Gear specific to diy backpack wilderness Sheep hunt?

[resident vs nonresident]

those of you who have been on Backpack DIY sheep hunts (I’ll be hunting southern CO wilderness). Backpacking in 7-10mes.
Is there any gear that you would say is exclusive to SHEEP hunt thats different from Elk/deer backpack hunts?

I’ve done plenty of backpack backcountry days both early and late season chasing Elk n Deer.
My camping/backpacking/clothing system/or really all the other gear one would use on early late elk n deer hunts is pretty dialed.

But I don’t know what I don’t know. So if you have any recommendations that I may not be even aware of that I should consider for Sheep hunt please chime in.
Thanks.

 

[Grassymike]

I backpack hunt for Sheep every year. My suggestion is a lightweight yet durable wind layer. Some guys use their rain jacket but for me the breathabily of a wind shell when sweating up a steep climb rules out my rain jacket. Wind is a constant once above treeline, the biggest variable is how hard is it blowing each day.

 

[medvedyt]

the main for me is knife i m taking way smaller and lighter knife when going exclusively on sheep hunting.

 

[resident vs nonresident]

I backpack hunt for Sheep every year. My suggestion is a lightweight yet durable wind layer. Some guys use their rain jacket but for me the breathabily of a wind shell when sweating up a steep climb rules out my rain jacket. Wind is a constant once above treeline, the biggest variable is how hard is it blowing each day.

I like that thanks.
I’ll have to watch the weather and depending on expected rainfall will pick ultralight weight windbreaker vs rain jacket.

 

[Grassymike]

I carry both. For me personally my rain jacket could work as a wind shell when static. Moving ,especially climbing to glassing spots is another story. My layering system is a polyester T shirt, grid fleece, military Muppet fleece jacket, wind shell, puffy and light weight rain jacket. Bottom is lightest weight long johns ,Wrangler outdoor pants, and full zip rain pants.

 

[Poser]

I haven't hunted sheep, but I live in Southern CO and spend a lot of time in the wilderness high country. If you follow the conventional wisdom that goat habitat starts where sheep habitat ends, I have routinely hunted elk in terrain directly that overlaps with goats, if that qualifies my opinion for anything.

I don't think there's much of difference in your load out, but I do agree with the above that a super lightweight wind jacket such as the Black Diamond Alpine Start (non insulated) or the Patagonia Houdini is worth a look. You can climb in those jackets on a cool, crisp morning and they'll manage moisture pretty well -much better than any rain jacket. The'll handle light rain, light freezing rain or light snow pretty well. They will wet out, but also dry out quickly and handle conditions that aren't worth putting your rain shell on for or you're putting out too much moisture for your rain shell to work anyway. You can also wear them under your rain shell in a heavy, colder downpour. I'm a big fan of these types of jackets and use them year around -probably my most used layer.

A small tarp may also be of consideration (and this may or may not be unique from your elk hunting load out). Since you'll often be above treeline, something you can glass from during wet weather or potentially ride a short storm out under. I'd recommend something that has enough of an opening you can glass out of -A frame style or similar so you are protected on 3 sides.

Depending on the forecasted conditions, I'd consider a synthetic insulative layer of some type -maybe just a midweight synthetic vest combined with a down puffy, or you could go full synthetic puffy, but I'd have something available (and maybe it stays in your vehicle if the outlook is dry) to deal with cold and wet. Down puffies work super well in the Southwest, but you could be moving around more in a insulative layer depending on where you are glassing and the conditions. I'd have somekind of layer available than can get wet still function. Basically, I'd be more prepared for moisture exposure than conventional elk hunting since you are going to be generally higher and generally more exposed to wind, cold, moisture than most conventional elk hunting.

 

[MosquitoCoast]

I don't know what kind of system you run as far as clothing and packs, but I I have like three t shirts, one one lightweight pull over in merino wool (the kuiu peleton 200), a heavier fleece pull over with mositure protection (280 Strong Fleece KUIU, puffy jacket and a rain jacket and that's it for tops. i don't run a separate shell because of the weight. You won't need it. The rain jacket can be the shell. When it wasn't raining on me I wore a tshirt and the the light weight merino pull over. I also bring two pairs of silk sock liners and on a ten day hunt will bring 3 additional pairs of socks. The sock liners allow me to get some life out of the socks (wear a pair with sock liner, let it dry, wear it without 3 days later). I wear the lightest of all the Sitka Rain Gear (Dewpoint I think) because the heavier rain gear is a LOT of added weight. And the light weight stuff will hold up fine. And Gaiters are an absolute must have. I would also recommend some custom inserts for your boots.

As far as other gear is concerned, I pack this on every hunt and it makes a tremendous difference in my ability to just relax and enjoy glassing or around camp. It weights nothing. I took it up to the Yukon one year on a sheep hunt and two years later every guide had one after seeing mine.

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