Rocky Mountain Bighorns..books

[srupp]

I am slowly doing my "homework" on Rocky Mountain Bighorns...and am planning a hunt this fall to the "Kootenays..

I had a bunch of books however sold em all...Leonard JECK...and some biologists stuff..

Does anyone have a title of a "GOOD " book on hunting Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep in Bc..or just Bighorn sheep hunting??

[kennyj]

''Sheep Country'' by Valerius Giest is a great book. Awesome photography by Michael Frances. Not Bighorn specific but great info on habitat etc...
kenny

[srupp]

Thanks Kenny..that was one of the books I sold...

didnt know I would need it again..lol

I will check the library

Thanks

Steven

[bearslayer01]

i got a better idea stay out of the kootneys there no sheep here...

[blackbart]

It seems to me that the Kamloops Public Library once had a copy of "Mountain Sheep - a study in behaviour and evolution". Perhaps srupp can track down that copy, seems like he may have signed it out at least once previously.

Did he return it is the question??

BB

[moose2]

I am not sure if you have seen this one Steven

http://www.amazon.ca/Mountain-Sheep-Hunting-British-Columbia/dp/1434396495

[srupp]

hmmm black bart...hmm seems I know where my last copy went...:mrgreen:


finished 500 page study on sheep habitat, foods etc and winter range thesis..:tongue: interesting.....and boring....shoulda got the readers digest version..

steven

[Slee]

I just finished reading jack o'connor's sheep and sheep hunting. Very good read. Lots of great info on sheep.

[srupp]

hmmm yupper read all of his books..very good also I agree....hmmm AND the reason I still shoot the .270 Win...

steven

[troutseeker]

I've read that book suggested by moose2. It is ok, does contain useful information but in a more general sense.

You can probably get it from your regional library and it is a quick and easy read.

[Call of the Wild]

I don't have it but the online description sounds good: Quest for Giant Bighorns by Duncan Gilchrist

[bighornbob]

I don't have it but the online description sounds good: Quest for Giant Bighorns by Duncan Gilchrist

I was going to respond that this is one of the better books out there for hunting sheep. Actually all of duncan's books are good.
Going off of memory I believe there is a chapter on on bc sheep and the Line creek rams.

Bhb

[srupp]

hmmm sure would beat the Masters thesis papers I am wading through on " Bighorn sheep carrying capacity and ecosisms ":tongue: the biologists LOVE to share their knowleg..actually its a requirement..:mrgreen: however a guy can only wade through so much on bunchgrass biodiversity..:tongue:

cheers
Steven

[.270]

Steven,

Why don't you send me that paper, I'll read it and tell you where you should scout and let me know what you find.

[Call of the Wild]

Since I want/need more sheep reading material, I just ordered Quest for Giant Bighorns and Wild Sheep Country.

BHB thanks for the tip now I can't wait for the books to arrive.:-D

[srupp]

shheeeesh after reading many thesiss..more confused than ever..lol

every single creek and every single ridge and every single mtn is mentioned one place or another..I have maybe 100 pieces of blank paper with notes..using a pretty good software system for mapping AND running that in conjunction WITH google earth:tongue: maybe 80 hours of computer time..

I even read a "paper" on big game sheep harvesting and future goals from MOE from 1985..

However much seems to have changed..the BIGGEST change is the die off of 1981-1983 that marched North over the 2 years..and that the largest $$$$ is for habitat management to get rid of the big overgrown trees that prevent sheep from seeing long distance they need that line of sight for seeing warning signals from other sheep.. think its called alerting???

A lot of the areas "seem to be down on #s" of sheep with most areas down 80% from historical numbers some compelte areas only have 50 sheeep total..MOE estimates..

Travel corridors from winter to summer ranges are overgrown and also lead to over predation..as well as tall trees prevent the needeed nutritional vegetaion from growing...

I even looked over guide outfitter photos..and past clients reports on their hunts NOW THATS SOME INTERESTING READING..lol..

was surprised at how much access their is..truly that opens up big VISTAS to glass from... however so far..from the Norh to the border is only 200 kms :mrgreen: and so far counted 117 names of creeks and mts..some of the "local names" still evade me...:tongue: however one biologist has given some of the double names...

\Slowly getting a game plan on HOW to try and hunt this area..only have 20 days..total..and weather to go early or late...:mrgreen:..oh well that the research part..

oh ya realized that I was wrong yes I WAS WRONG..again.. they are more like Callifornian bighorns than I originally thought..

Im treating it like one BIG ALGORITHM...each step opens more doors and closes others and slowly work my self into a game plan and out on a steep ledge..

Tomorrow its to the library...:tongue:


cheers

Steven

[Crossfire]

Steve, try looking for a book called "People and Peaks". Its a historical book about guides and hunters in the Wilmore Wilderness in AB but also moves into the BC side. It also covers the Cadomin AB area, my old stompin grounds, and is very accurate in what the old timers say. Its a great read and has tonnes of stories, pics. PM me, I tried emailing you those bighorn pics but your address is wrong or something.

[shawnwells]

''Sheep Country'' by Valerius Giest is a great book. Awesome photography by Michael Frances. Not Bighorn specific but great info on habitat etc...
kenny
read this before but its been a lot of years just ordered it off amazon 23 bucks shipped used in very good condition...theres a whole bunch more copies on there if anyones interested...

[mad mountain mike]

I just finished reading jack o'connor's sheep and sheep hunting. Very good read. Lots of great info on sheep.

This book on amazon is 45 bucks new but no new ones are available, guys are asking over 200 bucks for their used ones!

[dutchie]

If you are looking for info on Bighorns...


