This year was my third year attempting to chase a Stone sheep ram but my second year as a hunter. In 2010 my brother harvested a nice mountain goat and last year after moving to BC I harvested a goat as well. Both of us are very happy with our progression since we were new and green mountain hunter. We enjoyed each of our hard hikes and hunting trips in very remote country but harvesting a sheep was and still is the ultimate goal.

I’m sharing again this year my hunting season, as it progressed. Since I was serious in my attempt to harvest a sheep I planned two Stone sheep hunting trip this year, 11 days in August and 12 days in October, and I was motivated like I’ve never been before. My last two hunts were in different territories and like any un-guided hunt the land reserves many surprises in access, steepness, water level, trails, presence of wildlife etc even with the best preparation and intel. We lost so much time on both hunts figuring where and how to travel to access the desired mountains. All our hard work paid off in the end with now each a mature goat under our belt.

Unfortunately for me my sheep hunting partner, aka my younger and uglier brother hahaha, couldn’t make it this year. After discussing with a good hunting friend that never hunted in the Rockies, he offered to join me in my adventure. Also since I was now eligible this spring for the LEH, I applied for a grizzly tag and the Kamloops sheep tag. Obviously I didn’t get the sheep LEH but luck was on my side and my sheep hunt turn into a combo sheep/grizzly hunt. I was extremely happy to have such an opportunity to hunt two wild animals of that calibre!!!

For my August hunt my priority was the sheep and I was going to focus my October hunt for a grizzly. But if an opportunity was available on either game I was not going to turn it down.


End of July

Disappointed I learn that my good friend and hunting partner wasn’t going to make it for legit reason. Not mad I reflected what to do and it was out of question that I wasn’t going on my sheep hunt. I couldn’t find someone serious, dedicated and with the same time off on such short notice so I decided my hunt was going to be a solo sheep hunt. Now I seriously had to review all my gear and food list, let me tell you guys I do eat a lot so cutting on the food was tough to do.

Was I up to the challenge for a difficult and far hike, face what mother nature would throw at me and the solitude for 11 days, I tough so. I was much more motivated this year than I’ve been for the last two trips and that was a good thing!!


Few days before I left

My good friend who was supposed to come on my trip came over to show me his Dall sheep horns he harvested a few days earlier on a hunt he won. A very nice 12.5 years old ram and I was hopping it would bring me luck touching his sheep horns.


Sunday August 19

The big days finally arrived after a long wait that never seamed to finish!!! I was working night shift and the next crew shows up for 6:00 but at 5:30 the boss looked at me and said "What are you still doing here". In no time I left the plant and I was heading home. I completed the last touch to the gear list and left home with a very heavy backpack but I knew I had everything to be safe, comfortable and eat just enough. After a long drive day dreaming what this hunt would be like, very tired I camped beside the truck that evening question to rest and not push myself too hard after working a night shift.




Saturday August 20

I went back hunting somewhat in the same area where I hunted last year. The big advantage I had this time was the knowledge and the experience of last year’s hunt on how to access where I wanted to go without wasting time. It was "faster" but don’t think it was easier! I had to hike to a spot I named the lost horse valley, after that I was going in unknown territory which turn out to be a brutal son of a bi*ch hike.

Here I am all loaded up and also a small grizzly foot print with wolf tracks in the mud after one of the many creek crossing.