Well since I plan on bagging a sheep that pretty much makes it once in a lifetime for desert. I’ll be putting in next year for Rocky Mountain. The time it takes to draw on average does not make it a high volume hunt opportunity

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
Well since I plan on bagging a sheep that pretty much makes it once in a lifetime for desert. I’ll be putting in next year for Rocky Mountain. The time it takes to draw on average does not make it a high volume hunt opportunity

Man, you got that right! I drew my desert with 23 bps. But I also know more than one person who drew tags with two or fewer points.


Tom Gresham (son of Grits and host of Gun Talk) is a personal friend of mine. Back in the 1980s, he moved to AZ to take over the editing job of Rifle magazine for Wolfe Pub. in Prescott. After he became a legal resident, he applied and drew his tag right out of the chute.

That same year, I had acquired two pronghorn permits in NM and invited him to hunt with me. He drove down from Prescott and spent the night at my place. He kiddingly harped on me the whole time about how easy getting a sheep permit was. At that time, I didn't have many points because I lost quite a few when I moved to Colorado in the mid-1970s and didn't start applying again until 1982-83 or so.

Luck plays a part for sure. Sometimes I wonder about it all though.......

I’m a lucky guy 16 years plus loyalty point so 17 points

For a number of years in the '80s and '90s I bought Montana Unlimited Unit Bighorn sheep tags. Back then I didn't know what a good deal those tags were and I didn't hunt as hard as I should, but I did kill 3 rams, and one year I didn't see any rams but couldn't pass on one of my best 6x6 bull elk.

I also hunted Dall sheep in the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada's Northwest Territories along with a Mountain Caribou bull.

My rifle for all of those hunts was a .257 Roberts Ackley Improved shooting 117 grain Sierra GameKing handloads.

All of these animals taken were one shot kills, and the longest shot was 206 lasered yards on the Dall ram.

Dude, you are my hero. That is so awesome. Congrats and cheers to the good old days. Nice rams a great hunt memories

Sheephuntung that much these days is relatively unheard of for the average joe.....

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
Sheephuntung that much these days is relatively unheard of for the average joe.....

Yeah, I took those 3 Bighorn rams within 100 miles of my home on DIY solo hunts with $25 tags.

Love the picture of the Stone sheep. We always called those that carried the black/grey color up and over the nose a "Noble ram". Couldn't help but notice how mach basal weight he had and carried it quite a way's. Congrats...

A pre 64 or 98 custom Mauser in 270 WCF fwt shooting 130 gr. Nosler accubonds..Always has been, Jack said so and he knew sheep better than anyone Ive known..I added the bullet because I know he would have loved that bullet!! Abount any non belted round that works for Mule Deer in open country will work on sheep or goats..If you like a 300 Wby be my guest, but its too much gun IMO..

I have found sheep much like Mule Deer are shot under 200 yards, and most aroung a 100 yards. Had a number of Desert sheep on the ranch I was raised on and Idaho has good sheep hunting on draw..Yes you can take long shots at times, but 90% of the time you can cut that distance greatly if you have the skill.

I have a M70 FW in 7mm-08. 7lbs 3 oz with scope. That should be right up there at the top.

I have never hunted sheep either, but I do own the book titled Sheep and Sheep Hunting by Jack O'Connor and I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of good information on just about everything you need to know to hunt any type of sheep.

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I have never hunted sheep either, but I do own the book titled Sheep and Sheep Hunting by Jack O'Connor and I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of good information on just about everything you need to know to hunt any type of sheep.

Jack hunted Alberta a lot, great author. In his day you thought in terms of 30 day hunts, few of us could do that, but makes one envious.
Gheist is the foremost authority on the biology of mountain sheep.

https://www.amazon.com/Mountai...ldlife/dp/0226285723

Grizz

I’ll look for it thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I have never hunted sheep either, but I do own the book titled Sheep and Sheep Hunting by Jack O'Connor and I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of good information on just about everything you need to know to hunt any type of sheep.

Thanks ordered one

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams1:

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I have never hunted sheep either, but I do own the book titled Sheep and Sheep Hunting by Jack O'Connor and I think you'd enjoy it. Lots of good information on just about everything you need to know to hunt any type of sheep.

Jack hunted Alberta a lot, great author. In his day you thought in terms of 30 day hunts, few of us could do that, but makes one envious.
Gheist is the foremost authority on the biology of mountain sheep.

https://www.amazon.com/Mountai...ldlife/dp/0226285723

Grizz

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .270.

Got one in 7mm-08

What ever you are most comfortable and accurate with. I've been on 2 sheep and two goat hunts. Rifle has always been a stainless synthetic Rem 700 in 7 Rem Mag with 160 gr Barnes TSX bullets. Rifle is equipped with a Leupold M8-6Xx42 scope with fine duplex crosshair. I use practice and a good hold over, and has proven successful out to 600 yards.

I only killed two Dall sheep, both with a .243 Imp in a wooden stocked Remington 788. During the decades I lived in Alaska don’t think I met but a handful of hunters that used anything more powerful than a 06.
We did have a “pucker factor” run in with a griz once in the Brooks range that made me rethink my caliber choice.
Pick a rifle that is durable and weatherproof and that you have confidence in and shoot well and consider it done.

I am dialing in on my Tikka superlight stainless 300 wm. Doug at cameralabd hooked me up on all the scope I will ever need in a lightweight package..7lb 2 oz with scope and Talley LW rings. Shooting 190 accubond long range ammo. Maybe overkill but should be adequate for any sheep or goat anywhere and a bit of power for Alaska if needed. BRH reticle for bullet drop. The only drawback to tikkas is if you cyclebolt hard case can deflect off scope turret and bounce back in action. Had this happen numerous times. But no bears in AZ so should be good and use a “gentle” bolt stroke

I have a couple of 270's that are light weights. Both extremely accurate and capable.

Pre 64 featherweight; 130 Nosler partitions at 3250 FPS: 1/2" groups at 100 yrs. 6X42 Leopold; Leupold 1" dot reticle.
Handy; Nice 22" pipe.

I had a Mod 70 featherweight push feed that I gave to my son with a 2.5x8 Leopold that shot the same handload lights out.

Weatherby ultra light 270 Weatherby Magnum. 4X12X50 AV3 Swarovski. 130 TTSX at 3450 FPS. 3 into a dime at 100yds. Can be a finicky rifle. Screws have to be torqued just right.

Go light!

I really like the 270 Win. I shot my Desert Bighorn with it. After practicing out to 500yd, wound up taking him at about 75yd! Also took an Aoudad with that 270.

I just had a 280 Ackley put together. 26" barrel, should be great... this particular one is a little heavy for a serious mountain hunt.

Both the 270 Win and 280 Ackley have light recoil, but if sighted 3" high at 100yd are around 10" low at 400.

My lightest rifle is a little Savage 7mm-08 that shoots an honest .5MOA with 150gr TSX. I took my Dall's with that at 350yd. Doesn't shoot nearly as flat, but with a Leupold LRD (with dots down the vertical crosshair) 500yd is no problem. BUT if my rangefinder ever crapped out, I'd sure rather have one of the flatter shooting rifles.