Bighorn tag, which gun

[Infrequent Shooter]

Follow up to hunt:

Amazing what elevation does the point of impact. Going from 1300 foot elevation to 10,500, the 100 yards zero rose 2 inches on the 7 PRC. Exactly what the outfitter said would happen. Rather than adjust anything, I did a chart with the 2 inch high zero and went from there. Gave a copy to my guide.

I'm glad that I had practiced to 600 and verified the scope (VX5 in 3-15). Had never messed with dial up before and was glad I did. Ended up shooting at 12,500 on a rather steep downhill shot. Moved 3 times before I could find a place to shoot comfortably from. Shot ended up at an 430 adjusted yards based on TBR rangefinder. Dialed the MOA off the chart and prayed that we didn't have a wind issue as we had no idea what the wind was doing where the sheep were.

I had bought a Kestrel shortly before the hunt but ultimately did not use it as I hadn't used it enough to be comfortable with it. I will be using that rifle again. We have a couple elk hunts lined up for next year and plan on taking the 7 PRC and a 300 WM. I took a 6.5 Creedmoor as a backup on this hunt. I would prefer not to shoot the longer distances, but in some hunting scenarios, you don't have much choice. There was no way to get closer to the sheep.

Yes, I did get a very nice ram. Parks and Wildlife people were very pleased with a 37 inch ram with 15 1/2 inch bases coming out of the unit I hunted. Pictures don't do justice and nasty country. Camped at about 11,500 and got along with the elevation fairly well other than the air being too thin.

Congratulations, something to be proud of! What reticle on scope? Were you happy w scope choice?

 

[jwv2001]

My standard answer on questions like this is making an ethical shot. Time of flight on a shot like this makes a perfect shot, into a gut shot or worse. My advice is to be a hunter and make every effort to get closer. The closer, the better. Good Luck! I hope you take a nice ram at a 100 yds

 

[White Eagle]

7mm PRC would be my choice

 

[tstowater]

 

[tstowater]

Reticle is Impact 29. A little busy as far as I am concerned but would help with wind drift. The Wind Plex would work for that also. I have the same scope and reticle on a 300WM and the 6.5-300 Weatherby. The shot was hard downhill into a basin where the sheep were. Since we couldn't tell what the wind was doing where the sheep were, we couldn't make a correction which turned out to be the right call. I've never been a dial up person before this hunt but I'm glad I learned how and used it on this hunt as there was no way to get closer without being completely in the wide-open more than we already were.

This was my fourth sheep hunt and third sheep. Down to a Desert to finish my slam which would be nice but not a defining accomplishment for me. Awesome animals in indescribable country. I don't take very many pictures anymore as they don't do justice to the sheer ruggedness of the of country that you feel when you stand at the bottom and look up and wonder what you have gotten yourself into. This was my first hunt of any type over 10,000 foot elevation. Air is too thin up there for me.