Back from the Tatshinshini

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_056.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_060.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_067.jpgI just returned from my solo backpack hunt in 6-29.Totally awesome experience. I had lots of time so i divided my food and fuel into two 7 day bags and stashed one at the fork in the trail.I know where the popular spots are, so I went the other way.I'll never figure out why I do that.The first week I hunted the North end of the range.The weather was mixed with lots of fog (cloud ) on the mountain tops and especially on the west side of the range.It snowed on the top most days.I hunted my way through the mountains.Lots of ewes and lambs in this area.Beautiful scenery everywhere you look.The rock piles and slides where all made up of cool rocks.I started picking up a few then shook my head and emptied out my pockets.The slopes above the willow and birch are covered in the most lush vegetation I've ever seen.Dozens of different flowers grasses and other green stuff was knee deep.The little creeks that drain the high basins are full of trout.How did they get there?
After 6 days about 120 ewes and lambs, No rams.Time to move south.One good thing, my pack was lighter on the way down .
The rest of the story on page 2.
kenny

[happygilmore]

.One good thing, my pack was lighter on the way down .

Thank god for the small blessings:)


You got wavos going at it alone, great pix and story.
better luck next time.

[Wildman]

The little creeks that drain the high basins are full of trout.How did they get there?
They are called residents....residents live above fish barriers. Maybe from ice age?

[hunter1947]

Well you had a good time kenny and thats what counts ..

I have to take my hat off to you ,you did this trip by yourself ,that takes alot of gutshttp://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif .

Have you got other trips planed for latter this year ???.

Now for some island deer hunting ,right ???.

Maybe next year an elk trip in the EK ,if you know what I mean ,Brian mason LOL http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif.

[kennyj]

There's more.
Kenny

[hunter1947]

Well come on ,don't keep us in the black there KJ.

[BCbillies]

I peaked in the photo gallery...congrats on the ram. That's a tough hunt...especially going it alone! Now let's hear the rest of the story.

[Bighorn hunter]

I'm hopeing there's a pic of your ram in the next bit. Thanks for sharing the first bit, great pics. Waiting impatiently


bhh

[happygilmore]

now your being mean

[Nimrod]

Good job on going solo, done this quit a few times myself. I'm sure you've been getting flack for it from all the tenders, safety and all.
it's one of the greatest experiences a guy can have..

Beautiful ram, lets hear the details.

[1/2 slam]

Mean, mean, mean, mean, mean:biggrin: Congratulations!!!!!

[kennyj]

OK so I head down and get the rest of my food and fuel and head up the valley .I camped in a central location and started plugging away again. More ewes and lambs ,a very dark grizzly ,a black wolf with silver on its sides, a few goats ,but still no rams .On the 11th day I headed up through a high valley on the way to another area and there across the valley is 3 rams. They all look mature with horn tips just below the nose bridge. One has a tight flaring curl , pretty. Another has a medium curl with average horn drop, and the third has horns that rise up high drop down low and come up 1 inch below the nose bridge. His horns are noticeably more massive than the others and his body is bigger as well .To my inexperienced eyes he looks pretty darn good .The only approach is straight at them across the valley so I get fairly close and get the spotting scope on them. I get the focus adjusted and wait for the relentless wind to stop. Finally he turns his head just right and the wind stops for a couple of seconds and I get the look I needed. Oh Ya . 8 rings with a couple of inches to go. I crawled as close as I could get settled in and waited for him to stand. A few minutes latter he stood and BANG . He didn’t fall down. U-OH. I’m pretty sure on the distance, so I’m quite surprised. I didn’t see where the bullet hit so I held a little higher and shot again . Another miss .They start to head across the slide toward the ridge and when he stopped I held a little higher and shot and this time I see the bullet hit under his feet . WHAT? I spent the rest of the day chasing them across the mountain. They were always one ridge away . I couldn’t believe I miss judged the distance that much . I was trudging back to camp when my foot shot out and kicked myself straight in the ass . When I was backpacking in my gun took a bash and I said to myself “ self shoot that gun in the morning just to make sure “ and that was the last time self thought about it till now. I got to camp and set a target at 25 yds . 1 “ low and ½ “ right at 25 yds. That’ll do it . Fixed that and went to bed.
Next morning I got an early start and headed up the same valley toward another area . As I walked down the valley more country opens up and side valleys come into view. I turned to look at the mountain behind me and there near the top is three white dots . Out with the spotting scope and it’s the same three rams. I’d gone past them a ways so I hurried back to the base of the mountain and the sheep went out of my line of sight above the curve of the mountain . This allowed me to pass below them to a gully and a ridge to the right of them that would get me up to the same elevation they were at. I was a bit of a scramble near the top and when I peeked over I scanned the skyline thinking they were higher up. Suddenly there they were 100 yds away and just below me . They must have moved down a bit during the stock. I scrambled out of my pack and got my gun on them as they ran for the top of the hill. They stopped about 200 yds out in a tight group. Finally they separated. BANG! DROP! Flop, Flop, Flop, Kick, Kick, And he stayed there. Two more flops and he would be at the bottom of the mountain. I grabbed my stuff and headed toward my first Ram wondering if he was as nice as I thought. I wasn’t disappointed. I couldn’t believe the size of his body. I thought Dall sheep were supposed to be small. I got him caped out and de-boned and somehow got everything on my pack. It was the longest hardest pack I made and I was smiling the whole way. It was pitch dark when I got back to camp. The next day I made a meat and cape run to the truck and back to camp and with one day of food left not a moment to soon. On the 14th day I packed out and ended one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.
Kenny

