A solo hunter quest for stone sheep (with back story and pics)

[chinook7]

I have been a mountaineer and fisherman for most of my adult life but 4 years ago I decided on mountain hunting. Before I had even shot a bullet I quickly became fascinated with goat and particularly sheep. I bought my first firearm a 308 kimber mountain ascent. I went to the range and pulled the trigger on a firearm for the first time in my life and I was awful. I practiced for a year got better but not sniper better. Then I got advice on bedding my rifle. I had a gunsmith do that then I paid an experienced shooter to reload for my rifle. I practiced some more with new ammo and bedded rifle. Now I was a sniper (haha). So 3years ago I go on my first ever hunt. I figured there are more opportunities for goat than sheep so I would start with that first. A goat hunt in the east kootenays based on very little intel. I just looked at goat surveys in the east kootenys got the tag and went. Im a good climber so I just climbed high and saw nannies and kids but no billies.

https://i.postimg.cc/nVmf2grY/C422_C228-0595-4425-8003-19_F00471_CB60.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PNd7r6mP)


But it was super exciting. The next year I went again solo but I went in November when the billies were horny. Now that trip will be for another story one day cause it was an epic goat hunt but I got my billy. .. I’ll jump to the pic of it on my wall:)

https://i.postimg.cc/yYz4bjSq/87_EAAA43-8_A56-4_C21-9_E78-6_DF7_E88090_B1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7bXWCgVX)

But the tidbit from that story which was pretty funny when I think back to it was that the first time I EVER shot my rifle outside of the range was a 314 yard shot through that mountain goat. Scratch mountain goat off I want a stone sheep.
cont...

[Gs31]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand den......................?

[twoSevenO]

Nice goat. Did he take a tumble and snap the tips off?

You should do a goat story too! :)

[Brez]

This really got me hooked. I want the goat story now.

[northof49]

Like where this is headed....bring it on!!

[Jelvis]

You look like your a pro already at hunting, Hahahaha, good one. And you have ability and know the computer, which is great for sharing like your doing.
--Your obviously in great shape to climb so good
Jelly -- anyways thanx for the great thread and let's keep this going as well --> chinook7 folks :smile: Right here on HBC <--

[HarryToolips]

Verynnice goat.....can't wait for the rest....

[chinook7]

So then last year I go for stone sheep. Again I have very little intel except some “word of mouth” and this board and trying to sift through it. So I decide on a drainage off the Alaska highway. Google earth looked good I thought I was all ninja like finding this spot and I take a partner with me. So we show up and there are guide trucks parked there. Whatever we go in and see some game but no sheep. But in one trip we learned a lot. Based on sheep paths and droppings and what I’ve read we got an idea of what they do in that particular drainage. So the day we get back I already start thinking about the next year. However later that year I have terrible ankle injury during a down climb. I was trying to help my buddy get a goat but it didn’t work out. He injured himself too on that trip. So I was in constant rehab for my ankle while continually training the rest of my body in the hopes that my ankle is healed by the next year. I buy jack O’Connor book on sheep hunting I become obsessed. (Expensive book) more shooting practice more training. My ankle gets better by July of this year my buddy is still hurt so I decide to go solo. I like going with a partner but there is part of me that revels in the challenge of harvesting mountain game solo.. so I keep coming back to it. I get all my gear ready and make a plan.


https://i.postimg.cc/90nyccv0/9_AF6413_C-28_A9-4_C1_D-89_D2-4_EAB5_B7_CDC52.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GTv4Qn3n)


https://i.postimg.cc/GmZzkxgt/EC166056-57_B1-4_B2_B-_AE0_F-8_C84_ACEBA7_FC.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PCQmHYjn)




I decide to go a few weeks ago in mid September. All the guides will be out and pressure will be less. It takes me two days to hike in. My pack is almost 70lbs and I’m an ultralight gear nut.

https://i.postimg.cc/tR25rjvL/305933_B1-3_B58-4_B66-9_FB7-0_B3_A56_A7_ABF3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/hhQTjHBr)





The problem is mid September in the northern rockies could have a wider range of temperature changes. I had to plan for ice conditions and soaking wet conditions. And I packed enough food for 12 days. So pack weight jumped up on me. I get to my base camp. It’s a surreal feeling being surrounded by the northern Rockies and completely alone. It’s such a mental game but keeping busy is best. Setting tasks and getting them done keeps your mind busy. So at my base camp I set up all my grizz protection. I have a trip wire with a 120 decibel alarm.

