Post by: Doug Campbell on October 07, 2007, 10:51:00 PM
Well as many of you know my first day on the hunt was last Saturday the 29th of Sept. It started with a bang when Walt and I drove into the Bighorn National Rec Area and there were five rams standing on the side of the road before we even got to the camping areas. We actually got out of the rigs and walked up within mere feet of a legal ram, my heart was pounding so hard I’m not sure I could have hit him if I’d tried ;) This definitely got the ol blood pumping, I think it was the next day before my pulse returned to normal ;) I’ve caught a lot of grief for passing this little 5 year old guy but there was no way I could shoot him right there on the side of the road.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/DougsSheepHunt016.jpg)
We finally drove off and left them alone thinking we were gonna have to part the rams with our bows ;) Little did I know….
Post by: vermonster13 on October 07, 2007, 10:53:00 PM
Post by: Doug Campbell on October 07, 2007, 10:54:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010470.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010474.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010500.jpg)
I worked over the country from the lake shore to the highest points of East Pryor over the next seven days with no rams. I spent one night spike camped at 8600’ and glassed till dark that night and back at it at daylight the next morning till a blizzard drove me off the mountain. By the way this is considered desert country where it seldom rains, don’t believe it ;) It rained I think five or six days this last week. Everything I had was wet and my common sense was telling me it was time to back up and punt.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010578.jpg)
Post by: Doug Campbell on October 07, 2007, 10:57:00 PM
We decided to hit one other area several miles to the West this morning but the greasy bentonite clay roads put the squelch on that idea. I think my Explorer weighed 700 or 800 pounds extra by the time we got back on a hard surface again.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010510.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010494-1.jpg)
That’s about all there is to report for this first leg of the hunt. So far it has been a great learning experience getting to know the area with highlights like spending quality time in beautiful country, a well place arrow and fresh killed bunny for lunch, the cougar tracks in the mud outside camp, lots of close contact with unshootable sheep and hunting with good friends. Can’t wait to get back at it again in a few days.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010549.jpg)
Post by: Doug Campbell on October 07, 2007, 10:59:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010558.jpg)
Post by: Steve O on October 07, 2007, 11:12:00 PM
I told those other guys not to let you burn out...you have a LONG season; use all of it you can :thumbsup:
Post by: IB on October 07, 2007, 11:14:00 PM
Post by: steadman on October 07, 2007, 11:24:00 PM
Post by: Scott Smith on October 07, 2007, 11:30:00 PM
Post by: Mark Baker on October 07, 2007, 11:31:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on October 07, 2007, 11:32:00 PM
Post by: AkDan on October 07, 2007, 11:47:00 PM
Sweet pics btw.
Post by: knife river on October 08, 2007, 12:01:00 AM
Post by: robtattoo on October 08, 2007, 04:13:00 AM
Post by: Guru on October 08, 2007, 05:12:00 AM
Post by: Randy Morin on October 08, 2007, 08:35:00 AM
Post by: Huntrdfk on October 08, 2007, 08:40:00 AM
David
Post by: Shaun on October 08, 2007, 08:54:00 AM
Post by: Whip on October 08, 2007, 09:44:00 AM
Enjoy every minute!
Post by: bohuntr on October 08, 2007, 12:08:00 PM
Post by: Jeff Holchin on October 08, 2007, 12:36:00 PM
Post by: Pinecone on October 08, 2007, 01:17:00 PM
Claudia
Post by: Roughcountry on October 08, 2007, 11:57:00 PM
The rams are due to show, the prom is about to start.
Looking forward to the rest of the story, was in the hills and missed your call. Glad you took time to recharge. Looking forward to the pics of the rest of the hunt, best of luck pard. :thumbsup: :campfire:
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on October 09, 2007, 07:58:00 AM
Tracy
Post by: Ray Hammond on October 09, 2007, 10:49:00 AM
Post by: JC on October 09, 2007, 11:05:00 AM
Post by: Doug Campbell on October 09, 2007, 11:08:00 AM
Sure wish I could do this country justice with my pictures, it is incredible!! Here's a couple more for you viewing pleasure.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010173.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010158.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010169.jpg)
Post by: Hoodoo Arrow on October 09, 2007, 01:27:00 PM
When you borrow a boat from your buddy:
1. see if there is a license plate on the trailer.
2. see if there is a registration tag on the boat (at least one from the last year or two)
3. see if the plug on the heat exchanger is actually screwed in or just laying in the bottom of the engine compartment.
