A bitter sweet Stones' Ram

[.264winmag]

Only two of us made it out for a Stones' hunt, one partner bailed to continue on an elk/moose hunt. Brought my hunting partner of 20 years on his first sheep excursion. Since there was only two of us we only planned on taking one animal if so lucky. Had him within 260yds twice on good rams but I couldn't put em as legal. Our 21st ram sighting on the 4th day at 4pm sent us on a wild two hr stalk within range of this 8 year old.
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/Stoners%202014/Stone%20Sheep/A6EE9CD4-2A38-4881-9711-D88D4E29EEC3.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/Stoners%202014/Stone%20Sheep/A6EE9CD4-2A38-4881-9711-D88D4E29EEC3.jpg.html)
Was out of range for my partner but another long time hunting partner, and best friend to my partner was in his bed barely hanging on as the cancer tried to take him. We spoke to him for the last time on the drive up. He told us to have a drink on the mountain for him, and even though it was a lot to ask of a sheep hunter, he said, he only asked for one steak. I hammered that Ram for our friend.
6:30 pm we got to our ram. I sent a spot message to the wife, she relayed to our dying friend that a Ram was down. He went peacefully that night.
We had that drink, and got his steak.
Makes getting back to the tents at 2am soaked and exhausted seem like a cakewalk.
He will be deeply missed, too many good memories to remember. The ram will go on the wall in memory of a great man. His condition is what drove us, it's his Ram more than ours.
Lifes too short, get out there and live.

[wideopenthrottle]

beautiful...

[luckofthedraw]

Great ram. Sorry to hear about your friend. I'm sure he's proud of you guys.

[Buck]

That is a powerful Memorial.Rest in Peace.

[Rackmastr]

Wow....what a story. Condolences about your friend and congrats on hunt that I'm sure he enjoyed hearing about in his final hours.

[Wild Images]

Best reason I have ever heard to take a ram.

Hopefully he runs into my old sheep partner that we lost
to cancer last year and they can tell stories of thier favorite
mountains .

[MB_Boy]

Great story.

[Ride Red]

Great story and glad you were able to make your friends last wishes come true. Great job guys!!!

[Everett]

Crap I am speechless may your friend rest in peace

[Fisher-Dude]

Sorry to hear about your friend.

Seems so many are dealing with it these days. Cherish the times together, and enjoy the good memories of those we lost.

[A killer]

Great ram and story!!! Your Long time friend has two incredible mates! well done boys.

[albravo2]

Great story. Very refreshing to hear about a hunt that is much more than a hunt.

Sorry to hear about your friend.

[375shooter]

That's the saddest sheep story of all. My condolences. At least he passed away knowing you guys got the sheep for him. That was probably very consoling.

[325]

Nice ram! You are correct, life is short. Like I told my hunting partner a few years ago, we need to make our flash-in-the-pan a good one.

[kennyj]

Great ram, and moving story. My your friend rest in peace.
kenny

[Nimrod]

Wow
Special moment honoring your super bro
that he got the message touched me.

[buckshot]

Very inspirational story. 264, congratulations on a fine animal and great sportsmanship!

[RiverRunner]

I fine tribute to your friend.
Congrats..
Condolences…
Well done….

[nature girl]

What a friend that you are. To phone his wife and even though he had cancer the last few hours that he had he probably had a little smile on his face.
Thank you for telling the story and posting your picture.

[Smiley]

I have goosebumps. You are a quality human being and truest friend!

[.330 Dakota]

Im sure a tear was shed in camp that evening,,,truely his Ram,,,congrats on the animal,,,we have all lost huntin buddies,,some way to young to that terrible desease...condolences to you, your friends and his family,,,honor is the best thing you can bestow on a friend

[Salty]

Wow Derek that's powerful stuff. I wish you and your friend's loved ones strength in the memories of him that will remain long after his passing. A great hunt a great ram and a great honour to make one of his last wishes reality. Good on you bro.

Dan

[Mik]

Speechless......... And amazing, Congrats

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Wow! That's heavy and beautiful at the same time. You did your friend proud...I'm sure.

[Shikari300WSM]

What a great way to commemorate your friend. Sorry for your loss, but a nice beauty ram. I'm sure your friend is looking at that ram from wherever he is congratulating you

[bigben]

Beautiful way to honour a close friend,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, RIP Amen

[Asco]

A lot of us don't get to have emotions as we fight our way through the day to day. Hunting is always emotional for me and creates bonds that last. Thank you for the beautiful story

[HarryToolips]

way to go man, and condolences to you and his friends and family...

[Sitkaspruce]

Thanks 264 for sharing your story!!!

Sorry for your loss.

Great Ram!!!

Cheers

SS

[kevan]

Sincere sympathy for your loss, Thanks for sharing this moving account of your hunt..

[.264winmag]

I consider myself to be fairly proficient while travelling in the sheep mountains, up to the point prior to spotting this ram I had led the charge. Honestly without my new sheep huntin partner I never would have pulled it off. Buddy has 10 years on me, and I'm 34. He had some kind of fire lit inside of him to kill that ram. I trailed behind him with awe until we had that sheep in the crosshairs. He put me on my first deer 20 years ago, a delicious island blacktail. I so wanted him to shoot a ram to repay the favour. There he was still putting me on game after all these years. When I suggested we get closer so he could shoot it he barked at me there would be no taking chances of spooking him, "Mike doesn't give a shit who shoots it and neither do I" he said. There were sheep eyes everywhere and I feel it was a wise choice, and very unselfish.
Nice to know I have another great sheep huntin partner.

