Hey guys,

I was successful on my first ram!
Here are some pictures of the hunt.
Now I am in the process of searching out a good taxidermist in Alberta, Canada...
Any suggestions?
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Congrats on a great ram!

Man, what a nice ram.......how about some hunt details to go w/the hunt photos???????

Congratulations.

Joe

You need to be in the process of telling us the story...the taxidermy can wait. Nice ram you got there. Congrats.

Swarovski,
Great Ram.. We'd all be proud to have that hunt under are belt.. 3 more to go..
AK

Got to hear the story man....where were you...distace you shot him at...caliber of rifle....etc etc....

Congratulations on a great ram. Beautiful country. Now for the rest of the story.........

Nice sheep Rob,

Try Bighorn Taxidermy in Calgary.

awesome--way to go...chris

The story goes like this…
Myself, a good friend Cody, and his dad Harvey packed in camp the afternoon before opening day to a junction where my friend had spotted 10 rams the week before. As we were setting up camp that evening Cody spotted 8 rams on the ridge above us and after scrambling for the binos and spotting scopes we determined that there was one very good ram but he appeared to be broomed and just shy of legal. The next morning I awoke before sunrise and was waiting for first light as I spotted the same 8 rams bedded on the ridge above us but looking to cross the valley. I informed Cody and his dad of the rams who were still tucked in their sleeping bags and as the rams rose from their beds they began to descend the hill heading for the crossing. I let the guys know the rams were headed down and quickly grabbed my rifle and spotting scope and headed down to the crossing. Cody and his dad were just behind me and caught up to where we all waited anxiously as the 8 rams crossed at about 200 yards in front of us. We all had a good look at the rams and came up with the same consensus as the night before with just the one ram who was broomed and just shy. So we headed back to camp all feeling pretty excited to what we had just witnessed and decided to have a big breakfast before we would hump it up the hill to the ridge where the 8 rams were headed and where Cody had spotted the 10 rams the week before. We were all hoping that the 2 missing rams were the bigger brothers of the band as even with the haze a week ago my friend had thought there was 3 legal rams in the band of 10.

We departed from camp and crested the saddle a few hours later where we were able to look into a couple of different basins and glass the slopes. After sitting down for a chocolate bar and catching our breath we were all surprised as the same 8 rams were within 75 yards as they crested the saddle directly behind us. So after another good look none of us could seem to make any of the horns grow so we had to watch them walk up and over the ridge and toward another basin.

After another while of glassing we decided to check the next basin where the rams headed and as we all slowly peered in the valley bottom we located the 8 rams bedded below us on a bench of the shale slope. We watched them for no more than a few minutes and then out of the bottom of the valley Harvey spotted 2 more rams heading along the dry wash toward us and the 8 rams. We all threw our binos up but only caught a glimpse as they disappeared in the rocky slope below us but the glimpse was enough to know that they both carried good mass and were worth another look. We discussed a game plan and decided to make a move on the rams below us. My friend’s dad Harvey decided to stay high in the saddle of the basin and the most likely escape route for the sheep, while Cody and I were planning on dropping into the basin and then putting a sneak on them from below as the slopes were all barren with no real cover for a stalk. So we departed down the ridge and arrived at a grassy bench where we decided to have another look at the rams below us. Now we could see 9 rams below us and there was still 4 bedded on the shaley slope below Harvey, so there were 13 in total! I pulled out my spotting scope and watched the rams as they began to but heads and determine the new pecking order now that the two bands appeared to join up. Cody was anxious to put a sneak on them and I didn’t think it made much sense that the both of us head down as we would be making twice the noise and be equally exposed on the slope. So after a quick discussion he decided to continue on while I watched from a grassy ledge above. I watched the rams eagerly for a good hour and could conclude that there was definitely one legal ram in the group as the other rams would huddle and nuzzle their new leader. Cody made it to the bottom and as it turns out the rams spotted him dropping into the basin and they started to drift off toward the saddle to where Harvey lay. Shortly after they changed direction again and from where I was they looked to be climbing near a very steep slope with several shear cliff faces along the base. I decided to try and make a big loop traversing around the outer edge of the basin and try and cut the rams off before they went up and over. I hoped to meet up with Harvey in the saddle but as I rounded the head of the basin he was no where to be seen and so I continued. The basin is very large and even moving at a good clip it took several hours to round the entire ¾ loop. It was now late afternoon and I could not see either Cody or his dad but I didn’t give up hope that the rams were still in the basin. I snuck along a the ridge toward another pass maneuvering along the cliff ledges and bluffs I finally crested the pass where I thought the 13 rams were headed for uncertain if they were still in the basin. From there I traversed the slope slowly peering below me trying to look for any depressions that the rams may be hiding in and sure enough I spotted 4 rams below me and one looked to be the leader of the 13. I crawled to within about 135 yards of the 4 bedded rams and from my position above them I could not get a clean shot as a smaller ram was bedded with his hind end covering the vitals of the biggest ram. I watched and waited for them two make a move but ended up waiting for about an hour before the largest ram got up and started to walk away. I was all set up for a shot and as he stopped to pick on some grass I dropped him with one shot from my new Kimber 270 WSM shooting 140 Accubonds. The ram cratered instantly and began cart wheeling head over heels down the slope to where it piled up about 300 yards below me and just above the lower cliffs. With still no sign of anyone I set my tripod and camera up and took some timed photos as the sun began to dip and then the work began. I caped the ram to his neck and then knowing I was never going to get all of the meat out of there that night with darkness setting in I decided to build a rock cairn over the four quarters to try and deter any scavengers. I left my T-shirt on top of the cairn and started on the journey back up the slope in the dark with my headlight guiding the way. It was now about 11:00 pm and I had run out of water by late afternoon so I was starting to get a little dehydrated as it felt like every step I took I was falling back two. I stumbled my way back along the rocky cliffs and down into the valley where I quenched my thirst. To this day I have never been so happy to hear the sound of running water! I finally arrived at camp at 2:30 am with the news…
The next morning we found the rock cairn untouched and deboned everything for the final trip off the mountain.

Great ram!

Try Wildlife Art, Harley Leader, ph. 262-1115
Tell him 'Hi' from me.
He did my sheep, at a reasonable price and lighting fast! I had it on the wall before Christmas, and I shot it, Oct 12! And it looks really good. I can send a picture or two if you want.

I'd like to say I recognize the scenery, but I've been dead wrong on such guesses before...

You might as well hang up your rifle for the season. It doesn't get better than this!!

Frans

Nice ram! And thanks for the interesting story!

Thanks to all for the kind words and advice!

Dark Templer - Is Bighorn Taxidery who you used?

Frans - I would love to see some photos... email = harveyrob073@hotmail.com

Thanks

Hey there Rob,

I used Bighorn and Wayne did an awesome job. If you want, talk to Warren and we will get together and you can see the mount and some of his other work.