where to drop the hammer, in the unlimited sheep units

[Nick Muche]

Posting all this online won't help any of your odds

 

[Jon Boy]

Posting all this online won't help any of your odds

Good thing it's a guaranteed draw..

 

[Nick Muche]

Good thing it's a guaranteed draw..

That would be my point...

 

[Archerm]

Also with the recent closing of some units now makes me wonder if other closings in sheep country might happen. been on the fence for a few years now.

 

[Jon Boy]

I think everyone commenting on this thread realizes there's only a .05% chance of them being successful. That's why montana is able to have an otc bighorn tag and season. Most people attempting this hunt will fail even getting to the areas that hold sheep.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I think everyone commenting on this thread realizes there's only a .05% chance of them being successful. That's why montana is able to have an otc bighorn tag and season. Most people attempting this hunt will fail even getting to the areas that hold sheep.

I'm with you and would be plenty happy with helping the community odds a at very slim chance.

Are the areas that hard to get to because of terrain or just sheep are hard to find?

 

[squeekieslayer]

I'm with you and would be plenty happy with helping the community odds a at very slim chance.

Are the areas that hard to get to because of terrain or just sheep are hard to find?

both. Extreme terrain, not a lot of access, and very few legal rams interspersed.

Joe

 

[Bambistew]

Oh no, the secret is out! There are easily a dozen UL sheep threads every year on just about every hunting website. For all the "interest" there is, very few actually go. The odds are long and the dedication required is no joke. I've done these hunts twice. Both in an area that is no longer open. I saw plenty of sheep, but couldn't find the legal rams, a couple squeekers, but no for sure shooters. The first time I spent 14 days combined with hunting and scouting, the second time was 10. I've been on about 12 sheep hunts since, and not sure I would do anything different. There are very few sheep, in some extremely rough country. Early season they're in the timber and very hard to locate... good luck if you go.

FYI, there are still fewer hunters in the UL areas than there was 15 years ago, or about the time the point system started. Many people bailed on the UL hunts in favor of the "point" system. I think many are starting to figure out the point system is rough for new comers, and NR and are moving back into the UL hunts.

 

[Jon Boy]

I'm with you and would be plenty happy with helping the community odds a at very slim chance.

Are the areas that hard to get to because of terrain or just sheep are hard to find?

All of the reasons above. Most people doing this hunt won't see a sheep none the less a legal ram.
And so everyone knows, fwp records the kill site of every ram killed in any of these units and all of that information is available to the public so there aren't many secrets. It's just an all around tough hunt.

 

[Jason Snyder]

It's just an all around tough hunt.

Pretty much sums it up. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

It's steep, deep, and shit ton of long toed bears.

 

[mt100gr.]

The way I see it is: I am going sheep hunting! Between the die offs, low odds, and high dollar alternatives, why not? The way things are going, sheep hunting in Montana may likely end before i draw a tag. We might find sheep, we might not. Obviously we are WELL aware of the odds as well as the nature of the hunt. As mentioned above, very few (about25%) of people who hold the tag actually hunt. And of those, even fewer get in deep enough to find sheep.

 

[Mtnboy]

I look at it exactly like mt100gr and I am fully planning on going in there next year to try my hand.

 

[DaveC]

I won't have time for both an extended sheep hunt and an extended deer hunt, so I applied for a ewe tag in 302. If I draw I'll split my time between the two, if I don't I'll have 10 days in the Bob and a sheep point for a ewe hunt next year.

300 is a great unit to hunt, super fun terrain. I'll be back eventually.

 

[dvm_hunter]

I'm guessing this is a rifle hunt??

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I'm guessing this is a rifle hunt??

You can use a bow if you want but yes

 

[Derek Anderson]

I need a hunting partner as crazy as me to start this tradition in 2 years. All my friends are not at a point where they can commit to something like this. I have already warned the wife that as soon as I start, it will be a yearly thing until 2 rams are taken.

 

[KClark]

You'll need a green beret for a partner, these are tough hunts. I bought tags for the unlimited zone 3 times back in the 90's and tallied over 30 days and hundreds of miles scouting and hunting with strong legs and excellent optics. I heard rams battling once and saw only one ram and he was over a mile away and in high gear headed for Yellowstone. I did see a tremendous buck and a HUGE bull, back then deer/elk season opened September 15th in the back country, don't know what the deal is now but keep that in mind.

Here's a teaser:



My brother took this one on Castle Reef in the Sun River unit, hard to find one this big in the UL areas.

 

[Idaho Brad]

When they refer to "unlimited" that means one is guaranteed a tag for sheep in these units?

 

[Shrek]

Yes. Unlimited draw tags but the area can close with 24hrs notice. You have to call in and check if the quota is filled. Looong odds but guys get it done every year. If you take a ram diy from an unlimited unit you've done something !

 

[Hornetoad326]

I feel it is 8th of toughest hunts in north america