Philips Creek Sheep Draw

[David Heitsman]

I could use some intel here.

I drew the Montana side for bighorns and I am reading online how the sheep migrate back and forth there making it difficult some years to find rams on either side depending on which side you're hunting. Kind of like the BC / Yukon border for Dall's in the Tat.

The MT draw dates are mid Sept. to mid - November and BC starts November 1st to 20th with two hunts. BC offers 7 tags and MT offers 1. It's the same little herd (50- 60) so I'm not sure why BC is so generous except that maybe the harvest rate is very low.


Anyway, if you have ever hunted sheep in Phillips Creek recently or could refer me to those who have I'd appreciate it.

PM's would be fine.

Grazie.

[hellojello74]

Wow just pulled the map up on that area, its not terribly big, but looks fun. Good luck, no info here

[hntcrazy]

i know a guy who drew last year . He said it is a terrible area to hunt ...in BC.
He said all the rams hang on the montana side . There is no feed on the BC side and access is tough.
Being how you are on the montana side go earlier the better is what he told me on the phone and then the last week of the season ,..
Do you have to be outfitted in montana?

[bigwhiteys]

David,

I had someone email me through my hunting website who also has the same draw. I couldn't help him with any info, but maybe you could help each other? I can forward you his email if you like.

Carl

[BCrams]

Stahl Peak is where you want to start looking. A little rugged knob of a mountain off on its own.

48°55'12.12"N 114°51'11.96"W

Sheep are there.

You're in for a tough hunt. Between 1994 and 2008, only 9 adult rams were harvested on the Montana side.

Ten Lakes Recreational area is another focus area closer to the BC border - in particular between Wolverine / Rainbow. The same source says the hunters in Montana have a tough time finding mature rams because they're in BC!! Helicopter survey of your draw area.


Date Total Ewes Lambs Rams Uncl. Lambs/100 Ewes
4/6/96 52 28 8 16 0 29
5/1/97 8 7 1 0 0 ---
4/23/98 16 12 3 1 0 23
5/20/98 9 8 1 0 0 ---
12/18/98 0 0 0 0 0 ---
8/30/99 28 16 6 3 3 37
5/5/99 12 8 4 0 0 ---
4/8/00 24 18 5 1 0 28
8/31/00 10 6 3 1 0 ---
12/19/00 7 3 1 3 0 ---
4/24/01 40 26 9 5 0 35
8/30/01 11 9 2 0 0 ---
4/17/02 19 14 3 2 0 21
8/30/02 27 17 8 2 0 47
4/21/03 17 --- --- --- 17 ---
4/22/04 40 --- --- --- 40 ---
8/31/04 22 14 5 3 0 36
4/11/05 21 --- --- --- 21 ---
8/27/05 19 7 3 9 0 ---
4/20/06 12 8 4 0 0 ---
9/08/06 17 4 3 9 0 ---
10/03/06 11 7 3 1 0 ---
4/28/08 61 36 13 12 0 36

[GoatGuy]

Montana's the better side to have.

Same good rams in there; keep your finger off the trigger.

Do enough digging and you should be able to find the papers on the sheep.

[eastkoot]

Hunt deer in Phillips Creek on the B.C. side and there are some hogs. They don't seem to appear until the very end of the mule deer season or later, end of November. I am assuming they are still in Montana till then. There are always ewes on the B.C. side which is why they migrate, for the rut. Time your hunt accordingly..

[bighornbob]

My dad had the Phillips draw back in 1994 and I have hunted it a few times on the BC side.

Dont feel like typing all the info I have so give me a call one night.

BHB

[yukon john]

If your not a member of huntin' fool then sign up, you can give them a call and they will put you in touch will previous draw winners. They have info for all the western states. Congrats on the tag I look forward to the pics!!!
YJ

[d6dan]

My dad had the Phillips draw back in 1994 and I have hunted it a few times on the BC side.

HB

Was your Dad successful??

[David Heitsman]

Htncrazy;
You don't need an outfitter in MT but I might want some horses so will likely use one if available.
Big Whiteys;
PM sent soon
BC Rams;
I have seen some of that data in the MT Bighorns online study manual. Is that where you found the count and harvest stats?
East Koot;
MT people are telling me that the sheep migrate north to Canada in November early December to avoid the early and heavy MT snows
and for me to hunt early.
BHB;
PM Sent soon.

Thx everyone.

[bcmulie]

Hey David,

Congrats on the draw! Hope you manage to smack a big one. I'm a member of Huntin' Fool, so if you don't feel like joining just give me a shout and I'll call them for some info on your area. I'd recommend joining, though. If I recall correctly you use Cabelas for your applications, but it still doesn't hurt to have another source of info, and their magazine is one of the better ones out there.

bcmulie

[BCrams]

BC Rams;
I have seen some of that data in the MT Bighorns online study manual. Is that where you found the count and harvest stats?


I don't know? Which one are you looking at? There's a tonne of papers like GG said on Montana sheep and sheep populations and where they are. Quite a few reports with aerial data available within them. The US / State resource offices are pretty good having information available to hunters to help improve their success.

Definatly better odds taking one in Montana than in BC and hopefully you get a good ram.

[bighornbob]

Was your Dad successful??

Yes he shot a nice one.

BHB

[bchunter1]

I drew the tag for the bc side this year, wondering if any of u have any intel on this area?