Gear questions for first (and last) sheep hunt.

[Smiley]

Hello you experienced sheep hunters.

I have drawn an August tag for sheep.

I am an experienced hunter from Vancouver Island and my mid 20s son is joining me. He has hunted lots and done lots of mountain hiking too.
This isn't a hunt I'm likely to ever do again.

I've been reading blogs and watching youtube. The gear that these 'experts' say a person MUST have seems a bit much. I mean, really, mid priced gear nowadays is far better than the best was 30 years ago, right?

Can you share your gear list with me?
Some of my questions revolve around things like:
1) footwear - I have good hikers and good hunting boots, being primarily a stalking hunter not a truck hunter. Do I NEED to buy and break in a set of Scarpas or w.h.y.?
2) bugs - are these an actual nightmare or can a simple headnet and a pair of lightweight gloves deal with most of it?
3) range - I'm good for 300 yards and am willing to pass up on sheep beyond that. Is this an unreasonable thought process?

[eatram]

Sheep hunting is like an ironman race. Anyone can do it. Few succeed. Much adversity along the way. Good luck, my friend. We all need it, every year.

[Muledeercrazy2]

1) if you can hike all day with a pack for a week or two and your boots provide enough stability, are waterproof enough for shallow creek hopping, and your feet stand up in them then you are good. Lots of guys have problems with their feet so spending money on good boots is worthwhile to them.

2)I guess it depends on the weather and your location. I keep a few antihistamine tablets to manage the swelling if I get bitten really badly. Also I try to get the mosquito repellent with80/90% deet from the states if I can. More potency and you can get away with less.

3)It seems like that is a personal question, but you could have put a lot of miles on and blood sweat and tears to get to a possible 400yard shot. You could have a good rest and time to set up. But what about a 500y shot, and on and on. Have a rangefinder and know your abilities and that’s all you can do, besides practice as much as time allows.

[stoneramhunter]

If you have never hunted sheep before i would suggest asking a seasoned experienced sheep hunter to join you in your quest Having someone experienced is in my opinion worth more than all the other considerations and would greatly increase your chances.

Having said that optics and boots are high on my list.

[KodiakHntr]

How tough are you mentally? Thats the biggest aspect. If you can be in uncomfortable situations and simple get through it without it getting in your head and being pouty then you’ll be fine no matter what gear you have. Being mentally tough is what makes guys consistently successful, or unsuccessful as the case may be.

Can you wear your boots now all day long and hike around in them? Will you lose your temper and be a pouty bitch if your feet get wet? If you have boots you like, good enough. If they are falling apart at the seams, maybe think about a new pair. Or a fresh roll of good duct tape to take for repairs.

Ditto the bugs. Do you get whiny if there is a mosquito around your head? No? Take a bottle of whatever you like for repellent. A headnet weighs less than an ounce if you want to take a nap and not have your rain jacket over your face.

If you are willing to pass up shots then 300 is fine. But sheep aren’t typically super skittish when the shooting starts, (or their leader is laying there gasping his last for that matter) so a few pokes at 400 to see where your rifle hits won’t hurt. And sheep give up pretty easy when hit.

High end gear is about saving weight, or saving bulk, and increasing comfort, for the most part. If you can enjoy the experience for what it is, in its entirety, you will have a great time.

[high horse Hal]

Are you a skier? Good stiff mountain boots are like ski boots in a way, a biatch to walk around in on hard flat ground but a god-send in the snow or rough moss and boulders
Yes, one can get by with All-Stars or rubber boots, but these or mountain boots needs to be conditioned to, to the highest degree possible
Maybe you don't need the high top stiffest boot, a good Merrell/Scarpa/Meindl 6" with a quiet gaiter can be better, gaiter on or off as needed

