Well I've been living in Alberta for 15 yrs now and never bothered hunting sheep, the other day I thought....what the hell!!!!!! I've been stupid not trying to hand a sheep on the wall, so I'm getting in shape and hitting the mountains this fall. Well it all sounds easy enough until I realized--I don't know how to hunt sheep. Does anyone know a good website, or can anyone share their knowlege? I'd rather not just go wandering around with my spotting scope I need a few specifics. I also hunt with a bow so I was thinking about wmu 410, is it overrun with hunters? Is 410 a decent place or are there other areas that are good. I'm hiking in all the way and no horses or quads.

thanks to all that help out

the chef

If you're walking, get in good shape! If you can, find a buddy (preferably one who has been before) especially if you're going to spend some time in the mountains it's always good to have someone with you. Get some good maps, good glasses and a spotting scope. Typically, where I hunt, if you see ewes, move on and spot somewhere else, the rams do not hang out with the ewes Aug-Oct (generally, but not always...)

I hunt sheep on horseback, I'm not that young anymore and it's nice to ride up as high as you can go and then hike from there...

If you're like me, you'll love it...

thanks for the info, I'm doing a lot to get into shape. I'm 38 and still a pup but I realize that my time is dwindling and I really want to get a ram so I'm willing to do a lot to connect. If anyone sees this post and wants to hook up and hunt together let me know tdneal@shaw.ca I've found a couple othyer guys but honestly they arent as gung ho as I am. I've had a LOT of mountain training, as well as search and rescue training so I'd be a decent hunting partner.

the chef

I take it from your name your from Calgary? I hail originally from just outside Calgary, but moved to Grande Cache 5 years ago. I'll keep you in mind if any buddies from back there are looking for a partner...

I've gone sheep hunting every year for the last 7 years and still haven't got a ram, been into a few, missed a full curl once, I think this year is THE year, I'm pretty sure I've got opening week off to go (which will be a first)...

"I think this year is the year" LOL, that's how you become a sheep addict. CC, contact Frans Diepstratan who posts on here, he lives in Calgary, and is doing the crazed sheep hunter thing as well. I'm getting on and have a bum ticker, so I can't leap the rockies like I used to. Still looking for that perfect sheep tho" - Dan

could you tell me how to find him here? I tried the search button but that didnt work am I missing something?

He answered on the post you made about host hunting on the European Hunting threads. Just click on his name and send a PM. - Dan

Yes, that sheep hunting is addictive! CC - have you thought about what you'd take for your first ram? I could have shot a couple of squeakers in the past but didn't want to take one that just barely makes it (3/4 curl where I hunt). For my first one I want at least 2" past legal.... if I ever get the first one out of the way I plan on taking one more, but it will have to be a monster...

You're a lot like I am. I'd like a good one or nothing for my first ram. Then I'll take a monster for second, I'm not interested in shooting 20 of the poor buggers!!! I started bow hunting this year and passed up some nice little bucks, I told myself my first bow kill would be a decent buck- doesn't have to be a monster but definately not a forker. A decent 4x4 would cause me to draw. After that I'll take a doe to fill my tag or wait for a big buck. I'm a pretty big believer in minimum size standards in hunting, it makes the hunting better for everyone. If some poor slob wants to kill something let him kill a doe and leave the bucks to reach a minimum size for next year.

the chef

The reason I wouldn't shoot a squeaker is I don't want a ram that's legal when you shoot it, and then have it shrink in a year to where it's not a legal 3/4 curl anymore.

I admire you for holding out for a decent buck bowhunting. I took a different tact, my first WT buck bowhunting (15 years ago) was a was a very small 3X2. I snuck up to within 15 yards of him and another small buck fighting, they had no idea I was there, I made a good shot and dropped him quick. I had shot mulies with the bow prior to that, but I was sure happy to get that first whitetail buck, no matter how big he was. Still have the horns and they are a better trophy to me than some of the bigger ones I've got since.