2010 Stone sheep hunt: a son with his father

[eatram]

Hi All,

This is the first thread that I have started. I was challenged by someone to write or post a story earlier, so here goes. I am not sure how to deal with pictures, but here is a story about my father and I on a sheep hunt. Here goes nothing...




We crept up on the windswept ridge, cold wind in our face, the temperature below zero, as the foot of snow could attest to. My father and I, the title of mentor and protégé now reversed. He was now in my element, my mountains, my footsteps. For myself the build-up of tension, nerves and drive had settled on my shoulders heavier than I had had in longer than I could remember. We were looking at a band of Stones rams, with one that was 11 years old. It was my time to give back. To give back to the man who gave to me all those years. My father is a real hunter. He was taught by his father in the jungles of South America, Paraguay. He was well versed in the art of killing. His shots were accurate and true. His skills were honed. As I lay there in the snow, belly to the ground and my core shaking with excitement and cold, I knew that it would be a tough shot. At just over 400 yards, I hadn’t seen my dad practice at this distance before. He was the kind of guy who would go to the range once a year and shoot between two to three shots at 200 yards. That was it. Every bullet was sacred to him. This was the result of growing up in a country that handed you nothing except starvation and thirst. A hard life, no doubt, but a rich life, regardless.

I lay there, counting the age rings, and waited for the turn of the head to determine twice legal status. All the while, my father lay there motionless; calmly breathing. With his bi-pod down and the sheep in his scope, he watched his quarry; waiting for his guide to confirm what he already knew. I laid there, eyes wide open and the spotting scope fogging up with my breath. I needed to calm down; I’ve been here before. But with my dad here, everything was heightened in me. More intense, more nerves, more hope, more disappointment. Time would tell what today would bring. And then he turned…

So this hunt started off a few months back. I walked into my parent’s house and announced that I was taking my father hunting; for a stone sheep. “What else is there to hunt at your spot?” is what he asked me in reply. Ummmm… what?! Seriously?! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Why would you want to hunt the goats or elk or caribou that call these mountains home, when you could hunt big heavy stones?! I told him to buy a couple of other tags if that would make him more happy, but we were gonna kill a sheep. He is a meat hunter. He hunted out of necessity in the jungle. But he did understand the lure of the trophy. He was well accomplished in some of the other species that BC calls home. So he agreed and I took care of the plans.

Late September had us in at our remote location and we hiked/spiked our camp in. We packed for 7 days of spiking, with another 7 days of food at our base camp. We hiked in far, and slept on the side of the hill on day one. Day two had us hiking into a mountain fold where we saw some rams feed into the night before. On our way up the draw, Dad pointed out some caribou. He looked them over and said, “Hey son, that one bull is big. I think he is legal!” I confirmed it with my spotter, and continued my way up the draw. We were, after all, sheep hunting! We hiked a bit higher and Dad said, “son, that is a really pretty bull!” I agreed, and kept pushing my way up to where I knew those rams would be. The next rest spot, I heard my dad say again, “man, that bull is gorgeous”! That’s when something inside me broke. I thought about what he was saying; what he was wanting. I asked him, “Dad, are you wanting to go back down this mountain to shoot that caribou?!” Yes, was his response. But there is a band of rams within 30 minutes of us, and I’m pretty sure that one is a shooter, I responded. He said,”Son, I want that caribou. That is when my plan snapped and I realized what this trip was supposed to be about; about my dad. I smiled at him and said to him, “Dad, if you want that caribou bull more than a stone sheep, let’s go get the bull”! To my chagrin, he said “let’s go”.

45 minutes later, we were 75 yards away from that big caribou bull. I turned on the video camera and said to my dad to take him with a shot through the lungs. The gun went boom, the bull went down, and my dad looked at me and said, “one in the neck, so the meat wont be wasted”. Yup, that is my father. Looking back now, I really do appreciate his ethics, but when you’ve got that much caribou to pack out from that far back, it is hard to at the time.

