Cocoa My First Alberta Bighorn Ram

[Springer]

If you want the long version on how Sheepguide and i harvested this Nice Chocolate ("Cocoa") Ram it's on the Alberta Outdoorsmen site under Sheepguided to my First Alberta Bighorn Ram.
For now i will share with you the quick version of Darcy , Justin and I managed to tag out on my First Sheep.

Here he is a couple Kms off in the distance through the spotter at about 3:00 in the afternoon.
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_2068.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_2071.jpg

Darcy and i 2/3 the way down the drainage where he finally came to a stop on the slippery snow covered slope.
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/PIC_0032.jpg

Justin and i smiling and inside hoping he does not start to slide again ...man it was slick.
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/PIC_0029.jpg

[Springer]

My only disapointment was that i had left my camera back at the bottom with the rest of my gear after taking pics through the Spotting scope. I have a designated pocket in my Eberlestock for my camera but in all the excitement it just never got put back in and i carry it with me always..Darcy says dont worry i have mine, well turns out both his batteries had died but he managed to get these pics of his video camera because he filmed the whole thing.
We made it back in the Dark through the slippery ,willow choked drainage, across some creeks and finally back to where we started.
Oh what a feeling coming out packing heavy.


http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_2074.jpg

Thanks Boys for such a memorable hunt...
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_2077.jpg

Cheers Springer

[GrandA]

congrats - super jealous.

[coach]

Nice looking ram, Springer. Congratulations! For those of us not on the Alberta Outdoorsmen forum, can you give us a "Cole's notes" rundown of the hunt? Was this a draw area or GOS?

[Springer]

Coach just go read it on www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca (http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca)
It was a over the counter tag in a general area. It's under the heading, Sheepguided to my "First Ram".

[Springer]

It's been a pretty successful year so far for the little amount i managed to get out with a busy work schedule.
I took my first Mule Deer bow kill with my Hoyt on Sept 8th.
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_1945.jpg
Then i took my second Elk this time with actual antlers you could see, with my Bow on Sept 18th .
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/IMG_1953_zps0c6a11e2.jpg

[Hombre]

Congrats on a great season!Gotta love the bow only zones in Alberta.

[Brez]

congrats on the great season.

[markt308]

wow heck of a season right there. good for you! sawesome animals

[kootenayelkslayer]

Awesome. Definitely jealous of your bighorn!

[craigo]

What a year for you! Congrats on such great success!

[BiG Boar]

Looks like a great year so far! How old is the ram?

[Sofa King]

disappointed that you used the gun instead of the bow for that sheep.
that didn't look THAT far.
jk.

[44inchStone]

Wholy CHIT!!!!
What an awsome year so far.....now for the WHITIE!!!!!! GREAT shooting!!

[Caveman]

Great work Phil!! Awesome season you're having

[Springer]

Thanks !! Did i miss including that my only pheasant hunt i was limited out by 9:30 am !!
My Ram was aged at 8-1/2.
15.5" bases and 35.5 " circumference

[bowhunterbruce]

it would have been nice to read the entire story on abo but after doing a few searchs there i came up with sfa on every search. could you try to post the exact linc for those of us that cant figure it out.
thanks
bhb

[Blainer]

Absolutely Fantastic!!

[Elkaholic]

Helluva a season man. Thanks for taking the time to share the memories. I love the ram pics.

[srupp]

CONRADULATIONS PHIL ! Well deserved ram for sure for a GREAT GUY you worked hard for this ram...and eventually ya did it. pretty awesome season cant wait for your camp Wainwright results also..I know Marco Pilon @ Sugar creek taxidermy will do an awesome job on the "special mount" ha ha ha Cody Robbins work will just have to wait..lol

Well done Brother another of the dead bucket list//

cheers

British Columbia Steven


AKA ELMER

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Congrats Phil!!! Sweet ram!!


SSS

[Springer]

Thanks everyone.....
Hey Brent i saw you and Greg on Canada in the Rough the other day !! Well done Fella's
Bruce the story is under Sheepguided to my " First Ram". its only a page or 2 back.
Let's try this.Sheepguide'd to my "First Ram" ! (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=153859)

[Leaseman]

Very nice Phil!

Congrats on all the animal.... yes, I too am jealous!

Mike

[kennyj]

Congratulations on your successful season so far. Great ram!
kenny

[gbear]

Congrats on a great ram! And a great year

[stoneguide]

Was a great pleasure to be on the hill that day and help you fulfill your dream of taking a ram. Congrats again Bud!!!!