Kod said it about the bugs. More often it is black flies instead of mosqies, chemicals have too many down sides like getting in places you don't want
head net and gloves have a side benefit, if they are not shiny fabric they can help mask the reflective give-away of the white shining face and hands especially when waving them all over the place
A good sun shirt with a hood and face net is a good piece of kit, keeps the sunburn down, adds a layer against the wind and helps with the bugs

"am willing to pass up on sheep beyond that. Is this an unreasonable thought process?" know your limit and play within it
No regrets if you live to your own credo
Many many situations can be hunted to within what-ever range, sheep are killed with archery tackle.
But too often hunters feel pressured to try that cross-basin shot after 3 or more days of working a tough spot, there are horror stories to go with that sometimes

Sometimes a day or two in the warmth of a sleeping bag and tent is easier to endure than going out a getting wet and miserable
Take a sun-day to dry out and re-group
Wilbur Smith's Assegai looks like a huge paper-back to pack, but is good for at least 2-3 days

"If you can enjoy the experience for what it is, in its entirety, you will have a great time." ding ding

[Krico]

I agree with Kodiak, mental toughness is by a long shot the most important factor in success. Most guys check out mentally after a few tough days, get lazy, and look for excuses vs reasons to press on - you must "enjoy the suck" as we like to say. I also agree that boots and optics are the 2 most important pieces of gear. That said, I took my first sheep using $300 Bushnells and had no spotting scope...it was more important to me to actually hunt than to accumulate pricey gear. That said I now use Leica HD binos and a Swarovski spotter and will never go back. If your boots detonate or feet can't handle the workload, you are phucked. Bugs are nasty, no getting around it - mental toughness and mosquito net will get you through. I don't think I've ever had the need to shoot anything further than 250 yards in my life...your maximum is up to you.
Do a search, lots of gear lists posted on here already. Don't let any of the internet blowhards tell you that every item in your pack has to be top of the line, that is complete bs and as someone stated above mostly just reduces pack weight - yes it helps but not something to pass up a once in a lifetime trip with your son over.
Go on the trip, enjoy the experience for whatever it ends up being. You won't regret it.

[monasheemountainman]

What sheep tag did you draw is the question? My guess spat for stones? If this is your one and only sheep hunt and this is the year to do it, I’d consider other places in a gos area! If you’re talkin dalls different story, if that’s the case, you should consider flying. Just my .00000002

[monasheemountainman]

Oh and to your actual questions, get good boots, not Irish setters, but decent boots could make the difference between hating your life and being ok. Bugs keep you hiking. Once you bust out of the timber, they’re not as bad, and wind helps there. They can be a nuisance, but as mentioned by others, the mental game has to be there, the little things like bugs can make things seem way worse but if you don’t have the right mindset going in, you’re already fkd. Fun times ahead, you can’t be too prepared. I’ve never worn a bug net but often have wished I had one. Oh well, practice shooting lots between now and then, and different angles and ranges. 300 is 300 if you see a beauty at 400 would have been nice to practice to that distance. Also though you need good glass to make sure it’s legal so it don’t matter how far you can shoot if you don’t have a spotting scope

[kevingm1987]

Besides boots and optics, another item high on the list would be your pack. Being a hunter, one would assume you're already running something. need to make sure its quality and comfortable. You will be wearing that thing basically the entire trip.

Boots - wear something that work for your feet. So, to answer your question, no you don't need scarpas. You need a broken in boot that is designed to perform in the backcountry under weight. I don't like the height of hunting boots personally, prefer something around 7" of height instead of 9-11". Usually always wearing gaiters as well. For my sheep hunt last year I was very happy with my Aku's. I also use them weekly for hiking. Also run Miendl perfekt hikers which work for my feet.

[Bustercluck]

The people you’re watching on YouTube are paid influencers selling a product. The first goat hunt I went on at the age of 14 in 1996 I wore an old pair of my uncles work boots, an aluminum pack frame and we ate cans of soup. lol. If your kid has most of the backpacking gear like tent and water purification stuff than you’re halfway there. There’s a couple good gear lists on this site where guys weigh everything out.