So after taking care of the caribou, we set up camp and had a good night’s rest. The next day, we set off in search of the band of rams we saw earlier in the trip. It took an extra day to locate them, but once they were found, the chase was on…

[Leaseman]

Heck of a story so far!!

Looking forward to more.......

[eatram]

ok so i uploaded a photo but how do i find it again and attach it to this post?! frustration...

[IronNoggin]

Incoming PM re: pictures

[fuzzybiscuit]

Pictures are actually pretty easy once you’ve done it a few times. This is how I do it:

Have two windows opened up; one with the thread you want to post the pics to (HBC) and the other opened to Post Image (https://postimages.org).

Have the pictures you want to upload saved on you computer. From the Post Image site hit “choose images” then “from photo library”. Highlight the pic you want to upload and choose “done”. From there the pic uploads to the Post Image site. Tap on the pic once it is fully uploaded, usually under 10 seconds) and hit then hit “share” in the upper left corner of the screen. A bunch of links come up and the third one up from the bottom is “hotlink for forums”. At the far left of that link is a little “copy” incon. Hit that and it will say “copied”.

From there open your other screen (HBC) with the thread you want to upload the pic to. Right click on the text box and hit paste. That’s it, your done. Hit the “preview post” button and it should be there.

It sounds like a lot of work but once you’ve done it a bit it really only takes a minute.

[IronNoggin]

...

45 minutes later, we were 75 yards away from that big caribou bull. I turned on the video camera and said to my dad to take him with a shot through the lungs. The gun went boom, the bull went down, and my dad looked at me and said, “one in the neck, so the meat wont be wasted”. Yup, that is my father. Looking back now, I really do appreciate his ethics, but when you’ve got that much caribou to pack out from that far back, it is hard to at the time.

https://i.imgur.com/VHaal9D.jpg

Nice Bull!!

Cheers,
Nog

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/qzgar6b4f/2010_caribou.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/4ar3rltqj/)image sharing sites (https://postimages.org/)

[eatram]

Like that?! perfect, thanks both of you!!!

[eatram]

So back to the story...




The cold and the fog and the uneven terrain was making life difficult. I was wiping the spotter every minute or so in order to see clearly our target. The other 3 rams were un-aware, uncaring to these two dark forms laying down on the white backdrop. We were level with them, eye to eye, just on the next hogback. The big guy was getting nervous. He would look at us, re-adjust his stance, and stare some more. The tension and turmoil inside me was about all I could bear at the moment. It was then that I decided to look over my left shoulder at my dad. What a guy!!! He was laying down now, as before, but he had rolled onto his side, and he had found a long grass in the snow and was picking his teeth with it. The funniest thing I have ever seen. Cool as a cucumber, was he. I said to him, “What’re you doing?!” He looked at me, like only a father can, and said, “I’m waiting for you!!” LOL! The humour of the moment settled me down enough to focus on the ram with a renewed concentration. He turned, as if to run, gave me the angle I needed, and then stood broadside.

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/5aqlezav3/Tired_hunter.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/hpddfb2d7/)



Tired hunter

[eatram]

I looked at me dad and told him that he could shoot when he was ready. I also told him that I would look to see where the bullet goes and help him re-adjust the second shot. He just calmly, almost indifferently, said “OK”. Within 10 seconds, I heard the shot. About 2 seconds later, I saw the impact. 5 seconds later, the ram was down!!! I jumped to my feet, gave my dad a tackle, and hooped and hollered. He joined in as well, but with a little less enthusiasm as I had. Don’t get me wrong, he was happy. Happy to have connected with this trophy. Happy to have accomplished this feat (at 65 years old). Equally happy to be heading off of this snowy, forsaken mountainside.

We headed in the direction of the fallen sheep, being watched almost all the way by the 3 younger rams in the rocks above. We took some video, and some pictures, and then made short work of the ram. We took one side of ribs along, with of course the rest of the meat, to roast over the fire later on. We got to spike camp just as the evening had set on. Cold, wet, tired and happy. I had to crawl into the sleeping bag, as I was as tired as a dog. My dad, on the other hand, started the meal. He made me a meal from both caribou and sheep loin, while in our spike camp. He made a pseudo Geso (pronounced gee-so), a Paraguayan stew. Wow was it good; hit the spot. As I drifted off to sleep, my last thoughts were of the two animals we would need to pack out from this remote drainage, too far and too heavy for even 3 trips back and forth. I knew that the next 5ish days would be hauling meat, and meat, and horns, and hide, and meat, and antlers, and camp and a sore tired old man. I was looking forward to every step.

