Montana Bighorn sheep

[actionjackson22]

Hey guys my dream is to hunt bighorn sheep with a recurve out west someday. My questions are how is the bighorn ewe hunting in Montana? Seems like it has pretty good drawing odds for sheep. Is there any other state you guys would try to start applying in?I'm pretty young so I have years to wait I just don't really want to lol

[ESP]

Colorado ewe.

[Steve O]

I took these pictures a few years ago in one of the unlimited areas. Just purchase a tag and chase away...

[Jim Wright]

I believe there are still unlimited tag areas for legal rams in the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness north and east of Yellowstone Park. I spent quite a bit of time scouting and hunting there during the 2 years I lived in the state.

[Etter]

Very interested in this thread

[fireball31]

If your going to try the unlimited areas make sure you have the time to do it right. There is a reason that they don't fill their sheep quota most years even though the tags are unlimited. You will want to get in there several times before the season opens.

[actionjackson22]

Yeah I had always heard the unlimited hunts were tough with a gun let alone a bow. Scouting would be tough with me living in Ohio not saying impossible just tough. Trophy doesn't matter to me just a nice hunt.

[ESP]

I think part of the crazy mountains in Montana are still unlimited tags.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

You should start putting in for CO this year; no chance of drawing a tag until after three years, but you can build pref points every year and still draw a ewe tag as a second choice.  I did that twice.  Drawing a ram tag however, could take many years.  Pretty expensive ewe tag also at around $2000, but it is still sheep hunting and you will be scouting your ram unit at the same time.  Each season is about 10-14 days long.

MT ewe tag WAS a much better deal at only $750 and not too hard to draw, until last year.  Now is about double that but the season is much longer (two months I think and there is an archery only season at beginning) and if you hunt it later, like in early October, you get the bonus of seeing some awesome Rams in the rut.  I did that once and could have easily killed a ram as they were butting heads and kicking each other in the jewels, but the ewes stayed safely out of my effective range.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

In theory a NR can draw a ewe tag in MT as second choice, with first choice being a ram tag, but in reality you must put that as your first choice if you want to draw the ewe tag.  It is easier for a NR to draw the ewe tags since we have almost no chance of drawing a ram tag; residents rarely put in for ewe as first choice because they want to draw a ram tag and have a realistic chance.  MT has a bonus point system, compared to preference point system in CO.

[monterey]

Most years in Colorado there are few if any ewe tags left for second choice.  I've been applying for a Colorado ram tag as a resident for 14 years.  Every year I try to anticipate which unit might have a ewe tag left after the draw.  Some years I guess it right but it still might be a 10% or less chance of drawing it.  Points don't mean a thing for second choice.

From what I see above, buying one of those over the counter tags in MT and planning to spend as much time as possible there would be the way to go.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

The only other state I think you have a (small but possible) chance at drawing a sheep tag (ram) in your lifetime is ID, but you have to really look at the stats to figure out which unit to apply for, and those hunts are very tough.  I used to apply in states like AZ, UT, WA and OR too but have given up; odds are just too low for a NR.  WY odds are also too low unless you have a bunch of pref points; waste of $ to start now.  However, several states do have super raffles of sheep tags and those odds are often better than the regular drawing odds; several sheep hunting organizations do the same. Such Raffle tickets are usually very expensive though.

[Mark Baker]

Just as an FYI, our unlimited areas north of Yellowstone have experienced pneumonia and most of the herd eliminated.  That will make any hunting there - if it is still even open - pretty tough...and it was tough before.   In fact a lot of areas in the state are recovering from disease outbreaks recently, so herds are not where they were a decade ago.   Still some good hunting to be had here.  

Oh, and there are no sheep in the Crazy Mountains, just to clarify.   Hasn't been and may never have been sheep there.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I'll chime in here as well. I grew up in and around the unlimited area in Montana. The quota, before they close it for the year, is 1-2 sheep per district. There are a number of years that isn't met. I know a lot of Montanans who say they tried the hunt. Once.

The terrain is ridiculous. The numbers are low. Many dedicated sheep hunters who try it will walk away saying it was possibly the hardest hunt they ever went on. Usually with a rifle, to boot. It also doesn't help that you fork over 1200 bucks up front if you are not a resident.    

All of which to say, go get em! But maybe fly out in the summer and hike around for a few days before you decide to buy a tag the next year.          

But be prepared to cover 100 miles or more at high altitude, with daily gained/lost altitude in the 2-4k ft range, before you even find a sheep. I haven't worked up the courage to attempt it yet...    

[actionjackson22]

I have heard so much bad about the unlimited areas that I think I'd rather just apply for a week tag somewhere