My Utah Desert Bighorn Sheep hunt....tag filled

[DogBuster]

Lucky enough to draw my Desert Sheep tag this year...after 15 years of waiting..my dream hunt was going to happen...Unit was the South San Rafael...which is less than 40 minutes from where I live...being very familiar with the territory helped a lot...you can never be in good enough shape for a sheep hunt in Utah's high desert (7000') unless you're a young buck...with the help of some very knowledgeable sheep 'gurus' we located a good Ram...hiked to his last sighted location (uphill of course) and glassed...finally the Ram appeared in a small opening in the pinions & junipers...he was directly facing us at 190 yards...I cycled a round in my Tikka 6.5x55 & laid it across my backpack...took a deep breath...squeezed trigger and the Ram dropped at the shot...handload was 47.5/H4831 & a 140 grain Nosler AB...Lapua brass...scope was Vortex HS-LR 4-16....Having Lyman from 'Wild Stuff Taxidermy' along during the hunt was not only a pleasure but having the sheep properly caped for the full body mount will be a trophy of a lifetime.....Ram scored 142" & was 7 1/2 years old...

 

[ShootDots]

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT Ram! Good things come to those who have the patience for them!! I am very glad you got to go on a "Once in a Lifetime" hunt!! I know for me, when you "conjure up a load" and use it to take a well deserved animal, it gives you a "special feeling of satisfaction" when everything goes as planned! Great hunt and a great time! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[GNERGY]

WOW, Congratulations, great looking bighorn. It is going to take a long time till you quit smilin ;D after taking such a nice animal.
Tarey

 

[effendude]

Great story! Thanks for sharing. Your life size mount will be awesome. A couple friends have all their sheep mounted that way it it sure shows off the animal.
Scott

 

[Romulus]

Congratulations. The once in a lifetime hunts get a lot of people's nerves messed up. Glad it worked out so well for you. I'm looking forward to my annual mule deer hunt up in Regina, NM.

 

[FergusBailey]

Well done. Sounds like a fantastic hunt!

 

[5spd]

Worth the long wait & darn nice ram.

 

[WyleWD]

Congratulations!! And good shooting. Loved the story and the picture too. WD

 

[wyoming .260]

Congrates!!!!!!!! Waiting for these kinda tags just builds the anticipation of the hunt! A Tikka 6.5x55, fine gun !!!!!

 

[CaptainMal]

Reading your story was quite enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your triumph.

 

[DogBuster]

For those of you unfamiliar with Utah's high desert Sheep terrain...its steep...unforgiving & remote....average desert floor elevation is 6800'..moutain peak shown on distant skyline is just short of 8000'......you can never be in too good of physical condition....

 

[coues52]

Great Ram ! I hoping to draw soon in utah.. friends son had that same tag a few years ago,they said it was their toughest hunt they had & loved every minute of it..again great ram...Danny

 

[FeMan]

Congratulations on your very nice ram. I am envious. I can appreciate what you say about the hunt being made for a young buck, but the draw system almost ensures we are all getting old before we have any real chance of drawing a sheep tag!

 

[Stormbringer]

Very nice Ram. Any sheep would be my dream tag to fill. I guess I better start putting in the points. It took me 11 years to draw the West Desert Vernon Deer Hunt.

Mike.

 

[MrMajestic]

Beautiful Ram, story and country! Thanks for sharing.

 

[southtxhunter]

Awesome ram Congratz!!!

 

[Trapper243]

Nice mature ram, and that's about all you can ask for. Oh, that and a tag while you can still get up a hill .

 

[DogBuster]

Nice mature ram, and that's about all you can ask for. Oh, that and a tag while you can still get up a hill .

yea...no kiddin'

these Sheep live in some unreal country...

its an uphill hike both ways...

 

[LKEYES]

Congrats on an awesome sheep, still waiting here for a tag as well