SOSA 67th Annual Sheep Count

[Stone Sheep Steve]

So who's up for counting some sheep on Sunday???

http://www.okanagansportsmen.com/site/annual_events/sheep_count.html

You are invited to attend Southern Okanagan Sportsmen's 67th Annual Sheep Count.

The Count will be held Sunday February 11, 2018

We assembled at Vaseaux Lake Provincial campsite at 9:00 a.m.


Transportation up the hill to the count locations was provided.
The fire is lit , the Coffee is on, have a look at this http://youtu.be/ad0pinSWNX8

Following the count and check in, a steak lunch was served in the club house on Sportsmen's Bowl Rd in Oliver.

If you are not a hiker or can't hike, you were still welcome to come and have lunch with us. Cost of the lunch is $10.00.

[358mag]

Will be there hope to see a few more folks from HBC down there .
Best $10.00 steak dinner you will ever have .

[Chrispryn]

Do we need to register some where before hand or do we just show up? What do I need to bring? Binos? Spotter?

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Do we need to register some where before hand or do we just show up? What do I need to bring? Binos? Spotter?

Yep. Just show up. Binos and spotter would be great along with a daypack. Camera/videocam is also an asset for classifying sheep if they happen to get bumped and leave before you can record what you saw.
Be prepared to hike if you are able but there some places you can go to count if people aren't as mobile.

Hope you can make it!

[Taylor329]

This is the first I hear of another sheep count outside of the one WSSBC does. Too short notice for me, but if this will happen again next year, I'll plan ahead!

[358mag]

This is the first I hear of another sheep count outside of the one WSSBC does. Too short notice for me, but if this will happen again next year, I'll plan ahead!

Its the 67th Annual Sheep count , yes it will be going on next year. Always on the 2nd Sunday in February .

[tracker]

Hopefully sometime soon they will realize that there is enough sheep in this mu and surrounding area to sustain a GOS of some kind.. To the people that have never gone ,its a great time and well worth the time and effort to help out .

[Blainer]

Hopefully sometime soon they will realize that there is enough sheep in this mu and surrounding area to sustain a GOS of some kind.. To the people that have never gone ,its a great time and well worth the time and effort to help out .
General open season on sheep in an easily accessible area would see many boots on the ground.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Well, with the north wind a blowing, the day started out a bit on the nipply side but turned out pretty damn nice!!

Saw a pile of critters and had a great day!

Thanks to the organizers and to a couple lowermainland HBCers who made the long drive to help out today!!

A few pics from today....

https://i.imgur.com/plV9bRp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kAsxbDI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/t1vEWu9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lklvzd5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kPraUfr.jpg

[Stone Sheep Steve]

https://i.imgur.com/8cRzbjE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/x4mqwBr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1j6JsxV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ti8IV1Q.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/hCxiuJ9.jpg

[Stone Sheep Steve]

https://i.imgur.com/GLFnpsT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/z7ds7Ls.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bjkQ9Ju.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j4KtbmM.jpg

SSS

[REMINGTON JIM]

Some NICE RAMs there ! On the Calender for next year it LOOKs a LOT more Fun then the Spences Bridge Count ! :) RJ

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Looks like I need to resize the pics on imgur to a higher resolution.

[srupp]

Hmm get those sheep out of the wine yards..there IS a boycott..lol
Thank you guys/ gals for your time $$$, effort to help the sheep..
RJ Spenses is fun..i enjoyed your company. .
Cheers
Steven

[REMINGTON JIM]

Hmm get those sheep out of the wine yards..there IS a boycott..lol
Thank you guys/ gals for your time $$$, effort to help the sheep..
RJ Spenses is fun..i enjoyed your company. .
Cheers
Steven


Yes it was Steve :smile: But we can get out on the HILLs down there maybe SHED a LB or 2 ! LOL RJ

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Hmm get those sheep out of the wine yards..there IS a boycott..lol
Thank you guys/ gals for your time $$$, effort to help the sheep..
RJ Spenses is fun..i enjoyed your company. .
Cheers
Steven

We also saw a moose patrolling the edge of those vineyards. Looked so odd.

