Big Horn Sheep
- Thread starter Throttle_monkey1
- Start date
Sheep hunting usually is a spot and stalk deal that involves a lot of hiking. In Alberta there are quite a few zones that don't require a draw, but some of the draws are for full curl rams only, so a hunter needs to be good at judging rams. As far as I know you can't call them in.... you have to walk your butt off after them! Depending on the zone (in AB), the season is from early Sept. to the end of November, however, there are zones that close earlier than that.
Well, in all honesty your choice of rifles wouldn't really be a good one. Most sheep hunters would use a light weight scoped bolt action rifle in a fairly flat shooting caliber as the shots can be quite long. I'm not a sheep hunter, but I've seen quite a few sheep hunting pictures posted by other CGN members who are, I'm sure they'll offer some advise.
The new regulations should be coming out soon, so I would suggest picking up a copy to familiarize yourself with the sheep regs. It seems like it is very hard work, I've hiked in sheep country and you really want to be packing as little weight as possible.
The new regulations should be coming out soon, so I would suggest picking up a copy to familiarize yourself with the sheep regs. It seems like it is very hard work, I've hiked in sheep country and you really want to be packing as little weight as possible.
Season for non-draw tags (and most draws) runs from august 25 to october 31 north of the trans-canada, it starts september 1st, and closes october 31st south of the trans-can.
Sheep hunting 101: (keeping in mind that I'm pretty much the opposite of an expert. I've only been hunting them for 4 years , but I mainly taught myself, so I can maybe help with how to get started.)
Find an open non-draw zone and check previous success rates. I think the last study of hunter success available on the web is from 2001. This comes in handy for finding out averages of sheep density in your preffered zones; keep in mind, however, that higher success rates could easily be a matter of higher hunting pressure, rather than higher sheep density.
Now you've got some zones you'd like to try narrowed down, go buy topos for those zones. Google earth is handy, but for id-ing good sheep country, you need the maps. You can find good sheep country from a topo by focussing on wide, (relatively) gently sloped ridges above treeline and hanging valleys. These will generally be high alpine meadows, and that provides sheep with their food. These high meadows, however, need escape cover nearby, or they will likely be unused. So you need to make sure that the higher, more gently sloped ridges are contiguous with steeper, nastier country with scree slides or loose rock. This is sheep escape cover.
What you're looking for will look something like this:
"A" is grazing habitat, "B" is an example of escape cover. Notice also that the hanging valley drops down slightly below tree line - the old rams often use trees as cover as well.
Finding small bits of topography that have both those elements probably won't work: you need large, contiguous sections of good sheep habitat for there to be enough sheep there to be worth hunting.
Once you've found some decent looking country on the maps, you need to scout it out; sheep often use historical ranges, so some likely looking sheep country won't have sheep. Furthermore, sheep segregate themselves by ### except during the rut in November, when you can't hunt. Often, Rams and Ewes will use completely different mountains, and use the same different mountains year after year, and if you walk out on opening day and find yourself surrounded by Ewes, you're screwed. So try to find rams - it's best if you find a shooter before the season opens, but if you find groups of younger rams, that may be good enough - other rams in the area will likely use the same range, and the older ones are good at not being seen.
I don't even look for sheep country closer than 15 hikable clicks from a road, or that can be accessed by quad. Too many hunters means no sheep, but that's just me.
Now for hunting, it goes like this. Haul in a 50 pound pack to your camp just below treeline. Get up at 4 in the morning to climb to the top of a mountain. Sit there with binoculars freezing your ass off looking around, maybe getting snowed on, maybe dying of heat. Do that all day. Do that all the next day. Try to do that the next day, but a system rolls in with low cloud reducing visibility to zero so you can't hunt and you sit in camp trying not to kill your partner or yourself. Do that the next day
Haul your camp another 10 clicks and do more glassing. Continue until succesful or you decide never to hunt sheep again.
Or some guys road hunt - I'd rather go shopping.
Shots can be long or short. Be ready for either. Get great optics, great boots, great backpacking gear. Be in great shape.
Geez, that got more involved than I thought I would.
Have fun.
Sheep hunting 101: (keeping in mind that I'm pretty much the opposite of an expert. I've only been hunting them for 4 years , but I mainly taught myself, so I can maybe help with how to get started.)
