Archery Desert Ram for the slam-

[wildwilderness]

Thought I’d share my recent Sonora Desert Sheep hunt. Was a good time and got some nice content others may appreciate. Also some of my other sheep as well.


I went with Clay Lancaster in December. Was a hunt that got postponed from last season due to issues with an area we were planning to hunt. Clay was honest and straightforward to not hunt somewhere without a mature ram. Some questionable outfits may do that (easy money), especially for a bow hunter…


This time we had a good ram spotted. We were hunting on Seri Indian Land across from Tiburon

 

[wildwilderness]

We got to 300 yards the first day later in the afternoon. Winds were strong and we got stuck in an open saddle. Pulled out, the Seri Indians were a bit perplexed that we didn’t bring a rifle they said someone had missed that ram the season before, and that a bowhunter couldn’t get close…


Clay was super optimistic and one of the few major outfitters that likes taking bowhunters. His positivity and confidence was definitely appreciated!


The next day the sheep moved over to a Lower peak and bedded right below the ridge. We got ready for the climb!

 

[wildwilderness]

From the hike the day before we knew exactly where to go. By the time we circled behind the mountain and climbed up the backside the sheep had not moved much. The spotters below indicated the ram was about 20 yards below the edge. Perfect to calm my Ram Fever! I never get target panic on paper, but Buck/Bull/Ram Fever tends to get me if I let it work up. That's why I love to bowhunt

I put an arrow in and slowly make our way over the top. We quickly spot a ram bedded just below behind a bush. Clay says to shoot right through the bush and kill it now. I hesitate since I'm shooting a grim reaper mini mag which is an over the top mechanical. I wonder if it would flip if I hit the bush.... I have shot fixed blades through brush before but haven't tested a mech. My mind was racing what to do then I catch another ram looking at me to the right about 30 yards. Crap, I whisper to Clay which ram is the big one? He doesn't see the other ram but says SHOOT THAT ONE NOW!

From past hunts I count on the Sheep not being super spooky. I come to full draw and position myself forward while watching the ram. He never looks back at me so I stay calm. However the other ram that had been watching me bolts when I move forward. This causes the other ram to stand up and look around. I take the extra half second to calm my release and Pick A Spot! center mass since it is downhill and quartering away. I pull through and watch the arrow fly true. We hear the reassuring smack and the ram bolts away!

The closer spotter got it on video!

 

[wildwilderness]

So much relief after the shot! There were a lot more cliffs just below where the sheep were bedded. We started down but had to side hill a bit to where he actually died. Clay was joking that I had asked which ram to shoot, and if I had killed the right one When I get focused on the shot I mentally block out the antlers/horns to not blow the shot. Just making sure

Here is Clay walking up to the ram.

 

[grizz19]

Congrats! Super cool accomplishment.

 

[wildwilderness]

I finally get to put my hands on the Ram!

 

[wildwilderness]

Where the ram died

 

[silasbowhunter]

Congratulations!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wildwilderness]

Some more pics

 

[cuerro viejo]

That mountain range has some great rams on it. Crazy green this year.

 

[Hunter26]

Congratulations on the slam!

 

[wildwilderness]

A couple guys came up to help cape and pack the sheep down. So much easier to have help compared to my first Dall’s ram I killed solo!

Made it back to camp. We had tents on the Desert floor to stay closer to where the sheep were. Seri Land doesn’t have the ranch houses or amenities a nicer private ranch may. But it does have wild and free ranging sheep that were used to help restock the rest of the areas and Tiburon. It’s great to get out of the Alaskan winters and hunt in the sun and warmth of Mexico!

 

[Maxhunter]

Awesome congrats!

 

[wildwilderness]

My first Ram was in 2017- I was living in Colorado and got lucky in the Draw for an Archery tag on Pikes peak. I spent the summer scouting and getting in shape. The hunt was in November and the rut was on. I had a good friend come and help for the week. We got on sheep after a couple days but kept getting busted.

It was high elevation hunting off the top at 14,000’ super windy and chilly. On the last day my buddy was able to help we spotted a new ram tending a ewe in a great spot.

We got on the sheep, me following right behind, my buddy peaked over the ridge and said 23 yds- I drew and stepped out in the whipping wind came to full draw and cleared the ridge. I remeber the ram turning to look at me, the wind hitting the bow and me pulling the release -

The arrow looked like it was flying sideways- not uncommon in windy conditions- but it still hit the sheep, but a bit back. It was a big mechanical so I felt confident it would die…. But to make sure we quickly followed the blood and saw it standing on the other side of the rocks.

A quick range at 45 yards and I shot again. I saw the arrow fly behind the ram and thought did I shoot high? The ram ran to our right and 100 yards we watch it go down!! The shot was a perfect pass through and just looked high due to the angle

First Ram Rocky Bighorn

 

[CHL]

Big congrats and some great photos.

 

[Wheels]

That’s awesome! Congratulations

 

[wildwilderness]

With my first ram down I got the Seep Fever I had been thinking about a change in life and I made the choice to move to Alaska! I told my wife and family it was a good career move (but we all know hunting was the ulterior motive)

The first year we could hunt I took my oldest son on the hunt. He was a senior in HS and a good hunter. We found a borderline ram and he was confident and shot it. Lots of work and learning.

I went for another hunt later in the season at a closer walk in area as well. Saw some sheep but no rams


My son got a Dalls before me

 

[wildwilderness]

The next year was 2020 and we went to a different area. The opener week didn’t turn up any legal rams but did a lot of other hunters.

Mid season I went back on more of a scouting trip with the family along with the RV and spotted a band of rams in an unlikely spot. Could t tell if any were legal from that far but warranted another look.


I can back a third time solo and ready to get back to the rams. A full day hike in and got above them that night- one looked broomed .

Next morning they fed back my way. So tough to judge legal by annuli but when the one side broomed ram finally showed at 150yds i knew it was legal. I used a rifle in Alaska OTC DIY Solo to tag my first Dalls. It’s a tough pack out!

 

[wildwilderness]

The next year I got lucky and found a pilot- I had my buddy come up from Colorado to help out since a solo hunt can be tough and mentally exhausting as well.

We flew into an area and immediately started seeing sheep. Always hard to know for sure a ram is legal and that kept me on edge. A couple nice rams were also in Hell holes we felt we could not safely go or retrieve a dead ram from.

Moving over ridges we spotted a band of rams across a big chasm. However moving down to cross we stumbled onto another band.

Much deliberating and finally I thought the most mature ram was at least 8….

 

[wildwilderness]

So nice to have help packing out! It felt like a death march and we had an unnerving brown bear encounter. The ram got sealed at 10 years old so definitely was legal though not “full curl” He had that flare to him instead of curl