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0nzj6mp/C156342_A-_B301-4188-_A52_E-18_B700_C9233_E.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BPFKV1gy)


Then I have second trip line on my food stash. A 12 gauge flash bang blank I screw into a branch.

https://i.postimg.cc/5NymTRZj/ED332_A56-7_A6_E-4919-9056-52_A9_D8_D53_CF1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GH0Ysq31)


cong...

[chinook7]

Griz protection while hiking is my rifle with quick access off my kifaru gun bearer. And then I connect a handheld marine flare to my front shoulder strap pack that I can just grab pull a string on to release 16000 candlepower redlight and smoke as a possible last ditch effort. And I wear a full helmet with no vents


https://i.postimg.cc/63K0P5XN/AFF6_D718-5_AB9-4891-80_F9-60_AA1_E47_C8_B3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mcdCz4kd)


https://i.postimg.cc/138XkL0C/A987_BFDC-30_E4-4399-_AF31-_D94303_BFBAA5.jpg (https://postimg.cc/w1d9J4GL)


The food bag is one of those thicker water proof bags. It’s heavier but it protects better from rodents too. Im happy the weather is dry and not too windy but just sooo cold. Constantly battling frozen water in my water bottle.
https://i.postimg.cc/2y8xzcyc/856_C4744-_BA6_D-4_CC9-83_FD-9_E89_AF0_B19_DE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/9RK9bBGZ)


I have to wrap it in a down jacket to keep it from freezing. My boots freeze too from creek crossings while still in the valley.
The run offs at higher elevations are frozen waterfalls. On the third day I climb into a basin and start glassing and I see sheep for the first time in my life.




Cont...

[BCHoyt]

Nice man... At first I thought it might be a pack alarm but thats a bit louder Im sure! lol

[Seth]

This thread is awesome. Anxiously waiting for more...

[albravo2]

keep it coming!

[Bag1]

need More, more, more :twisted:

[twoSevenO]

I want this guy's gear budget ... lol.

This will be a REAL good one! :)

[HarryToolips]

Love the helmet idea.....just a tip if you want to save on weight and volume use Canadian tire $, snow, mullen, or moss for ass-wipe lol.....

[chinook7]

I climbed high cuz that’s what I like doing and get a good vantage point to glass a larger section of the basin. It was really cold.



https://i.postimg.cc/tTvgJbjV/D3_F89_E75-6611-45_EB-9_BE4-0526_AA5730_D4.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8JWGXqs1)



Had to move my water inside my jacket to keep it the rest of it from freezing. Glassing was a bit of a trip. With the landscapes dotted in snow it all looked like white sheep butts. I don’t have enough experience but I would think that dotted with snow is harder to glass than no snow or all snow. But omg when I came across a slight head movement in my glassing my heart skipped a beat. A ram!!


https://i.postimg.cc/1RTtZyBk/A347_E793-79_C1-4_B0_E-9_B08-_E1_E30_E977_DCA.jpg (https://postimg.cc/DmrFrkt6)




And around him there were three more all hanging out on the slope across from me. My heart was beating out of its chest that I saw sheep. I zoom in on them but damn they are all immature.


https://i.postimg.cc/sDh2jb0v/B44_F3_B99-5_A9_B-4_A39-_A75_F-_F5_F1_A67_F36_C1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/9rc21g2h)


So funny how you try to will those things to curl just a bit more. Nevertheless excited that I actually got to see rams for the first time. I go to sleep that night excited what the next day will bring. But i decide to climb into a different section of the drainage that is also accessible. I get up high again and set up to start glassing and ... more rams!!


https://i.postimg.cc/0j6yJ4kX/6572_E744-_D005-445_B-_A76_B-56150_B9111_B7.jpg (https://postimg.cc/30TTsnD2)


A band of rams grazing at the foot of an escape route but all immature. I stare for longer again trying to make those horns curl more or have grandpa come around but neither happens. Saw nothing else that day but I just get this gut feeling the full curls are not here in this drainage or are all gone from the guides or others earlier in the year. So I make a new plan. I know the escape routes. They go up some nasty stuff into a completely different drainage. I could just tell based on the task of climbing out of the escape routes that not many (if any) people have done it. So the next day I plan to climb it.


