Northern Hunt 2012

[325]

I returned from my annual northern hunt a few days ago. We usually go in early August, but thought we would try September this year. The weather was certainly cooler in September, and it felt like fall, often freezing at night. I have to say, I think I prefer September sheep hunting.

We utilized the services of Steamboat Mountain Outfitters to transport us to where we wanted to camp. This is our third year of using SMOs, and I can't say enough about their high level of services and efficiency. Their horses are bulletproof, and they always work hard to get us where we want to go.

After arriving at our chosen campsite, I set-up my Kifaru 8-man tipi. This hunt would be its first real test, and I have to say, I was pleased with the comfort. The design is extremely wind-resistant (the wind blew incessantly), and the wood stove sure took the chill away.

The first day was quite uneventful. I only saw ewes and lambs. Day two was more productive. I hiked along a ridge and settled on a grassy slope to glass. I quickly spotted four rams bedded on a bench well over a kilometre away. My peaceful glassing was interrupted by the howling of wolves. The sound of wolves howling always makes the hair on my neck stand-up.

I figured the wolves were somewhere between the rams and I. I worked my way towards the howling, and spotted two wolves sunning themselves at the valley bottom. I had the wind in my favour and was able to make a tortuous stalk to within 150 yards of them. I shot the largest and the other got away.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010353.jpg

[Brambles]

I know your typing......but I'm waiting. Already off to a good start, you got bueno Karma shooting one of those pricks

[Rackmastr]

Cant wait!!!! Makes me drool thinkin of doing a northern hunt next year!!!!

Good job knockin over that big old wolf!

[325]

The rest of the day was spent packing the skinning, packing, salting and resting.

The next few days were spent trying to find a legal ram. I finally spotted a real cranker on day five. I was on the top of a mountain and the ram was about two kilometres away. There was no way to get to him that day, and I never did see him again.

On day six, I spotted a group of 14 rams feeding in some willows at the base of a mountain. I spent several hours glassing them and observed one obvious full curl. I tried to stalk them, but could not get any closer than 450 yards without giving myself away. So, as difficult as it was, I backed-out and headed back to camp.

The following day found me glassing the same rams, who fortunately, had not moved more than a couple hundred yards from their location the previous day. My hunting partner (and dog) were with me, and we decided to position ourselves on a ridge that the rams might cross. It was a complete gamble, but paid off. After several hours of waiting and glasses many rams (including a heavy broomed ram), the full curl I wanted wandered over the ridge. At 300 yards, he gave me a broadside shot and I took it. He tumbled down the ridge into a thick willow/aspen patch. I thought he was dead.

We walked towards were the ram lay, when he suddenly appeared and ran over the ridge. His side was covered with blood. I made a hurried shot after him. I was sick. I knew if he died on the other side of the ridge he would be near impossible to find as the ground there was covered with thick, chest-high willow.

[Rackmastr]

Man oh man....the suspense!!! I love it!

[Brambles]

patiently waiting......type faster!!

[375 ultramag]

Come on ...come on....We're waiting......

[Hunting12]

waiting waiting waiting

[325]

We spent about fifteen minutes trying to piece together the blood trail. There was lots of bright red blood with a few chunks of lung and liver in it. We just couldn't find the ram. Then it dawned on me...I have a dog with me. My standard poodle Nika. I decided to let her walk in front of me and just follow her. Well, dogs can do many things better than men, and finding dead rams is one of them. It took her all of one minute to lead me to the ram, which lay dead. I was ecstatic!!!

We dragged the ram out of the willow patch it was in to an open grassy spot for photos, caping and field dressing. It was a three hour pack back to camp, and we arrived about 10:30 PM.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010400.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010392.jpg

[ianwuzhere]

wolf then a stone- awesome! big congrats..
Very nice dog.-mans best friend- looks very obedient in the pix.
Good job on a beauty ram!

[Brambles]

Just got one back from the taxidermist and you got another to send off, WAY to go JP, beauty ram

[375 ultramag]

Great looking ram, congrats to you and Nika

[325]

We slept in a bit the next morning, and I didn't get going until about 8:00 AM. I was sitting in the tipi sipping tea, when Nika stuck her head out the door and started to quietly growl. I looked out and there was a bull caribou 200 yards above camp. My buddy, who was still in his sleeping back really wanted a caribou, so I let him know, and he moved faster than I though he was capable of! By the time he was out, the bull was about 300 yards away, but not moving. I put my spotting scope on him, saw five points on the drivers side, and told my buddy he was legal. BOOM! Caribou down.

My buddy was thrilled. He had wanted a caribou more than another ram, and I was happy he was successful.

A couple days later we were back on the horses riding out. The fall colours were spectacular. Over-all it was an absolutely great hunt.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010414.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010425.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010432.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/goatcamp/P1010370.jpg

[Rackmastr]

Simply awesome......thanks for sharing the pics!!!

[Brambles]

were you buring twigs in that stove? don't see much wood?

[Hunting12]

looks like alot of fun cant wait to do that some day

[325]

were you buring twigs in that stove? don't see much wood?

Ha ha...almost! Actually, there were a few isolated patches of small alpine fir, with a few dead among them, so we had enough wood.

[BCHunterTV]

wow looks like a great hunt!