And then it happened…

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/3s4e1j12n/2010_sheep.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/pejeijzmz/)

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/465q0tnnj/2010_Geso.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/5l7apjoqj/)

Paraguayan geso, cooked in caribou fat...

[eatram]

OK. So my father had two big game animals on this trip… neither of which species he had harvested before. I was on cloud nine. I knew that the work ahead of us was going to be a monster, but we could handle it…. Barring anything unforeseen. One load at a time, one step at a time. The weather had warmed up and the snow was melting. Everything was wet. You know that feeling of damp, the kind that makes you shiver even in the sleeping bag, wet. But we had it made! The pressure that I put on myself was gone. We had provided for the freezer and I had “guided” my old man to success. It was a pleasure, mostly, as we stumbled, trip after trip, load after load, fallen tree after fallen tree, rock after rock, down the path that led us back. We talked a lot, we laughed some, and we hiked. The smells of the elk wallows called, but we weren’t listening. After the first few trips down, we started to get that strength which comes (at least for me) around day 4 or 5 of a sheep hunt. The strength that doesn’t really notice the weight as much, or the terrain uneven. I was just starting to hit my stride, when it happened…

I stopped to wait for my dad at a creek crossing, the rain was coming down some, and my eyes started to look up the mountain. I would not have believed it had I not seen it myself. There, 350 yards above me, sat a 9 year old billy! I froze. He saw me and stood up. Slowly I lowered my bag, a mixture of caribou and sheep blood running down my butt-crack. I made no sudden movements. I calmly looked down, and back, made eye contact with my dad, and he recognized that look instantly! You know that look! Like a well oiled machine, he put his pack down, I unclipped my rifle from my bag, and handed it to him. He sat down in the creek, leaned his back against a wet boulder the size of a smart car, and settled in.

The goat looked around nervously; he knew it. But with confidence and swagger that only a mature male can have, he slowly climbed up. I looked through my binos kinda quick like, and saw the low hanging belly with the slightly dirty hide. I was 90% sure that he was a billy. I am not really a goat hunter, so I can not claim to know all of the differences, as such. But from my limited knowledge, I gave him the thumbs up. Rifle up, elbow on his knee, waning eyes watching, waiting for the front lead leg to go forward… and then BANG! The goat ended up taking a bit of a tumble, but not much came from that. He ended up coming to rest about 200 yards from the creek we were shooting from. I was dumbfounded! Now I can say that my father was excited!!! Three species, all new to him. Memory serves me correctly that the goat hit the ground on day 5 or 6. Never have I had such a good trip and what better than to do this with my dad, on what was to be basically our final hoorah! That thought I will finish at the end of this story. Sheep ribs before, and goat ribs tonight would be cooked over the open fire. It just couldn’t get any better than this!!! The hike down was now extended by another two days!!!

Or could it…

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/qjdgo49b3/2010_goat_new.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/iqmsw53bv/)

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/p5ltsq2b3/2010_goat_ribs.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/ju6x80g8b/)

Goat ribs

https://s33.postimg.cc/z2wultk7j/2010_sheep_ribs.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/f8aszp4zv/)

Sheep ribs

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/98rn9cu1b/2010_dad.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/6rfw23a4r/)free pic upload (https://postimages.org/)

My dad's haul. Earned every bite!

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/p70czlykv/2010_meat.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/yeslgb5mz/)

Taking care of the most valuable part

[Slinky Pickle]

Type faster damn it! Just kidding, this is a GREAT story and I can't be the only one that is waiting on every word.

[eatram]

Type faster damn it! Just kidding, this is a GREAT story and I can't be the only one that is waiting on every word.