Find an open non-draw zone and check previous success rates. I think the last study of hunter success available on the web is from 2001. This comes in handy for finding out averages of sheep density in your preffered zones; keep in mind, however, that higher success rates could easily be a matter of higher hunting pressure, rather than higher sheep density.
Now you've got some zones you'd like to try narrowed down, go buy topos for those zones. Google earth is handy, but for id-ing good sheep country, you need the maps. You can find good sheep country from a topo by focussing on wide, (relatively) gently sloped ridges above treeline and hanging valleys. These will generally be high alpine meadows, and that provides sheep with their food. These high meadows, however, need escape cover nearby, or they will likely be unused. So you need to make sure that the higher, more gently sloped ridges are contiguous with steeper, nastier country with scree slides or loose rock. This is sheep escape cover.
What you're looking for will look something like this:
"A" is grazing habitat, "B" is an example of escape cover. Notice also that the hanging valley drops down slightly below tree line - the old rams often use trees as cover as well.
Finding small bits of topography that have both those elements probably won't work: you need large, contiguous sections of good sheep habitat for there to be enough sheep there to be worth hunting.
Once you've found some decent looking country on the maps, you need to scout it out; sheep often use historical ranges, so some likely looking sheep country won't have sheep. Furthermore, sheep segregate themselves by ### except during the rut in November, when you can't hunt. Often, Rams and Ewes will use completely different mountains, and use the same different mountains year after year, and if you walk out on opening day and find yourself surrounded by Ewes, you're screwed. So try to find rams - it's best if you find a shooter before the season opens, but if you find groups of younger rams, that may be good enough - other rams in the area will likely use the same range, and the older ones are good at not being seen.
I don't even look for sheep country closer than 15 hikable clicks from a road, or that can be accessed by quad. Too many hunters means no sheep, but that's just me.
Now for hunting, it goes like this. Haul in a 50 pound pack to your camp just below treeline. Get up at 4 in the morning to climb to the top of a mountain. Sit there with binoculars freezing your ass off looking around, maybe getting snowed on, maybe dying of heat. Do that all day. Do that all the next day. Try to do that the next day, but a system rolls in with low cloud reducing visibility to zero so you can't hunt and you sit in camp trying not to kill your partner or yourself. Do that the next day
Haul your camp another 10 clicks and do more glassing. Continue until succesful or you decide never to hunt sheep again.
Or some guys road hunt - I'd rather go shopping.
Shots can be long or short. Be ready for either. Get great optics, great boots, great backpacking gear. Be in great shape.
Geez, that got more involved than I thought I would.
Have fun.
BBB, woah, you are one smart cookie! And a hardcore hunter too. When I was 14 I couldn't sleep all night before opening day and might as well have been out sitting in the bush waiting for that deer. I've been going out for 6 years so far and have yet to even see a legal ram yet. Not to discourage you, but be ready to do some serious work to get away from the crowds like BBB said. Sometimes you will just bump into one fluke right off the bat, or so I've been told.
As for rifle, light as possible and practice in all manner of shooting angles. The shot may be 60 yards, it might be 300.
Calibers, 270, 7x57, 308, all the way to some guys toting 7 STW's or the 30 caliber mags too. I prefer one I can tote all day and not hurt or be scared to shoot it either. Try to stay under 7 1/2lbs with scope and loaded unless your super tough. Scope, I use a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36. Anywhere between that and up to 10 power would be good, although the variable 10's get a bit bulky.
Good binoculars and a good Spotter are a must.
So are the maps if you're going into new territory. And don't forget a comfy pack and Hiking boots.
These items will make or break the hunt and I have learned it is worth shelling out a few bucks in equipment if your serious about geteting a ram. Sell yourself short with the optics and you may walk right by one hog of a ram.
Hope this helps, best of luck!
Noel
As for rifle, light as possible and practice in all manner of shooting angles. The shot may be 60 yards, it might be 300.
Calibers, 270, 7x57, 308, all the way to some guys toting 7 STW's or the 30 caliber mags too. I prefer one I can tote all day and not hurt or be scared to shoot it either. Try to stay under 7 1/2lbs with scope and loaded unless your super tough. Scope, I use a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36. Anywhere between that and up to 10 power would be good, although the variable 10's get a bit bulky.
