Close to a year of planning and preparation resulted in my partner Mike and I cutting our tags on two Northern BC Stone’s Sheep opening week. After a successful hunt in 2010 in Region 7 where Mike harvested a magnificent Grizz we decided to try our luck again on these elusive creatures. After several phone calls and discussions this past September with HBC’s resident Grizz expert Srupp, we decided on two weeks that would increase our odds of harvesting a monster coastal Grizz.
Mike and I (who work together) requested and received off the two weeks that Srupp had recommended. In due course the LEH applications were submitted and much to our chagrin we learned that we were unsuccessful. After a quick disappointed phone call to Mike, undeterred we decided that a fall hunt would be in order – but for what and when? Mike’s true passion is sheep and within seconds he suggested that we go for Stone’s Sheep. Having never hunted Sheep before I was keen on the hunt and Mike was super stoked wanting to put a giant twister on his wall next to his amazing Dall.
As fate would have it, unbeknownst to us both Mike and I had two weeks off (at the same time) the first two weeks of August. Mike had his annual Gold River fishing trip planned with the boys and I was supposed to go to Italy with my wife and kids. I knew I could get out of the Italy trip but Mike felt compelled to not let the boys down on the fishing trip. With a little coaxing Mike was making the call to see if he could get out of his previous commitment. Mission accomplished – Stone’s Sheep here we come!
Mike and I spent the winter preparing for the hunting both physically (training) as well as planning where we had the best chance of harvesting a legal ram. Gleaning HBC, reading various publications and PM/talking to many of the HBC members allowed us to come up with a game plan. Region 7 was it and we booked our fly in charter for July 30th thus allowing us a day and a half to spot and increase our chances of anchoring one opening morning.
July 29th arrived before we knew it and when my alarm went off at 3:20 AM that morning I was already awake. I was lucky if I managed 2 hours sleep with the anticipation of my first Stone’s Sheep hunt. Mike arrived 10 minutes earlier than planned at 3:35 and we left my house at 4:00 am as originally planned. On the 5:15 BC Ferry Mike and I sorted through our gear and poured over the maps once again trying to consolidate our game plan. Once on the Lower Mainland we started the 22-hour drive North bound with images of full curl rams on our mind.
The kilometers seemed to fly by fast and despite some fog and slow going through the night due to wildlife on the highway we reached the float base at 530 the following morning. The drive through the night was grueling but with Mike and I both used to shift work we were able to push through with out stopping to ensure we were ready to go for our early morning departure.
A sincere effort to catch a couple of hours of shuteye was fruitless with the anticipation of what lie ahead. Around 8 o’clock signs of life around the float base encouraged us inside to find out that despite all our planning, several parties had already flown into our carefully chosen lake. Mike and I had a quick huddle and resolved that we were about as lucky to harvest a sheep at the Walmart parking lot in our hometown than at that range with close to a dozen others combing it. After looking over topo maps an ad hoc plan was devised for a new lake. A quick check with the pilot and it was determined there was likely a lot less pressure in the new area we had selected.
The biggest concern for us was that our maps did not cover any of the new area we had decided upon. Some old maps were lying around the office for that area and I noticed a scanner and printer near by. We also had internet access so we had an opportunity to come up with some resources. Fortunately for us weather delays pushed our departure until later in the day and I spent several hours on the computer scanning, printing and cutting and pasting topo print outs off Google Maps. Mike spent quality time on the phone trying to find out as much information as possible about the new area. By the time we were set to depart we had a pretty respectable topographical map and an idea of where we may possibly find some sheep.
We were airborne by 1:30 PM and an hour and a half later we were unloading our gear wondering to ourselves how we ended up here. Four months of planning, talking to other hunters and gleaning over maps and we are not even hunting that area! Once on the ground we spent the better part of 1 ˝ hours getting everything sorted and we commenced our 3-mile hike. Four and a half hours later we decided that was enough and set up our spike camp. It was raining and cool and having spent the last 40 hours without having seen a bed I was ready to rest. We agreed that 8 hours should be sufficient and after a quick Mountain House we were asleep by about 10 PM.
Early the next morning we were up and eager to tackle the slopes in our new found valley. We carefully worked our way to a high vantage point and by mid day Mike had picked out a bachelor herd of 6 rams. They were over a mile away on the opposite side of the valley but the majestic curl of the Stone’s Sheep was unmistakable. We watched carefully considering our plan for the following morning – opening day.
As we sat spotting we noticed a peculiar colored rock at the base of the hillside the sheep were on. Closer inspection revealed a tent and two hunters tucked in the trees not more than a few hundred yards from the herd. Mike and I were demoralized and felt that they are more than likely going to spook them out of the valley and best-case scenario they were at a better vantage point than us for opening morning. We had elected to set up camp outside of the valley in order to avoid scaring any of the sheep but now we were confronted with other hunters in the same area.
We watched the herd until sunset carefully plotting our plan for opening morning. We resolved that the best plan of attack was for us to pick a spot about ľ a mile further down the long valley from the other party. We felt that if they did manage a shot at the rams their escape route might take them past us (if they did not go up over the top). There was also the possibility that they will move during the night and we might have a shot at them.
The next morning we had our alarm set for 2:30 am and were on the trail by 3:00. A 3 ˝ mile forced march on a game trail we had never been on in the middle of the night was interesting. We both had our Petzl headlamps on bright for the first hour but as we neared the valley we went to red and eventually with some ambient light we could make our way with out any help. We arrived at the base of the hill a bit later than anticipated as a result of some thick brush and stream crossings but nonetheless we were there before first light. We stopped in some heavy brush assessed the situation and realized there was some open terrain and then some additional cover further up the mountain. A shot from where we were would be challenging as we were a considerable way down the hill plus a stalk would be impossible from that vantage point. We elected to cross the open terrain and took cover in some heavy brush partially up the mountain.
As the sun started to reveal itself Mike noticed a ram bedded about 180 yards directly in front of us up the mountain. As further light shed all six rams came into view bedded within shooting range. Two or three of them were locked onto us as Mike peered through the Vortex Nomad assessing the legality of the herd members. I stayed low in the heavy cover looking on through my Zeiss Conquests remaining motionless wary that our success was contingent on it. As I lay watching these magnificent creatures I witness the impact of a single shot followed immediately by the loud report of a rifle. Seconds later a second ram falls with the incredible report of a rifle piercing the crisp morning air.
The other party in a matter of seconds had filled their tags and Mike and I sat in awe as the remaining four rams mulled around in confusion. The two other hunters were at a higher vantage point further up the valley and had obviously spotted the rams at first light as well and stalked toward our location. After a few minutes the two hunters wandered down to claim their prize as Mike and I assessed the remaining rams. The largest of the group skylined himself at 200 yards and Mike and I both further considered the ram. Confident he was legal, Mike leaned over his Karrimor daypack and the 225 Federal grains broke the morning silence once again. The Browning 338 X-bolt anchored its second trophy in two years bringing the flared out old Stone’s Sheep to the ground.
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