Back to sheep country

[AKHUNTER]

I dusted off the sheep hunting gear and took the rifle and Tundra for a hike in the sheep mountains. I hadn't been for a few years and this is not a young mans sport! Unfortunately, on about day two the sharp rocks did a number on my dogs feet. They were raw, sore, and every step hurt. He was not having a good time. That pretty much ended the thought of pulling the trigger because doing so would result in 3X more hiking to pack out a ram and my camp leap frog style. We played the game and got within rifle range (298 yards) of a legal ram. It was his lucky day and I hope to see him next year when he has yet another growth ring and more horn - boom!

The sign indicated the trail was open to 3-wheelers...
so that's what we rode.


This is where we glassed the rams from 298 yards.



This is at an extreme uphill angle so he looks well beyond full curl. He is full curl, but I don't think by many inches as this would suggest.

 

[survivalistd]

Wonderful

 

[AKFreezerFiller]

Always enjoy seeing dogs along for a hunting adventure but too bad about his feet. Hopefully the ram is still waiting there for you next year.

 

[Decker9]

Very cool you got out there!! And hats off letting that ram breed this year! IMO, Mother Nature will reward you in the future for smart conservation decisions, ya I’m strange bit lol.

I had a couple pack dogs for a number of years, best sheep partners ever!! I did learn though that it meant sometimes taking “the long way”, to avoid certain terrain.

For training in pre season, I would jog my dogs on gravel roads leading up to a hunt, iv heard it helps toughen up the pads of their feet a bit.

My old dogs last trip when she was 9 was a goat hunt, her feet didn’t do well and had to call it on day 3. It was hard seeing her sore like that.

We tried the dog boots years ago, but had no luck with them unfortunately.

Look forward to seeing that ram in your hands next season!!

 

[AKHUNTER]

Very cool you got out there!! And hats off letting that ram breed this year! IMO, Mother Nature will reward you in the future for smart conservation decisions, ya I’m strange bit lol.

I had a couple pack dogs for a number of years, best sheep partners ever!! I did learn though that it meant sometimes taking “the long way”, to avoid certain terrain.

For training in pre season, I would jog my dogs on gravel roads leading up to a hunt, iv heard it helps toughen up the pads of their feet a bit.

My old dogs last trip when she was 9 was a goat hunt, her feet didn’t do well and had to call it on day 3. It was hard seeing her sore like that.

We tried the dog boots years ago, but had no luck with them unfortunately.

Look forward to seeing that ram in your hands next season!!

Thanks. This particular drainage was full of extremely sharp rocks. I kept looking at the rocks thinking I could skin the sheep with these knife edge rocks at the same time feeling bad for my dogs feet. My previous Labrador went on quite a few sheep hunts and she did pretty good but perhaps the rocks weren't quite this bad. Did the dog booties fall off - was that why they didn't work?

 

[jpengel]

I throw these specific booties in the pack for my dog when I know there could be lots of loose and or sharp rocks, even toughened pads can blister and get cut. They are small, durable, and cheap - so you can bring backups. They can fall off, like any bootie, but the closure system is pretty good and can get snug without worry of being too tight. I think someone told me these are the specific ones sled dogs wear, but I could be making that up.

https://dogbooties.com/product-category/dog-booties/

If you are really worried about them falling off, a company makes long sleeve booties that strap over the dogs back. over the back straps may bother the dog, but since he wears a dog vest it may not matter. they do look ridiculous though haha.

https://canadapooch.com/collections/dog-boots/products/suspender-dog-boots?variant=40663163338837

I have also heard of people wrapping their dogs feet in coban, the medical wrap that sticks to it self. easy and multi purpose for first aid.

Awesome hunt, story, and pictures.