Archery Desert Ram for the slam-

[TxxAgg]

Wow! Thanks for taking us along. Very cool.

 

[Scottf270]

I hunted in NWT for moose with Clay years ago. He's something else.

 

[wildwilderness]

Back in 2020 I had the chance to book a last minute Stone Sheep hunt at a great offer for friends and family. I couldn’t turn it down but as well all know 2020 didn’t go as planned especially in Canada!

I was rebooked to 2022 and was exited to go the opening week. We hunted hard an got on some rams the first couple days. However some resident hunters cleared a ridge a mile away while we were stalking in for a bow shot. They started shooting at who knows what from a mile away- never did see if they hit something.

But all the shooting sent the rams over the ridge to our right. We moved up to see where they were and a band of rams walked right into us at 40 yards! I got my bow out and tried to get ready for a shot but they never stopped. The wind was whipping and the last ram was legal but crossing 70 yds uphill from me… no chance and they left the mountain.

Luckily part of my deal was the chance to come back later in the season if I didn’t tag out. Had a few other hunts (including going back for a Dalls in AK but the sheep weren’t there, bad winters take its toll)

I saw my first Stone Ram moving to Alaska

 

[ReddingArcher]

That’s awesome! Congrats on the slam! I love reading about everyone’s adventures.

 

[wildwilderness]

I went back in mid September and the weather was beautiful. Cool crisp to the air and tree starting to change color. On the pack in we spotted a number of Rams!

We made a stalk on a double broomer but the wind swirled and he busted us. We watched him climb up the mountain out of bow range


The next day we glassed another band of rams closer to camp. We made a move and got under them about 150 yards. There was a darker face one that was probably legal



But next to him was a bigger ram with more mass and lower dropping horns just chewing his cud

 

[wildwilderness]

We had cover to our left up a little ravine and looped around above the bedded sheep. I got the bow ready and slowly crept over to where we thought the sheep were bedded.

We could spot horns through a little pine tree! Ranged at 40 yards I took the shot, but pulled a bit- luckily sheep aren’t the toughest animals but I did have to finish it off with another shot.

Stone Ram down

 

[wildwilderness]

Packed out the next day to the lodge, then catch a flight to my truck, then drive home




I guess I still have a few more sheep hunts left I would like to get a Dall’s with a bow, a Fannin would be awesome. Maybe I will draw another Rockies tag, or a California Bighorn, and a Nelsoni Desert Bighorn…. Can always dream!

 

[ol490]

I killed the desert sheep in my profile picture with Clay just under two years ago. He was awesome to hunt with. I think about that and my other sheep hunts every day.
Congratulations on an awesome desert sheep!