[one-shot-wonder]

Thanks for sharing a most memorable trip for you guys....the ram is a bonus on top of a great memorial trip.

[Billy52]

My condolences. Sorry to hear about your friend. Cancer took my father. Brought back a lot of memories.

[ydouask]

The loss of a friend with whom you have shared love, respect, and understanding is most difficult. I am impressed with your sheep hunt story and can only hope that we will all have someone in our lives who will bring a steak home for us when our time comes.

[argyle1]

What a powerful, passionate, and inspirational message. You forced us to reflect and be thankful----thank you

[REMINGTON JIM]

Beauty Ram there ! a Great Storey . RIP to your buddy and condolences to his family ! Thanks for Sharing with us !

Cheers :) RJ

[Salty]

Nice to know I have another great sheep huntin partner.

Amen to that

[.264winmag]

Thanks everyone. Been an emotional roller coaster ride the last couple weeks, but the trip turned into a silver lining. Life long huntin/fishin partners are few and far between, even harder to watch them go much to early in life. I hope wherever he is the fish/game are plentiful.
Cheers

[pg83]

Congrats to you on your making your friends last requests a success. I'm sorry for your loss.

[guest]

Cool story, sad for your loss of a good buddy. That said, sounds like you guys made him proud. Good on YA .

[landphil]

You do us hunters proud. Sorry to hear of your friends passing, and thanks for posting the story.

[kaptin]

Sorry for your loss. Awesome you got a ram to remember all the great times together.

[Looking_4_Jerky]

264,

Condolences and congrats in the same breath. Keep living the life your buddy would have wanted for both of you.

[Krico]

Nicely done. You really have those sheep dialed in.

[northof49]

Nice ram, nice looking spot. Sorry to hear about your buddy, sounds like you guys shared some good times....thanks for sharing.

[Fred1]

Great stuff! Cherish every moment we get - especially the ones with friends who cant do what we still can...

[Glenny]

I got a lump in my throat reading this. It makes me appreciate my longtime hunting bud and best friend even more. Sorry, congratulations, and thanks.

[scoutlt1]

You do us hunters proud. Sorry to hear of your friends passing, and thanks for posting the story.

This.
Congrats on a nice Ram, and yeah....
Great story, and so sorry to hear about the passing of your friend and hunting partner.

This is, really, what hunting is all about.

Strength to his loved ones, and good on you for posting this.

R.I.P.

[thepitchedlink]

Nice going boys...sorry to hear about your friend

[Thunderstix]

Great Ram and great memories.

[Ltbullken]

Well said.

[.264winmag]

Breakfast
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/C20B0A8E-5CD4-4FC6-A42C-BFEB5974FDD9.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/C20B0A8E-5CD4-4FC6-A42C-BFEB5974FDD9.jpg.html)
shortly before partner spotted our ram
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/7791AA69-3E35-4FE0-86E8-7B4F154F5FAD.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/7791AA69-3E35-4FE0-86E8-7B4F154F5FAD.jpg.html)
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/8E02FDD9-864B-43FA-A044-332928D405A8.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/8E02FDD9-864B-43FA-A044-332928D405A8.jpg.html)
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/6BA599B2-ECBD-42DE-AE35-75505DF222F3.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/6BA599B2-ECBD-42DE-AE35-75505DF222F3.jpg.html)

[avadad]

Beautiful story….thank you...

[.264winmag]

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/03044848-CB0E-47BB-AAD1-090EC2820DC0.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/03044848-CB0E-47BB-AAD1-090EC2820DC0.jpg.html)
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/82DDBB34-7C44-419B-B93E-186D05A06ED4.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/82DDBB34-7C44-419B-B93E-186D05A06ED4.jpg.html)
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/4B24F786-1772-4EA3-A1B5-BF2EF71E4676.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/4B24F786-1772-4EA3-A1B5-BF2EF71E4676.jpg.html)
Questioned our sanity during drive up!
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h325/Doubleheader2/5637FA6D-52AC-4FC1-9AE5-EBA1EEC1ED73.jpg (http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/Doubleheader2/media/5637FA6D-52AC-4FC1-9AE5-EBA1EEC1ED73.jpg.html)

[Dog_River]

Touching story. may we all have friends like you two guy's when the going gets tough !!

Good on you two guy's and may your friend be in a great northern sheep basin looking up at a bunch of trophy rams !

Dog_River

[wideopenthrottle]

for your breakfast pic, I noticed that all the raisins landed on the ground instead of in the oatmeal bag...heheheh

[.264winmag]

Ya I hate raisins! Seemed like a good spot to glass from:)

[375shooter]

Adding the additional photos is a nice touch! In the 3rd photo, let side, is that a sheep trail in the background?

[.264winmag]

Adding the additional photos is a nice touch! In the 3rd photo, let side, is that a sheep trail in the background?
Pretty sure? My first time venturing into this area, there's some beaten paths back in there for sure.