Bighorns

[jaysea]

I've never applied for a BH tag, but I suppose that if I don't get started now, I'll never have a chance at baggin' a ram. After looking at the 2007 synopsis and the LONG odds of drawing a tag, I have no clue where to apply. Some of the hunting dates from 2007 (projected forward to this year) are better for me than others, but that still doesn't narrow the field enough for me to have a clue where to apply.

I know that tags are very few and far between, and I've heard of some of the units before (i.e., Poker Jim, etc.), but I still don't know where to hunt these fine creatures. What are your suggestions for tag applications? Odds are that I'll never impose on your chances to draw a tag, so your input won't hurt you in the least!

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

My buddy shot this in South Central, doesnt really matter where you put in, good sheep in all the units
Attachment 6532

[Chrome Hogs]

Try john day
[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/SAHLFELD%20FAMILY/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/Sheep/Sheep%20012.jpg[/IMG]

[BrianMaguire]

It does not matter, put in for any of the hunts that fit your schedule. You won't draw and if you do, you had better go so make sure its a time you can go. As for Quality, etc, it does not matter, really there are good sheep in all the areas.

[nobrownline]

Montana! you can buy one over the counter.

[sliverpicker]

Originally Posted by jaysea

I've never applied for a BH tag, but I suppose that if I don't get started now, I'll never have a chance at baggin' a ram. After looking at the 2007 synopsis and the LONG odds of drawing a tag, I have no clue where to apply. Some of the hunting dates from 2007 (projected forward to this year) are better for me than others, but that still doesn't narrow the field enough for me to have a clue where to apply.

I know that tags are very few and far between, and I've heard of some of the units before (i.e., Poker Jim, etc.), but I still don't know where to hunt these fine creatures. What are your suggestions for tag applications? Odds are that I'll never impose on your chances to draw a tag, so your input won't hurt you in the least!

EENIE, MEENIE, MINIE, MOE.....

More first timers draw the tags then the folks who have applied for decades! I've applied since 1973 (do I complain too much? ), so if you draw a sheep tag you'll be on my "people I hate" list!

Sheepless in Sandy

[StevenB]

I have been told by a hunting guide that the Snake River hunt has the easiest access to huntable herds of bighorns in Oregon.

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

My buddy shot this in South Central,...
Attachment 6532

South Central ! Ouch ! I think it would hurt a lot to get shot in the south central.

I know a sure fire way to get a 2008 Oregon Bighorn Ram tag. First thing to do is apply for one of the Ram Hunts in Oregon. If you draw a Ram tag you go in and buy the tag.

If you don't draw a 2008 Ram tag here is what you do to get one. Contact hunters who drew a 2008 Ram tag and offer to buy their tag after their Ram season is over.

The good news is that if you do aquire an expired 2008 Ram tag Sliverpicker probably won't put you on his people to hate list.
After reading my post I think a lot of ifishers are going to put me on their hate list...

[weekender]

The first thing you need to decide is if you want to hunt California or Rocky Mountain sheep.

As far as units go, it's hodge podge to say it doesnt matter. All the units probably have book animals (which I beleive is low 150's for a California), but some units definately have more quality than others.

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Originally Posted by jaysea

I've never applied for a BH tag, but I suppose that if I don't get started now, I'll never have a chance at baggin' a ram. After looking at the 2007 synopsis and the LONG odds of drawing a tag, I have no clue where to apply. Some of the hunting dates from 2007 (projected forward to this year) are better for me than others, but that still doesn't narrow the field enough for me to have a clue where to apply.

I know that tags are very few and far between, and I've heard of some of the units before (i.e., Poker Jim, etc.), but I still don't know where to hunt these fine creatures. What are your suggestions for tag applications? Odds are that I'll never impose on your chances to draw a tag, so your input won't hurt you in the least!

Apply in nevada as well, they have better odds than alot of other states.. CO and Idaho have decent odds for non resident hunters as well. Decent means like 1 in 50 but the more chances the better. (i believe in NV you can apply for all 3 species of sheep)

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Originally Posted by weekender

The first thing you need to decide is if you want to hunt California or Rocky Mountain sheep.

As far as units go, it's hodge podge to say it doesnt matter. All the units probably have book animals (which I beleive is low 150's for a California), but some units definately have more quality than others.