Lol. I'm doing what I can. I've got to type it up in word, then copy paste while the wife isn't watching. lol Hope whomever reads this that they get excited about our province, our natural resources, and more importantly, family/comeradery.

[Brew]

This is great! Take your time I’m enjoying it thoroughly

[fuzzybiscuit]

There will be a few reading for sure...

Good read and the makings of an epic hunt!

[ydouask]

Wow !!! You and your Dad are real machines. Great story telling, I'm enjoying every word, thank you.

[180grainer]

That's a trip to remember.

[eatram]

We needed to take care of all of the meat and the sheep and goat hides. This is a real chore when you are in bear country, and the weather starts to warm up as well. Luckily, my dad grew up in a country that is hot for much of the year (40 degrees hot). He knew his way around keeping meat (as well as eating some that smells too rancid for most of us). I let him take over the meat chores while I worked on the hides and heads. A leisurely camp life was ahead of us for the next few days. We caught some fish, spotted more animals, and just rested our feet and backs. What a great feeling there is when the work is done, and the campfire is burning hot. We both had smiles on our faces, like the Sunkist commercials of old. We talked about life, about nature and about God. Life was good.

My dad mentioned wanting to go for a leisurely hike the morning of day 11. We started our hike to a spot where there is a large muddy area close to the lake. He wanted to check out what kind of tracks were left in the mud. It was about a 30 minute hike from our basecamp. We got there quickly, and he started to walk around and check out the tracks. I, on the other hand, laid down and started to spot the hillside with my binos. I put them up to my head and pointed them way up hill, up to the tops of the mountains… and then I saw them…

I could only make out that there were 4 shapes up there in the shady part of the top of the mountain; that was it. But I know what sheep look like. The look of a shortened version of a caribou. White rump, stocky, blackish… no other animal looks like a mature ram from far off. I couldn’t believe it! I called my dad over and said to him, “Should we shoot another animal?” Immediately, he responded with “No! We have enough meat for the winter. But show me the elk you see up there anyways.” I told him that it is a band of rams, and quickly he changed his tune. He wanted me to have an opportunity at something, but he knew that my goal was for a sheep. He looked at me and said “I’m in”! That’s the kind of partner I have. I am so blessed!!!

So we hurried back to our basecamp where my spotting scope was. We looked through it and confirmed one of them to be deep and heavy. Too far to see lamb-tips, but structure could be made out with my swaro’s. We through together our backpacks and started the grueling 4.5 hour hike straight up to where we saw them last.

My dad is a trooper. A man that does not quit. Like a diesel engine, the old kind. Slow, steady, consistant. To be a sheep hunter, you don’t need to be fit. You don’t need to train. You don’t need Kuiu. You don’t need to handload. What you need is that qualities that my dad has. Sure, all of the other things help, but un-necessary. I highly respect my father; who he is and how he does things.

[eatram]

So we took off after those rams. It was warm, bugs were hatching again, and the moss was thick. There was no good trail or route up to these sheep. I know this, as I have hunted that spot a few times in the past. After what seemed like an eternity, we got to the top on the opposite side of where the sheep were last spotted. We started to creep now; boulder to boulder, bump to bump. I knew that they were here, somewhere, but where. The hunter in all of us took over. The thinking had stopped and the stalking took over. Eyes, ears, senses, all heightened. Slowly, arduously, I held myself back from just bursting onto the scene. They could be anywhere, but they would be here. Within 200 yards. Close…

[eatram]

Movement caught my eyes first; I hit the ground, dad followed my lead. My rifle came up, this would be quick, quicker than I like. The first ram half jogged infront of me, some 50 yards away. Not what I was looking for. My gun lowered a few inches. Looking over my barrel, I scanned the surroundings from where this guy came out, and it didn’t take long. The first thing I saw, with my naked eyes was the lamb tips WELL over his bridge. My heart stood still. I couldn’t breathe. This was the moment. I’ve been there before, but not like this. I’ve seen this before, but not like this. I’ve shot sheep before, but not like this. My first reaction was truly, “this is my last stones sheep”! That is what went through my mind as my rifle came up to my shoulder. Bang!