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_024.jpg

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_023.jpg

[44inchStone]

WOW!!!
ANY solo hunt for sheep is a feat in itself. When you don't have the extra set of eyes, ears and back to help out, it can be a very trying hunt both physically and mentally. Not that doing it with two seems to be any easier.
You have done what most would NEVER attempt. I think myself included.:smile:
Anyway, I congratulate you on a successful hunt and great pics to show us all how hard the TAT is to hunt.
Good on ya.

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_022.jpg

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_021.jpg

[bayou]

Congrats on a very nice and well deserved ram.

[Kitimat Killer]

way to go, huge congrats on that ram and doing it solo i give my hat off too you what a nice looking ram

[Rattler]

Very impressive! Hunting solo is not an easy thing to do, especially for 14 days. You showed excellent perseverance.

[Wild one]

great story and I bet a hunt you will never forget.

[Nimrod]

Kenny
thats Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huge congrats

[BCRiverBoater]

First dall I have heard of fur sure to come out this year by resident. Nicely done and great ram!

[harbinger]

Nice moves! Congrats!

[kennyj]

Good job on going solo, done this quit a few times myself. I'm sure you've been getting flack for it from all the tenders, safety and all.
it's one of the greatest experiences a guy can have..

Beautiful ram, lets hear the details.

Hey Nimrod,
You're right,I never hear the end of it " what you're going by you're self?''
I've hunted by myself since I was a kid and don't think twice about.I'd rather hunt with a good partner but if no one is available I'm gone.
This year I got a SPOT personal tracker and it was awesome.I could send a check-in message home any time so my family can track my progress and don't have to worry.No worry for them,no worry for me.
Kenny

[kennyj]

Thanks for all the nice comments.It truly was a great experience.It took so long to get the tag that I allowed lots of time to hunt.Good thing.I learned a lot on this trip.
Kenny

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_082.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_054.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_029.jpgA few more photos.http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_097.jpg

[kennyj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_005.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_011.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Tatshinshini_08_042.jpg

[houndogger]

Awesome job on the ram and nice to see you took the time to take all those great photos of yourself. That is a feat in its own:razz:

[kennyj]

Awesome job on the ram and nice to see you took the time to take all those great photos of yourself. That is a feat in its own:razz:

Thanks houndogger.It is a bit of work but I'm always glad I did it.
Kenny

[kennyj]

By the way,38 1/2" x 13 1/2''. 11 years old.
Kenny

[6 K]

Way to go Kenny!!
I do a fair bit of solo hunting myself. Did a stone sheep hunt up the Stakine in 06. Found rams but nothing legal. I know what you mean when you say " I'd rather hunt with a good partner but if no one is avalible I'm gone." Also Nimrod when he said" it being one of the most rewarding experiances a guy can have."
Good on ya for perservering, you stuck it out and were rewarded with a beauty of a trophy and memories that will last a lifetime.
Thanks for sharing, love the pics, and enjoyed the storie. Even if I suspected there was more................ nice pause.
EXTRA BIG CONGRATS:smile:

[guest]

What a story, Solo yet, great to see and read about your success and also good to hear your safe.
I don't think I would ever par-take in andventure like that alone. Congrats too you and WHAT ! your FIRST RAM !
Good on you !
C/T

[Deadshot]

WOW!!
Nicest ram posted to date. You being in the picture put the ram in perspective.
An LEH well spent!
Congrats!