B&C for California Bighorn Sheep is 175" the one I posted scored 172 0/8

[Joe]

If you look at the past hunting stats on the ODFW page you will see that a few of the units are a bit more difficult. They all have mature rams but if you are not familiar with the area I would avoid the units that have lower success rates. There IS a reason for this! Overall average success is around 90% but East Beatys Butte for example is often only 66%. In addition the average size of rams killed their is smaller (I think this is due to the fact it's a more difficult hunt more so than the rams are that much smaller....).

I would research a little before putting in randomly myself. Look at several years too! You might draw and you really need to know what you are up against as to not waste a very special tag. This is not to say that any person can't do what it takes to kill a mature ram in any unit if they are willing to do what it takes but many are not REALLY willing it appears.....

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Originally Posted by Joe

If you look at the past hunting stats on the ODFW page you will see that a few of the units are a bit more difficult. They all have mature rams but if you are not familiar with the area I would avoid the units that have lower success rates. There IS a reason for this! Overall average success is around 90% but East Beatys Butte for example is often only 66%. In addition the average size of rams killed their is smaller (I think this is due to the fact it's a more difficult hunt more so than the rams are that much smaller....).

I would research a little before putting in randomly myself. Look at several years too! You might draw and you really need to know what you are up against as to not waste a very special tag. This is not to say that any person can't do what it takes to kill a mature ram in any unit if they are willing to do what it takes but many are not REALLY willing it appears.....

I have a hunting partner whos uncle (not sure) which both him and his wife drew tags a couple of years ago. They scouted in very hard and managed to kill a 170in sheep the first year. The second year they had a great ram scouted and his wife drew the second season. The first season tag holder killed a 4 or 5 yr old small ram and they managed to kill the same large ram they were scouting.

[northriver1]

Should I ever draw one of these once in a life time Oregon BH sheep tags I will spend some of my son's ill gotten gains at my death and hire a guide. By the way I have him picked out already just waiting for my number to be picked. For those that appy and are rewarded with a tag you are on my short list. Good hunting in 08 and be safe.

[beardbuster]

I hope to be your enemy this June

[marked trail]

I took my once in a lifetime ram at Hart Mtm in September, 1994.
I suggest a person study the history of their RE-introduction to the Orygun country, and where they have been replanted since, with emphasis on where they have thrived.

Anyway, I harvested mine about 1 1/2 miles from where the sheep from Williams Lake, BC where first RE-released.

The sheep story is the best wildlife mgt epic in modern OR times!!!!!!!!!!

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Originally Posted by beardbuster

I hope to be your enemy this June

No Joke :tongue: There are guys who have been putting in for 50+ years and my buddy drew after 4, some people draw first year, heck as long as long as I get one and still have time to remember the hunt after, Ill be fine!

In the meantime keep on

[cooky]

First year I put in for it.

[beardbuster]

Originally Posted by OR_Bo_Huntr

heck as long as long as I get one and still have time to remember the hunt after, Ill be fine!:

AMEN... I have two dreams, one of them I cant mention in public, but the other is drawing a bighorn tag.

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Originally Posted by beardbuster

AMEN... I have two dreams, one of them I cant mention in public, but the other is drawing a bighorn tag.

I think we all do
Continuing the bighorn thing, the meat on my freinds bighorn was just about the best thing I have had, its just as good as Pronghorn in my opinion!

Cooky, have you had that thing scored for the books?

[cooky]

It green scored 174 1/8 . I didn't enter it in the books. Just a hare shy of of B&C but I don't really care... awesome hunt with awesome friends.

Yes the meat was VERY good.

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Yeah, thats things a STUD, I was going to guess 175, just curious what Unit, PM if you want...... My buddies was the biggest out of South Central, followed by a 168.....there are a couple great sheep for next year in that unit, I just need to pull a dang tag lol

[RidgeRunner]

Sliverpicker, I hope you won't hate me. But I drew my Bighorn tag on my first try. I pulled the unit out of a hat due to knowing that we would draw an antelope tag that year. I had to pick a unit for bighorns that did not have the same hunt dates as our Antelope hunt. I call it LUCK. As for eating that sheep, it was the worst tasting meat I have ever eaten. The sheep my mother-in-law got the year before was just as bad.

[sliverpicker]

Originally Posted by RidgeRunner

Sliverpicker, I hope you won't hate me. But I drew my Bighorn tag on my first try. I pulled the unit out of a hat due to knowing that we would draw an antelope tag that year. I had to pick a unit for bighorns that did not have the same hunt dates as our Antelope hunt. I call it LUCK. As for eating that sheep, it was the worst tasting meat I have ever eaten. The sheep my mother-in-law got the year before was just as bad.

