Tyewires Sheep hunt 2011
Tyewire
11/5/11 10:37pm
Well, I can't believe it is over. Over a hundred miles rowed in 13 days and countless miles on our feet! All the prep and time that goes into a trip like this is amazing in its self.
With some good advise from past hunters (Killerbee), we decided to prefloat the river the week before the season. This ended up being the best idea of the trip.
We put in up river far enough not to miss any sheep country at all. Our findings were surprising :-k . Not very many sheep in the so called "Prime areas"
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3272.jpg " alt="" />
Trying to keep a positive attitude, even though every time I even glanced at the other side of the river a ram stood looking at me as if to say " You got the wrong tag sucker" #-o
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3340.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3331.jpg " alt="" />
Finally, down river a not far from the end we started seeing sheep on my side of the river on a regular basis. We finally spotted a ram that I just had to have. He was old and heavy and had lots of character.
This is him.
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3413.jpg " alt="" />
Dan, and my Brother
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030133.jpg " alt="" />
My Dad and Son
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030125.jpg " alt="" />
So with expectations high we rowed out and got a motel in Biggs Junction and meet the rest of the hunting crew. My wife, 10yr. old son, and good friend Dan.
My wife and I
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030155.jpg " alt="" />
So with scouting report in hand we jumped back into the river two days before the season started. The plan was to row as far as we could and camp while looking from the river and hiking in the evenings to confirm our scouting from the week before. With the same results, no sheep up river. So we pressed on down the river.
My boys first steel head.
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030103.jpg " alt="" />
Opening day ended with no sheep spotted on our side. Then on day two of the hunt we started seeing sheep again right were we had in the prefloat. But still I did not see the ram I wanted. So we pressed on down the river with hopes of getting on the old ram I saw from the week before.
Hoot Owl Rock
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3359.jpg " alt="" />
The gamble of course is the sheep I wanted was at the end of the float. So if we did not find him I would be floating the river for a third time with just two of us.
On the third morning I found myself checking out some sheep that my Dad and wife had spotted the night before. Still, not the one I wanted. While thoughts of a third float in my head. Wondering how it would all work out, my dad spots a group of sheep down river. We put the scope on them and there was my old buddy :))
So Dad and I grabbed a raft and headed down river after him. After 9 hours of cat and mouse I had my ram right where I wanted him.
This is him at 150 yard just before the shot.
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3479.jpg " alt="" />
After the hugs and tears from my dad we made our way down to my ram. He is 10 1/2 or 11 1/2 years old the biologist told me. He had little to no fat on him at all. He has scares all over his face and probably would not make it another winter. The true markings of a old majestic ram. I could not be happier with him. He tapes out at 161 and 2/8. Honestly, I could care less.... To share this with the man who taught me to hunt was the best moment in my hunting life. :not-worthy And to have my son and wife there as well. It is hard to put into words.
I am truly blessed...
Oh, have you ever rafted the John Day river at night? I highly recommend it! :thumb
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3482.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3491.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3495.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3499.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030116.jpg " alt="" />
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/P1030113.jpg " alt="" />
This is us getting loaded to float down to our new camp a half mile in the dark!
http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/xx201/jbshipley/DSCF3519.jpg " alt="" />
With some good advise from past hunters (Killerbee), we decided to prefloat the river the week before the season. This ended up being the best idea of the trip.
We put in up river far enough not to miss any sheep country at all. Our findings were surprising :-k . Not very many sheep in the so called "Prime areas"
Trying to keep a positive attitude, even though every time I even glanced at the other side of the river a ram stood looking at me as if to say " You got the wrong tag sucker" #-o
Finally, down river a not far from the end we started seeing sheep on my side of the river on a regular basis. We finally spotted a ram that I just had to have. He was old and heavy and had lots of character.
This is him.
Dan, and my Brother
My Dad and Son
So with expectations high we rowed out and got a motel in Biggs Junction and meet the rest of the hunting crew. My wife, 10yr. old son, and good friend Dan.
My wife and I
So with scouting report in hand we jumped back into the river two days before the season started. The plan was to row as far as we could and camp while looking from the river and hiking in the evenings to confirm our scouting from the week before. With the same results, no sheep up river. So we pressed on down the river.
My boys first steel head.
Opening day ended with no sheep spotted on our side. Then on day two of the hunt we started seeing sheep again right were we had in the prefloat. But still I did not see the ram I wanted. So we pressed on down the river with hopes of getting on the old ram I saw from the week before.
Hoot Owl Rock
The gamble of course is the sheep I wanted was at the end of the float. So if we did not find him I would be floating the river for a third time with just two of us.
On the third morning I found myself checking out some sheep that my Dad and wife had spotted the night before. Still, not the one I wanted. While thoughts of a third float in my head. Wondering how it would all work out, my dad spots a group of sheep down river. We put the scope on them and there was my old buddy :))
So Dad and I grabbed a raft and headed down river after him. After 9 hours of cat and mouse I had my ram right where I wanted him.
This is him at 150 yard just before the shot.
After the hugs and tears from my dad we made our way down to my ram. He is 10 1/2 or 11 1/2 years old the biologist told me. He had little to no fat on him at all. He has scares all over his face and probably would not make it another winter. The true markings of a old majestic ram. I could not be happier with him. He tapes out at 161 and 2/8. Honestly, I could care less.... To share this with the man who taught me to hunt was the best moment in my hunting life. :not-worthy And to have my son and wife there as well. It is hard to put into words.
I am truly blessed...
Oh, have you ever rafted the John Day river at night? I highly recommend it! :thumb
This is us getting loaded to float down to our new camp a half mile in the dark!
44,693
Awesome Ram and story. What an experience with your family along too. Congrats and thank you for taking the time to share!!!
now all you have to worry about is figuring out a way to do it again someday:) 10sign: 10sign:
if i was to bet, i'd say when the sheep hunts are all over, your ram will probably be one of the oldest, if not THE oldest ram killed. that it'self is pretty awsome!
congrats again, and thanks for sharing- this post just brings back great memories of are hunt last year!
the other east side guy , as of saturday, still hasnt killed a sheep, he was at hoot owl and still looking.
I think that is what the other tag holder is finding out right now. I am sure glad I didn't listen to the people who told me a prefloat was a waste of time, due to the fact they move around so much. My findings where that there are traveling rams looking for ewes but they were all 140 to 150 class sheep. The bigger ones where with the ewes and in the same areas a week later. So yes, I agree the rut I believe was the main factor.
The ram was down river from where we camped. So when we took off to make a stock our boat was a mile down river. So the option was to leave the sheep and hike back to the camp up river or have the rest of the crew float past us and find a new camp. That way when we got the sheep out we could float down to the new camp. :thumb I killed him at 3:30 so it was dark buy the time we got him to the river.
Is there a such thing as "post sheep hunting syndrome" ? I think I have it lol
Maybe there is a 10 step program or something..
Thanks for taking us along on the adventure.
Thanks for taking us along on the adventure.