Hunting Big Horn Sheep

    It was a warm autumn day and the sun beat down from a breakaway blue sky in Kootenai Country Montana. The hot-gray rock formations were difficult to negotiate, and hard on the feet and hands. The spiraling stone staircase would lead the sheep hunters to their observation point. In the dust at their feet, the 3-inch long teardrop shaped tracks with the accented curved tips were a good sign. In the distance, an occasional crashing of horns kept the young couple moving upward...

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    Bighorn hunting in northwest Montana offers its own special challenges. The rocky terrain and steep slopes can be treacherous. It pays to do your homework and pour over the topographical maps. Remember that the rise, or elevational difference, over the run, or horizontal distance gives you the percent slope. This can be helpful in planning your routes. Really good footwear can make the distinction between a torturous day or just a day of hiking. This is where that extra couple of hundred bucks you paid for boots can prove worth it, and make sure to break in those boots before your hunt! Sight in your bow or rifle and keep at it until you feel confident. Good glass is a must! Optics these days are amazing, and binocular holding harnesses are quality made and designed so that you will have at least one hand free. Spotting scopes are lightweight and tripods are made heavy duty for stability.
    Once you get set up at your observation point, keep these tips in mind. The most often seen class of bighorn sheep are the ewes. These females reach adult proportions at 4-5 years, weighing in at 130-160 pounds. They have a narrow horn base and less divergent horns than young rams. Young rams 1-2 years old have about the same body size as adult females, but have a slightly wider horn base and extend more to draw apart than the ewes. On adult rams, one should be able to make a straight line extending from the front base of the horn through any portion of the eye opening intercept any portion of the horn. Mature rams also have a hump on the shoulders when viewed broadside. The lower curve of the horn of a large ram drops below the line of the chin, and often is broomed. A big ram’s horns usually have large second and third quarter circumference also.
    Arriving at the precipitous point of rock, the young man and woman changed their sweat soaked outer layers to dry ones and set up to begin glassing. They took in the vastness of Kootenai Country Montana without saying a word. They both knew they were lucky to draw these sheep tags, and they had agreed they did not want just any ram. With patience and stealth, they began to glass for the noble ram.     (Author’s Note: Reference — MT. Fish, Wildlife & Parks Big Horn Sheep Guide Brochure. See fwp.mt.gov for seasons and regulations.)