Cont...

[ekul246]

Come on! Such a tease.......

[chinook7]

That night was cold! -20 rated sleeping bag but still I’m cold. I also wore my down jacket down pants and wrapped a second down jacket around my feet. In the morning everything in the tent was frozen except what was in the sleeping bag.
I glassed the route to climb out of the drainage I was in and I figured out a line. Put the crampons on and started my ascent. The climb out was sketchy and gruelling. A 6 hour climb up nasty technically challenging terrain. Frozen sections of rock and ice and large loose boulders. I have been climbing for most of my life and I have summited some of the higher mountains of bc and Washington so I’m comfortable but the implications of being alone can’t be diminished. One wrong step and I’m effed. I reach the summit ridge and look down into a new drainage that I just knew very few people if any have ever looked into (at least that section of it). And pretty cool I see fresh mountain lion tracks on the ridge.

https://i.postimg.cc/WzQbm7tN/72_A4_E143-2_E8_E-4_BE3-_A771-36_B56236_C7_F6.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RJLB4Kcy)






Crazy that a mountain lion is hanging out up here, it’s desolate at that altitude. But i guess he is glassing like me. The winds picks up too and clouds roll in. I take my spotting scope and glass into the valley below while looking over my back to make sure that the mountain lion isn’t lurking.


https://i.postimg.cc/vZW5kz1k/CBB6_AC73-31_ED-4375-87_AC-_FB22952_CBC34.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qNvtC2xx)

https://i.postimg.cc/ZnBdcFtf/B389_F1_EC-187_A-482_D-_A024-_C0_A6_E11_B1_CE1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/n9xrVmL7)


After 30 minutes of glassing I see a solo ram. R u for real? I get an instant lump in my throat. I put the 60x on him and OM effing G he is a beast.


Cont..
(I’ll finish writing and post the next section tonight)

[grizzly550]

Love it. I started back country hunting solo this season off my back, something quite rewarding when its just you vs nature. Great story and pics so far!

[northof49]

.........beast

[guest]

Keep er coming ...... Brings a guy back to the Sheep hills and the most rewarding hunts of a mnt hunters life.
Great thread. Cudos to your hard work.
CT

[Sharpish]

Super gangster ... very impressed man!

[chinook7]

The ram is obviously full curl and grazing at the bottom of the drainage. I talk to myself to settle myself down and look at my watch, time is against me but #*$@ it I cant pass this up. I start down climbing feverishly into this new area. The old ram is so sketchy he knows something is up. Every time I stop and glass again i can see his head is up and checking out what the sound is. He doesn’t think to look up ... I wait until he starts grazing again then I down climb some more. My heart is racing. The variables I’m dealing with at this point are so many. Don’t fall number one, don’t spook him and if you get him can you get out before dark because the temperature is dropping and you are a looong ways away from camp. There are 3 cruxes to navigate on the way down. 5 to 10 metre sections where I need to rock climb facing the rock. I get past them and in the distance I see an obvious cliff that is not climbable. The ram starts grazing towards the base of the cliff that I am approaching from above. He is now out of sight. But I see on the far left there is a way to circumnavigate the cliff but I decide to try to get the shot from the cliff ledge directly above him. I inch my way down on my ass stopping from time to time to stand to see if he is still there, he is but he continues to graze towards the base of the cliff. The shale rock is so unforgiving in the steep slope and i do all I can to not let a rock roll over the cliff. I get to the cliff ledge and position myself right at the cliff lip. I wedge myself in some rocks so I don’t fall and look directly down. My swaro el range give me an adjusted distance of 206 yards to the ram. I put the cross hairs on its vitals but my rest and body are all awkward. I panic, so much is riding on this shot cuz I realize too just how effing big he is. Holy &$@&. I can’t manage my heart rate, my confidence of being a “sniper” is out the window, the variables are all running through my head. I don’t go through my shooting routine the reticle is shaking a bit but I still pull the trigger. I never do that. He jumps but starts running away. I panic more. I reset to try and shoot again. He slows and I pull the trigger but I miss and he runs away further. He runs some more and slows i shoot one more time but miss again. But at this point the distance is so much greater and I didn’t adjust the turret. And then he looks back at me then turns away walks over a ledge and just like that he was gone.


