Ageing Rams In The Field

[Akmooseman]

Thought it would be fun to start a thread on aging rams (I'm sure its been done already). Not the greatest quality photo but more often than not that's what your working with when field judging through glass at greater distances. Encourage others to post field photos for more content to practice with. Provide your guesses and your reasoning behind it!

 

[BillNye]

here's my contribution from the DS136-140 area.

I'm gonna guess left at 5.5, right 6.5. Ram on the right miiight be legal but I'd hang around for a more conclusive angle

 

[Akmooseman]

View attachment 1036502here's my contribution from the DS136-140 area.

I'm gonna guess left at 5.5, right 6.5. Ram on the right miiight be legal but I'd hang around for a more conclusive angle

Man thats a slob. I would guess him at 9. I drew DS140 this year, maybe ill run into him! lol

 

[Blockcaver]

I'd guess 8 years old on left ram and 10 for the ram on right in original post #1. And 8 (maybe 9) on the great heavy ram in post #2.

 

[Snyd]

pass, pass, BANG!

 

[BillNye]

Man thats a slob. I would guess him at 9. I drew DS140 this year, maybe ill run into him! lol

I only see the big ones while I'm up there for moose. He made it through last year's sheep season so hopefully he's still around somewhere for ya

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

View attachment 1036502here's my contribution from the DS136-140 area.

I'm gonna guess left at 5.5, right 6.5. Ram on the right miiight be legal but I'd hang around for a more conclusive angle

That’s an 8 year old ram.

 

[KingGus]

View attachment 1036502here's my contribution from the DS136-140 area.

I'm gonna guess left at 5.5, right 6.5. Ram on the right miiight be legal but I'd hang around for a more conclusive angle

Gotta be nine with a hairline annuli. Looking a little beat up with some bark off on the nose.

 

[carlc]

8, and nine or 10 on the first photo. Eight on the second photo. Here's one.

 

[Akmooseman]

8, and nine or 10 on the first photo. Eight on the second photo. Here's one.

Man I would say he is 6 or 7? He'll be an absolute giant if he can hit 9 or 10

 

[ArcherBob]

7 on left, 8-9 on right, 9 on heavy guy (I drew SW Chugach after over 20 years trying, I'd love to see that one out there), and 6 on the last one.

Here's one

 

[Sneaker]

7 on left, 8-9 on right, 9 on heavy guy (I drew SW Chugach after over 20 years trying, I'd love to see that one out there), and 6 on the last one.

Here's one

That one is difficult for me on his lower half, a lot of those look like years but must be some false rings going on.

 

[ArcherBob]

Not my sheep, I was just there and witnessed

That one is difficult for me on his lower half, a lot of those look like years but must be some false rings going on.

It was difficult enough the four biologist argued three different ages between them. It’s not my Sheep, I was just there and witnessed it.

 

[Sylus]

Without a closer picture this is my call:



My contribution:

 

[carlc]

7 on left, 8-9 on right, 9 on heavy guy (I drew SW Chugach after over 20 years trying, I'd love to see that one out there), and 6 on the last one.

Here's one

 

[ArcherBob]

One said 7, one said 8, the other finally agreed with 8 after much discussion!

 

[ArcherBob]

Without a closer picture this is my call:

View attachment 1041668

My contribution:

View attachment 1041669

6-7

 

[carlc]

One said 7, one said 8, the other finally agreed with 8 after much discussion!

That's crazy to get eight out of him! I can maybe see another ring between my 2 and 3 marks.

 

[ArcherBob]

Here is one for you with a little story.

I passed on this guy a few years back, I wasnt able to make him full curl with absolute certainty. He was shot the next day by another hunter up the drainage. Two years later I found out. Biologist aged him at 6 and after a very long deliberation with levels, guages, vices, etc... decided he was full curl. He didnt give me much opportunity to study him before he went out of sight after I made my decision. Maybe I would have changed my mind if he did, but thats how it happened. What do you think you would have done in the heat of the moment without being able to see annuli for age?