First Ram

[harbinger]

Just got back from a hike in sheep hunt and managed to connect on my first ram! He was stooging around with two other rams and we watched them one night from a ways off. As it was getting dark we decided to return to camp and see what we could see in the morning. At this point we were still uncertain if he was legal or not.
I got up the next morning, got out of the tent and got the water on. I picked up my spotter and hot diggity the rams had fed themselves to within three klicks of camp! As the light improved we could get a better look at him and decided we should get closer so we could see for sure if he was legal.(the other two guys I was with have both taken rams and were holding out for a big ram) Once the band bedded down we closed the distance to about 1.5 klicks and proceeded to glass them some more. At this distance we could see that he was real close and we decided to leave my two buddies at that spot and I would put the stalk on them and see if I could get close enough to 100% confirm he was a shooter.
Off I went, in clear view of the rams, up the slope for a better look. Once I got within 800 yards I put my spotter on him and settled in for half an hour of stare off with the rams. The biggest one would not look away from me so I could only get a head on look at him. he looked legal head on but I wanted a look at him from the side to confirm. THIS IS WHERE HUNTINGBC.CA HELPED ME OUT BIG TIME.
As the half hour was passing by I was starting to worry that they would spook or take off or whatever. Just about then the sun came around the ridge and lit up Rambo's horns. He has very distinct annuli and over the course of the next 15 minutes or so I was able to count eight rings clear as day. I decided it was go time and that I would get even closer still and have another look just to be sure. Obviously, I was being very careful to confirm he was legal.:mrgreen:

[Krico]

Way to go! Now go be a good boy and post some horn porn for us. You've been around long enough to know the rules...

[Laurence_Erickson]

we need pics . Please

[harbinger]

I'm workin' on it!

[Derek_Erickson]

The old man made a post amazing glad to see you come out of your shell8)

Welcome to HBC:mrgreen:

[harbinger]

I booked across a saddle and came up above and behind the rams. The bigger guy was looking directly to the side when I got a look at him and I was sure he was legal. Thats when they took off down hill! Crap, I ran down the hill chasing them trying to find a good rest. I found a good spot and settled in as the sheep relaxed a little bit and stopped running away.
It was a fairly long shot and I quickly weighed all the factors and decided to take the shot if he turned broadside. For what seemed like an eternity I waited while he walked back and forth and his buddies kept getting in front or behind him. To make it worse he was slowly making his way down hill and dropping out of sight! Finally he turned broadside and I squeezed of a shot. It was a long enough shot that my eye had opened back up by the time the bullet hit him. I watched as he crumpled and rolled down the hill, the last thing I saw was his legs sticking up in the air as he rolled out of sight! Yeeeehaaa!

[harbinger]

I'm just trying to figure out how to post the pics, sorry guys! Ha!

[Orangethunder]

I'm just trying to figure out how to post the pics, sorry guys! Ha!

I will post them for you if you want.

PM me for an email addy

[Kitimat Killer]

congrats on your first ram i got mine this year so i know the feeling and there was 12 rams with mine so i noew what you mean when the other sheep kept walking in from man it sucked again congrats on the Ram we need PICS big time.

[harbinger]

Jeez, everytime I try to post it is down. Not complaining mods, you guys are super! I just know I'm gettin' lambasted for not posting pics...hahaha sorry all, I'll try again here...

http://http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/thumbs/scopeshot.jpg

[harbinger]

WTF?
All I see is the red X?

http://http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/meandramemail.jpg

[harbinger]

Doh! Can I get some help here?

[harbinger]

Anyhow pics are in my gallery for all to see, sorry dudes can't seem to get them here, even though I followed all the instructions.:icon_frow:icon_frow

[bwhnter]

Nice Ram!! Congrats!

[dana]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/meandramemail.jpg

Congrats!!! Nice Ram!

[Rookie]

Congrats on the awesome looking animal.Way to go man!Was it your first attempt at a sheep?

[WoodOx]

Definitely, i am envious to get out asap!

It clearly breaks the nose bridge, how many years and how long is he?

Big congrats on your first

[harbinger]

Third sheep hunt, all for stones.:-D

[Jelvis]

That's a nice lookin set of horns, you did good, really wide and curled, way to go.

[pupper]

congrats on your first Ram!!

what was the spread on that one??

[harbinger]

I think he is only 32 or 33 w/ 13 inch bases...
This was part of the "ID dilemma" when we were glassing him. He was clearly not very big but he just had this look that made us think he might be legal.
He has a nice tight curl and flares out pretty good for a smaller ram.
I think he is nine, I have had difficulty getting to the CI coming home on a holiday AND having a wife who is due in three weeks nesting up on me. For all you dads out there you know how many chores that means!8)

[Kitimat Killer]

nice Ram man congrats way to go u did good

[Orangethunder]

Beauty ram. As for the nesting, I think getting in sheep shape is easier than dealing with ye old maternal instinct. Congrats on the ram and the upcoming new addition.

[harbinger]

8)Thanks Kitimat!
For all you gun nutz out there I whacked him w/ my browning comp stalker in .270 win. I used a speer 150 grain SPBT, 52.5 grains of IMR 4350. The shot was between 300-400 yards slightly downhill.

[Krico]

Trust me, dealing with the nesting is the easy part. Just wait for the sleepless nights for months on end-you'll be begging for 4 hours straight in a cold and wet sleeping bag on uneven rocky ground...

[Kitimat Killer]

hey Harbnger i see you got all blistered up too well same here i had mole skin taped to my boots and feet im chucking them into the garbage and buying a new pair for my nexed hunt it sucks when your fighting with blisters thats for sure.

[harbinger]

Actually those blisters aren't mine, my feet were great. when we hiked in it was POURING rain on us and combined with the heavy loads thrashed my buddies heels. that was the first time he got blisters too. Not nice for the first day of a week long hunt! The 12 hour hike out at the end with the sheep is something I will never forget, proud to say we hiked ALL the meat out, at the time it was harsh but now that it is in our freezer I'm glad we did. I read your thread about your hunt sounds pretty awesome, lots of hunter though hey?
What kind of boots were you wearing?

[harbinger]

Actually those blisters aren't mine, my feet were great. when we hiked in it was POURING rain on us and combined with the heavy loads thrashed my buddies heels. that was the first time he got blisters too. Not nice for the first day of a week long hunt! The 12 hour hike out at the end with the sheep is something I will never forget, proud to say we hiked ALL the meat out, at the time it was harsh but now that it is in our freezer I'm glad we did. I read your thread about your hunt sounds pretty awesome, lots of hunter though hey?
What kind of boots were you wearing?

[Kitimat Killer]

i have the merrells but way too stiff im going to buy the Meindls Canadian Pro i order them i do not recommend the one i have thats for sure.

[BCrams]

Good on your first ram !! He's a pretty sheep !! Fuel for the fire for future sheep hunts !

[harbinger]

Thanks BCrams! I hummed and haaald about whether or not to take him cause he is not very long at all. I figured what the hell, my first ram, nice flare, tight curl, beautiful weather, and luckwise it could not have played out any better. Adding those all up I decided to take him, and I'm stoked I did because everytime I look at him I remember a hunt gone right! For me that is quite rare so what a treat. Yeah, sheep hunting is incredible, I love it. Now it is time to find the 40 incher as my second stone sheep. I think even of the other species I will probably only shoot a big guy now!

[BCrams]

Right on ... the most important is to put the 'experience of the hunt' before the animal. Getting an animal is the bonus to a 'hunt'.

Good stuff!