Boots is one thing I’d definitely treat myself too. I’d say you’re looking for something in the $450 or more range.

I would say bugs aren’t a problem everywhere. I can only think of a couple times where the bugs were bad and it wasn’t in the alpine. I bring a small bottle of bug spray and no net.

[Bustercluck]

https://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?33192-sheep-pack-weight&highlight=Sheep+pack+weights

[backstrap]

PM me a phone number if you’d like to chat a little bit about it. I have a bit of experience in the area and can give you some insight.

[Bullreaper]

I’ve been on a few sheep hunts and have used mountaineering type boots, specifically the scarpa grand dru, zamberlan mountain trek. Also used a pair of the crispi Guides, which is a more traditional leather hunting boot. Last year I used a trail runner. The Crispi Attiva. Personally, for any August hunt, I would only use the trail runners now. That is what worked best for me. Gore Tex, waterproof, stiff, ankle support, etc is what most people preach. But if your feet aren’t comfortable in that type of footwear, it’s not going to be a good experience. Use what works best for you! And is going to hold up to rigorous conditions.

Ive been on hunts where the bugs were terrible and others where bugs were non existent. I always pack a bottle of deet. I get mine in the states cause you can get way better stuff down there. Strongest I’ve found in Canada is 30%. States you can get 99% deet if u want. A bottle of 99% is a lot smaller and concentrated so u save on size and weight. Always pack a head net. It weighs nothing, takes up no space and can save u a lot of annoyance.

300 yards is reasonable, but there can be times where you can’t get any closer than 5 or 600 yards. I personally practice and make myself proficient out to 800 yards. I don’t ever want to shoot that far, closer is always better. But if a ram of a lifetime is standing at 500, do you want to be limited to 300? Know your rifle setup. Know its limitations, know your limitations. Practice lots. Not just off a bench. Mimick what you will have in the field. Will you be shooting off your pack? Bipod? I use quick stix. If you don’t have quick stix, I highly recommend.

Make sure you have a good pack! Almost as important as footwear. Exo, Kifaru or Stone glacier are the top 3 in my opinion.

[2chodi]

If you get new boots, make sure you have worn them plenty before you go. Foot care is a big thing to pay attention to — make sure your feet and socks are free of debris before you put your boots on — good socks and change them when they get wet from sweat — if your boots give you known "hot spots," put moleskin on before you take the first step (don't wait until it's too late. You can tighten your laces differently for going uphill as opposed to downhill — you don't want your toes smashing into the end of the boot or your heal lifting. If your boots get wet, don't put them by the fire to dry them out.

[cuervosail]

[QUOTE=high horse Hal;2444000]
Wilbur Smith's Assegai looks like a huge paper-back to pack, but is good for at least 2-3 days

My partner reads a lot of magazines and then passes them to me. I always have a backdated stack about 6" high on the bedside table that I never get to. A few days before I head north, I do a real quick skim through those, tear out a few pages and slide those into my pack for some bedtime/tent time reading. Takes up no space, no weight and I feel absolutely zero guilt about burning them afterwards.

[KodiakHntr]

WHY would anyone carry a physical book into sheep country, when you can download EVERY book ever written onto your phone?!?!?

A modern smart phone reduces pounds from your pack, and can add multiple levels of comfort.

[stoneramhunter]

WHY would anyone carry a physical book into sheep country, when you can download EVERY book ever written onto your phone?!?!?

A modern smart phone reduces pounds from your pack, and can add multiple levels of comfort.

ive carried paper reading materials in plenty of times sheep hunting regardless if its a downloadable material or not. i always carry leuko tape in the event of blisters

[2chodi]

ive carried reading materials in plenty of times sheep hunting regardless if its a downloadable material or not. i always carry leuko tape in the event of blisters

Always brought a book - sometimes you're in the tent or camp for extended periods. We even shared paperbacks by tearing pieces off and passing on — burn when finished.