Now I have cried three times in my adult life. When both my daughters were born and when my dog died. But when the ram of my dreams went over the ledge I pretty much cried like a little bitch. I knew I may never in my life find a ram like that. I knew I couldn’t chase after him because I was too far from camp and i could freeze to death if i did an overnight bivy. Even though I was so confident I hit him on the first shot I started second guessing myself. Maybe I didn’t even hit him. The angle was nearly 80 degrees so the jump I perceived could of just been him spooking and running, he had slowed but not swayed and I didn’t do my routine before my shot. Then I went back to “but I’m sure I got him.” Regardless I had to get back to camp. To circumnavigate the cliff and to chase him I could freeze to death if I got too far. And It was way too dangerous to scale class 4 and 5 rock in the dark. So I started climbing back out. And climbing out after what just happened was like top 10 worst feelings in my life. I was thinking to myself why do I do this. If I had got him it would of been the top 10 best things in my life. Where is the middle ground in this type of trophy hunting. I get back to camp and couldn’t sleep the whole night. But my plan was to go back.


Cont...

[Redo]

Really? One more post tonight . . . Please!

[northof49]

........sounds intense

[chinook7]

Mentally and physically exhausted I toss and turn all night. What just happened? Is he dead is he wounded did i miss is he gone is he eaten is he still there. I realize too just how far he is from my sleeping bag at that moment. I have to climb out of the drainage I’m in, rock climb down those sketchy sections. Then circumnavigate the cliff where I made the shot then go look over the ledge where I last saw him and see where to go from there. But whatever I had to do it.


I wake up a couple hours before light and everything is frozen again. I hate getting ready in the dark when everything is frozen. It sucks. I hate taking a crap when it’s dark frozen while holding a rifle and looking for bears. With my gear on I mentally prepare myself for the day. I can’t underestimate the logistics of getting to this location. Sketchy scrambling up and down. The mental anguish I was bearing too was so heavy. But I just kept saying stay safe because there are a lot worst things in life (even though it was hard to believe at that moment). I make my pack feather light with only emergency gear. It gets light out when I reach the technical spots. I make the long long climb out of the drainage. Once I get to summit ridge I see mountain lion tracks again this time over my tracks from the day before. The mountain lion has obviously been following or stalking me. Now I’m straight up afraid of grizzlies but a mountain lion can suck it. Now I down climb and get all the way back to the cliff ledge where I had made the shot. I make the scramble to circumnavigate it. I look at the rock and snow close to where he was standing when I shot at him. My body shivers.... Mutha &$@&er I see blood! I knew I was a sniper (haha). I almost start running to the location where he went over the ledge. I see more blood. I peer over that ledge and see not a cliff drop but a second ledge and the ram of my dreams laying dead on that ledge.
I feel faint relief absolute jubilation and a little panic all at the same time. I just couldn’t really take in what I was seeing. I was in shock. But not enough shock that I couldn’t take my hero pics.

https://i.postimg.cc/mgQLx8Qx/B38_C2493-1_B25-489_C-8184-20310_ECF624_F.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Bjn9H5YN)



https://i.postimg.cc/R04MvKRW/6_A41_F3_DA-_C6_D3-4_FEB-_BE5_F-6_C5_A480_ABE94.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PCVG4L0H)

https://i.postimg.cc/rmpMrT7c/70593_AD8-41_D2-4_F35-_B85_A-86643_DB474_A1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/NyZW33gP)


and I get a bit emotional. I may not of been pursuing sheep for that long when compared to others but I put in so much hard work in my prep. All the podcasts, books, forum reading, gear testing, family support issues, shooting practice, time in the gym and on the effing stair master wearing mountaineering boots and 60lb pack while lululemon chicks looking at me funny.. all worth it.


