Hey guys, I found this hard copy in my parents basement. I guess it's my first ever trip report at 14 years old.
Monday, April 25, 2022
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
2020 Bighorn Ewe Hunt
If you are interested in the area we hunt, please contact me and maybe we can trade info on hunting areas. I am happy to share info as it might help make your hunt successful.
This year's hunt season began with pulling three tags between Katherine and myself. We were really excited until we noticed that they were all for the same time in October. There was no way we could take on all that hunting, much less eat all that meat. We each drew a mule deer and I drew a ewe bighorn sheep. We made the decision to give back the mule deer tags and focus on the ewe. In the years past, we have hunted 4+ hours away from Vegas, but now we were looking at traveling only an hour from town. Since the area is so close to town, logistically it should be easier, right? While we gained proximity, we also gained a massive challenge with terrain. The hunt unit is steep and the rocks are extremely sharp. However, we were both very exited to have the opportunity to hunt a bighorn. Another benefit of being close to town is that I had a few friends interested in scouting and joining the actual hunt that otherwise would not have been available to assist. Being able to share this experience with good friends will make it that much more special.
Immediately after deciding to pour our energy into the ewe hunt, Katherine and I began e-scouting and formulating a plan. We couldn't wait to get out on the ground scouting in person. Most of the driving trails in the hunt area are accessible, right off main highways and in good condition. But.... there is the heat! Our scouting had to happen in not so comfortable 100+ degree temperatures. The heat might bother us, but not the sheep. They are well adapted to this terrain.
From a distance, the female bighorn sheep can be difficult to distinguish from the young male sheep. Because of this, the Nevada Department of Wildlife requires you to complete a short training outlining the differences. In the vast expanses of the desert we look through optics at very great distances, so we were happy to practice identification on real animals on our numerous scouting trips.
Below is a bighorn ewe holding her trademark pose. We saw them standing on the edge of cliffs like this quite often, so they can get a look at the terrain below.
Bighorn ewe posing for the camera.
On an early scouting trip we hiked a circuitous route in an attempt to sneak up on a water source. After only 15 minutes of leaving the truck and gaining the first crest, we saw these gentlemen lounging in the morning sunrise. We kept our distance behind a rock at 180 yards, took some pictures, and went on our way.
Group of three rams.
Katherine spying on a group about to descend into the cliffs.
The bighorn leave signs everywhere! They create little "beds" to nestle into the ground and typically leave their signature pellets ringing the edges. Soft ground to lay on is difficult to find, so the bighorn paw down at the ground and soften things up.
After another long scouting hike with some friends, we noticed some commotion right by the truck. Yup, sheep were hangin out right there at the road. We were really close to the state park, and were not timid, so I suspect they are often fed. They were definitely accustomed to people.
This particular ewe is really old. You can count the rings on her horns just like a tree!
Katherine looking for the critters WAY in the distance. This lookout was super cool, but we only saw a small group of sheep.
After spotting sheep in the previous weeks, I thought to invite some friends on a "nature" hike. It turned out to be quite the trek, but we lost track of how many sheep we saw after the 50 count. Really! It was super windy but the sheep didn't seem to mind. They went along with their foraging and walking to water sources. My friends were quite impressed with what they saw and the sheer volume of sheep in the area.
Katherine glassing. Note the sun and wind protection.
Andrew and Katherine checking out the sheep in the distance. Of course, right at the sun. Ouch!
Me and Katherine posing for a rare photo of us together.
This ewe was checking us out early in the morning and eventually crept over to a cliff edge and easily walked herself down. Not me!
THE HUNT
Alright, enough scouting. We know where they are, and now we have to make it happen. Since the hunt area was so close to home, the plan was to not take days off work, and hunt the three weekends of the season in October and give it our best. I had friends lined up to assist and three main areas to attempt to find a lovely lady sheep. All meat procurement gear, optics, rifle, food, camping gear, etc. was checked and re-checked again. In the end, we decided to take one day off of work to have 3 days to hunt the first weekend, which should give us a better chance of success.
Day one of the hunt was steep, nasty, and dry.
We were quickly on animals and even got within 50 yards of ewes. But, taking a shot at their butts and with a cliff in front of them was NOT how it was going down. It was quite thrilling to get so close though.
The opening day crew ascending to the giant ridge.
Ahh, the excitement of gaining the ridge in early morning.
The entire first day was spent finding sheep and sneaking over to them and having them just run away. Stalking game trails didn't seem like a good idea because there were just so many of them. What should we do? Well, we rested in a mini cave and talked about it quietly around lunch time. But then, a trio of young rams marched our way and didn't even notice us. We just watched them from 150-200 yards and they moved along. We saw a big group of ewes far off in the distance going to one of the water catchments (aka, a guzzler) but, they were too far. Maybe tomorrow? We then decided to hike ourselves back down to the truck and make for camp. Tomorrow, the plan was to hit the area where the group of ewes were headed and make it happen. Of course, on the way down we ran into more sheep. They were all in no-go terrain however.
Back at camp, Matt offered me a quick shower in his tailer which was super nice. We ate and talked about the next day's plan.
