So on Monday I found out that I drew a ewe tag for the Missouri Breaks--680-31 to be exact. I floated the Missouri from Coal Banks down to Judith Landing (the western end of the unit) in July of 2008, but I’ve never before hunted the Breaks and haven’t spent time in the area since. I was actually considering doing a deer-hunt/waterfowl float in the area this fall just to get back to the country and have an adventure, but I was fortunate enough to draw this sheep tag. I’m wondering if anyone familiar with the area has any advice--I did my share of Google searching and reading prior to applying (including some old threads on here), and it seems like there are some folks out there with a pretty intimate knowledge of the sheep in 680.
My primary goal for the trip is just to spend some time in this beautiful landscape and make it a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience--success rates and anecdotal evidence makes me think that punching the tag won’t be extremely difficult as long as I put in the necessary preparation and hunt it seriously. Instead of being truck-based, I’d really love to hunt out of a canoe/boat if that’s a good way of going about it--especially because I’m a bit leery from what I’ve read of the road situation if we get some rain/snow. It also seems like a fair amount of the public land can be accessed from the river.I don’t have access to a powerboat currently, but would seriously considering renting one if there was a way to do so (I’m USCG certified and run jetboats in AK in the summers). I’d also be interested in a shuttle-service type deal, if anything like that is out there and would offer an advantage over a straightforward float. Part of the motivation is that I haven’t done a water-based hunt before, but I’m thinking also that this would be a good way to avoid other people.
I know that November would be great with the rut, and I’m also intrigued by having an opportunity at a nice buck along the way if I run into one (I’ll be rifle hunting). On the other hand, general season probably also means more traffic on the river and more orange vests running around. An early-season trip would be great weather wise, but wouldn’t afford the chance of a deer combo if I'm lucky. I also am curious whether early v. late season affects where the animals will be found in this country.
Unfortunately, I won’t have any real time to scout this summer due to personal and professional obligations, but I should have a full 8-9 days to hunt once I set some dates.
I’m just wondering if anyone who’s done this hunt before or knows the region has any thoughts to get me started with my preparation. Anything that I’m missing as far as working out a general strategy for this fall? At some point I’m going to have to make a call on timing my trip (early v. late), which might help some of the other considerations fall into place. Never been on a sheep hunt before, and have only really encountered them in Yellowstone, Glacier, the National Bison Range, etc. or on the side of the road. I’m extremely excited.
My primary goal for the trip is just to spend some time in this beautiful landscape and make it a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience--success rates and anecdotal evidence makes me think that punching the tag won’t be extremely difficult as long as I put in the necessary preparation and hunt it seriously. Instead of being truck-based, I’d really love to hunt out of a canoe/boat if that’s a good way of going about it--especially because I’m a bit leery from what I’ve read of the road situation if we get some rain/snow. It also seems like a fair amount of the public land can be accessed from the river.I don’t have access to a powerboat currently, but would seriously considering renting one if there was a way to do so (I’m USCG certified and run jetboats in AK in the summers). I’d also be interested in a shuttle-service type deal, if anything like that is out there and would offer an advantage over a straightforward float. Part of the motivation is that I haven’t done a water-based hunt before, but I’m thinking also that this would be a good way to avoid other people.
I know that November would be great with the rut, and I’m also intrigued by having an opportunity at a nice buck along the way if I run into one (I’ll be rifle hunting). On the other hand, general season probably also means more traffic on the river and more orange vests running around. An early-season trip would be great weather wise, but wouldn’t afford the chance of a deer combo if I'm lucky. I also am curious whether early v. late season affects where the animals will be found in this country.
Unfortunately, I won’t have any real time to scout this summer due to personal and professional obligations, but I should have a full 8-9 days to hunt once I set some dates.
I’m just wondering if anyone who’s done this hunt before or knows the region has any thoughts to get me started with my preparation. Anything that I’m missing as far as working out a general strategy for this fall? At some point I’m going to have to make a call on timing my trip (early v. late), which might help some of the other considerations fall into place. Never been on a sheep hunt before, and have only really encountered them in Yellowstone, Glacier, the National Bison Range, etc. or on the side of the road. I’m extremely excited.
