9.5 lbs heavy? That is what a Win. model 70 lightweight, with a scope weighed back in the 70s. My model 70, in 375, with a scope, is right at 10 lbs. I can carry it all day.

Guess I should have said model 70 standard, but the lightweight model weighed 8 lbs or a little better.. the standard about 8 1/2 , which was considered to be the norm. Put on a scope and mts and was an easy 9 1/2 lbs.

I'm off this Wednesday the 6th at noon for Coldfoot AK. All packed and weighed and ready to go. The preparation all went well and I feel ready for this adventure. EXCITED!!

Good luck Doug. Tell Erik I said hello. I can't wait to read your report.

Good Luck Doug!!!

Eric just married into a Lodge here at the Lake so I'll meet him soon,,,

Lim

[QUOTE]Originally posted by waterrat:
Good Luck Doug!!!

Eric just married into a Lodge here at the Lake so I'll meet him soon,,,

Lim[/QUOTE

And she is way too good looking for Erik.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Turnbull:
I'm off this Wednesday the 6th at noon for Coldfoot AK. All packed and weighed and ready to go. The preparation all went well and I feel ready for this adventure. EXCITED!!

good luck and have a safe travel.

He is just a week in to it. I bet he is having big fun. It should be fun for us to read about when he gets back and posts some stories and pics.

Good luck and looking forward to the pictures......

I'm back!

Had a great hunt, I beat the mountain!!! Never felt that I couldn't move or continue every day. Hiked over 70 miles in the 12 days of sheep hunting. Had to hike in and out that were about 14 miles each way as the wind was wrong for the very short strip they needed to use.
Saw lots of sheep n rams. Many 3/4 curl. Had one at 250 yrds that just couldn't make a full curl. Had left side broomed really hard and right side was about 7/8 or so, not quite full. Very hard to count the rings as it was poor angle and hard to read, as the last two years are very narrow. Guide and asst just wouldn't say shoot! Spent 12 days on the mountain for sheep with the full experience of sheep hunting. More report to follow.

Yes, the Brooks took a beating and most likely be very hard to find full curl rams in many areas I would quess, as the growth rings of the last two years are very narrow, as observed on the one they had back in camp. Great time, guides, packers, weather was never truly terrible.

Like all areas effected by weather. You can go 5-10-20-50 miles and there is a huge difference in weather results. This can go with animal populations and local kill and food resources.

Congratulations on a great trip. Any hunt is a success. Hope to see some pictures.

Just bought a CZ 452 Scout for my great nephew from a local here. He and his partner each got their Rams in the Brook's as well as a Griz.

That is great Doug. All that hiking is straight up too lol.

The rams that you were on wasn't legal size, or was not the trophy quality you were looking for?

Hoping for a full curl as we all do. Hard to count the rings and we really spent more time trying to get the full curl than the number of years. Seemed odd but that is what happened. My first sheep hunt and you learn a lot on these trips. If I knew for sure it was 8 plus I would have shot it as the one side was broomed already but that is how it all worked out.

But as I have learned talking to outfitters in the Brooks range you can not count the rings accurately and TRULY need to go by the full curl or dbl broomed horns to be safe and stay out of trouble.

Great time and experience.

Sorry brother. I know how much effort you put into the preparation . Regardless, being in those mountains for 12 days is a special treat success on a ram or not . Next time maybe it will be different .

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Sorry brother. I know how much effort you put into the preparation . Regardless, being in those mountains for 12 days is a special treat success on a ram or not . Next time maybe it will be different .

Interesting you say that Larry. When Brett, Jena, and I were in the Brook's there were three guys from Texas on a guided Dall hunt. All three had their Rams down within about five days and they were just chumping at the bit to get out of there. I just couldn't understand it.

Congrats on a nice hunt - you'll get the ram next time. It is nice when you know you've prepped appropriately for a hard hunt; you'll have a better understanding prepping for the next one. Heck, you got to spend 12days in the Brooks - some of God's finest country. How sweet is that?

Doug,
Congratulations on a successful hunt. I know you didn't pull the trigger but your attitude surely made it a success. What a great place to take your rifle for a nature walk!