The next morning, Karl was to arrive really early at camp and drive up with us to the entry point, and Ryan would be up a little later and planned to meet us on the trail. We piled in the H3 and Karl's Jeep and drove to the access point. It was quiet and chilly. Hiking in the early morning Mojave air is like nothing else. Up the canyon we went, sneaking around every corner looking for a suitable ewe.
Once we got to a massive viewing area, we had a ram with one horn just above us checking out our business. Katherine and I mobilized and went around the corner to see very fine ewes in shooting distance, but they meandered into a crevice. NO! I lay there in the prone position ready to go, but no shot presented itself.
After this mini folly, we headed back to the group of helpers. Matt and Andrew were glassing with Wayne and Karl was.... reading a book! He said, "I am here for the meat haul, right? Well then, just go get one!" This was actually a smart move on his part since too many people in the open would just scare them away. His plan was to lie low and be there when needed. I was amazed at how relaxed he could be. Some sheep came over the hill and we saw them from 400 yards out, but they went back over. Surely they would be back.
I had been in this area before a few weeks prior, and I knew of a central "perch," as I called it, that would give me a 360 degree view of the area. Katherine and I headed for it and set up.
Katherine on the "perch" hoping to blend into the environment.
I was lying down in the prone position just past her in a flat area, but highly exposed.
Katherine had only been glassing for about 30 seconds when a group of sheep came over the ridge. I wasn't even in position yet! I scrambled to get prone and check out the sheep through the scope. There was one ewe and two yearling rams. Yup, rams that look like females! Don't you dare mess up and wing one of them or else you are in big trouble. We whispered and discussed the sex of the critters and relayed info to Andrew and the crew manning the more powerful spotting scope.
Finally, there was a clear shot, with little swirling wind. I was comfortable in my prone position. We triple checked the call between myself and Katherine and it was a "go." I sent the 7mm Rem Mag (thanks Alan!) 370 yards and, after feeling the full body concussion, saw the ewe drop. I knew it was a solid hit by the sound. Katherine and Andrew confirmed "She's down!"
I quickly radioed to Andrew and told the crew that I was going to move quickly to get to the site since it was down the canyon and then up the other side to get to her. I would be in radio contact and in visual contact the entire time, thank goodness. Upon arriving, she was a very impressive creature for sure. I was in amazement to say the least. It went down as planned. There were plenty of people to get her field dressed, skinned, quartered, and off the mountain quickly and cleanly, and it was a one shot quick kill.
This is a happy crew after miles of hiking and days spent scouting.
The ewe was down around 8:30 AM and the sun was starting to heat up. We quickly built a shade structure to keep off the direct sunlight and got to work. There was something very strange throughout the entire cleaning operation; the sheep had pretty much NO smell. Normally, while field dressing and quartering for the pack out, there is a "smell." There was nothing. Ryan was making his way up the canyon when he heard the shot. I gave him some rough directions over the radio and he easily found us. Now, we had even more help. That's how we do it!
We split the pieces among the group and made for the exit point.
Myself and Katherine ready to hike out.
All the sheep pieces fit into the ORCA cooler perfectly and we had plenty of ice packets. While working on the animal, we were even able to hang meat in the bushes and off the shade structure. It cooled down nicely.
At camp, we had a little lunch and took it easy. A successful hunt puts everyone in the very best of spirits. We sat in the shade of Matt's trailer and had a wonderful time with the crew. We stayed the night just for fun and to check out the stars with the spotting scope. Not only does it help find animals, but does a pretty darn good job of looking at planets. The moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn were easily seen that night.
Back at camp right before departure in the morning.
We packed up the next morning and headed back to town. I kept the backstraps, tenderloins, and organs (heart + liver) to prepare myself immediately. The quarters, neck, and rib meat were left with the butcher.
It was only 34 lbs on the rack, and yielded 26 or so when processed.
If you have been reading these hunting posts of mine you know what we eat first. The heart! Katherine makes a fine green chile marinade and then we skewer the chunks and sear them on the charcoal grill. They only need a minute or two on a side over the highest heat you can get. BAM! A few of the "crew" members were able to partake in this meal. We were all truly thankful for a successful hunt.
The heart marinating.
Katherine with a section of back-strap.
OK, let's get to it... Everyone asks, "How does sheep taste?" I will tell you this. It's the best tasting meat we have hunted. No, it's not like lamb. No, it's not like pronghorn, beef, elk, or deer. It has a taste all its own that I would say most like super mild elk. We like pronghorn and deer and elk, and now we know we like bighorn too!
While cleaning the sheep, she had a nice layer of internal fat, so she was really healthy. I did notice while cooking the backstrap that there was a little fat rendering and bubbling out, which is different from other game extremely lean game we have prepared. We broke down the animal fast, efficient, and clean which pays off in the end for sure. Using the shade structure, ground tarp, gloves, and changing out blades on the knives is the only way to go. There is no "gamey-ness" to this sheep AT ALL. If you have sheep or any other game that tastes bad, maybe someone messed something up in the process or you found an old sick animal. We were back to the vehicles in an hour of fast hiking, so it was on ice packets very fast, which helped.
The hunt was a success which maybe we over-planned for..... or is over-planning even a thing?
We decided that giving the other two deer tags back and collecting points was the way to go this season. Don't spread yourself too thin on hunts. Focus on what you can do the best job on and go for it!
Nevada, we love you!
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