I leave Sunday for my first desert big horn sheep hunt.

I am all packed and ready to go. I am worried that I have developed plantar fascitis in my right foot. It isn't better even after 2 cortisone shots. Sucks for my exercising. Sucks to get old. I will be 55 during the week of the hunt.

I am also worried that I may not bring something that is necessary as I haven't hunted the desert big horn before. Any advise would be appreciated.

After much thought, I decided to bring my 300 Win Mag over my 270 and my 7 MM Rem Mag. My basic thought is that it is flatter shooting than the 270 but not the 7MM. The weight of the bullet and slightly lower speeds compared to the 7 MM would make it less likely to get pushed around by the wind.

I would appreciate comments on that decision as well.

Good luck and happy birthday!

Where is your hunt? Don't forget a pair of leather gloves, on the ranch where we hunt them in Mexico they are a necessity

Drummond

Some where south of Ferron.

Seems the weather has taken a serious turn and is much colder not. Just perfect for a guy from Florida.

Pre hunt jitters!
Don't worry about the little things you may have forgot they are probably trivial anyway.
If you have comfortable boots a rifle you are comfortable with (and know how to shoot it), ammo, optics you can depend on and a Sheep tag then you are Sheep hunting.

Bring the right attitude and don't try to defeat yourself before your hunt even begins with talk of your age or ailments or weather.

The biggest Sheep of your dreams is just over the next hill or in the next canyon so never give up. You have the rest of your life to get warm or catch your breath for now push yourself so that a year from now or 10 years from now you have no regrets.

Good luck and post a hunt report on your return.

Thanks. I am in really good shape. I can out walk just about anyone. Foot problems or not. It would certainly be more enjoyable if my foot didn't hurt.

I assume that is Ferron, UT, huh?

Are you going with a guide/outfitter or DIY?

Good luck!!

Magnums are bit overkill for rams but who cares? If you shoot them well that's all that matters. Good luck and Happy Bday.

OW:

Yes. Ferron, UT. I bought the tag in an auction in February.

I am going with Wade Lemon. I have know him about 20 years. Always had good hunts except for weather issues.

mmaggi:

If I have to shoot at long distances, I feel more comfortable with a bigger gun. Besides you can't kill them too dead!

Good Luck Larry.
Cant wait for the report.
Be Safe,
W.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
OW:

I am going with Wade Lemon. I have know him about 20 years. Always had good hunts except for weather issues.

I've heard about him over the years, mostly related to lion hunting if I recall.

Just be sure you don't use a .22 MAGNUM; it's way too much gun for sheep.

Larry,

If you need a stand in, last minute replacement, I can take one for the team!

Way to go on the desert hunt. I expect a full report on your return.

I hear good things about Wade. You will do fine.

Do you have trekking poles? Big help. Also, Kifaru makes a gun bearer system that attaches your rifle to your pack, leaving your hands and shoulders free for rock scrambling.

Best of luck to you. I hope you get the biggest sheep in the unit!

Thanks Jack. I will look into that.

What caliber did you use on your sheep?

knee pads,leather gloves,and a good butt pad for those long glassing days.
with my skinney butt and hours a year i spend glassing,it a necesary piece of equipment.
good luck and safe travels

I have been through Ferron, Utah on a trip with my wife to visit some of her relatives in that larger metropolis of Castle Dale, which is about 10 miles north east of Ferron.

Have you visited the area yet??

The city of Ferron is huge with a total area of .5 mile x 1 mile for the city itself!!! The elevation at Ferron is right at 6,000 feet. I don't remember seeing any traffic lights in the city. This is a neat area of Utah on the east side of the Rockies with a lot of desert terrain east of the city with about 35,000 square miles of habitat for the sheep. I've driven out into that area before and it's a reminder of the Grand Canyon on a smaller scale. Just a fabulous area to visit yet alone hunt.

Keep your eyeballs open for dinosaur artifacts, arrowheads and pictographs which are all over the place. Take lots of pictures of those but don't put any in your pocket. Picking any of these up will land you in court as a bunch of locals from Moab Utah found out recently. Moab is southeast of Ferron, a long ways southeast as there isn't much at all east and south of Ferron.

The terrain has a tremendous amount of canyons and I would imagine could lead to some shots on the long side. Usually the wind is moving in these canyons so the 300 Win Mag may be the better choice. A lot of table top plateaus with deep canyons.

You will enjoy the scenery as much as the hunt. Good luck and please post some pictures.

Good luck. Truly a hunt of a lifetime.

Larry,

For your plantar fascitis, buy you a pair of Sketcher Shape Ups. I have fought foot pain for about 8 months. I work in an orthopedic private practice and have tried everything short of surgery. Those Sketcher shoes have helped more than anything.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Thanks Jack. I will look into that.

What caliber did you use on your sheep?

Larry,

I shot all 4 with a .300 RUM. Could have gunned down, sure. But I was after possibly the most precious trophies in North America. Why not use the largest, flattest caliber available?

Keep in mind, you kill sheep with your heart first, feet second. You will do just fine!!

Again, best of luck to you.

Thanks for the help. Some of these comments have been very helpful.

Jack:

I bought the gun bearer system. Great advice.

Teancum:

I have been there 3 or 4 times while shooting prarie dogs. I have been to Castle Dale and Price many many times. It is very scenic.

Ravenr:

Knees pads. I did not think of that. Thank you.

Best of LUCK!!!

I hunted with some of Wades dogs in Zim last month and im thinking of hunting with some of his dogs in Sweden this year, it´s a small world ! Good hunting Larry and I hope you get a old one !

AD

Dont know what kind of foot gear you're using but you might stop by a running store and see what they say. They can usually tell by your walk, meaning how your foot lands etc, what kind of shoe might help you.

Good luck on your hunt.

I'm pulling for you Larry. You are on the hunt of my dreams.

Nail mac daddy Larry. Good hunting, David

Good luck! (and give us a report when you get back)

Thanks gentlemen. I will most certainly make a full report upon my return.

This did make me think of one thing. I gave my camera to my cameraman in Zim as his broke. I had better get another or I will be relying on I phone pictures!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

mmaggi:

If I have to shoot at long distances, I feel more comfortable with a bigger gun. Besides you can't kill them too dead!

I agree! Have fun and good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Thanks gentlemen. I will most certainly make a full report upon my return.

This did make me think of one thing. I gave my camera to my cameraman in Zim as his broke. I had better get another or I will be relying on I phone pictures!

Larry,

We take 2 cameras. A good point and shoot, and an SLR. You cannot take too many pictures, ever.

Hope you get the biggest ram in the state!

Good luck,

On my way back. Got the sheep. Will file a report upon my return.

Congratulations. Looking forward to your report.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
On my way back. Got the sheep. Will file a report upon my return.

Outstanding news!!! COngratulations!

quote:

I am worried that I have developed plantar fascitis

Wear high arch insoles!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
On my way back. Got the sheep. Will file a report upon my return.

That's GREAT news!
Have always enjoyed reading Mr. Bold's sheep hunt reports and will look forward to yours!
Again, Congratulations!!!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
On my way back. Got the sheep. Will file a report upon my return.

EXCELLENT JOB!!

Larry, congratulations on the sheep! Desert bighorn ranks in my top five trophies I "must have." Where's the pics and report!

quote:

We take 2 cameras. A good point and shoot, and an SLR.

Jack, you bring an SLR? Like this ...



I'm hunting with you! (Sorry, I'm a car guy. This is the first thing I thought of when I read SLR.)