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View Full Version : California Bighorn habits and hunting tips wanted



Brew
06-04-2016, 09:31 PM
My wife is pregnant with our second and it will be born the second week of October. I won't get much of a hunting season in. However I put in for the early ashnola draw and if tha doesn't pan out I'm planning on hunting 3-17 the first week of the season.
i am totally new to sheep hunting however I went last year for one day with a buddy and he got a nice 3/4 curl that was almost full curl on a leh draw. We saw lots of sheep on the dayI was there.
i also did the sheep count this year and had lots of fun. I travel with work all over the province so have got to do a bit of scouting as well. I'll post some pics below.
I'm looking for tips and strategies for hunting california bighorns. Mostly just their habits and types of areas to find Rams.
How close to water will you find Rams in the heat of the early season? Will I find them on north facing slopes in the timber? Any tips would be a great help.

Some me pics from last week
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/Bare20/beb0d49c8fd1708ac1d9f63129958bfa_zpsixmv6cu4.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/Bare20/c928e8bc1b970f726a5488fc368e8580_zpstsu2liau.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/Bare20/9e1edc577b2f7b492c6b79d5d1eb379c_zpsz4okqcjq.jpg
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/Bare20/56ff185e258b7100e8d963ad675b8b0a_zpscd23z7pu.jpg

TreeStandMan
06-04-2016, 10:11 PM
I know nothing about sheep hunting, but looking at those pictures makes me want to learn.

Dash
06-05-2016, 01:57 AM
I know nothing about sheep hunting, but looking at those pictures makes me want to learn.

I second this.

.264winmag
06-05-2016, 02:49 AM
Never hunted em, but might be stuck chasing them this fall also. Other than seeing piles of them loitering around the Kamloops area, I'm not sure where to start. I hear they like the timber! Mulie tactics can come in handy, I'm a shitty mulie hunter I got my work cut out. Fingers crossed for a draw also...

srupp
06-05-2016, 08:25 AM
We have had lots of bands of california bighorns around Williams Lake area...hunted them for the first 20 years harvested 2 rams..one is a dandy..but only put 2 on the wall..stopped hunting them.
There are significant behaviors that are different from rockies..learned from hunting but even flying over tge area in choppers one learned some habits. .strategies..they are fun.
Cheers
Steven

Seeker
06-05-2016, 08:51 AM
I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that those LEH draws were removed due to psoroptic mange. The sheep have taken a big hit. I hear you with the kids, its tough, but in a few years they will be helping you out.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/california-bighorn-sheep-similkameen-1.3362290

HarryToolips
06-05-2016, 09:47 AM
LOL I put in for the same draw, never hunted em before, PM me if you get the draw, I'll do the same to you..

dmace
06-05-2016, 11:03 AM
PM coming Brew . Had that draw a few times but not recently . I gave lots of info to a few others for last years draw ,hope they chime in for ya !

Brew
06-05-2016, 07:07 PM
Hoping for a draw but I have not had much luck in my 23 years of applying. If I don't get drawn I'll work 3-17 over real good in search of a ram. I'll keep my fingers crossed

khoffnbud
06-05-2016, 07:19 PM
Just remember the Cali's are the north end of the zone, Spences to Lytton area, that's rocky zone