4. see if the legs on the folding picnic chair that is doubling for a drivers seat miss the big hole in the floor of the boat.
5. pre-plan every move before hand if the boats reverse doesn't work.
6. yep and take the back straps off the boat before attempting to launch.
When following idiots to the new place to glass after too much rain:
1. argue harder with Leo about going the long way around to Warren. The roads are probably a whole bunch better that way.
2. When the boat trailer fenders fill so full of mud the wheels are just skidding along, stop following Leo and just sit and watch the fool try and get out of this one with out chains.
When the map indicates the county road is built on the old railroad grade:
1. beware of rail road spikes working their way back up though the gravel. They make a hell of a hole in a 10 ply tire.
These are just a few of the challenges Doug has faced courtesy of me and I thank him for his patience. Then hunt is tough enough on its own.
Post by: Travisc406 on October 09, 2007, 02:21:00 PM
Post by: Barney on October 09, 2007, 07:35:00 PM
Post by: Roughcountry on October 09, 2007, 09:02:00 PM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 04, 2007, 06:46:00 PM
The first day this trip I set camp in a steady rain before it really turned off cold, 20º that night. Glassed what I could from the rig till dark and hit the bag hoping it’d get better. Woke up to everything covered with ice, inside and outside the tent. Now one thing you don’t do is go climbing on rocks covered with ice ;) Fortunately is warmed to the 40’s by noonish.
I was able to locate the ewe bands again and each of them had dink rams hanging around hoping to get lucky. The next two days covering a lot of country and glassing brought no rams till late Wed afternoon. I was about halfway up a steep ridge glassing the really steep cliffs when a ram materialized out of thin air, (really strange how critters can do that ;) ). Twenty minutes of glassing revealed another ram and a couple more I couldn’t tell for sure. It was a mile away a thousand feet above me, looking kinda into the sun and so windy I couldn’t get my spotting scope stabile enough to verify their size. I watched them till almost dark then came down with a plan to be above them at daylight.
The next morning I circled around and came at them from the back side of the ridge. Four hours of hiking and glassing in 45mph winds and wow! wind-chill, revealed no rams. By one or two o’clock I’d had enough and headed back down.
I had spotted a ram chasing ewes on the cliffs above the Lake from above but couldn’t tell what size he was from four miles away so decided to try and find them. After being on the ridge it was plumb balmy down in the low juniper country and a couple miles hiking before it got too late to see good sweated me up pretty good. Despite my best efforts I didn’t find the band I was looking for so it was back to camp again.
I was feeling pretty beat up the next morning and took it easy glassing mostly from the low country again. I eventually located six ewe bands and no bigger rams had joined them yet still. As you can imagine I was feeling pretty low, dirty, (hadn’t gotten enough solar energy to heat my solar shower or enough energy to heat the water on my small stove) beat up, and all around grumpy ;) by this point. Not to mention really second guessing the little ram the first day of my hunt.
There was a ton of stuff to do at home and I made up my mind to hunt the next morning them pull out for home maybe hitting a few vantage points on the way.
About 2:00 with camp about rolled up another vehicle rolled into the campground, it turned out to be a guy name of Gary, one of the other sheep tag holders. We talked for a while comparing notes and it turns out he’d stumbled onto a five year old range management study that showed locations where the rams summered. It was some pretty obscure areas, surprise huh, where I’d hadn’t thought to search. I’d concentrated mostly on the high country where I would imagine the rams should be. In reality for some reason these sheep like the lower arid desert areas. While it is still probably a hundred square miles of very rugged country with probably only 20some sheep in it we were learning. It was a real learning experience, he’d taken pictures of at least a dozen legal rams. I’d been having visions of die-offs or worse that was telling my common sense there were no more rams left in the district. I only wish this could have happened sooner!! Gary was only hunting for a real monster which he hadn’t found yet, now I’m not so particular so next trip look out ;)
Well I’m back home now and won’t be able to go again for a week but when I get back to sheep country it’ll be with a whole new confidence. I imagine the rut will finally be commencing so after finally learning where the rams have been hiding out for the last several months they will probably be heading for the ewe bands I found. Hopefully it’ll be a whole new ballgame.
This is more the kinda country where the guys have been hanging.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010613.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0010617.jpg)
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 04, 2007, 06:48:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011141.jpg)
Post by: snakewood3 on November 04, 2007, 07:32:00 PM
Post by: tippit on November 04, 2007, 08:04:00 PM
Post by: DW on November 04, 2007, 08:23:00 PM
Post by: steadman on November 04, 2007, 09:35:00 PM
Post by: Shell on November 05, 2007, 12:27:00 PM
Just to be out there is enough in itself, a treat.
