How much higher wil a .270 shoot@12,000 feet????

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

How much higher will a 6.5prc shoot at 12000' than a .270win?

Acclimating for 2 days so I will know both. Thx

 

[BBob]

@fwafwow can you make me a picture message with Arthur at The Bridge Of Death asking if they are African sheep hairs or European sheep hairs.

 

[MattB]

Wait. How high is it? 12k, 13k or 14k?

Does it really matter? 30 seconds on Google found references of sheep wintering in the Whites between 10K-13K feet and guys hunting them up to 14.2K feet. I am not sure exactly where hunters access the range, but the base of the mountains is ~6K and there are no roads up top where the bulk of the sheep are so you either take horses or hike from there.

There are a few guys on here who have no idea just how difficult it is to do an unsupported hunt in this range. I would imagine very few of you could pack all your gear/camp and a week's worth of water 5 miles and 6K-8K up a mountain and pack a sheep back down at the end of the hunt.

CA DFW's Big Game Digest has the following footnote on the hunt: "Extremely steep and rugged terrain, navigating this unit is immensely physically strenuous as most desert bighorn sheep herds occur between 10,000 – 14,000 ft. Extreme safety and caution when preparing for and hunting in this unit is advised."

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

Does it really matter? 30 seconds on Google found references of sheep wintering in the Whites between 10K-13K feet and guys hunting them up to 14.2K feet. I am not sure exactly where hunters access the range, but the base of the mountains is ~6K and there are no roads up top where the bulk of the sheep are so you either take horses or hike from there.

There are a few guys on here who have no idea just how difficult it is to do an unsupported hunt in this range. I would imagine very few of you could pack all your gear/camp and a week's worth of water 5 miles and 6K-8K up a mountain and pack a sheep back down at the end of the hunt.

CA DFW's Big Game Digest has the following footnote on the hunt: "Extremely steep and rugged terrain, navigating this unit is immensely physically strenuous as most desert bighorn sheep herds occur between 10,000 – 14,000 ft. Extreme safety and caution when preparing for and hunting in this unit is advised."

Thx Matt. Most here are bench shooters and couldnt climb the whites or whitney with me@65. Like I said, 1 tag holder tragically died scouting the whites last year. I see great bench shooters and amazing 3d shots and are horrible killers. I will shoot a 3d Sunday, winner? Probably 405/420. I will shoot my hunting setup for a 345? Idk. But I know how to hunt and harvest. So poopoo my ol mod 70, and my new 6.5prc. My son who climbs 1,000 foot walls for fun is on the hunt. We could dyi this, but the same day, I burned 14 pts. For the best mulie bow hunt in the state. So, time matters..not looking for a mega ram. All good, peace out. Goodluck.

 

[2-Stix]

Does it really matter? 30 seconds on Google found references of sheep wintering in the Whites between 10K-13K feet and guys hunting them up to 14.2K feet. I am not sure exactly where hunters access the range, but the base of the mountains is ~6K and there are no roads up top where the bulk of the sheep are so you either take horses or hike from there.

There are a few guys on here who have no idea just how difficult it is to do an unsupported hunt in this range. I would imagine very few of you could pack all your gear/camp and a week's worth of water 5 miles and 6K-8K up a mountain and pack a sheep back down at the end of the hunt.

CA DFW's Big Game Digest has the following footnote on the hunt: "Extremely steep and rugged terrain, navigating this unit is immensely physically strenuous as most desert bighorn sheep herds occur between 10,000 – 14,000 ft. Extreme safety and caution when preparing for and hunting in this unit is advised."

Theres the x9c unit that is hunted every year with roads all over, Death Valley is down the back side East. The Bristlecone visiter center is off the road to White. The road comes through off the 395. I have camped at Grandview and summited White Mt and saw the sheep from a dirt road at the Brancrof Station. A road goes to the top of White Mt. At least from the South its a not that difficult.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

You got it pegged when you draw the tag then. How many mature rams are taken from white mtn. Peak south to the locked gate?

 

[2-Stix]

You got it pegged when you draw the tag then. How many mature rams are taken from white mtn. Peak south to the locked gate?

Skylined rams at 7:30am when I was on a long nature hike with a friend. There was about 50 people that day summiting...4-5 on mountain bikes. They were at 12,800. This is on the road, right after the station a few miles in.

 

[scattergun]

So poopoo my ol mod 70, and my new 6.5prc.

I don't think anyone's taken issue with either rifle in this thread.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I’m hoping the hunt doesn’t wind up like this guys ( he said he didn’t like hiking)

 

[MattB]

Theres the x9c unit that is hunted every year with roads all over, Death Valley is down the back side East. The Bristlecone visiter center is off the road to White. The road comes through off the 395. I have camped at Grandview and summited White Mt and saw the sheep from a dirt road at the Brancrof Station. A road goes to the top of White Mt. At least from the South its a not that difficult.
View attachment 568201

My understanding is that the bulk of the sheep reside in the northern half of the range. Looking at a map, it appears that road stops 10+ miles short. A guy could hunt off that road, but for a OIL tag I personally would want to get into where the bulk of the sheep live and be able to look over multiple rams rather than hunting the periphery of the herd because that is what is accessible by vehicle.

