Folks I am afraid I have a serious problem. I have recently been bitten by the Bighorn Sheep bug. I need to know what resources there are to familiarize oneself with the general and nuanced sheep hunting ins and outs.
I am in North Texas, and needless to say there aren't a lot of sheep around here. Come to think of it, I have never seen a bighorn in the wild. So where do I go to find out what I need and want to know about sheep hunting?
I have done some preliminary research on the Fish and Game websites of several states and I should mention that I am very much a DIY kinda guy. Therefore, I would like to do a non-guided, drop-camp type hunt somewhere.

Here are some specific questions:
Should I apply to all states in which sheep are hunted? Or should I be really specific and narrow down to the 5 best units in the land and apply only for hunts there and just bide my time? (I'm 32 years old)
I'm mainly interested in the Rocky Mountain, but should I try for a Desert as well?
Am I gonna go nuts and have to get a slam before it's all said and done?
Should I just put it out of my mind and try to forget about sheep altogether?

Help me. What do I do?

quote:

Originally posted by Wise1:
Folks I am afraid I have a serious problem. I have recently been bitten by the Bighorn Sheep bug. ... So where do I go to find out what I need and want to know about sheep hunting?

You should go directly to your banker of course!

Brent

You can hunt sheep in unexpected places. Jeff Cooper's story "Texas Mouflon" occurs in the Davis Mountains. My only sheep hunt was an unsuccessful self-guided run at mouflon on Hawaii's Mauna Kea. It's a good place to hunt. Had I been more alert, I'd have gotten one, as I saw the back ends of several that were still within 200 yards. Someday I'll get back up there and kill one.

The most important thing I've learned about it applies to all big game. I think Jack O'Connor wrote it about long-range shooting, maybe in "The Big Game Rifle." He said that when he first started to hunt sheep, he had to take a lot of long shots because he hadn't yet learned to hunt sheep.

Start with his book "Sheep and Sheep Hunting." The gear he lists is obsolete but the principles are sound. Get in shape, get superb binoculars, good boots and a 270. "The Great Arc of the Wild Sheep" by James L. Clark will really get you going, and "African Hunter" by James Mellon has stories about hunting desert sheep in North Africa.

Then you should probably find a realtor to sell your house for you.


Okie John

Sell your house?......see your banker?......hell, you still won't have enough for a desert bighorn hunt. ....then there's the Stone's, Dall's, RMB, CBH, Fannin......stuff dreams are made of, eh?

Joe

There's an updated version of Clark's book for sale at Safari Press, by Frisina and another bloke; Mitchell I think: Retracing the Arc of the Great Wild Sheep is the subtitle.

Frans

Here's a twist on sheep hunting most people don't think about. Try for a ewe tag.

In Colorado, where I'm from, they have several areas that are beyond carrying capacity for the land and they issue quite a few bighorn ewe tags. Getting a ram tag can take a huge number of years. I drew one in the late 80's and didn't fill it due to being too choosy. I'm still trying to draw another and it is going on 20 years now. But, I have done several hunts for ewes in that time frame. I've even pulled a ewe tag as a leftover a few years ago.

When hunting ewes, you don't get a big head for the wall, but you do get to enjoy sheep hunting. And you get the meat, which is probably the best wild game meat in the country. I know some guys that get ewe tags almost every year and take their sheep within 40 miles of Denver. I helped a coworker fill a ewe tag by Georgetown Colorado once and we tagged out before noon.

It's a good way to get experience hunting sheep without the cash outlay and the wait.

Mac

I got lucky and drew a tag for Rocky Mountain bighorns in 2003, in my home state of Oregon.
This started my "fever" for sheep hunting.
If you want to have the best chances you should apply for every hunt in every state that you can afford.
Use application services such as Larry Altimus.
Make sure you collect bonus points, and above all else be persistent.
Praying is also recommended.
Drawing is tough but it isn't impossible.
Good Luck

once you are bitten by the bug you will read it ALL.
sorry to say if you are just getting started applying you are going to have plenty of time.
o'connor is a great place to start and gilmain/gilmore,writer out of montana,(passed away a couple yrs ago)expert on sheep and mt. goat.
Mcelroy wrote about his world wide sheep hunting.
And another book called "Horns in the high country"

I would apply to just about every state. See how cheap the preference points are or see if they even give points. I know NM is just a randow draw & it costs $6 to enter. Colorado it cost $3 a prefernce point & it takes 3 points to get in the draw.

WY it's $100 for a point & it's a draw where the max points get the tag----top at 12 points---so it's 12 years before you even have a chance. I pass on WY.

Not sure on the other states----MT, ID, UT , OR, WA. CB

Gents,

Thanks for your replies. No question this seems a difficult pursuit, but one that is everlastingly rewarding.

MAC - love your idea of getting one's feet wet with some ewe hunts. Good call.

Frans - had the pleasure of reading your article, Crosses on a Napkin, last night. I really enjoyed it though it left me wanting more photos. Congrats on your ram. How did you get it out with the pulled back muscle?