Glad to hear your having fun and hoping for a harvest too :thumbsup:
Post by: vermonster13 on November 05, 2007, 12:49:00 PM
Post by: robslifts on November 05, 2007, 01:36:00 PM
Post by: beachbowhunter on November 05, 2007, 02:07:00 PM
Man, I can't wait to be sitting around a fire and hear Leo's uncensored version of this adventure! :biglaugh:
Post by: bayoulongbowman on November 05, 2007, 02:59:00 PM
Post by: Steve O on November 05, 2007, 03:34:00 PM
You still have 4 days of hunting to go to pass me! I know all those 21 days you "called" hunting, but were really just for scouting and getting in tip top sheep shape ;)
Now all you will have to do listen for the banging horns, sneak in and you are done :thumbsup:
Good luck and enjoy.
Steve O
Post by: Terry Green on November 05, 2007, 05:13:00 PM
Post by: AZStickman on November 05, 2007, 05:23:00 PM
Post by: swp on November 05, 2007, 08:08:00 PM
Post by: cjones on November 06, 2007, 02:20:00 AM
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on November 06, 2007, 03:33:00 AM
Post by: bohuntr on November 06, 2007, 11:55:00 AM
Post by: Hoodoo Arrow on November 13, 2007, 11:07:00 AM
Post by: beachbowhunter on November 13, 2007, 01:00:00 PM
N
Post by: V I Archer on November 13, 2007, 02:08:00 PM
Post by: IB on November 16, 2007, 07:38:00 PM
Post by: Roughcountry on November 17, 2007, 12:23:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on November 17, 2007, 08:24:00 AM
Post by: Walt Francis on November 17, 2007, 11:55:00 AM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 17, 2007, 01:53:00 PM
Here's a teaser with more to come... promise.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011380.jpg)
Post by: sticshooter on November 17, 2007, 01:55:00 PM
Shell (on hubby's login)
Post by: PrarrieDog on November 17, 2007, 02:23:00 PM
Prarrie Dog
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 17, 2007, 05:24:00 PM
Once again I gotta start with a big THANK YOU to Leo, Silas Ivory, and Gary Rupe for all their help in my sheep hunting adventures!
We’ll start on Sunday the 11th I got away just after lunch for the 3 ½ hour drive back to the Pryor Mountains. After running into Gary on the way out last trip I had a whole new perspective this trip. I could look at the previous three weeks as experience and learning the Mountains. I was sure things were going to be different this week, boy was that an understatement. Upon entering the Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area sheep started showing up everywhere. In the twenty mile drive to the camp ground I saw five legal rams and a bunch of ewes. One ram was a dandy and sure required more scrutiny the next morning.
He was one of this little bunch (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011210.jpg)
Monday morning after finding and glassing the group again we had a little conference and decided the biggest was a shooter. I headed up the mountain thru the juniper brush and rocks with the wind trying to blow my hat off. I finally was able to get ahead and slip in below the ram as he fed by at twenty yards almost straight above me. It was so steep that I was actually shooting at the bottom of his chest cavity. A black spot made an excellent aiming point and the stone tipped shaft was on it’s way. Unfortunately the 30mph wind gust picked that moment, (at least that’s what I’d like to blame ;) ) to hammer my shaft and it impacted on the rocks just under the rams chest cavity. As the ram bolted up the mountain I climbed up to collect my shaft and disintegrated stone point. I tried following hoping for another chance but the rams never slowed their gradual climb. Two hours later we watched them head over the ridge a mile away and a couple thousand feet above us. You have to marvel at a critter that can go like that.
Post by: vermonster13 on November 17, 2007, 05:27:00 PM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 17, 2007, 05:29:00 PM
Silas looking over some big windy country.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011240.jpg)
Even with the nasty weather blowing thru the Good Lord blessed us with some incredible sunrises and sunsets.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011225.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011268.jpg)
Post by: Huntrdfk on November 17, 2007, 05:34:00 PM
David
Post by: drewsbow on November 17, 2007, 05:53:00 PM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 17, 2007, 06:42:00 PM
Here he is before dropping into the canyon (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011216.jpg)
Amazingly enough things worked out perfectly, I was ready as the ram was slowly browsing along passing at 15 yards. As I watched him come I’d figured out this was the same ram I’d missed Monday morning and prepared to right that wrong if the opportunity presented itself. Don’t ask why but when the ram stopped in an opening right in front of me something just didn’t feel right and I lowered my bow to watch him walk away….