I had to follow up the first shot with a bit of lead, I will admit. I’m not trained in the jungle, I proved it that day. But nothing a taxidermist could not fix! I was over the moon. We did it! It was finished! 2 more days of meat/cape runs ahead of us. But that was ok, we had 3 to go. We hiked him down in the pitch dark; the midnight mile we call it.

Looking back on this trip some 8 years ago now, I can’t believe how time flies and how some details fail me. Much has changed since this trip. The year after, my brother passed away. Though this was a difficult time of our lives, we persevere. I am very blessed to have had such great trips with my father, and the success we shared (though the goal of the trip), is actually quite irrelevant. The bonds hunting helps foster is wonderful. I am thankful for the opertunity BC gives us to have these experiences. Hopefully, this resource will be available for my children, and my children’s children.

Sorry to say, that this sheep bug does not leave once you've shot a good one. It actually gets worse. But the good thing is that with every trip I go in on, the more experience I receive. This allows us to be (maybe not much more, but a bit more) selective in the animal we harvest. I've got a significant respect for the animals we take, and an equal respect for those who endure the hunt. Sheep hunting is horrible! Yet it is just so so so dang good!!!

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/52fzlxh1b/2010_my_sheep_dad_closeup.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/j8vqh5rwb/)upload image (https://postimages.org/)

Note the old Kuiu patterns

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/msho704wv/2010_my_sheep_closeup.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/var4bcbff/)post pics (https://postimages.org/)

[northernbc]

So very happy you had this trip of a lifetime with your father. Great post

[goatdancer]

That had to be the hunt of a lifetime. 4 very nice animals. Congratulations.

[Chrispryn]

Wow, that is an unreal story. Congrats on such an adventure

[fuzzybiscuit]

I love it when the stars all align and hard work pays off. What a fantastic hunt, and with your dad to boot. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Thanks Eatram for posting up the story.

[eatram]

Thanks for your comments. This trip was something special. Now re-reading it, it seems that I had missed a few parts and my thoughts got a little incoherent. I guess I should not have rushed the second half. O well. Two more weeks and then it's back in deep for sheep. New area, new terrain, new adventure. Gotta find the stomper! Wish me luck.

[Lukeez88]

good luck bud! if anyone can find a monster ram, its you! great read!

[Leaseman]

Felt like I was there!

Thank you for sharing you and your Dad's trip of a lifetime!!

[charlie_horse]

What a friggin awesome story! Thanks for sharing, I doubt a trip like that will ever be topped!

[325]

Absolutely incredible!! Congratulations! Those sheep ribs look fantastic too!

[Stroodle]

Great story! Amazing memories and bonds that last forever!

[BCHunterFSJ]

What a hunt!
Congratulations to you and Dad...

[Slinky Pickle]

Exceptional story. Those are the ones that we remember forever!

[IronNoggin]

Great Stuff!
One very worthy of remembering!
Thanks for taking us along!!

And Best of Luck with your pursuits this fall!

Cheers,
Nog

[eatram]

Thanks for the great feedback, really appreciate it. I left out the bear in our camp story, and the porcupine pets in our spike camp. The ribs were actually really good eating. Except close to the brisket and those really fatty bites... PROTIP: sew the rack of ribs to an old metal grate with some tie wire. Works a treat! 4-5 hours on low heat (not directly on the fire) and stand it up on end. Then turn 90 degrees as required.

[untilthelastbeat]

Wow, unbelievable. What an amazing adventure to have with your dad. Thanks for sharing

[kennyj]

Thanks for sharing your amazing adventure! The trip of a lifetime.
kenny

[whitetailsheds]

Great read eatram!! Incredible hunt!! Thanks for posting......some great memories came about for me and my dads' hunting days!! Headed for sheep soon myself with my daughter!

[eatram]

https://s33.postimg.cc/7dlfzfcyn/IMG_3182.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/js87zr4gr/)

Final product!

[northernbc]

That's a very impressive wall,very happy for you

[Fella]

Holy crap you guys are a couple tough *******s! And I say that as a compliment! Excellent story!