[hunter1947]

Wow what a nice Ram kenny ,I see you have a sense of humor ,LOL.

I give you credit for your accomplishment ,what Brian has told me about the way you hunt and don't stop till you get what you want.
That is one very nice Dall sheep you got Ken ,congratulations on a hard hunt and great story.

Nice pic of the Ram , The Ram looks better then the other person in the pic ,LOL.

For someone to go do what you did buy themselves is one heck of an accomplishment and to bag one as you did is even a bigger accomplishment ,very well done http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif.

[Bighorn hunter]

What a beautiful old ram. you'll be able to look at that ram on the wall for years to come and I'm sure you will smile every time. What a huge accomplishment to do it solo. My hat goes of to you.

Well done
BHH

[jml11]

Awesome mature ram, well deserved that's for sure, I've been looking forward to see how you made out. Might have to start putting in for that draw!

[Leaseman]

Very impressive!!
Thanks for the story...
Great Ram.....

[kennyj]

Wow what a nice Ram kenny ,I see you have a sense of humor ,LOL.

I give you credit for your accomplishment ,what Brian has told me about the way you hunt and don't stop till you get what you want.
That is one very nice Dall sheep you got Ken ,congratulations on a hard hunt and great story.

Nice pic of the Ram , The Ram looks better then the other person in the pic ,LOL.

For someone to go do what you did buy themselves is one heck of an accomplishment and to bag one as you did is even a bigger accomplishment ,very well done http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif.

Thanks Wayne,
I figured I'd make the ram look bettor if I was in the photo.I was getting pretty ugly by then.
Kenny

[kennyj]

Very impressive! Hunting solo is not an easy thing to do, especially for 14 days. You showed excellent perseverance.
Thanks Rattler.
It was a long haul but the days just flew by.It took so long to draw the tag I was determined to tough it out until I ran out of food.I didn't want to return home thinking I could have hunted harder. It also helped that there was new country to look at every day.I new Rams would show up sooner or later.
Kenny

[Little Hawk]

Congrats Kenny from a fellow Victorian!

I don't know Dick about sheep hunting but thanks for sharing what you did.
That country is amazing.

Gets a guy thinkin' bout' a solo thing. What better way to 'find' yourself?

I need a new hip first.

Cheers,
Terry

[Brambles]

I take my hat off to you KennyJ, what you accomplished was a fantastic feat. A sucessful solo hunt on a Dall ram. Fantastic.

Your pack must have weighed a ton but it must have been even harder to walk with BALLS THAT BIG:eek:;)

[Archer]

That is a fantastic story!! Huge congrats on a hard-earned trophy.

[kennyj]

I take my hat off to you KennyJ, what you accomplished was a fantastic feat. A sucessful solo hunt on a Dall ram. Fantastic.

Your pack must have weighed a ton but it must have been even harder to walk with BALLS THAT BIG:eek:;)

Yes my pack did weigh a ton.I had to split my food in half and stash one half.Also some of my gear needs upgrading to lighter stuff.Nothing to do with big balls,just lots of time spent out there over the years,and feel very comfortable out there.I also carried a SPOT personal tracker.Awesome unit.
kenny

[bigwhiteys]

Kenny I am impressed... Great Story, Great OLD Ram, Congrats!

Carl

[BCrams]

Congratulations!!!

What a great mature ram!! Having taken a ram on a solo hunt, I know how tough it is to pack an animal out!! Spectacular country on that side of the Dall range......and obviously way more sheep than the 28 side.

[budismyhorse]

WOW, Ken!

I have been anxiously waiting a story from your trip! Great to hear you made it happen!

This story is an inspiration. Great planning, perseverence and follow through. Your will to go through on a 14 day solo Dalls Sheep hunt is remarkable.

and what a ram, great job!

[325]

Great job! Excellent ram! Good for you for going it alone.....takes courage.

[Tikka7mm]

Great story....beautiful pics and an awesome looking ram. Congrats!