The rest of Wednesday and Thursday proved uneventful and it seemed that the rams were only making appearances every other day… Anybody see a pattern forming here.
Post by: hormoan on November 17, 2007, 08:03:00 PM
Brent
Post by: Roughcountry on November 17, 2007, 08:41:00 PM
Post by: tippit on November 17, 2007, 09:39:00 PM
I sure wouldn't want you trailing me...Doc
Post by: slayer1 on November 17, 2007, 09:52:00 PM
Post by: IB on November 17, 2007, 10:00:00 PM
Doc. N Robin ya ready for some FINE EATS :goldtooth: I'll Drive
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 17, 2007, 11:59:00 PM
Friday dawned warm and still, after coffee we headed out to check out an area Gary had seen rams the night before. It wasn’t long till we spotted a large group of sheep climbing the cliffs to our level after watering in the Lake. We were able to intercept them and get a good look.
A poor picture cause it was still fairly dark AM and they were moving…
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011273.jpg)
Although a couple of the rams were decent I didn’t seen any shooters so we just watched them for a while. It was clear the rut was heating up as the rams chased ewes and had several mock fights. It was going to be cool when the real head butting got into gear.
Post by: Danny Rowan on November 18, 2007, 05:37:00 AM
Danny
Post by: Roughcountry on November 18, 2007, 08:50:00 AM
Doug, after 26 days hunting , you gotta be pretty dang fit. Tougher than twisted cougar sh--
poo :D
I'm with Tippet, wouldn't want you on my backtrail :readit:
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 18, 2007, 10:46:00 AM
The band is at the right extreme of this picture.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011295.jpg)
As we hiked in sure enough we found them out grazing and napping on the 60º slope. As we glassed from ¾ of a mile away we could tell there were at least a couple of rams in the band. We moved over the ridge out of site and closed the distance till we could tell one of the rams was pretty decent. Silas stayed back while I approached the herd and maneuvered close. I recognized the biggest ram as the same one I’d missed on Monday then passed on Wednesday. I started taking pictures and never intended to shoot till I looked down at my feet and there lay part of a small red stone arrowhead.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011339.jpg)
Well when you’ve been immersed in archery as long as I have you have to take this as a sign you just can’t pass up… I had one Marty Horn stone point tipped arrow left in my quiver and out it came. Just then the ram hit an opening at 15 yards and before I practically knew it the arrow was away. The ram tore off with the rest of the band over the ridge into the next draw. Silas and I were able to see him as his rear end started wobbling and he went down under a large Juniper. We were elated but then he rose and went after the rest of the band as they moved off headed for Wyoming.
I sure didn’t want him to go across into Wyoming so I made a circle and headed him off as he slowly fell behind the rest of the band. This was a relief except he spooked and headed for the cliffs above the Lake again. Amazingly he made the quarter mile to the top of the cliffs and I watched in horror as he went over the edge.
Post by: steadman on November 18, 2007, 10:58:00 AM
Post by: swp on November 18, 2007, 11:08:00 AM
Post by: Shaun on November 18, 2007, 11:10:00 AM
Post by: IB on November 18, 2007, 11:47:00 AM
Post by: Puma Tom on November 18, 2007, 01:51:00 PM
Good luck with the recovery of your hard earned ram, might get a bit hairy.
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 18, 2007, 05:00:00 PM
To say I was elated is a huge understatement. After all the highs and lows in the past two months you just can’t imagine what I was feeling finally running my hands thru the hair and over the horns of this ram….
The arrow had entered between the 1st and 2nd ribs, 8” up and angled forward to exit between the 6th and 7th ribs so I’m certain the rifle shot was un-necessary. I know some folks will be pretty disappointed with me ending this story with a gunshot but like I said at the time I wasn’t taking any chances and was tickled to death being able to retrieve this beautiful ram.
Here is a look at his final resting place.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011344.jpg)
He’s no monster but like I said I’m tickled with him and he’ll sure have a place of honor on my wall.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/gotahunt/R0011364-1.jpg)
Thanks for going along on my hunt and I sure hope you enjoyed hearing about it as much as I enjoyed reliving it here.
