whitetailtrax Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Sorry for the long post - it was even longer but chopped it down! At around 11:00 am I caught a brief clearing of the fog and quickly drove back down the road to glass for the animals I spotted earlier. As luck would have it, I spotted two rams bedded down near a ridge line that I had hiked this summer. Although I couldn't tell the size of these rams (too far and too foggy), I decided to take a hike up there to see for myself. Began hiking at around 12:30 and by about 2:30 was standing on the other side of the ridge from where I thought the rams had been bedded. The hike was difficult in steep, rocky terrain, with a steady rain falling. Speaking of which I did plenty of falling myself on the hike up, once bashing the scope on my gun against a large rock.....not good! The gun I chose for this hike was my son's Remington Model 7 youth rifle in 7mm-08 - oh how I love that rifle! Much lighter than my model 700 bdl. Anyway, I am now ready to begin making my way over the ridge in the direction of these rams - of course the fog now has visibility down to around 50 yards so I knew once I found them, I would literally be right on top of them. As I eased over the ridge and down the other side, it was like a scene out of a fairy tale as this magnificent ram just materialized out of the fog. I dropped to the ground and began a slow sneak forward to try to get a better look - of course with the heavy fog and pouring rain, I was having a heck of a time keeping my scope and binos dry. For at least 15 minutes that ram stood motionless facing me. I could see enough to know that this was a good mature ram, but you have to see them from a profile view to really judge the horn. At some point I noticed his buddy just a few yards away and could see him much better and although he was mature, he was not quite what I was looking for. Finally the big boy turned and I instantly knew that he was the one. I waited another 5 minutes or so and got a look at his longer horn and that's when I really started shaking. I cleaned the scope one last time and put the cross hairs behind the shoulder at 40 yards and touched it off. "What on earth just happened" I believe are the words that came out of my mouth. The ram did not appear to be hit and both rams took off downhill immediately out of my view. To boot, my ears were ringing like never before - I think the heavy fog and rain prevented the sound from dissipating and it rung me up big time. I collected my pack and various other items I had left along the sneak and headed over to where he had been standing....no blood nor hair....hmmm. Over the next 20 minutes I searched and searched for some sign that he was hit and finally - the smallest drop of blood nearly washed away already by the heavy rain. "Oh thank you Lord".....I didn't miss. considering the heavy hit the scope took on the way up the mountain, this was a disinct possiblity. It was another 20 minutes before I would find the second drop, but then the trail started to take shape. He started bleeding heavier and the ground was tore up from his hooves. As I followed the trail and hung ribbon, I came to a point where I think he died, but didn't find him for about another 100 yards down this incredibly steep hill. Talk about relief!!!! As I approached this magnificent animal, this was one instance where there was zero ground shrinkage! He was everything I had hoped for in a ram and more! The first thing I did, was try to move him from the shrub that had stopped his fall.....bad idea! I immediately lost my grip on him and down he went about another 30 yards before stopping on another shrub. Lesson learned - got out the rope and tied him to the shrub. At this piont I had little daylight remaining and needed to get off that mountain safely so I tagged and gutted him and then wrapped his head and cape with a couple sweatshirts to keep the scavenagers off of him. The hike out was easier than expected (thank you Lord) but the nights sleep was restless as you can imagine. Hiked in the next morning at day break with my bro-in-law from Missoula to haul him out. On the way up the mountain we stumbled across a mature ram not 100 yards from where mine was laying - I believe it was his buddy from the afternoon before, but not sure. This ram let us walk within 20 yards of him before he wandered off. Fortuantely, nothing had touched my ram and we began the process of taking pictures, skinning, etc. About 6 hours later we were loaded up and ready to go. Spent another hour or so watching the herd by the road and took some fantastic pictures of some great rams in battle, fun, fun, fun!!! The ram has 42 and 39 1/2 inch horns, with 15 1/2 inch bases (roughly). The taxidermist has him scored at 186 and change, which should be enough after the drying period to meet the 180 inch minimum for entry into B&C club. The cape has several battle scars on the nose and he was missing several teeth - must have been a fighter! He is between 8 and 10 years old. Anyway, here are a couple pictures - they turned out great I thought considering how foggy it was the morning we took the pics. I'm on cloud 9! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Congrats, Great animal, story and pics.:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 ...This was truly an awesome hunt, and a trophy ram, Mark.... -You didn't need to chop down your post...-I would have savored every bit of it...... -I can't wait to log back on here when I am not in such a hurry...I want to take some time to re-read this hunt... -in the meantime...-feel free to post more pictures from your hunt if you have them...-I, for one, will definitely consider it a treat when I get back! -Absolutely magnificent ram!- You have my respect.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 great post. and what a ram. congratulations to you on an excellent hunt capped with a ram of a lifetime. any ram over 40" is in the super class. great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzy916 Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Now there's a trophy ... CONGRATS one great trophy and hunt .. :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Great story and ram. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csualumni21000 Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 He is awesome, congrats:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetucker Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 nice ram!!!i would be astetic about a hunt like that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 Congratulations Mark, outstanding Trophy. Never apologize for post like yours, it is the only way some of us will ever get close to a trophy experience like you had. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 That is one awesome animal.Congratulations!! Way to go:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 Mark my friend I have been wait for this very post!!! WTG!! Great story, pics and amazing ram! I'm so happy for you!! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 ....I have been able to re-read and enjoy every detail you posted of this hunt....-absolutely beautiful, Mark! -I can only imagine how you felt, when you banged your scope, on the way up... -but you succeeded gloriously! -again....-awesome hunt....and Hammerforged is right...-never need to apologise in any way for a post like this...-you just harvested a trophy of a lifetime..... -I remember when you drew this tag, and couldn't wait, as well, to hear of your hunt... -Beautiful undertaking, and success..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake3113 Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Congrats...great looking ram... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 congrats man. when i saw the headline for your post i remembered you had a tag. Where abouts where you huntin? im not askin for specifics. just wonderin. I would love to shoot a ram someday. we ride through an area that holds alot of sheep with lots of big rams where we go elk hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted November 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thanks Cole. I was in District 210 in lower Rock Creek by Missoula. It is no secret where the sheep live over there and since I will likely never get the opportunity to hunt there again, I am happy to tell people exactly where I was if they ask. I just saw a ram that came out of your neck of the woods and he was very nice. Since you know that front range country so well, I would continue to put in up there if I were you. I know you've got some great rams up there! Speaking of the front range, I saw a mule deer rack that came out of there last week....OMG! The thing is a pig! Supposedly in the 204 range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinois59 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Wow, great ram and story. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Great story, Great pictures and a GREAT RAM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 i read it again, too. what a great ram and hunt. congratulations again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladybird Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted November 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Thanks everyone for your kind words - this was a terrific hunt - glad I was able to share the experience with everyone on the RT forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 great hunt... congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 Quite the hunt on a beautiful Ram...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 ATTA-BOY, great story. You don't need to worry about to long a post, I could have read for another 5 minutes. Great Ram. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.