[ElectricDyck]

Great pics, I like the dog pics, congrats on successful hunt, thanks for sharing!

[silvertipp]

thanks for the story and pics ,great job

[adamgarbett]

Congrats.....ur defiantly livin the dream

[unique]

Absolutely wonderful - Congrats! I was jealous when you wrote about pitching your Kifaru, the sheep and boo and scenery just sent me into salivating.

[Gateholio]

Great ram, great story! Thanks for sharing :)

[Blainer]

Fantastic Hunt!!

[Rackmastr]

What was the final report on the Kifaru 8-man and stove?

I've had a little Shangri-La 5 and home-made stove and it was good, however I used it in late October and the stove obviously didnt keep us warm TOO long...when it was roaring hot it was good but hard to keep the heat. I'm thinking for an early Sept type hunt it would be perfect though. Thoughts? What about rainy weather and the no-floor? Any comments? Did you use a liner or just the tent?

[hellojello74]

Thanks for sharing your hunt.

[325]

What was the final report on the Kifaru 8-man and stove?

I've had a little Shangri-La 5 and home-made stove and it was good, however I used it in late October and the stove obviously didnt keep us warm TOO long...when it was roaring hot it was good but hard to keep the heat. I'm thinking for an early Sept type hunt it would be perfect though. Thoughts? What about rainy weather and the no-floor? Any comments? Did you use a liner or just the tent?

I will be doing a full report on the tipi soon.

[fusion]

You guys had a memorable hunt. Thanks for sharing. Wonderful animals and the wolf, awesome.

[kootenayelkslayer]

Looks like you had a great hunt, very nice looking ram you got! Glad to see Christian got a caribou as well. Congrats guys!

[trigger]

great pics, awesome story. congrats on all your success . thanks for sharing

[whitetailsheds]

Thanks 325!! What a great way to start the day, and week for that matter!! Congrats and thamks for posting!!! Great ram!!

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Super report!!! Can't get much better than a trophy, meat and a toothy predator!!!!

Making me ache inside to do that again.

Congrats!!!!


SSS

[Fireball129]

great read and pics...incredible memories

[Downwind]

Well done gents! Looks like a phenomenal trip. That dog sure earned its keep on that trip too.

[markt308]

Nice one! liked the story and pics

[Spy]

Great story & just awesome animals ! That little poodle really showed her worth, I'm sure she was showered with treats ! Thanks for shareing !

[bcmulie]

Congrats on an awesome trip. Three very nice animals!

bcmulie

[BCRiverBoater]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Nice to see some wolves being shot. The ram looks like a vey mature ram. Nice to see some older rams being shot this year as well.

[kennyj]

Awesome story and photos. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
kenny

[Rattler]

Congrats on a fine ram and Caribou. Nice pictures as well...

[cavebear]

wow congrats on both :)

[d6dan]

Great story and pics 325.:smile: Congrats to you and your hunting partner on your success. I've heard that those standard poodles are excellent hunting dogs.

[325]

Great story and pics 325.:smile: Congrats to you and your hunting partner on your success. I've heard that those standard poodles are excellent hunting dogs.

Thanks. Standard poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, but over the centuries had been used for tracking, finding morels, and of course mostly companion dogs. They are highly trainable and generally have great impulse control, so they make good companions in the mountains.

....but of course one must be man enough to own a poodle :smile:

[The Dude]

Very cool story, and great pics! The hunting Gods smiled on you for plugging that wolf! :D

[Rubberfist]

Thanks for sharing a great hunt! There is something deeply satisfying in knowing that you took a heaping side dish of wolf with your Stone sheep entree!

[moose2]

Great pictures of a really successful hunt congratulations.
Mike

[Call of the Wild]

Great story of your hunt. I want a mountain dog too.

[Ovis17]

Spectacular. Well done and congrats!!

[rollingrock]

Nice dog! A poodle on a hunt...wow!

[Jim Prawn]

Never thought i'd say this - but I just might go buy me a poodle! Beauty ram, nice work.
JP

[16ga]

Nice animals, I think you owe your dog big time, finds the ram then points you to the Caribou, smart dog. I am curious to know how the dog reacted to the wolves howling.

[325]

Nice animals, I think you owe your dog big time, finds the ram then points you to the Caribou, smart dog. I am curious to know how the dog reacted to the wolves howling.

My dog was very calm when the wolves were howling. I have heard of other dogs going ballistic with wolves howling or when around dead wolves, but Nika was calm. Good when hunting with her, but knowing her personality, I think if she came upon a pack of wolves by herself, she would happily and naively run up to them, thinking of them as prospective playmates. At least I think that's wjhat she would do, but maybe she would surprise me.

[coach]

Awesome ram and caribou! Well done taking a wolf out of the population too. Great story and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post. Congratulations on a successful hunt!

[Deeboe]

Congrats on your success! Awesome!

[WKCotts]

congrats on a heck of a hunt! nice ram too! you make it back to get some elk hunting in around here??

[backstrap]

AWESOME, enough said.

[325]

congrats on a heck of a hunt! nice ram too! you make it back to get some elk hunting in around here??

No, I'm going to concentrate on my LEH moose draw. Tough not chasing elk, though.