Post by: Kooter on November 18, 2007, 05:37:00 PM
Post by: Guru on November 18, 2007, 06:06:00 PM
Post by: yellow bow on November 18, 2007, 06:29:00 PM
Post by: Bert Frelink on November 18, 2007, 06:46:00 PM
Nice ram, you did the right thing, people that would critize you for doing what you did either have not hunted with the bow very long and or have never been in the situation where you have to make a decision in a hurry.
Thanks for taking us along.
Regards, Bert.
Post by: Shaun on November 18, 2007, 08:23:00 PM
Post by: the Ferret on November 18, 2007, 08:27:00 PM
What a journey, eh?
Congrats sir :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Post by: Huntrdfk on November 18, 2007, 08:38:00 PM
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us......
David
Post by: Kingwouldbe on November 18, 2007, 08:43:00 PM
I also found an ancient arrow head on a stock, then killed a buck, it makes it a little spiritual to think right here, maybe thousands of years ago, there was a bow hunter seeking a kill with his bow.
Nice ram the hard way :thumbsup:
Post by: 4runr on November 18, 2007, 09:29:00 PM
That Sheep horn handled knife I have will be with me on all my hunts, and every time I belt it on I'll think of this thread.
Post by: Roughcountry on November 18, 2007, 09:37:00 PM
Thanks for letting us live your hunt with you, and with out all the bad weather and humping the cliffs like you had to :D
Thats a super ram and even though I'm probably older than you, I wanna be Doug Campbell when I grow up. :cool:
I'll be looking forward to seeing that ram on the wall when I get the pleasure of a visit. Very cool hunt bud, congrats again :thumbsup: Robin
Post by: Whip on November 18, 2007, 09:53:00 PM
And thanks for bringing us all along - we been floowing every step of the way.
Post by: DW on November 18, 2007, 10:15:00 PM
Post by: cjones on November 19, 2007, 12:01:00 AM
Post by: Danny Rowan on November 19, 2007, 12:42:00 AM
Danny
Post by: sticshooter on November 19, 2007, 06:54:00 AM
My dream hunt would be for one of those sheep but it 's just about as satisfiying being along with another like yourself especially during this glory time :)
He is beautiful! :campfire:
Shell (on hubby's login) now backl to work for me.
Post by: MWhitehair on November 19, 2007, 07:23:00 AM
Post by: Jeremy on November 19, 2007, 07:27:00 AM
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
Post by: Duckbutt on November 19, 2007, 08:03:00 AM
So happy to see a successful conclusion to your much looked forward to sheep. I don't see how it could have been any better. You are the man!
:thumbsup:
Post by: RayMO on November 19, 2007, 08:09:00 AM
RayMO
Post by: bohuntr on November 19, 2007, 09:49:00 AM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 19, 2007, 09:58:00 AM
In case you couldn't tell from the pics I was carrying my Black Widow Longbow, 62#@27", used a hexpine shaft and knapped head that Marty Horn sent me a few years ago and said to kill something with. Unfortunately the head is still laying out there on the desert somewhere. With all that was going on and the warm temps there just wasn't time to look for it, maybe next trip.
The worst part is now I have to wait 7 years before I can even apply for a sheep permit in MT then there will be a few thousand folks with more prefference points than me....
OK gotta start sending for those NR apps... If you don't want to get hooked by this sickness stay away from sheep hunting ;)
Thanks again for all the kind comments, Doug
Post by: Doc Nock on November 19, 2007, 11:55:00 AM
Congratulations, bro... what a wonderful experience to have lived...real time for you and vicariously for us!
Post by: beachbowhunter on November 19, 2007, 12:07:00 PM
Congrats on a fantastic hunt.
Post by: Hoodoo Arrow on November 19, 2007, 01:30:00 PM
This hunt had so much more than stories or pictures will ever be able to describe. Silas, the young feller mentioned in several posts is a young ranch kid. He intends to be a professional hunting guide and wants to go to guide school next fall. This hunt was a wonderful experience for him. It was the first time he ever really hunted with someone, in a situation where he didn't have the tag and weapon. It was also his introduction to traditional archery. This was a great opportunity for him and I think he did a great job. I think he is going to be a heck of an asset for some lucky outfitter some day. As a whole, many of us learned a bunch more about this particular sheep herd and their habits.
Dougs pictures do not do justice to the kill area. The cliff that the ram ended on is much steeper and more dangerous than it appears in the picture. Bad enough that I was making plans to get a search and rescue trained repel guy in there. It is literally 400 ft. straight down to a rocky escarpment and water. His actions kept a difficult situation from turning very, very bad, and I am sure that was a very hard call to make. I'm real glad he made it turn out the way he did.