Good binoculars and a good Spotter are a must.
So are the maps if you're going into new territory. And don't forget a comfy pack and Hiking boots.
These items will make or break the hunt and I have learned it is worth shelling out a few bucks in equipment if your serious about geteting a ram. Sell yourself short with the optics and you may walk right by one hog of a ram.
Hope this helps, best of luck!
Noel
You'll get the whole range with sheep. My first was a barely legal curl that I shot with open sights at 75 yards! That was only because I had dropped my rifle and broke the scope on the way in. The longest shot I've had was 250 yards with a 264 win mag.
Now I use a 243 WSSM cause its about all my old a** can haul up the mountain. And yes, its got more than enough oomph to drop any sheep!
+1 on the need for really good optics - this is one place you don't want to be with any wally world specials.
Now I use a 243 WSSM cause its about all my old a** can haul up the mountain. And yes, its got more than enough oomph to drop any sheep!
+1 on the need for really good optics - this is one place you don't want to be with any wally world specials.
An Alberta resident can buy an over the counter trophy sheep tag but a non resident must use an outfitter or draw a non resident tag.Only two non resident tags are given out each year and over 200 people apply for them each year.
- Location
- AB foothills
Throttle_monkey1 said:Thanks again guys, I will practice 300 yards + shots with irons, I will have good binoculars though, or maybe a telescope
Iron sights hunting BH sheep
. Practice more than lots Good luck this fall!
I am sure it can be done with irons. I have found when I am done hauling my behind up a hill it takes awhile for my breathing to catch up with me and my vision is a bit blurry. I wouldn't want to be using irons on that shot os a lifetime but they did it that way a hundred years ago, mind you I bet they missed a little bit more too. The crosshairs in a scope can be used as a rangefinder to some degree if it's a long shot.
As Davey said, practice more than lots!
As Davey said, practice more than lots!
- Location
- AB foothills
Noel said:I am sure it can be done with irons. I have found when I am done hauling my behind up a hill it takes awhile for my breathing to catch up with me and my vision is a bit blurry. I wouldn't want to be using irons on that shot os a lifetime but they did it that way a hundred years ago, mind you I bet they missed a little bit more too. The crosshairs in a scope can be used as a rangefinder to some degree if it's a long shot.
As Davey said, practice more than lots!
You are right Noel, I didnt say it could not be done, but same as you I dont want to miss the shot of a lifetime.
Another great point!
That would separate the men from the boys for sure Jarrod. Good point!
I have heard the Bighorns are "easy" to knock down but boy, to stalk to within 30 or 40 yards without the wind blowing your arrow away mid flight. Now that takes nerves of steel!
I say give 'er, inside of 200 yards you should be good to go, depending on the calibre you pack. Find some stairs and up and down you go with 60 lbs on your back, unless you can get out and do some scouting, that would be even better.
Noel
I have heard the Bighorns are "easy" to knock down but boy, to stalk to within 30 or 40 yards without the wind blowing your arrow away mid flight. Now that takes nerves of steel!
I say give 'er, inside of 200 yards you should be good to go, depending on the calibre you pack. Find some stairs and up and down you go with 60 lbs on your back, unless you can get out and do some scouting, that would be even better.
Noel
I think those rams in 410 must be practically tame or those pointy stick hunters are practically wild. Either way they are as successful as the most of the (successful)gun hunters I know. They are also about as forth coming with tips but I believe they ambush @ water sorces rather than stalk.
Sheep hunters seem to be the most secretive lot I've met. Can't really blame them, it is a big investment without any guarantees of a return. If one is lucky enough to find a common watering hole and then not use it, that may be a tad foolish.
A coworker's Dad works out at Exshaw and said the ram love to hang out at the mine. He says they are big too, not sure how ed'cated he is with a big ram, may be 3/4 curls for all I know.....
A coworker's Dad works out at Exshaw and said the ram love to hang out at the mine. He says they are big too, not sure how ed'cated he is with a big ram, may be 3/4 curls for all I know.....
Noel said:
I've seen a few fulls in a herd of 20 or so(mostly Rams) up there Noel. Personally I don't know why you're going to drive up North when I can broker a deal for a compound bow that I saw at Cash Converters(heck I'll trade it straight across for your Bruno) and you can go up after work and take your Ram.