But that damn mountain lion following me got some of the sheep. The front leg of the sheep had been chewed clean off. Damage looked to be too small to be a bear so it was probably that lion.

https://i.postimg.cc/4y7GW5JS/B95_C7_A56-_C437-42_A2-9_CF3-1_F7_A76_B4_EA38.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Cng91bnG)




After my photos i begin skinning feverishly because I know time is still against me.. and I take extra hide because of the defect. I felt the hairs on my neck stand a bit like I was being watched. Spinning my head around constantly. Whatever ate that leg I felt like was watching me. I kept my larger knife and rifle close. I skinned the hide but left the head on for now. I take the remaining meat out and packed it all. I notice all my water is frozen solid but my emergency gear included a stove and fuel for water. I melt some snow fill up my water pour in my electrolytes and get ready for a climb out that I wasn’t sure how I was gonna do it. There were 3 big cruxes of 5 to 10 metres sections on the way to the top of the ridge that were not possible with the weight on my back. The pack was just too heavy to manage in these sections. I had to take out the head move it up, take out the meat move it up as high I could reach. Climb a couple metres and repeat to get these technical sections. When I get to the mountain lion tracks at the top of the ridge I was elated cuz no more uphill. Time for another pic.


https://i.postimg.cc/FzQ2DQPf/0422524_E-605_A-404_C-840_B-7_DF47_A322_D7_E.jpg (https://postimg.cc/34nSxzQ7)

cont...

[chinook7]

I managed to get back to camp just as the sun was setting. Anyway the rest is history. Went to sleep. Spent the entire next day resting and admiring.

https://i.postimg.cc/SKTXvm01/CB992_B2_A-63_EB-4_D6_C-_A3_FA-91_F4_C8402_B15.jpg (https://postimg.cc/WDZbDL10)

Then I skinned the rest of the hide off the head


https://i.postimg.cc/63F8Bzpd/5_F0_B005_D-_A0_D6-407_B-_BD20-6435_B3_AE5_E7_B.jpg (https://postimg.cc/k6FJcQ84)


https://i.postimg.cc/PJZPJZC0/03_E6_FA92-_CE2_C-4015-_A008-_E806137_E7286.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0Kk8HzdC)


and processed and cleaned everything and prepped for the hike out the next day. That day of rest was nice so the day I was leaving I packed up camp and jammed everything into my pack. I’m 170lbs 6foot1 with a pack over a 120lbs I was so wobbly on my feet. I dumped my remaining food to help weight management and hiked out. I’m very methodical and all business on these trips. Even when I was in the bush and had harvested the ram of my dreams I kept saying to myself “settle down don’t get too excited you still have to hike out and stay safe.... careful of bears ... stay on track etc etc”. But when I got to the truck .. that’s when I truly let it all out. Screaming for joy on the accomplishment. The CI said it was the biggest ram he had personally scored from the area. 11.5 years old maybe 12 I just said it was 12 lol. Thank you for reading. The solo hunt is challenging and exhilarating but in my opinion without sharing it it’s kinda just caged up in your mind. And I’m thanful to be able to share this with all of you.

[Tron]

Impressive hunt and ram, congrats

[Dougielightning]

Wow thanks a lot for the share, super job you sure deserve the fantastic experience.

[srthomas75]

I'm not a sheep or goat guy but I'm envious reading a tale like this. Well done.

[Jimbob]

Great job, well-done man!

[northof49]

Congrats on a great accomplishment.....thanks for sharing. Looking forward to hearing about the Practice Goat

[Buck]

What a great adventure congratulations.How a bout a gear review

[Brez]

Big congrats on a huge achievement. If it isn't the best story I've read on here, it certainly is one of them. Thanks very much for posting.

[zippermouth]

Cool ram!! Congrats, that valley looks so familiar!! I just got back from a short solo trip, it’s tough out there alone! So awesome you stuck it out and killed an awesome ram!

[twoSevenO]

F**k .... I'm 6'4" 210lb and a 120lb is brutal. Cant imagine being 40lb lighter :O

With how cold it was and the hunt you pulled off, you are the elite 1%.

There are not many that can persevere through that even if they were told there was a 12 year ram waiting for them there!

Well done and congratulations on a hell of a trophy!

Do you have pics of the mount? What was the official score?

[alcesgigantes]

Sounds like a great adventure! Doing that alone takes some guts... Great job!

Unlikely for a cougar to be up there. Maybe a wolverine?

[tayleoscar]

Congrats on such a great achievement!!!

[REMINGTON JIM]

Awesome ! Congrats on a Beauty Ram ! GREAT storey and you are a Hell of a TUFF Guy - Physically and Mentally ! :-) RJ

[Wild one]

Congrats challenging solo hunt as well

[VLD43]

Chinook 7 thanks for sharing your great adventure. Welcome to the fraternity of Sheep Hunters. Your experience will definitely allow you to appreciate the efforts of other mountain hunters here in a more connected way. Well done. As a final thought, think about becoming involved with the Wild Sheep Society.