Thanks bud. This has been fun.
Leo
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on November 19, 2007, 04:00:00 PM
This has been alot of fun following along and the pictures have been great.Thank you for taking the time and posting such a great hunt that most of us can only dream about.
Tracy :archer:
Post by: adirondack46r on November 19, 2007, 05:00:00 PM
Post by: Talondale on November 19, 2007, 05:02:00 PM
Post by: LEOPARD on November 19, 2007, 05:20:00 PM
Nigel
Post by: Steve O on November 19, 2007, 09:24:00 PM
That was very well done.
Anybody that would criticize you for that rifle shot has not spent much time sheep hunting, just a lot of time behind the keyboard ;)
I'm thinking there haven't been many other Bighorn sheep killed by a non-Indian with a stone point. What memories you have!
If you need any info on the other states, you know how to get a hold of me.
Hope to someday be in your shoes :thumbsup:
Post by: Widowbender on November 19, 2007, 09:56:00 PM
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
David
Post by: Bowspirit on November 19, 2007, 09:59:00 PM
:bigsmyl:
Post by: Arrowslinger on November 19, 2007, 10:08:00 PM
:notworthy: :clapper:
Post by: Swanny in MD on November 19, 2007, 11:15:00 PM
Post by: hunt it on November 20, 2007, 07:21:00 AM
Better sign up for the Boston Marathon in your spare time. Your probably as fit as you'll ever be after that two month exercise.
Congrats again and well done. A place of honour on the wall and many many fine years of looking up at the big guy and a lifetime of memories and then some. Thanks for taking us along on your hunt.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on November 20, 2007, 07:36:00 AM
Post by: tippit on November 20, 2007, 07:36:00 AM
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
Incredible perseverance, You are one bulldog! Congrats...DocVance, If you go get those ribs, I'll hop on a plane for dinner :D
Post by: hormoan on November 20, 2007, 08:15:00 AM
Brent
Post by: Jack Shanks on November 20, 2007, 09:15:00 AM
Very few people have the determination and stamina that you hold. My hat is off to you and anyone that can endure what you went through to take your ram. Probably less would have done the right thing, as you did and ended the animals life as quickly as possible and insured it's recovery.
Thank you for sharing.
Post by: hunt it on November 20, 2007, 10:00:00 AM
After all that hard work I bet Doug would shiver in his boots at the thought of turning that trophy into knife handles. Maybe a hunk of stabalized bone from the beast but not the horns.
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 20, 2007, 10:33:00 AM
Ken, believe me I asked myself that same question several times but I've heard/seen of many times a critter keeps going after what seemed a perfect lethal hit. Now not claiming a prefect hit here, this'n could have certainly been a bit further forward. Didn't have time for a full nicropsy but the paunch, liver and back of one lung were perferrated. Just for future refference... it's apparent thier vitals lie further forward than most of us are used to.
I learned a whole new respect for these sheep after watching them manuever over places you can't even imagine. I peeked over a ledge one time a busted a young, (probably two yr old) ram out of his bed from like 5'. He bolted out of there down a nearly vertical boulder strewn slide for probably two hundred yards so quickly I just stood dumbfounded. I expected him to limp away on broken bones but it never fazed him in the least. Very wiry, tough critters, with obviously a very stong will to survive.
Thanks again everybody, it was indeed an incredible experience!!
Post by: Bjorn on November 20, 2007, 10:37:00 AM
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Post by: Jeff Holchin on November 20, 2007, 01:36:00 PM
I liked how you developed a history with this one particular ram. If that first shot had connected, would you have appreciated him as much as when you finally placed your hands on him? I wonder what it was, that compelled you to pass up that shot when you had later manuvered ahead of him, and then to find that old arrowhead at your feet and be inspired to send your own stone-tipped arrow into his chest?
Post by: AkDan on November 21, 2007, 01:56:00 AM
Congrats Doug!!! I've been wondering how it had been going. Awesome story man!!!
Post by: Terry Green on November 22, 2007, 09:50:00 AM
You all take care....call ya in a bit.
Post by: kojac on November 22, 2007, 10:00:00 AM
Post by: Kevin Bahr on November 22, 2007, 12:25:00 PM
Post by: Pinecone on November 22, 2007, 07:12:00 PM
Claudia
Post by: Randy Morin on December 16, 2007, 03:03:00 PM
Sorry I missed this but i've been without computer for a while.