On the wintering range

[Buster]

Lots of mulies round here still packing as well.
Hope you can get a pickup on those bulls when they drop. Any signs of sheep cough round there??

Fortunately so far I haven't seen any signs, or heard of anybody else mentioning it. Thats the last thing they need with a tough winter like this.

 

[Buster]

Found this guy this morning. This has to be the saddest time of the year. The odds are against this guy surviving the next month. More snow in the forecast, and he's looking like a bag of bones.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

That is sad

 

[R Miller]

Sheep are tough, don't write him off. If he isnt injured then his odds get better every day.

 

[Buster]

Sheep are tough, don't write him off. If he isnt injured then his odds get better every day.

I watched him for about half an hour this morning, he was very slow moving and almost clumsy (no apparent injuries though). Not sure where he was wintering before, but I've seen a couple rams in the last few years move to this spot as last resort. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[bobhunts]

A really enjoyable thread. Thanks for posting. Bob.

 

[Stew]

Found this guy this morning. This has to be the saddest time of the year. The odds are against this guy surviving the next month. More snow in the forecast, and he's looking like a bag of bones.

Any pictures of him standing cant tell much about condition in this photo.

 

[todd kelly]

A really enjoyable thread. Thanks for posting. Bob.

yep, some great pics!

 

[Buster]

Any pictures of him standing cant tell much about condition in this photo.

Sorry, no pics of him while he was up moving. I had my eye to the spotter for the 2 minutes he was up on his feet. He looked thinner than Tic Tac did when I photographed him a month ago. These critters are resilient, I hope that he's got enough gas left in the tank to finish off the winter.

 

[Shrek]

Buster , your pictures have me emotionally invested in those sheep ! I'm hoping they all make it through the winter. For the love of sheep you have got to get out and check on them !

 

[Buster]

Buster , your pictures have me emotionally invested in those sheep ! I'm hoping they all make it through the winter. For the love of sheep you have got to get out and check on them !

Sorry Shrek, I wanted to get out this afternoon, but mother nature decided to roll in a nice little blizzard.

 

[Shrek]

Sorry Shrek, I wanted to get out this afternoon, but mother nature decided to roll in a nice little blizzard.

That just sucks ! For you and the sheep

 

[Buster]

So I posted a pic of these 2 bulls a couple of weeks ago.

A good buddy went for a hike a couple days ago and found both match sets.

 

[Buster]

I went for a hike in today to get a better look at the one band of rams. On the way in, I backtracked on a big set of G-bear tracks.

It turned in to a pretty good photo session, as I climbed above the rams and got some pretty good shots.

 

[Buster]

As they fed down below me, I slipped down the ridge, and they fed within 50 yards under me.

Looks like Buster is gonna make it to summer, and somehow still holding on to that horn. As for the rest of the band, I couldn't find 2 of the regulars. However, 2 different rams have shown up, so I'm hoping that the other 2 have simply started transitioning.

 

[R Miller]

Group shots are tough, I like that first pic of them. He sure is a big ol ram, hope to see more of him next Fall.

 

[RedStag]

Glad to see the ol timer made it. Hope those two missing are transitioning like you said, thanks again for the pics.

 

[yama49]

Awesome pics, looks like it was a great outing.. U draw grizzly?

 

[Buster]

Awesome pics, looks like it was a great outing.. U draw grizzly?

No griz draw for me, but I know the guy that got the only draw for that area. He went up looking for him yesterday and today, but no luck yet. Other friends got the 2 tags in the other zone here, so hopefully I can help out with the filling tags.

 

[Buster]

One last update. I am happy to report Buster made it through the winter, and as of May 28th, was still holding on to that horn. (I have no idea how). I have been up to look for him twice since then, but all of the rams have moved off of their wintering range to transition to summer haunts. I was wondering if he was getting old enough that he would never leave (we see old rams sometimes just stay on their wintering slopes in their last year). He must have some gas left in the tank. I've never figured out for sure where he summers, but if I find him, I'll let you guys know. Hopefully I can meet up with my old friend again this December on the wintering range.