[Chrispryn]

What an awesome day. My first time participating in the count. The regular crowd was super friendly and a pleasure to spent time with in the hills. Lunch at the clubhouse was just what the doctor ordered after a few hours in the wind.

Chris

[358mag]

Great pictures SSS , yes was a great day for a hike and counting sheep,deer and a moose <WTF!!>
Meeting a few fellow HBC'ers and a great steak lunch with a nice cold beer .
Life is good in the South Okanagan .

[HighCountryBC]

Recognize a few of those backpacks in the pics, SSS ;).

Great work everyone.

[358mag]

Recognize a few of those backpacks in the pics, SSS ;).

Great work everyone.
They would look at lot nicer with some ram horns strapped to them !!:shock:

[Chrispryn]

Anyone know the final numbers?

[REMINGTON JIM]

They would look at lot nicer with some ram horns strapped to them !!:shock:

I could do that next year - BUT ! :grin: lol RJ

[bearatti]

Thanks for the great day all! Had a blast, totally worth the drive from Vancouver!

[358mag]

Thanks for the great day all! Had a blast, totally worth the drive from Vancouver!
Thanks for taking the time + effort to drive up, was a 5 star day for sure .

[358mag]

I could do that next year - BUT ! :grin: lol RJ

Ha Ha , we could have too and some one in the group even had a uncut sheep tag too...............

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Anyone know the final numbers?

I'll bug the bio and post the final numbers once they are tallied. He must have been away for the long weekend.


Thanks for the great day all! Had a blast, totally worth the drive from Vancouver!

Glad it was worth the long drive up! Much appreciated!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Recognize a few of those backpacks in the pics, SSS ;).

Great work everyone.

I'm surprised those packs still had some original colour to them. Figured they'd be all red from the blood they've seen over the years

[BC30cal]

Stone Sheep Steve;
Top of the morning to you sir, thanks for taking the time to post the photos - I appreciate you doing so.

It was nice to meet you yesterday, well as mentioned we've likely met previously, but I'm old and carry photo ID to remember who I am today......:wink:

I believe it was Chrispryn and bearatti who were with our merry band too? If so it was a pleasure making both of your acquaintances as well gentlemen.

Sorry we couldn't do anything about the weather, honestly I tried - wrote a sternly worded letter and everything - alas it was not to be.

That said, we saw more sheep in that stretch than I can recall in the last couple of decades so that was cool. I had to go look at my cap collection to date it all and found caps from the 40th annual, 50th annual and 2009. We might should do caps again if for no other reason than to mark time for the old guys.

Anyway to the two gents from the Lower Mainland who had to keep the old guy in the cowboy hat upright for the hike, it was a grand day from my perspective. Don't forget to give me a shout if you're down this way again - perhaps it'll be better weather and I can buy you a beer or some of the world famous Tickleberry's ice cream.

Thanks again to you Stone Sheep Steve and to the locals who make it happen every year.

Dwayne

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Thanks for having us down, Dwayne! Was nice to meet you too(again?) Lol!

Had a great time!

interesting to see last year's snowpack vs this years'. I'm sure it's why we saw a lot more animals. If I was a critter and saw that a decent portion of the valley was snow free, I'd be bailing for lower country too.

Here's a few pics from last year to compare. Pretty sure that big ram in the band from last year was one of the solo rams from this year.

https://i.imgur.com/RvqGvTs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/G9fDLa3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6t8H28w.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/icqE1nT.jpg

Looking forward to 2019.

SSS

[bearatti]

Stone Sheep Steve;
Top of the morning to you sir, thanks for taking the time to post the photos - I appreciate you doing so.

It was nice to meet you yesterday, well as mentioned we've likely met previously, but I'm old and carry photo ID to remember who I am today......:wink:

I believe it was Chrispryn and bearatti who were with our merry band too? If so it was a pleasure making both of your acquaintances as well gentlemen.

Sorry we couldn't do anything about the weather, honestly I tried - wrote a sternly worded letter and everything - alas it was not to be.