[eatram]

Holy crap you guys are a couple tough *******s! And I say that as a compliment! Excellent story!

Haha. Yah, I guess. After all, I did learn from the toughest. I didn't mention one really really funny story that happened on that trip. I didn't mention much about the first day. So we started off from our basecamp early. We hiked about 9ish hours and we were really beat! First days are always one of the toughest (not the toughest, as day 3 usually is for me). We got to our spike camp and I just couldn't help myself. I had to show my dad where the sheep call home. We hiked up, straight up, a mountain. I kept saying to him, just another 15 min. I said that for about 2 hours. He was getting really exhausted. We crested this one saddle and that is where I wanted to settle in for an evening spot. No joke, 5 minutes later I found the band of rams. I looked over at my dad who was just coming up to my spot, as he was a bit behind me on the hike. He flopped himself down in a heap and had his eyes closed before he hit the ground. I said, "Hey dad, I found you a ram"! Thinking that I would get a "awesome son, great job, I'm proud of you". But what do you think I got?! A half hearted "that's nice", and the first snore came out about 10 seconds later! Halarious!!! After his 30 minute power nap, he shot up out of his make-shift bed in the willows and announced "ok, where are those rams?!" He had his priorities straight. It is about the trip, it is about the memories, and it is about "inner rest". I don't have an english word to better describe inner rest, so I won't. If you get it, you get it. Thanks for humouring me with your attention.

[Krico]

Great share! Well done and congrats on 4 fine specimens.
I totally agree with you about valuing the intangibles most.

[Blockcaver]

eatram, I really enjoyed the story(s). You have some great observations about your Dad resting, sucking it up and putting one foot in front of the other with meat packing, first day and third day, etc. I relate to all of it, being as old as he was at the time of the hunt and still going on mountain hunts. And you never feel better than after the meat is all packed out, even if you are beat.

[4 point]

Really great story and pictures. Hunt of a lifetime. Wish I could go on those trips again like we did in the 70ies. To old now.

[HarryToolips]

Incredible story and pics, thanks for sharing....sorry about the loss of your brother.....how far was each packout? How many packouts in total?

[REMINGTON JIM]

Awesome Storey ! Nice Rams ! Thks for Sharing ! ;) RJ

[kevan]

Great story and pictures, Thanks for posting.
Like a few others on here old age has caught up to me too.
Again, Thanks for reviving the memories...

[northof49]

Wow!! What a great hunt with your dad. Must be wonderful to look back on now. Glad you shared it with us. Some serious packing involved there. Surprised you didn’t have more visitors in camp with all those good smells wafting about. Cheers

[BStrachan]

https://i.imgur.com/VHaal9D.jpg

Nice Bull!!

Cheers,
Nog

What a beauty!

[BStrachan]

Great story and thank you for sharing your hunt of a life time!

[Romain]

Great story and great photos! There's a lot of guys in fancy camo that don't shoot rams like that! Nice to do it with your dad too, congrats on a great hunt.

[eatram]

FYI, those pants my dad has on in the caribou photo were purchased in 1990 from a cabelas catalogue. He uses them every year. They don't make em like they used to.

[porthunter]

Wow, that was a great read. Congratulations on some great animals.

[eatram]

Alright men!!! Once more into the breach, dear friends! See you in 3 weeks. Leaving no Stones unturned

[Lukeez88]

Good luck! I hope you find the ram of your dreams! Live the dream!!!

[eatram]

Thanks Luke. We will do our best. Let's meet at the cave in early Oct for a debrief. Set it up with Kenny.

[Getbent]

Great read...what an accomplishment!
thanks for sharing

[fuzzybiscuit]

Good luck! Here’s hoping we get to see some pics of a big curly top.

[ThinAir]

Great job my friend. Awesome read. Some of us were greatly blessed to be able to share the outdoors with our fathers!

[twoSevenO]

What an epic adventure. Your dad is probably one of the toughest 65 year olds I've ever heard of. That's exceptional.

Good work on pulling that off. Hell of a feat.