Desert Bighorn Sheep In The White Mountains - Natural Reserve System

The latest survey results of desert bighorn sheep populations in the White Mountains, conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ucnrs.org

 

[2-Stix]

My understanding is that the bulk of the sheep reside in the northern half of the range. Looking at a map, it appears that road stops 10+ miles short. A guy could hunt off that road, but for a OIL tag I personally would want to get into where the bulk of the sheep live and be able to look over multiple rams rather than hunting the periphery of the herd because that is what is accessible by vehicle.

Desert Bighorn Sheep In The White Mountains - Natural Reserve System

The latest survey results of desert bighorn sheep populations in the White Mountains, conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ucnrs.org

Understood.

Have you been to that unit?

In reviewing your link 25% of the habit is past White Mt and that is over about a 40 mile stretch. Right now we have a snow line at 10k feet still. Im backpacking across that range in 2 weeks and its still snowed in at the trail head. We had the biggest year on recored for snow in the Eastern Sierra. So its not likely this will be a year where game is in the same place as previous. And those year were heavy drought so its hard to say, and smart of the OP to have a guide or 2 in his case. I saw elk in areas I never have before in CA. I am talking on the desert floor on the 395 and 5 this year...3 times. None the less, that area is not roadless and you can find rams close to the road. I saw them in 2016. But yes, you can work your ass off and go anther 10 miles to have a full picture...but the OP has another hunt to get to right after this.

White Mt in the distance. Road to the gate. This is all about 11k-12k in elevation.

 

[MattB]

Understood.

Have you been to that unit?

In reviewing your link 25% of the habit is past White Mt and that is over about a 40 mile stretch. Right now we have a snow line at 10k feet still. Im backpacking across that range in 2 weeks and its still snowed in at the trail head. We had the biggest year on recored for snow in the Eastern Sierra. So its not likely this will be a year where game is in the same place as previous. And those year were heavy drought so its hard to say, and smart of the OP to have a guide or 2 in his case. I saw elk in areas I never have before in CA. I am talking on the desert floor on the 395 and 5 this year...3 times. None the less, that area is not roadless and you can find rams close to the road. I saw them in 2016. But yes, you can work your ass off and go anther 10 miles to have a full picture...but the OP has another hunt to get to right after this.

White Mt in the distance. Road to the gate. This is all about 11k-12k in elevation. View attachment 568442

I have never been up on the Whites, only have one lung and anything over 10K is no fun for me. Just know what I have been told and what I have read.

Enjoy the hike!

 

[Will_m]

Telling people you have 7 people finding an animal for you to shoot was never going to make you many friends. I just thought I should point that out as something to leave out in your future retellings of your hunt.

 

[Will_m]

I read most of this post. I have watched rams by the Brancroft station in CA in the Whites at 12k-13k when I hiked White Mountain, if this is the hunt you are taking about. I did 7 1/2 peaks over 14k in CA. Fitness will be everything...hence my 1/2...I didn't hold up on Mt Sill.

Asking a simple question about how a bullet will act at 12k has we worried about all this experience you have. Shots over 300 yards from the Votex or Leupold scope is a concern. I have chased zero on a rifle for 3 years with a VX3.

And I understand your old school approach. My family has been hunting
that way from the 50's...killed more animals then anyone could imagine... And they have wounded, lost and missed animals also that way...my uncle who is a total animal in the hills shot at a monster mule deer 13 times at 500 yards. They think I am crazy with a CDS turret. I love the Leupold system and fit and finish, how clean it is the flip up eye cups, light weight...its awesome...and it will probably continue to loose zero on me again until I switch.

Get a Nightforce or SFWS.

The heck was he doing with a whole box of bullets out hunting?

 

[S-3 ranch]

The heck was he doing with a whole box of bullets out hunting?

That’s how they roll in cali

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

Well, now 3/6 tag holders have booked with my outfitter. And yes, mature rams south of white mtn. Nope. Camp is@12,800. Then it's dark to dark. 7 guides? Now with 3 hunters, he will have 6 guides. Kill a ram@10,000, then climb up again. Tuffest sheep hunt in N.A. dalls@7k are a joke.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

Telling people you have 7 people finding an animal for you to shoot was never going to make you many friends. I just thought I should point that out as something to leave out in your future retellings of your hunt.

Never said 7, 2 for me. It's the best outfitter for sheep in the state. Will be fighting snow drifts in late August after 72 feet of snow. This will not be easy@65. But I will get it done.

 

[Will_m]

Never said 7, 2 for me. It's the best outfitter for sheep in the state. Will be fighting snow drifts in late August after 72 feet of snow. This will not be easy@65. But I will get it done.

Yeah you did say that. I’ll be over here with my foot in my mouth now.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

I’m hoping the hunt doesn’t wind up like this guys ( he said he didn’t like hiking)View attachment 568406

Been training for 8 weeks for my mulie bow hunt, now up a notch for the Whites. Did Whitney, and this dudes cookie cutter ram has what 99.9% of any hunter doesn't have. A desert ram.

 

[PNWGATOR]

This thread is silly.

OP, put together a robust system to deliver a bullet that works and develop skills to fill your tag.

Have a good hunt.