I drew a Big Horn Sheep tag for Montana in an unlimited draw area 500. I will be hunting the Beartooth, Absarokas. Has any one hunted this area? The area used to be Jack Atchesons. I will be hunting with Big Timber outfitters. Has anyone hunted with them before. The owners name is Mike Lovely.

Twilli,

I don't know anything about your outfitter, but I do know about the area that you are hunting and about unlimited sheep zones in Montana.

I am now a resident of WA State but lived in Bozeman, MT for a number of years. I sheep hunted in another one of MT's unlimited draw areas. Here is some information for you to consider.

In MT if you draw a sheep tag in the premier areas, you have a very good chance at shooting a legal ram and a decent chance at shooting a bruiser. In some if it's other draw areas, you have a decent chance at shooting a legal ram. In the unlimited areas, shoot the legal ram. The success rate for the unlimited areas is extremely low. Also, the genetics are a little different and the key minerals seem to be lacking. A ram in your area may take up to 7 years to become the legal 3/4 curl to shoot where in the breaks or other premier places, a ram can reach 3/4 quarters curl in almost half that time.

Another thing to consider is people. You will have to deal with pressure from other hunters. The unlimited areas provide people with the opportunity to "hunt" sheep and you will see some beautiful country. I mean absolutely breath taking. Arm yourself with the attitude that the "hunt" and the views are your trophy and a sheep would be extra.

I know of people who have taken nice rams in the unlimited areas, but there were on more than one occasion, other hunters attempting to make there way to that same ram to get into position to shoot. Long Range Glassing is the game and with powerfull optics it is not uncommon to have more than one hunter or hunting party sizing up the same ram. Your guide will probably have sub guides working for him that are out in the unit looking for a legal ram. Once they find one, they wake him in the morning and put him to bed at night until the client can get there and into position for a shot.

You will be hunting around 8,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation so be in the necessary shape. That is no joke. A good elk guide with good horses, can get some pretty out of shape hunters on the elk, but sheep hunting is a totally different animal. You will most likely have horses to get you into the country and maybe even up on top of the peaks. But most of that country will render a horse useless. Especially if you have a ram spotted, you are going to need to be able to cover ground stealthily and still have enough breath to shoot effectively at long distances. I would have my zero at 300 yards on my rifle and be comfortable shooting out to 500. I may get flamed for that, but most sheep hunters that I ran into were capable of making a shot that long. And I know that I could. I would use a minimum of 7mm and bigger could be better. I used my 300 win and ran into many people carrying the supers like the 30-378, 340 Wthby, and 300 Ultra. They've been killed with alot less, but I would want some umph at long distances personally.

Get comfortable living through your binocs and spotting scope. They will be your eyes most of the day, and you can get some awful headaches if your not used to that much glassing.

Good Luck,

Autumn Pulse

Autumn--well said.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz

Dobber Dog,

How the heck are you? It's been a while. Still guiding? See any big bruins this spring?

In case you didn't figure it out, this is Travis.

Still workin' at BW'ds? Whats new? send a PM when you get time.

Good to see your name pop up now and again.

Take Care.