[Scoop]

A buddy of a buddy drew Owyhee a couple of years ago and took his dad who was in poor health. Only three days of hunting and his dad was doing pretty bad so he tagged a small half curl. Kudos to him for wanting to have that memory with his old man and respecting his health. We sometimes tease him for 'wasting' his one and only tag, but he just says,"How big is yours?". I've yet to draw. But when I do, no question, I'm hiring a pro.

[sliverpicker]

This is probably about as close as I'll ever get to shooting a ram in Oregon!

[Carhartt]

Well Sliverpicker, thats a darn good shot!

[Rank Amateur]

Darn head shooter!!!

[sliverpicker]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Darn head shooter!!!

Whats that old saying? Can't eat the "horns"!

[elkthumper]

holy cow! waht causes there horns to become like that? just from hanging out in all that steep rock and banging around?

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

They broom it off, otherwise they cannot see it to the left and right at a 90 degree angle
They rub them on rocks, and stuff

[Rank Amateur]

I've heard they broom harder where cougars are present, might be myth, but could make sense. Don't want any blind spots.

[srupp]

here is my BEST Californian bighorn sheep..167 5/8 shot here in BC Canada





Steven

[marked trail]

Read today's Oregonian. Metro section has an article by R. Cookle, who interviewed ODFW biologist Coggins. Biggest mortality factors for bighorns are lung disease and cougars. Makes me wonder .

My aged Californian Bighorn (8 years +) was broomed back to nearly the size of a "coke can". We have a predator problem. Also, Coggins says there should be 75,000 in Hell's Canyon. Comments?

[Ni!]

Originally Posted by marked trail

Read today's Oregonian. Metro section has an article by R. Cookle, who interviewed ODFW biologist Coggins. Biggest mortality factors for bighorns are lung disease and cougars. Makes me wonder .

My aged Californian Bighorn (8 years +) was broomed back to nearly the size of a "coke can". We have a predator problem. Also, Coggins says there should be 75,000 in Hell's Canyon. Comments?

From the article: "Coggins says Hells Canyon could provide habitat for 10,000 bighorns if die-offs can be prevented."

[marked trail]

Oops! Thaggart (from FNAWS) was the one quoted as " 2 MM once, 70,000 sheep now in the WEST". I am humbled and stand corrected! This article is amazing!

The point remains, however, this is a good read, and one should not miss it! Check out the ODFW photo of the ram swimmin' in the middle of the Snake River.

[Fishing With Larry]

Here is another Oregon Bighorn taken by a first time application. I know this area extremely well and if I can't be the shooter, I wanted to be the guide. With this in mind, I had all my "best" friends put in for the hunt with the idea that more of my friends would increase my odds of being part of the hunt. It worked.



My advice is to pick your friends well. You might want to save this experience for yourself but it is better shared and you might need the help.

Joe is right, you should study the areas to have the best chance on your own and be prepared to work hard. Taking a trophy ram on this "once in a lifetime" hunt is plain hard work. This ram took years of know how in this area, four dedicated hunt buddies, two ripped up rafts (extremely low water year), and lots of study of the animal. It was taken after glassing 54 other rams during a week long scouting trip and then going back, doing it all over again to find him. Two weeks, lots of worn out gear, and some big smiles.





It is worth the application fee for the rest of my life...........Oh, my kids and wife will be putting in too.

The predators have been getting a bunch of these guys in recent years.

[beardbuster]

WOW!! That is one heck of a ram Eric.

If I ever draw a tag I know I have a handful of guys that are more than willing to help out as well, and I would do the same for them. If it meant me sacrificing my hunting time to help them bag a bighorn, I'd do it no problem. Just having the experience of the hunt, may be as close as I get in a lifetime.

[Fishing With Larry]

Most of the guys gave up their elk hunts to help out.

Several informed, well placed eyes, who have all studied field judging horns, comparing notes back at camp every night make a unit smaller than you could know. Like I might have said, I've had to rethink my "best" friends list in recent years since I wouldn't do it for just anyone.

[Etonfish]

I'm another guy on the short list. Shot this one in the Hurricane Divide unit in 2005. B&C was 189 5/8. Yes Sliverpicker, it was my first time applying.

Hurricane divide has some great sheep, but you need to be in really good shape. I would also recommend hiring a guide to get you in and out.