The Accurate Reloading Forums
for all who got sheep tags

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3411043/m/8771037651

03 June 2011, 22:18
ravenr
for all who got sheep tags


ran into this band of rams the other day while spring bear hunting.
they were tucked in a tight spot, holed up out of the wind.
which one would you shoot?
03 June 2011, 22:35
Mike_Dettorre
The one on the left


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
03 June 2011, 22:38
MC
I'd shoot the old, broomed ram on the right in the last photo.

Heck, I'd like to shoot any of them! I'll never have a tag though.....
04 June 2011, 00:52
L. David Keith
I'd want to study them before I made up my mind. Due to the difficulty most hunters face in drawing a tag in the US, and the cost involved for a good guide, I'd not want to make a hasty decision. Would be great to find a band like that and just watch them for a while. Thanks for posting this photo, I really appreciate it.
thanks,
David


Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
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Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409
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10 days in the Stormberg Mountains
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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson

Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......

"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."
04 June 2011, 01:01
24mileboy
We were driving on I-86 west to the Dalles and saw 20 plus Bighorn rams. Not sure if the area is open for a draw but there were some nice sheep in that group. Ravenr thanks for the photos, love the sheep.
04 June 2011, 01:04
butchloc
and for all who didn't moon
04 June 2011, 01:17
ted thorn
I can't afford to even shoot an internet bighorn


________________________________________________
Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper
Proudly made in the USA
Acepting all forms of payment
04 June 2011, 07:17
lde
I'd have to wait until I saw the ones looking right into the camera first. Hard to tell with the one profiled (sideways).

For the one that has his profile to us - how old? I'm thinking 8 yrs?
04 June 2011, 07:20
Steve Lefforge
quote:
I can't afford to even shoot an internet bighorn


rotflmo
04 June 2011, 07:35
JustinTimberline
Here's one I photographed a few years ago. Wouldn't take much time to make up your mind Smiler
Looks to be a keeper.


04 June 2011, 08:45
WV2WY
Great pictures, thanks for posting.


Tom


Tom Kessel
Hiland Outfitters, LLC (BG-082)
Hiland, Wyoming
www.hilandoutfitters.com
04 June 2011, 09:15
MC
I'd guess the profile ram (left) at 6. He still has his lamb tips. The ram on the right looks like me might be 8. Hard to tell from the photos. The single ram looks 10 or so to me. Maybe I am far off. Any ram would be a trophy to me.
05 June 2011, 02:50
Mike_Dettorre
Is that the way this Ram would be aged?




Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
05 June 2011, 03:10
Slider
150-160 class Rams.
05 June 2011, 05:52
Colorado Bob
I've got a tag & either one would be fine. I would probably take the one with the broomed tips.

My tag is for unit 16 in Colorado. Those are typical rams for my unit. There has only been 2 to make 180 in the past 20 years come out of the unit.
05 June 2011, 10:37
ravenr
mike
looking at the pictures and enlarging them,
i'm calling the ram 7 .
the age rings you have in place are right but you missed 1.
they are easier to see on the back side of the horn, and he would be my choice also, he has 16" bases and is in my estimate 35.5 around the curl, which puts him in the high 160s.
like to see more mass down low but wouldn't pass him with a fun ticket in my pocket.
05 June 2011, 22:39
Bear in Fairbanks
ravenr:
You oughta be ashamed for posting this kinda porn on an outdoor site. Some people might get the wrong idea. Great photos tho anyway & thanks.
Bear in Fairbanks


Unless you're the lead dog, the scenery never changes.

I never thought that I'd live to see a President worse than Jimmy Carter. Well, I have.

Gun control means using two hands.

05 June 2011, 23:24
Outdoor Writer
Here are a few more.








Tony Mandile - Author "How To Hunt Coues Deer"
06 June 2011, 02:25
Slider
This Ram scored 175. Much more mass and length. He drops well below the jawline.


06 June 2011, 06:34
SBT
I never scored this ram, but was well pleased. He is a WY area 4 DIY ram.






"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
06 June 2011, 23:59
lde
Slider, SBT

Nice rams! I'm jealous as the Rocky is one I still need for my slam... Dam these draws!! Smiler

Mike,
I like how you indicated your thoughts on each year's ring. But that second year's ring (right after the lamb tips) seems awfully long. I'm seeing actually being kind of short and the third ring being much longer. IMHO of course.
07 June 2011, 03:21
Alaska Hunter
Bighorns, unlike thin horns(Dalls and Stone Sheep) can have a quite a few false annual rings. Thin horns will get them occasionally, but the Bighorns are notorious for them. That's why BC went to full curl instead of age requirements. Judges were letting hunters off that shot too young of rams because they claimed you had to be a biologist to age a ram properly due to false annuals.
I'm not disagreeing with anyones thoughts on the age of these rams but counting rings at distance isn't always accurate.
07 June 2011, 07:41
Mike_Dettorre
All,

My estimate of rings is an absolute guesstimate...I have never even attempted to age a ram prior to looking at these pictures.

When MC said he thought the ram was 6, I thought how do they age rams...so I did a little research on the internet and saw some examples.

I also saw what Alaska Hunter was talking about because I was looking at examples thinking why does that dark ring count but this other one doesn't.

So I just said well, assume MC is right and let me see if I can find six rings.

You could tell me it was 8 or 4 and I wouldn't argue with you.


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
07 June 2011, 08:22
MC
Mike, you are welcome to follow me off a cliff anytime! haha

I am no expert and was giving my best guess. 6 or 7- just give me tag! That little ram in front of the scraggly ewe-- I guess 4.
07 June 2011, 08:29
Mike_Dettorre
I know nothing about these scores but the bases on SBT's ram look massive to me. I know the tips on his ram are somewhat broomed but they still look awfully thick.


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
07 June 2011, 08:41
medved
cannot tell you.

first ours are thinhorn and even if there is a draw most are just over the counter tags ...
08 June 2011, 01:05
cotton76
What is easiest way to post a picture from my computer. Have a couple of the desert variety to post.
Thanks
08 June 2011, 06:28
SBT
Cotton, here is a link with instructions http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/951100671


"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
09 June 2011, 07:43
nube
Here are some rams I took pics of this winter. I hope to find one like this while I am on my sheep hunt this fall!!














Zim hunt 2012 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/3411011181
09 June 2011, 07:45
nube












Zim hunt 2012 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/3411011181
09 June 2011, 12:23
JBrown
Nube
Eeker Eeker Eeker Eeker Eeker Eeker


Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown
09 June 2011, 21:34
SBT
Alberta rams have no rivals.


"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
09 June 2011, 23:34
Equinsu Ocha
Cadomin crankers. Insanely big sheep.
10 June 2011, 00:45
ravenr
Magnificent creatures!!!!!
but how many "hunters" want to hunt sheep by sitting on the line, waiting for one of these to "stray" out of the park???
10 June 2011, 05:46
ted thorn
quote:
Originally posted by ravenr:
Magnificent creatures!!!!!
but how many "hunters" want to hunt sheep by sitting on the line, waiting for one of these to "stray" out of the park???


That's what I was thinking


________________________________________________
Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper
Proudly made in the USA
Acepting all forms of payment