[thepitchedlink]

Wow, damn fine work brother.......that is just 'effin cool. Love it

[BStrachan]

Wow! You definitely earned this ram! Congrats on a successful hunt he is a beauty!

[LBM]

Congrats on a beautiful well earned ram

[guest]

Wow an incredible feet Dude. You should be so proud. !
Congrats to you. Magnificent share!
And A Dandy of a Ram ....... Beauty!
CT

[decker9]

This made my day!! You can tell a heck of a story, thank you for taking the time to share it! Huge congrats to you on a great ram!! Man, your an animal!! Welcome to the addiction, cheers!

[bearvalley]

Good story and a dandy old ram.
If I had to make a guess it would be that a Wolverine was what made the tracks you were seeing and beat you to the sheep.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I Agree with you BV I think the Track spacing is wrong for a MATURE cat - I once watched a 16 mm movie filmed in Atlin BC of 3 Wolverines chasing and trying to catch Sheep up in the Very High Country ! It was Pretty neat to see - Like a BIG game to the Sheep - the Wolverines had NO chance BUT they sure tryed ! :smile: RJ

[northof49]

Good call BV.....agree. Thought was odd for cougar to be up in those conditions. Looking at shape and spacing of tracks for sure wolverine. Also the way it knawed of the leg like that.

[Luka77]

What an effort man! Preparation before hunt, training put in, cold you had to push through... that ram was the right prize for all that work. Thanks for sharing this story.

[Steve W]

A great story well told. A well earned trophy.

[whitespringer]

What a massive effort. Thanks so much for sharing!

[Weatherby Fan]

WOW thats an amazing story and pictures, Congrats on a awesome Ram, I certainly admire your dedication.
Thanks for sharing your incredible journey.
WF

[HarryToolips]

Beauty ram, great story and pics, congrats.....

[Knute]

Inspiration, preparation, dedication. You embody those traits.

Congrats and thanks for the share.

[gcreek]

Great story and well earned trophy. Well done!

[grizzly550]

Love it. WAY TO GO!...Very inspirational.

[quadrakid]

Hardcore hunting.You sheep guys are something else. What a ram!

[mpotzold]

Congrats
This is what HBC is all about.:)

Re: only a leg gone I agree it's not a bear since they always go for the innards first.

Beautiful rugged country.
Judging from your story & photos you are a very meticulous guy & I forgot to say brave!:)

[Ovis17]

Congrats on a hard earned trophy! Thanks for sharing the story.

[cptnoblivious]

Great write up, awesome experience, thanks for sharing it!

[okas]

YES:wink: on a hard hunt the best is alone or with your dog. As most have the idea but not the commitment and spoil the trip

[mooseknuckler]

Wow! Great hunt, write up, and pics! Thanks for sharing C7. That was a super hard core late season hunt, not many could pull that off. Pretty sure my feet and fingers would have froze. Congrats on a hard earned ram.

[Jelvis]

This is a true hunter, Whoa! chinnook7 Amazing -- the whole thread, just fantastic, beyond imagination and you did it.
--- Some kinda shape for sure and very good at writing it all up so well.
Jel -- HBC gonna have people knockin when this thread reaches the masses -- Beauty ram also by the way Hahahaha -- Excellent presentation as well --

[chinook7]

Thank you all for your kind words. The respect of seasoned and experienced hunters and outdoorsman like you all means a lot. And it’s really nice to share with people who appreciate the amount hard work and dedication an undertaking like this can be. Many of my friends or acquaintances just don’t understand this drive or obsession and it can be difficult to verbalize.
And let’s just change mountain lion to wolverine in my story. It was a lack of experience. I just couldn’t imagine a wolverine climbing that high. But it seems like wolverine is the consensus.
Thanks again

[ydouask]

:grin: Amazing... maybe an overused word, but is surely applicable here. You deserve the greatest honour and respect from hunters the world round. Thank you very much for sharing your dedication and effort with us.

[bearvalley]

And let’s just change mountain lion to wolverine in my story. It was a lack of experience. I just couldn’t imagine a wolverine climbing that high. But it seems like wolverine is the consensus.
Thanks again

Mistaking the tracks would easy for many.
Its quite often when in the mountains that you see sign of or sight wolverines above tree line....and I believe a fair amount of wild sheep lamb mortalities can be attributed to them.
The story of your hunt was great and I can appreciate the amount of effort you put into getting that old warrior of a ram.

