bigwhiteys
09-14-2008, 09:53 AM
Yet another year in the quest for a big Stones ram has gone by and even though we came home without a ram we still had an awesome hunt... Pressure for everything seemed way down this year and we didn't see another soul where we were.
Our first day started with about a 4000' grind up and over the top of a mountain to get into a high saddle... The last 1000' feet or so scrambling through the steep shale cliffs with a 60lb pack on was hard work but we got'er done and had base camp set within about 9 hrs.
As I sat in camp glassing that first afternoon I heard a rock slide on the opposite end of the peak I was glassing, turned the Zeiss just in time to catch a band of 9+ rams running like hell, (likely seen us first - a fatal mistake on our part) I watched as one by one they bailed over skyline and the first was definitely a shooter, He was a nice heavy older ram, the 2nd was close (needed a better look) and there was likely 1 or 2 ahead of them that I didn't quite catch...
We spent the next few days trying to locate the rams again to no avail... They had so many options for escape in this area. We glassed for hours on end from vantage points around the area and saw sheep morning, noon and night but all younger rams, ewes and lambs with several dozen caribou mixed in for good measure.
With a bear draw for the Liard we went in expecting to go hunt bear/caribou afterwards and had only packed food for 6 days in this patch of mountains.
Weather started taking a turn for the worse and the morning we hiked out the fog had set in so heavy we had trouble finding our way out. GPS got us on track for our trip down the drainage. We hadn't even made it off the saddle and we were both soaked to the bone already... The creek was a tough go and I can see why few people ever go here, It's not an easy hike compared to some of the other drainages available. Lots of impassable waterfalls and cliffs that needed to be carefully navigated.
Once out of the mountains we met up with my Dad and then continued hunting sheep for a few more days with a few days of scouting/exploring mixed in. Thanks to my Dad for helping us pick out our patch of mountains for next year.
The weather once again took a turn for the worse so we decided to head back down south and try our luck for Moose or Elk in the FSJ area... It paid off and within our first 10 minutes of hunting we had a 6 pnt bull down... He was quickly skinned and quartered and we drove 13 hrs home to the Island the next day...
Awesome Trip, Awesome Country, Learned a little more and saw TONS of game... Not only that but we came home with some meat... :) What else could you ask for...? (aside from two cranker 40" rams?)
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic1.jpg
Our Base Camp
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic2.jpg
We had caribou visit us in camp every morning and every night. I waved at one of them and he came trotting down to camp like he was an old friend... We had a good laugh at him.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic4.jpg
Standing on the crest of a ridge after one of our many glassing expeditions.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic5.jpg
Young rams, ewes and lambs...
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic6.jpg
Climbing up the ridge...
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic7.jpg
Me at about 7000'
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic8.jpg
Glassing from a ridge... We were looking at sheep here.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic9.jpg
MMmmmmm.... Mountain House Chicken Breast W/Mashed Potatoes... It was actually not that bad. Tasted like Chicken.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic10.jpg
Some Buffalo on our way back from the Hot Springs... There was a massive bull in this herd that I took several minutes of video of. He was a massive old warrior.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic11.jpg
Quading expedition up the Davis Keyes.... Wow, there is a ton of hunting pressure up here. Likely will never go again other then for a good quad ride.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic12.jpg
Neat little waterfall... I was taking a drink here.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic13.jpg
My partner insisted that I take his picture with the rainbow in the background... :)
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic14.jpg
The Elk we are splitting. Not a very big bull by any means but what do you expect out of a 10 minute hunt?
Till Next Time...
Carl
Our first day started with about a 4000' grind up and over the top of a mountain to get into a high saddle... The last 1000' feet or so scrambling through the steep shale cliffs with a 60lb pack on was hard work but we got'er done and had base camp set within about 9 hrs.
As I sat in camp glassing that first afternoon I heard a rock slide on the opposite end of the peak I was glassing, turned the Zeiss just in time to catch a band of 9+ rams running like hell, (likely seen us first - a fatal mistake on our part) I watched as one by one they bailed over skyline and the first was definitely a shooter, He was a nice heavy older ram, the 2nd was close (needed a better look) and there was likely 1 or 2 ahead of them that I didn't quite catch...
We spent the next few days trying to locate the rams again to no avail... They had so many options for escape in this area. We glassed for hours on end from vantage points around the area and saw sheep morning, noon and night but all younger rams, ewes and lambs with several dozen caribou mixed in for good measure.
With a bear draw for the Liard we went in expecting to go hunt bear/caribou afterwards and had only packed food for 6 days in this patch of mountains.
Weather started taking a turn for the worse and the morning we hiked out the fog had set in so heavy we had trouble finding our way out. GPS got us on track for our trip down the drainage. We hadn't even made it off the saddle and we were both soaked to the bone already... The creek was a tough go and I can see why few people ever go here, It's not an easy hike compared to some of the other drainages available. Lots of impassable waterfalls and cliffs that needed to be carefully navigated.
Once out of the mountains we met up with my Dad and then continued hunting sheep for a few more days with a few days of scouting/exploring mixed in. Thanks to my Dad for helping us pick out our patch of mountains for next year.
The weather once again took a turn for the worse so we decided to head back down south and try our luck for Moose or Elk in the FSJ area... It paid off and within our first 10 minutes of hunting we had a 6 pnt bull down... He was quickly skinned and quartered and we drove 13 hrs home to the Island the next day...
Awesome Trip, Awesome Country, Learned a little more and saw TONS of game... Not only that but we came home with some meat... :) What else could you ask for...? (aside from two cranker 40" rams?)
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic1.jpg
Our Base Camp
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic2.jpg
We had caribou visit us in camp every morning and every night. I waved at one of them and he came trotting down to camp like he was an old friend... We had a good laugh at him.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic4.jpg
Standing on the crest of a ridge after one of our many glassing expeditions.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic5.jpg
Young rams, ewes and lambs...
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic6.jpg
Climbing up the ridge...
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic7.jpg
Me at about 7000'
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic8.jpg
Glassing from a ridge... We were looking at sheep here.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic9.jpg
MMmmmmm.... Mountain House Chicken Breast W/Mashed Potatoes... It was actually not that bad. Tasted like Chicken.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic10.jpg
Some Buffalo on our way back from the Hot Springs... There was a massive bull in this herd that I took several minutes of video of. He was a massive old warrior.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic11.jpg
Quading expedition up the Davis Keyes.... Wow, there is a ton of hunting pressure up here. Likely will never go again other then for a good quad ride.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic12.jpg
Neat little waterfall... I was taking a drink here.
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic13.jpg
My partner insisted that I take his picture with the rainbow in the background... :)
http://www.bchuntingblog.com/mypics/pic14.jpg
The Elk we are splitting. Not a very big bull by any means but what do you expect out of a 10 minute hunt?
Till Next Time...
Carl