How to learn rocky mountain big horn sheep hunting?

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tommy88

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I'm not new to the rockies, nor to hunting, but I am to big horns. What are your recommendations for learning how to do it? Books, youtube channels, etc, all fair game. I'd like to fully learn everything about the species, but I've yet to find a book unlike whitetails for example.

Thanks

And if theres a book on hunting goats, I'd like to hear about it too
 
Don't count on any help from other sheep hunters, it's a very secretive community. :redface: jack O' Connor is about as good as it gets, Geist wrote the definitive book on sheep biology.

https://www.amazon.ca/Mountain-Sheep-Study-Behaviour-Evolution/dp/0226285723/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&qid=1608231794&refinements=p_27%3AVALERIUS+GEIST&s=books&sr=1-7

Grizz
 
Not being flippant, however the best way to learn sheep hunting is the way the best sheep hunters did. Go sheep hunting. Stay out of sight and downwind as much as possible. Take your time. Don't be in a hurry. If you don't spook them, they will be there tomorrow.

There's more, of course, and not suggesting you shouldn't read about it, but you will learn more on your first hunt than you will in reading all the books you have.

Ted
 
Boots on the ground, no substitute for that. I started hunting stone sheep 4 years ago and was blown away by the difference from what I was used to deer hunting. O’Connor has some good writhing. I could never get my hands on Duncan gilchrist books because they go for a ridiculous cost. Does anyone know if they are available online somewhere? My search has come up empty for them.
 
There are a handful of episodes of the Meateater podcast that get into sheep hunting pretty hard. A few of them have the Meateater guys talking to the dude who started Stone Glacier. If I remember I will take a look later after work and see if I can find specific episodes, but it shouldn't be too hard to find some.
 
It took me 5 years and 8 hunts to get my first ram, I came from knowing nothing about sheep hunting. Try to find hunting partners that have had success in the past. Learn from them and MOST important be persistent and give it your all.
 
Two co-workers from Cold Lake pulled sheep draws.

They were in pretty decent shape to start with, and started prepping for their hunt 4 months ahead of it. Weight room, cardio, hiking with backpacks and a crowbar (instead of carrying a rifle).

They both lost over 15 pounds while there. Expect to have to work for it!

Got sheep and goats both here. The sheep look like a positively easy hunt compared to the goats! The sheep tend to hang on the plateaus along the river, while the goats hang out in places that would give a Swiss Mountain Rescue guy nightmares!

Closest I have got to a goat here is 600 yards ranged. Of that, around 400 of those yards were vertical rock face. They were up, I was down, and they are still out there! LOL!
 
6 yrs for me to connect with a ram (5yrs for Ewe). I hunted on foot out of a backpack, if you have horses, llamas or a helicopter the list can vary.
-Be in shape. A good way to do this and test gear is scout your area year round if you can.
-buy good gear
-you'll carry your gun for 6yrs and shoot it for 5 seconds. Buy light weight.
-Hunt hard, dig deep, glass.

Sheep hunting is one unique experience to the next, from weather to wildlife to having to dig deep and find the lungs and energy to keep slogging forward. Be prepared.

Do all these things and the universe will eventually put you on the same ridge as the rams, don't miss. (remember it's linear distance to target not angle, this cost me a 200+ ram.. i still have the bad dreams)
 
I'll second Duncan Gilchrist's book Hunt High.
Lots of books, magazine articles and hunting movies out there on sheep hunting. All have tips that you will find useful once out on the mountain.
But the best learning as already stated, is being on the mountain, and using your glass.
Two most important pieces of equipment: 1) Good glass, and 2), Good Boots.
Being in good shape definitely helps...but more importantly is to learn to pace yourself on the mountain. Most people go too hard too fast, and burn themselves out before they get halfway to their destination.
Goats or sheep, neither is as hard to get into range of as many suggest...just takes better hunting skills; watch the wind, choose your routes and your timing to stalk so that you do not get busted. Movement is what usually gets you busted. You can successfully cross fairly open places without getting busted if you go slow, and can keep to shadows and keep the sun to your back.
Longest shot to date on sheep is 300 yards...most less than 200 yards. Longest shot on a goat is 110 yards, while the other 2 were at 15 and 30 yards. My goal is mtn goat with my recurve!

Even if you do get spotted, don't lose hope, as they will not always run, or run far. But once spotted, do not disappear from their sight, or at least leave someone in sight to keep their attention while you back out and can continue the stalk unseen until you are within your comfortable range. This is from Hunt High, and it has worked well for me on a number of occasions.

Best of luck in your quest!
 
Thanks for all the great info guys. I'm looking at hunting in Alberta, in the 400s. I've been in the mountains a few times, and I'm not new to hiking or camping, I'm more so looking to understand the animal better and learn those tips and tricks.
 
tommy88 said:
Thanks for all the great info guys. I'm looking at hunting in Alberta, in the 400s. I've been in the mountains a few times, and I'm not new to hiking or camping, I'm more so looking to understand the animal better and learn those tips and tricks.
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You'd better get a Hunter Host or hire an Outfitter, or we'll be talking about you on Alberta Outdoorsman . :)

Grizz
 
tommy88 said:
I just checked those books out. They're for collectors, not for hunters. Are there any books that are priced reasonably?
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I nearly #### myself, when I saw the price when I googled Geist's book. Mine was bought at the U of C book store and says 22. Seems a lot of the authoritative books are out of print and highly sought after. Sheep Hunting is a lot of boots on the ground and learning curve, it's uphill both ways, that's why you admire the guy who has a ram hanging on the wall. :)

Grizz
 
tommy88 said:
I just checked those books out. They're for collectors, not for hunters. Are there any books that are priced reasonably?
Click to expand...

I might have an old copy of Hunt High if you can be patient, my basement is in full renovation chaos right now, and my best books are down there.


I hunt them a lot more than I read about hunting them these days. (got a pretty nice stone ram this year) Time is limited, clock is ticking. It ain't whitetail deer hunting and every time you choose a different activity, you're one time closer to not being able to do it.
 
Grizz. Put your elitism away. This is the wrong thread. If your suggesting that I need to spend $40k every time I go into the mountains, then your living in fantasy land. Dont waste your time rebuttling about safety, there are plenty of optics snobs on this forum that you can flex your money with.
 
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