[wolverine]

Way to go Kenny. That is an amazing story and photos. Part of the country I have never had the opportunity to visit. Also, thank you for showing that some of the more "experienced" guys in here are still able to "bring it". It's guys like you that make this board so worthwhile. Thanks.

[kennyj]

Thanks for all the wonderful comments from everyone.It truly was an awesome hunt.I was very lucky to find a nice old ram, and I'm glad to be able to share it with others with the same interests.
kenny

[kennyj]

I think kenny should get hunter of the year ,what do you say ???.
Shut up!
kenny

[kennyj]

I just picked my Dall Sheep mount from Terry at Lagoon Taxidermy.I'm very happy with it.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0765.JPG
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0766.JPG

[whitespringer]

They are called residents....residents live above fish barriers. Maybe from ice age?


Try the Noachan Flood.

[demlake]

The final touch to what must have been an amazing experience.

Thanks for the pictures, the story and the inspiration.

[Rymar]

looks like some unbelievable country

[black 'n blue]

Thats a great accomplishment! Nice mount, Terry does fine work.

[Brambles]

Very nice Kenny, we will also be requiring a panoramic view of the stuff to the Right.....

[hillclimber]

wow congrats on the ram and looks like the taxidermist did a good job. on a scale of 1-10 how hard was the hunt? yes i do know sheep hunting is hard but how do you feel compared to other sheep hunts?

[guest]

Wow Kenny J,
That is a beauty of a Dall !
I loved your story and success !
For you to have that guy on the wall makes it even more of and accomplishment on a great hunt. Now it's there for you to enjoy the rest of your days!!

Congrats
Nice work on the Taxi too

[Slee]

Awesome looking ram. nice work!

[The Hermit]

Never really gave much thought to sheep hunting but you got my interest piqued!

[hunter1947]

I saw it there 3 weeks ago ,looked very impressive ,very nice taxidermy job that he did on this fine sheep ,congrats Kenny on putting this fine sheep on the wall http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif.

[d6dan]

Beautiful Ram you have there KennyJ. I really enjoyed your story and pics...Thanks for sharing..

[pistolpete]

Sounds like you had a trip of a life time. I hunted their in 84 with two friends. We bagged two Dalls & one black wolf. Camped at 4500 ft. It was a trip of a life time as well.
Also shot a Stone the year before in 7-52. Sheep hunting is the best.

[whitetailsheds]

Great mount, Ken! What a tremendous, and well earned trophy to have on your wall!

[kennyj]

wow congrats on the ram and looks like the taxidermist did a good job. on a scale of 1-10 how hard was the hunt? yes i do know sheep hunting is hard but how do you feel compared to other sheep hunts?
I haven't been on enough sheep hunts to really say how this hunt would compare.One nice thing about this area is the outfitter trails and old mine roads.They aren't great but way bettor that the bush there.The distances are huge.Many,many miles.
I would say I was fully 80% done in when I hit the truck at the end.Not to mention out of food.
kenny

[Mugger]

Kennyj, Thanks for your story its great. Can you tell me a bit more about your tracking unit, is it a map GPS aswell.

[ydouask]

Enjoyed your story, pics, sheep, and most of all your attitude ! Well done !

[j270wsm]

I would love to go north for sheep, hopefully when my boys are old enough the three of us can go. About 12yrs ago my wood shop teacher and his partner found the Ice man in TAT and the pics that he showed me really got my interest.

[kennyj]

Kennyj, Thanks for your story its great. Can you tell me a bit more about your tracking unit, is it a map GPS aswell.
I carry a SPOT.Strictly a safety item.You hit the OK button and it sends a message to your computer with GPS coordinates letting you family know your OK and where you are.They can copy the coor. onto Google earth and see where you are at the time.It also has 911 function as well.
kenny

[Mugger]

Thanks KennyJ I will look into it. I do a lot of solo myself but find it a little harder with a young family at home now doind the responsable thing. I have put in for the Tat for a few years but never drew. When I do I hope to call on your exprtise in the area if your up for it.

[300ultramag]

awsome looking ram kennyj!! i was draw for 6-29 for this fall looking forward to getting up there after your story of sucsess!!

[Blacktailz]

Thats amazing, great ram

[hawkfu]

Awesome Sheep.awesome Pics.awesome Story.awesome Experience.

[leadpillproductions]

nice lookin ram congrads