Any Dr. Valerius Geist book (I have 5 sitting infront of me!) also for trophy quality and to see how to score and it gives great habitate info... Measuring and Judging Big Game by Boone and Crockett club.

my 2 favorite books are Return to Royalty by DR Geist and Wild Sheep Country Bt Dr Giest.

Dutchie

[Devilbear]

I first met Val Geist over 30 years ago, gawd, it seems like yesterday and had read some of his work prior to that, he is among the very few men I have known whom I consider a REAL expert on BC wildlife. He was, of course, one of those fortunate to have been a student at the time of the McTaggart-Cowans and his pragmatic, but, scientifically rigorous approach to environmental biology and conservation shows this.

If, you can find it, probably the most interesting book on sheep I have ever read is "Campfires in the Canadian Rockies" by Dr. W.T. Hornaday and this is considered one of the major founding studies in the genre, written and published around 1904 and by one of the "giants" of his era. I have traversed and lived alone in the places he wrote about for long periods and know the country fairly well, including where the sheep live, not an easy place to access on foot unless you are young and very fit.

You might give Chris Kind a shout as he might know some older geezers, my age, who many have some useful info. for you. Are you planning a BH hunt for this coming autumn?

[GoatGuy]

shheeeesh after reading many thesiss..more confused than ever..lol

every single creek and every single ridge and every single mtn is mentioned one place or another..I have maybe 100 pieces of blank paper with notes..using a pretty good software system for mapping AND running that in conjunction WITH google earth:tongue: maybe 80 hours of computer time..

I even read a "paper" on big game sheep harvesting and future goals from MOE from 1985..

However much seems to have changed..the BIGGEST change is the die off of 1981-1983 that marched North over the 2 years..and that the largest $$$$ is for habitat management to get rid of the big overgrown trees that prevent sheep from seeing long distance they need that line of sight for seeing warning signals from other sheep.. think its called alerting???

A lot of the areas "seem to be down on #s" of sheep with most areas down 80% from historical numbers some compelte areas only have 50 sheeep total..MOE estimates..

Travel corridors from winter to summer ranges are overgrown and also lead to over predation..as well as tall trees prevent the needeed nutritional vegetaion from growing...

I even looked over guide outfitter photos..and past clients reports on their hunts NOW THATS SOME INTERESTING READING..lol..

was surprised at how much access their is..truly that opens up big VISTAS to glass from... however so far..from the Norh to the border is only 200 kms :mrgreen: and so far counted 117 names of creeks and mts..some of the "local names" still evade me...:tongue: however one biologist has given some of the double names...

\Slowly getting a game plan on HOW to try and hunt this area..only have 20 days..total..and weather to go early or late...:mrgreen:..oh well that the research part..

oh ya realized that I was wrong yes I WAS WRONG..again.. they are more like Callifornian bighorns than I originally thought..

Im treating it like one BIG ALGORITHM...each step opens more doors and closes others and slowly work my self into a game plan and out on a steep ledge..

Tomorrow its to the library...:tongue:


cheers

Steven
Very similar to calis, you'll know where to look on the mountain and which spots are rams nests. After that it's just a matter of spending time and spotting them.

As long as you can handle the cold the best hunting is late in most of the spots. Best way to get a feeling is go out and scout it before the season starts, better yet, to start on the winter range right now before they disperse.

Anyways, good luck.

[BCrams]

A good read right from start to end.

You may have read it already but here it is for anyone else. Page 20 is probably what most guys want to see to start narrowing their search down.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b99.pdf

[Devilbear]

Where can one obtain a paper copy of this publication?

[bighornbob]

[QUOTE=Devilbear;893218]Where can one obtain a paper copy of this publication?[/QUOTE

You hit the little Printer button at the top of the screen:)

I picked up a copy at the Wildlife branch years ago, they had a couple stacks of different reports like that. I doubt you could find one now at any government office. I also have one similar to this but for California Bighorns.

BHB

[BCrams]

I have all three. Bighorns, California's and Thinhorns. Lots of good reads out there.

[srupp]

the bighorn one was very informnative..and made great nitetime reading instead of counting sheep...

Thanks Greg..

cheers
Steven

[Devilbear]

BCRams, would you please post all three of yours here in a format that I can have my wife print them out as I am not very computer friendly. I would really appreciate this as I need these for my collection of scientific writings on BC wildlife and environment. It is much more difficult to obtain such material than it formerly was and I have my suspecions as to why this may be.......

[bighornbob]

BCRams, would you please post all three of yours here in a format that I can have my wife print them out as I am not very computer friendly. I would really appreciate this as I need these for my collection of scientific writings on BC wildlife and environment. It is much more difficult to obtain such material than it formerly was and I have my suspecions as to why this may be.......


Here is the one for Cali's
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b98.pdf

This format is the easiest to print from as its a PDF. Rams has posted the link to the Rockies. Not sure if Stones one is online or not.

Hope this helps you out.

BHB

[BCrams]

Here's thinhorns -

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b119.pdf

[.270]

Here are a few other ones.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/wr70.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/wr72.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b102.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b103.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b104.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b106.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/r7.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/esd/distdata/ecosystems/frpa/Approved_FRPR_sec7_WLPPR_sec9_Notices_and_Supporti ng_Info/UWR/Timber_Supply_Areas/Dawson_Creek_TSA/Supporting_Info/Docs/Ungulate%20Winter%20Range%20Report.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/moose.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/thinhorn.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/cougar.htm
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frpa/iwms/documents/Mammals/m_bighornsheep.pdf
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/

[lovemywinchester]

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/zippogold/IMG_2375.jpg