[Springer]

You know Darcy , i really did not expect to bring a home a Ram that day...Thought it was going to be another day of climbing the Mountain and getting some more exercise and all sweated up , if were lucky the Ram would still be there , If were real lucky the Ram will be in shooting range , If i knew what was going to be the conclusion i would have wore my camera around my neck so it would not get forgotten. Well thats Hunting we never know the outcome at the end of day and if we did that would just spoil the hunt ....Yes it was a great pleasure sharing my "First Ram" with you as well as your proficiency at Caping....Marco from "Sugar Creek Taxidermy" who is doing the shoulder Mount was impressed as well.

Heres a couple more pics ...
Rams on the ridge when we got to the treeline..
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/00029_00000.jpg

Once they had fed down from the ridge and checking them out for legal..
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/00033_00000.jpg
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/00033_00001.jpg

The other 3 smaller Rams vacating this basin after mine hit the ground..
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/00034_00000.jpg

[Rackmastr]

Congrats once again man!!!

[BCbillies]

Congrats on fullfilling a dream . . . that's what it's all about - friends helping friends, tough conditions, majestic animals, things not always going as per plan and eventually some big bone hitting the ground! :)

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

Nice Ram. Good pictures of all your animals.

[Springer]

Congrats once again man!!!

Thanks Trev , Ya it was a great day spent with a couple great friends.
I am jealous of your opportunity to hunt Stones and maybe Grizz now. Heck you can even chase Cali's. Great move to relocate to BC.

Hey Leaseman, Now that i have to wait a year maybe i will finally get another chance to go Fishing Sturgeon again with you and Steve..

[WKCotts]

nice ram!! congrats

[Rackmastr]

Thanks Trev , Ya it was a great day spent with a couple great friends.
I am jealous of your opportunity to hunt Stones and maybe Grizz now. Heck you can even chase Cali's. Great move to relocate to BC.

Hey Leaseman, Now that i have to wait a year maybe i will finally get another chance to go Fishing Sturgeon again with you and Steve..

Yep grizz and Stones and grizz are both on the list next year. The planning is in the beginning stages, but I'm super excited about it none the less!!!

[bcbrez]

Great job. Congrats.

[Alpineguy]

That's awesome Springer!! What a great season......Congrats.
Love that ram, such a nice cape!

I'm going to give one more attempt at elk this weekend. I still have to recover my tent and stove from the last trip. Left it behind because the trail conditions going out were pretty tough for the wagon.

[Springer]

Thanks Ken. Good luck on your hunt and lets hope we get a chance sometime to do some hunting of our own...that wagon train looks pretty darn cool.

[Call of the Wild]

Great story and what a late season hunt, good job guys on a nice ram. Nothing like packing out a heavy load.

[Springer]

Well after only a 5 Month wait My Rocky Mtn Bighorn is home on the wall and the memories that come along with it. I have to admit i am spending a lot of extra time in the " Man Cave " since Cocoa arrived.

I had my Ram done at Sugar Creek Taxidermy by Marco Pilon who is also a Wildlife artist and his amazing work shows in his Taxi Work. I was grinning from ear to ear when i saw him , but that was after i lifted my jaw back up from the ground. Marco had him on display with some of his other clients including Cody Robbins at the Red Deer Sportsmen show last weekend.
Thanks again Marco you have exceeded my expectations again especially with the extra Rock habitat and snow which was a big part of the day he was harvested..

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/_DSF3655_zps08d2b7e4.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/_DSF3662_zps239ef3af.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Springer428/_DSF3641_zps37cf7f06.jpg

[sheephunterab]

Looks awesome Phil.....congrats again on a dandy ram!

[d6dan]

Great looking mount Phil. Marco did an outstanding job...:-D

[Wild Images]

Nice and clean

Congrats

[Springer]

Looks awesome Phil.....congrats again on a dandy ram!

Thanks TJ. I have a Looooong way to go to catch up to you. But being my first , and maybe never get another one makes it so memorable.

[ace76]

Wow!! beautiful ram Springer. The mount looks incredible.

[Rackmastr]

Awesome ram and cool lookin mount! Congrats again!

[Brez]

Beautiful mount.

[srupp]

Well done Springer..and Marco did a great job...again..

will be back in Canada in a few days..

cheers

Steven/Susan

[srupp]

hmmm actually SEEN the hunt on TV Maximus today..well done Phil.


cheers

Steven

[Springer]

Ya it should air a few times this week on Maximus Outdoors