[Kootenaykid85]

When I first opened this thread the first thing I saw was the picture with the helmet on... I chuckled to myself Thought to myself oh boy. After axniously reading and following along with your adventure, I take the chuckle back and replace it with a salute. cant wait for your next thread, A solo hunters quest on conquering the world

[kootenaycarver]

Now that was a very dedicated effort. Congrats!!!! on taking a beautiful ram under the most trying conditions. Thanks for sharing your great story with us. You impressed this "Old" sheep hunter.

[xfactor]

simply wow!! thanks for sharing!

[Sitkaspruce]

I managed to get back to camp just as the sun was setting. Anyway the rest is history. Went to sleep. Spent the entire next day resting and admiring.


I salute you on your quest!! Simply amazing!!

I bolded the above because not enough of us hunters do that any more....admire!! I could picture you resting and just admiring your sheep...well done!!

Thanks for bring us along and sharing in your adventure!

Cheers

SS

[Razor84]

https://i.postimg.cc/mgQLx8Qx/B38_C2493-1_B25-489_C-8184-20310_ECF624_F.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Bjn9H5YN)

sweet hunt! Did you hit it in the horn with your bullet?

[srupp]

The singular most epic thread I have read here. .you earned that ram..gear..out of this world..you trained..studied by more importantly you went to insane lengths.heights..in iffy conditions. .and got it done..the screaming..crying..totally understsndable..
It was a privilege to share your adventure.
Thank you
Steven

[Wood butcher]

Wow!!
Truely impressive.
Congrats to you for getting it done under such harsh conditions.
Great read, thanks for sharing.

[kennyj]

Thanks for sharing your solo adventure!
Awesome ram!!
kenny

[Rattler]

Wow that is the most impressive solo hunt I have ever read on hbc. What you did from planning, preparing and executing is just simply awesome. Congrats to you and thanks for sharing

[chinook7]

Thank you again for the kind words. It’s been a month and a half since I’ve been back and I continue to think about it everyday. I find myself flipping through the pictures all the time. It’s a good feeling so have hard work pay off and I don’t take for granted all the other ways the trip could of ended.

[Gs31]

Man I bet your buddy wishes he was there! ;-)......Congratulations Chinook7 you definitely earned it!

[twoSevenO]

So what did that ram end up scoring?

And what kept him alive for so long despite all the early season hunters and guides in there? Just luck, or did he maybe move into the area later in the season?

[Rieber]

You are hardcore man. Even in my dreams I couldn't pull off those hunts. Even if I was brought up there via helicopter, I couldn't do that. Hats off to you man - you are the apex hunter. Thank you for the mental adventure - at least my mind was able to follow you with your words.

[Fosey]

Unreal, thanks for sharing. You are very determined and were rewarded.

[Ozzy]

Unreal story, congrats on your hard work ! What a story & accomplishment!

[chinook7]

So what did that ram end up scoring?

And what kept him alive for so long despite all the early season hunters and guides in there? Just luck, or did he maybe move into the area later in the season?

It is highly unlikely any hunters or guides ever glassed or hunted the particular area where I shot him. So I figure he lived most of his life in that particular part of the drainage to get that old. My camp was located in an area that gets hunting pressure but like I mentioned I climbed a very technical section to access a different basin.


38 inches 12 years old

[RJHunter]

Awesome adventure, great write up and pics! Thanks for sharing. I like the helmet idea, never thought of wearing one hunting but it would add protection and I bet it's warm and comfortable.

[Blockcaver]

Congratulations! Great ram and write up. Awesome accomplishment!

[Brambles]

Great story and Ram, thanks for taking the time to share.

[.264winmag]

I would like to shake your hand and buy you a few whiskey's Chinook7!
Epic tale of an epic hunt. Congrats. You weren't lucky, you earned that Ram.
Been there done that with a pup but was nowhere near below zero! This is an entirely new level, and might just be the inspiration I need to try for a late season ram or billy.
But jeez, I dunno...
Never did much winter rock climbing...
Pretty near killed me in late August...
I don't have the proper gear, I'm out HA
Thanks for sharing you crazy sob!
Cheers

[Getbent]

Wow, damn fine work brother.......that is just 'effin cool. Love it
Couldn't say it better...efn cool

[john-brennan]

Nice job, good story

[r106]

Awesome hunt, congrats.

