Spences Bridge Sheep

[cpwrestler]

How many people have actually harvested a ram from the Spences Bridge herd? Or seen one? This is my third season hunting in BC after moving to Victoria from the Yukon and I've covered a lot of ground in that country. I get out of my truck and hike to the spots furthest from roads and the unglassable ones. I hunt timber and glass the hills. I've seen lots of sheep and lots of rams that are a centimeter or two short, but haven't yet laid eyes on a legal ram, let alone a huntable ram, let a lone had a shot at one. On top of that, the amount of hunters is astounding. Every valley seems to have eyes on it almost the whole season (especially first and last weeks) and yet I never see and have only heard of 2nd or 3rd hand stories of actual rams harvested. It's really making me wonder if I'm wasting my time there and should start trying to find another herd.

https://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/cpwrestler/IMG_4407_zpsc6g28gbt.jpg (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/cpwrestler/media/IMG_4407_zpsc6g28gbt.jpg.html)

https://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/cpwrestler/IMG_4265_zpsfxvyj4ak.jpg (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/cpwrestler/media/IMG_4265_zpsfxvyj4ak.jpg.html)

[primmed99]

its a tough hunt now, people all over because of what it once was, like everything not what it use to be.

[Big Lew]

I've also seen a heck of a lot of 'almost mature' rams among the sizeable bands in and
around the Spences Bridge area. I wouldn't be surprised if it was discovered that mature
rams were being taken by locals without it being publicly acknowledged, especially considering
that most of the sheep frequent the nearby properties.

[srupp]

Hmmm have hunted it for 17 years.no ram but have seen several that are 100 % legal...one cranker..
most times have seen 40 or so sheep in 10 days..seen sheep in every area of the zone..
Was in on one hunt that partner shot a trophy ram...
Its different than any other sheep hunt..because of the intense pressure..
2 years ago trophy booner shot by lad on his first sheep hunt..second day right on the river by the highway..go figure.
Seen photos from indians from sustenance hunts when the rams come down into spenses bridge..seen photo of 3 rams from one guy..
Another guy from Merrit came into see what this sheep hunting was about..shot a big ram couple hundred yards from his campfire.
Great genetics..long relatively easy winters..rams can getbig fast
Personally I think far more sheep get shot than can be accounted for..see same amount of rams..same age..however rams from 2..3..4..5 years ago that should be far larger than legal are not in those hidey holes.
yes I know there are some different strategies than normal..just hasnt worked for me.
We do have a couple guys from this site who have harvested repeated rams.
good luck
Srupp

[Ride Red]

I have some old pics of some good rams when we steelheaded the river back in the early 90’s. As others have stated, too many undeclared rams have been and still are removed from this area plus other local predators.

[bighornbob]

I have taken one back in 2013. Story is on here. Hear of at least one a year that gets taken. If I was to bet I would say 3-4. But that may include the LEH hunt

[cpwrestler]

Ya for a herd that size to only have 3-4 reported a year seems remarkably low unless there is some other source of mortality. It's too bad the Kootenays are so far from the Island!

[Ltbullken]

There are no legal rams there! Don't waster yer time. There are bigger sheep and lots of them in the Kootenays!

[Ltbullken]

How many people have actually harvested a ram from the Spences Bridge herd? Or seen one? This is my third season hunting in BC after moving to Victoria from the Yukon and I've covered a lot of ground in that country. I get out of my truck and hike to the spots furthest from roads and the unglassable ones. I hunt timber and glass the hills. I've seen lots of sheep and lots of rams that are a centimeter or two short, but haven't yet laid eyes on a legal ram, let alone a huntable ram, let a lone had a shot at one. On top of that, the amount of hunters is astounding. Every valley seems to have eyes on it almost the whole season (especially first and last weeks) and yet I never see and have only heard of 2nd or 3rd hand stories of actual rams harvested. It's really making me wonder if I'm wasting my time there and should start trying to find another herd.

https://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/cpwrestler/IMG_4407_zpsc6g28gbt.jpg (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/cpwrestler/media/IMG_4407_zpsc6g28gbt.jpg.html)

https://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/cpwrestler/IMG_4265_zpsfxvyj4ak.jpg (http://s1251.photobucket.com/user/cpwrestler/media/IMG_4265_zpsfxvyj4ak.jpg.html)


The bottom pic is so typical -- 6 and 12 covered! Seen rams do this so many times.

[twoSevenO]

It's the most difficult GOS hunt in the province.

Close to towns. Good number or sheep. Of course there will be lots of people. Everyone and their dog that attends the sheep count is gonna be back there trying to find a legal ram in season

[358mag]

It's the most difficult GOS hunt in the province.

Close to towns. Good number or sheep. Of course there will be lots of people. Everyone and their dog that attends the sheep count is gonna be back there trying to find a legal ram in season
Don't forget about the local 24/7er's that take a very large toll on the rams in that area .