CO Sheep guide needed.

[Short Track]

I drew a CO sheep tag. Can someone recommend a guide?
2nd sheep season. Sept 25th.
S33 S of Lake Fork River, E and S of Colo. 110.
S-F-S33

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

I drew a CO sheep tag. Can someone recommend a guide?

In order to get the response you are looking for, you should probably provide much more info......

 

[tam9492]

I drew a CO sheep tag. Can someone recommend a guide?
2nd sheep season. Sept 25th.
S33 S of Lake Fork River, E and S of Colo. 110.
S-F-S33

Congrats! I know you’ve been anxious to go sheep hunting.

 

[TheHammer]

Oh wow that’s a life goal hunt! Congratulations! Seems there are a few people in previous posts that were willing to offer up phone numbers to give advice/info! Good luck!!

 

[svivian]

You drew an ewe tag?

 

[mlevimadden]

Congratulations on drawing a tag! Any reason for wanting to hire a guide for a ewe tag? I had a ewe tag a few years ago and am applying for them again still. It was an amazing hunt for way less points than a ram tag.

CPW has tons of resources for sheep tag holders. They setup a Q&A session every year, and hold an event with Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society where they will pair you with previous tagholders.

If you call a CPW biologist, they will point you to the areas where sheep reside, so I wouldn't be set on paying a guide unless that's the experience you want.

Use this link, find your unit area, turn on the sheep summer concentration areas layer, and that's a pretty great starting point.
https://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=HuntingAtlas

 

[Foldem]

Give Seth a call with alpine outfitters Colorado. Good dude and he's in Lake City.

 

[HornPorn]

Congratulations on drawing a tag! Any reason for wanting to hire a guide for a ewe tag? I had a ewe tag a few years ago and am applying for them again still. It was an amazing hunt for way less points than a ram tag.

CPW has tons of resources for sheep tag holders. They setup a Q&A session every year, and hold an event with Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society where they will pair you with previous tagholders.

If you call a CPW biologist, they will point you to the areas where sheep reside, so I wouldn't be set on paying a guide unless that's the experience you want.

Use this link, find your unit area, turn on the sheep summer concentration areas layer, and that's a pretty great starting point.
https://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=HuntingAtlas

How many days should it take someone in your opinion to fill a ewe tag? Backcountry ninja vs. out of state googan? 1 day for the ninja and a week for the googan?

 

[mlevimadden]

How many days should it take someone in your opinion to fill a ewe tag? Backcountry ninja vs. out of state googan? 1 day for the ninja and a week for the googan?

I've only done one Colorado sheep hunt and not in the unit mentioned, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to make a good estimate. From the CPW statistics (linked below) most units were 2-3 days for a ewe hunt with a few extreme outliers.

For my hunt, I spent 4 days scouting my unit over 2 trips a month before the season. I backpacked in 5 miles for my hunt, and opening morning, I glassed up the herd of ewes I'd scouted in the same spot 800 yds from the tipi. An hour later I took a 200 yd shot and the hunt was over. I may have just been lucky, but it seemed like the sheep hung out in the same area once you found them. I covered most of the unit and all the sheep I found were in the same 1k foot elevation band from 11-12k ft.

The sheep I found in late Aug - early Sep were in big groups. I saw a band of 21 rams and the ewe I shot was 20+ ewes, lambs, and young rams.

The pack out wasn't bad since I only got 40# of meat off my ewe, which was lighter than I expected. The meat was absolutely superb though, so make sure to punch a tag!
https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/H.../2022StatewideRockyMtnBighornSheepHarvest.pdf

 

[Doc Holliday]

I drew a CO sheep tag. Can someone recommend a guide?
2nd sheep season. Sept 25th.
S33 S of Lake Fork River, E and S of Colo. 110.
S-F-S33

Congratulations, and please keep us posted on planning of your hunt, and of course the outcome!

Curious...how many points did you have?

 

[Ucsdryder]

A guide for a ewe tag?

 

[Short Track]

A guide for a ewe tag?

Do Ewe's like to be at the bottom of the mountain ? And Rams go up to 12,000' ?
Why the comments about a guided Ewe hunt ??

 

[Hondo0925]

The ewes in that unit can be anywhere from the mellow rolling tundra hillsides to the nasty crags.

 

[Short Track]

What elevation is that ?
My tag is 2nd sheep season, so I gather Ewe's will be up high, and pushed back quite a ways......

 

[ladogg411]

Do you have significant mobility issues requiring a guide for a ewe hunt? I think you can get this done alone – even DIY, solo. Lots of guys will share pins of where the sheep like to hang out in that unit. Any ewe will do, right?

Your dates overlap with the 2nd season ram tags in S33. Coordinate with the 1st and 2nd season ram tag holders. If I was them, I would help you out just to make sure that the guy with that ewe tag wasn’t screwing up ram hunts.

$2544 for NR ewe tag.
Many years of $100 points.

I think you can save some money now and forego the guide.

 

[Hondo0925]

What elevation is that ?
My tag is 2nd sheep season, so I gather Ewe's will be up high, and pushed back quite a ways......

This photo was taken the first week of September.
Msg Tmcgarrigle he had a ewe tag there last year and shot one

 

[Short Track]

This is the problem: I come from afar. I never did this before. Never been in S33. 4 forum members state "Ewe's are easy. Guides are for Rams." Not sure what the difference is................... ? Maybe someone can explain.

Points no. Never put in for CO sheep before.

 

[ladogg411]

Interesting, I thought one still had to have at least 3+0 weighted points for ewe tags also.

With rams, you want lots of eyes/days/miles to find the biggest one. So sure, hire a ram guide.

With ewes, most guys will shoot the first healthy ewe you see. Hopefully try to find one that you think doesn’t have a lamb around if you subscribe to that camp.

Flying out or driving? How many days?

There are seven S33 2nd season ram tag holders. Them (and their guides) are worried about you and the other two ewe tag holders. Find those guys and tell them you will glass rams for them and stay out of their way.

And start exercising and dieting tomorrow. You’re going sheep hunting!

 

[svivian]

This is the problem: I come from afar. I never did this before. Never been in S33. 4 forum members state "Ewe's are easy. Guides are for Rams." Not sure what the difference is................... ? Maybe someone can explain.

Points no. Never put in for CO sheep before.

A legal ram is harder to find than a ewe since size doesn’t matter.

A sheep hunt is a sheep hunt. You make it what you want it to be. If you want a guide get one but know the guides are giving preference to the tag holders who have ram tags.

 

[Short Track]

It's so much better when people explain their thoughts... rather than just random statements over electronic media. Thank you, the above post will make me sign a contract sooner than later.

The other problem with a Ewe, is telling the difference between a Ewe, and a baby Ram. Definitely need an experienced eye for that.