[stoneramhunter]

Always brought a book - sometimes you're in the tent or camp for extended periods. We even shared paperbacks by tearing pieces off and passing on — burn when finished.

lol thats been the way since they first started hunting sheep lol. sometimes you read the same page twice:) before burning:)

[Smiley]

Thank you all for your replies! Select replies I'll comment on are:

"like an Ironman" well guess what - have done those lol, also my son is doing his first this summer

former collegiate wrestler - mental toughness, check lol

300 yards - this is for the experience alone. If my son and I and our 3rd partner do nothing more than spend hours in the cab of the truck shooting the breeze on the 23 hour drive there, then that is a WIN! If we manage to get to our proposed base camp then WIN! If we get up to a plateau and actually experience the steep shale nonsense then WIN! If we see sheep then OMG WIN! I am are truly not certain to squeeze the trigger if a legal ram is in range and in a recoverable place. Crazy, right?!

bugs - loved reading that once out of the alpine they might be not as bad, in the meantime will make sure we all have head nets

boots - 3 days ago literally dumpstered my Meindls. One of the most disappointing purchases of my life. Don't mind spending good money, but don't like low value. The soles were repaired FOUR times. After a recent 4km walk I had a look and the soles were coming apart AGAIN. I must have (seriously) spent as much having them repaired as paid originally). Contacted the company in Germany 2 years ago and got a royal bum's rush. They were only lightly used (the area of heel strike was just beginning to show wear). Also, they squeaked like nobody's business no matter what I did.

Plan now is to get a new pair of low/mid hikers and start breaking my feet into them. I am hugely blister prone.

[KodiakHntr]

Sounds like you will have a spectacular trip then. You’ll be fine.
Definitely get on the new boots though if you are blister prone.

[stosto]

I hear having crocs with you may be indispensable. Yeah they are bulky, but light. They come in handy for crossing creeks and a must around the camp.

[Greg]

Sheep hunting is self inflicted torture. If your prone to blisters you are in for a world of pain. The amount of side hilling on a sheep hunt tends to be ludicrous. People who just hike in the mountains never put themselves through that, why would they. A high quality spotting scope will save boot leather and possibly your trip, good boots are a must. Everything else doesn't really seem to matter if you can shoot straight to 300m that's good enough. It comes down to motivation and knowledge. Sometimes we couldn't but most of the time we could get within 100 meters and have harvested many fine rams.
Don't get me wrong sheep hunting is fun but I have seen many grown men give up or cry, it's just the weirdos who keep coming back!

[digger dogger]

Try this for no blisters.
Use a liner sock as a first layer. They used to be called 2nd skin. It’s a thin sock “almost” like a sock you’d wear with a suit, then a quality thicker hiking sock. The 1st layer sticks to your foot, and the 2nd layer can move a bit without the friction being on your foot.
I’ve done this for decades and no blisters.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Try this for no blisters.
Use a liner sock as a first layer. They used to be called 2nd skin. It’s a thin sock “almost” like a sock you’d wear with a suit, then a quality thicker hiking sock. The 1st layer sticks to your foot, and the 2nd layer can move a bit without the friction being on your foot.
I’ve done this for decades and no blisters.

I echo this.
Never had a blister on a sheep hunt.

The sock liners are just polypropylene liners.
They don’t smell that great after a few days but they have never failed me.

SSS

[high horse Hal]

dancing bananas for the sock liners, best thing since front opening bras
Have always used them, first defense

[stoneramhunter]

dancing bananas for the sock liners, best thing since front opening bras
Have always used them, first defense

Im confused HIGH HORSE HAL are you saying you prefer the front opening bra over the back opening bras when you go sheep hunting :):and are they first defence against grizzly :) or an attraction for the sheep???:):) .................................................. .. just kidding having a little fun .

[high horse Hal]

Have to admit, the manboobs have changed shape over the years, but not needing support yet :)