunting and dream seasons now

I hope everyone that draws the tags goes and enjoys the hunt. It's an unique experience you will never forget.

great post and way to keep this thread on track! Congrats as well to the OP and have a great hunt! 7MM-08 is great, and the meat will be delicious!

[MathewsZ7]

Originally Posted by Whelen1

We're you there last year? If there were so many rams to go around then why wasn't everyone successful? Including the folks who paid good money to be guided and got skunked. By all means voice your opinion but try to throw a little more fact into your statements.

Nope but I do know of 3 tags that were Unhunted. 1 left early for family reasons and one tag that's be reportable only hunted out of the window of the truck do to the weather. And 2 more guys are rumor inch to have give up early. So that's 3-4 tags at least that could have at least been utilized by guys wanting to hunt. Many guys do put lots of effort in every year. But some don't and it's been that way every year. If these guys had to put more forth to get the tag they would be more apt to put effort in. But when your only out $3 what's to make guys try when the weather turns crappy and the hunting gets extreme?

And actually there is more than enough rams to go around. You get the right day and there could be a ram for every guy holding a tag that season walk off the mine together. It's not a matter of enough rams it's a matter of guys being sitting there when one of the hundreds of rams walks up off the mine. Maybe it will happen and maybe it won't But if they are sitting at home they won't get one.

Just saying that if draws weren't so cheap to throw away those guys getting them may actually get more tags utalized.

I hope the OP gets a great ram and that all the tag holders actually try and at least hunt the tags!!