That said, we saw more sheep in that stretch than I can recall in the last couple of decades so that was cool. I had to go look at my cap collection to date it all and found caps from the 40th annual, 50th annual and 2009. We might should do caps again if for no other reason than to mark time for the old guys.

Anyway to the two gents from the Lower Mainland who had to keep the old guy in the cowboy hat upright for the hike, it was a grand day from my perspective. Don't forget to give me a shout if you're down this way again - perhaps it'll be better weather and I can buy you a beer or some of the world famous Tickleberry's ice cream.

Thanks again to you Stone Sheep Steve and to the locals who make it happen every year.

Dwayne

Hi Dwayne, pleasure meeting you and thanks so much for your amazing help and patience in introducing me to the real thing! I’ll be in touch for sure when I’m in your area :)

cheers,
Jelger

[BC30cal]

Stone Sheep Steve;
Thanks for the reply sir and for the additional photos.

Last year was the first count I'd missed in something close to 30 years, but since it's more or less our back yard where we're counting I think I can comment a wee bit.

The snow was really hard this year, so even though it's deep, the hooves weren't cutting in too, too deep so it isn't as bad as some years.

My good wife and I go for a 3 km walk at 5:00 every morning and this year we've heard way less coyotes than usual, so likely a bit less predator pressure on them. We also had a wolf pack working across Shuttleworth last winter and they had to have an effect on who hung around where, you know?

I was happy to see as many mulies as we did - it's way, way down from some years in the '90's as we were talking about, but its good to know they're not all gone. The local herd here in the summer was so small this year I was worried what I'd see on the count.

Thanks again and all the best to you and yours as we head into spring sir. If you're ever chasing anything down this way and you need a meat pole for skinning, etc, just give me a shout. We're sorta set up for that activity here. :wink:

Dwayne

[BC30cal]

bearatti;
It was my pleasure to have you along on our count team Jelger.

When we were looking at the group of mulies with the little bedded buck and the group of ewes and lambs, the other "elder statesman" and I were chatting and we both agreed it was so good to have members of the next shift there.

For me as I've aged I've come to understand that mentoring the next shift in whatever activity we're passionate about is one of the most lasting things we can do. Works on several levels actually if one thinks about it and as an old guy - I do!

All the best to you as we head into the spring bearatti.

Dwayne

[bearatti]

Thanks BC30cal!

[garett vane]

Nice work fellas!! Wish I could have made it.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Stone Sheep Steve;
Thanks for the reply sir and for the additional photos.

Last year was the first count I'd missed in something close to 30 years, but since it's more or less our back yard where we're counting I think I can comment a wee bit.

The snow was really hard this year, so even though it's deep, the hooves weren't cutting in too, too deep so it isn't as bad as some years.

My good wife and I go for a 3 km walk at 5:00 every morning and this year we've heard way less coyotes than usual, so likely a bit less predator pressure on them. We also had a wolf pack working across Shuttleworth last winter and they had to have an effect on who hung around where, you know?

I was happy to see as many mulies as we did - it's way, way down from some years in the '90's as we were talking about, but its good to know they're not all gone. The local herd here in the summer was so small this year I was worried what I'd see on the count.

Thanks again and all the best to you and yours as we head into spring sir. If you're ever chasing anything down this way and you need a meat pole for skinning, etc, just give me a shout. We're sorta set up for that activity here. :wink:

Dwayne

Thanks for the local long term insight, Dwayne.

I was sure glad to see the snowpack melt hard for those two days with the warm weather then pounded down with the heavy rain.....before it froze hard this past week. Could have been sketchy for the critters. Might still be for those wintering higher in elevation??

I did see a pile of mulies on the Saddle on the drive home. So many in fact, that I told myself to keep my eyes on the road. Most likey they have bailed downhill to avoid the crusty snow?

Hopefully, I'll get one of the south OK sheep draw this year and will be able to take you up on your generous offer of that meat pole! Fingers are crossed.


Thanks again for your 'Southern' OK hospitality!

SSS

[pg83]

Its the 67th Annual Sheep count , yes it will be going on next year. Always on the 2nd Sunday in February .

Gonna put it in the calendar for next year. I forgot it was this early in the year and was already committed for the weekend.