Montana Breaks Bighorn hunt

[Bowfinatic]

This story starts in the middle of July when I get a call from Montana Fish and game. They said we see you drew a bighorn sheep tag and haven't purchased the license yet. I say there must be some mistake I don't think I drew anything

I called my contact that helps me with western applications, they looked it up and said I don't see anything drawn. Confirmed for me because I knew I didn't draw I only have been putting in for 8yrs

I call Montana back and said I think you have the wrong guy. They say ok give me your information....nope it's you

Meanwhile 2 missed calls from my application service later and its confirmed I actually did draw

I was physically sick to my stomach. So many emotions, something so out of the blue not even on the radar. I did my first sheep hunt 2 years ago for dall and didn't think i would go again for a decade until I drew something out west

Turns out Montana had some glitches this year. In May when the results came out some people showed successful the first day and then the results changed to unsuccessful. Must have been just the opposite for me

 

[Bowfinatic]

Guess I have to get ready to hunt a ROAL
Rok and ROAL

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

What a sweet surprise! good luck

 

[Bowfinatic]

Flew into Bozeman yesterday midday. Got into camp in the afternoon and flung a few arrows. Went out for a few hours to glass in the evening. Heavy smoke put a damper on the long distance views but we did find 2 young rams one being a stud 4yr old

 

[CHL]

Gotta be like Christmas morning for ya! Enjoy and kill a hammer.

 

[Bowfinatic]

Smoke really cutting down on the visibility making glassing tough
Saw fresh Ram sign in the form of tracks, crap and beds this morning but didn't turn up any sheep

 

[Doc Holliday]

Congrats on pulling one of the best tags in the Lower 48, if not THE best!

You doing DIY? How long do you have to fill the tag?

 

[MTHunter1321]

Good luck! Looking forward to following along your hunt and to another year hoping to draw that tag!

 

[Mt Al]

Congratulations!! Tag of a lifetime! Hope you keep posting pics of the hunt, appreciate following along.

A friend of mine was hauling furniture up to Winnifred a few years ago and I tagged along. Went into a rancher's house and he showed us pics of rams that wander around his ranch like half-tame pets. HUGE! Hope you tag a pig.

 

[Bowfinatic]

Congrats on pulling one of the best tags in the Lower 48, if not THE best!

You doing DIY? How long do you have to fill the tag?

I love DIY but for this tag I'm using a guide. Season runs from Sept 2 to Nov 26. I plan to hunt for the next week. If I don't tag then plan to come back at some point

 

[Bowfinatic]

More of the same this evening. Lots of hiking and glassing. Turned up lots of coyote and mule deer buy no sheep. Back at it tomorrow. Loving every minute

 

[Doc Holliday]

I love DIY but for this tag I'm using a guide. Season runs from Sept 2 to Nov 26. I plan to hunt for the next week. If I don't tag then plan to come back at some point

Smart man! Good luck!!

 

[dustyroads]

Awesome

 

[Bowfinatic]

Super poor visibility this morning early. Couldn't even see 500 yards Mid morning found a young ram. Later in the nothing the smoke lifted and we were able to spot a good size group with one good one a long way off. Going to see how good he is tonight. It's in some nasty stuff so not likely to stalk tonight due to distance and time to get there. We shall see. Exciting to at least find some sheep

 

[silasbowhunter]

Goodluck man! The smoke has to be nasty. Super hazy here in Nebraska.

How long do you have to hunt?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SuperDUECE22]

How long do you have to hunt?

he said earlier :
Season runs from Sept 2 to Nov 26. I plan to hunt for the next week. If I don't tag then plan to come back at some point

 

[mtnwrunner]

Go get em.
Enjoy your journey and take lots of photos.

Randy

 

[Bowfinatic]

Saw one ram cruising tonight but never got a good look. Didn't turn up the group from this morning. Smoke has cleared up so hopefully that stays the course for the morning. Had a fun encounter with this mulie buck

 

[sdcowboy]

Good luck. Beautiful pics so far. Keep them coming.

 

[Bowfinatic]

What a day. The best hunting day of my life and I didn't fling any arrows.
Spotted a really good ram about 2000 yards away this morning. Put the hike on and got where we thought they were. Turns out we were 2 cuts off on the Rams when we stalked around the backside. Things look so diff on the side and back after hiking in. Found them back and put a stalk on. Snuck around and above the ram. BIG ram was bedded steep below me at 75 yards. He had 3 little buddies about 25 yards further down from him. There was a cut on the side I thought I could cut the distance in half and stay out off view of the little guys. Put the stalk on, creeping forward and cut the distance in half. Stand up and no ram ????? Not sure if he heard me or just moved. He moved into the bottom. So close so intense. Awesome experience