[BCLongshot]

Great story and pics...thanks for sharing

[GrownTarantula]

Thanks for sharing !!!

[Mtn Wonderer]

THANKS FOR SHARING, I have a climbing back ground as well when I was younger I went on Remote Solo goat and sheep hunts after my wife saw the Pictures(Also a climber, she said please no more solo hunts to the boonies.) I have complied to her requests. On these trips I always found myself thinking should I be making these moves across this face?? After I did them, I would always say to myself "You Idiot"!!! But if youve done some alpine rock climbing it just doesn't seem that bad.

Incredible effort and great writing. Awesome!!!! I am still waiting on my first Stone sheep.

[huntcoop]

I'm sure that I'm not the only one that would love to read a gear list/review. This is on my "to do list" and would enjoy the gear intel.

[chinook7]

Thanks again everyone for the kind words.
I have gotten a lot of pms and requests for a gear list so here it goes. It’s a comprehensive gear list in different segments. It’ll take a few posts


Hunting list.


Kimber mtn ascent
Swaro z3 scope with ballistic turret
Swaro flip up scope lens protector
Swaro scope guard
10 rounds reloaded 150 grain accubond
Swaro el range binos
Swaro 60x scope with fabbed up braid connections to eyepiece and scope cover so I don’t lose them
Slik 624 carbon fibre pro tripod
Manfrotto fluid head mvh500ah
Eye patch to help cover one eye so it doesn’t get tired:)
Kestral mountain caper knife
Havalon knife 5 blades
Kifaru pack (mine is discontinued now but about 100 litres with all the add ons)
Kifaru gun bearer
Kifaru game bags x2
Pillow case to stuff for pillow and doubles as extra game bag.


Cont...

[avadad]

Impressive feat! Congratulations.

[Husky7mm]

Wow, that was epic. I can picture it all. One of the best aventures I have ever read here! Facking lion, that ram was probably one of the only sheep in that basin and still it was hunting there.

[325]

What a ram! Thanks for sharing your adventure

[156821]

I have been chasing sheep solo for 2 years and this is what dreams are made of. Well done. I have taken a goat solo but the sheep have got the best of me so far. Great write btw.

[Jagernut]

Thank you all for your kind words. The respect of seasoned and experienced hunters and outdoorsman like you all means a lot. And it’s really nice to share with people who appreciate the amount hard work and dedication an undertaking like this can be. Many of my friends or acquaintances just don’t understand this drive or obsession and it can be difficult to verbalize.
And let’s just change mountain lion to wolverine in my story. It was a lack of experience. I just couldn’t imagine a wolverine climbing that high. But it seems like wolverine is the consensus.
Thanks again

As a heli pilot I have observed a wolverine in the dead of winter, cross two high altitude valleys below a glacier (in the Selkirks), all above treeline. What blew me away was it's track...straight up 2000', straight down 2000', and back straight up the other side...not a single zig zag. Found him going down the other side, with purpose. Tough animal to say the least.

Then in the springtime I would see them digging out moose and goat carcasses from the avalanche paths. There would be these little caves with dirty bloody hairy messes at the opening with one angry critter waiting in the entrance!

[Blue wolf]

One of the best reads of the forum. Let me know if you ever publish a book!! Congrats on the Cranker Ram.

[Reese]

What a story! I hope you have another one this year.

[Bubbacanuck]

I am so glad this story was recently commented on, so that I had the chance to read it. What an amazing journey you took me on! Thank you. I have been curious about hunting sheeps & goats but this definitely got the hairs standing up. I can't say much more than what everyone else has said already. Amazing ram & story! Congrats!

[Bob06]

Wow, that's one of the best posts I've read on any forum. Well done on the hunt and the story.

Thanks

[Ferenc]

Did you get out this year Huntin ....

[shleebs]

What a story!

[swampthing]

Great story. I cant help but think we shared an elk camp last year? Sent you a PM.

[dru88]

Thanks for posting your story it was a great read with excellent pictures. I am getting really exited to head out on my own stone sheep hunt 2022 and stories like this just get me more pumped.

[Arctic Lake]

I yayaya ! What a hunt ! Now that’s dedication !
Arctic Lake