There are not many times in life where you draw a once-in-a-lifetime tag. Every year, they are becoming increasingly harder to draw. That is why once I finished my once-in-a-lifetime Washington mountain goat hunt, I thought my luck had run out. I wondered if I would ever draw another great tag again. Each year, I talk to my dad and look over the Huntin’ Fool magazine before I put down what units I hope to hunt. Like most people applying, I figured I would just be getting points.
I was unsuccessful in the Arizona draw, but my grandfather who lives in Arizona drew a Desert sheep tag in southern Arizona. In Arizona, you are allowed to transfer your tag to a child or grandchild. I guess my grandpa loved me the most out of my two brothers and me because I was transferred the tag. That is one of the biggest gifts I have ever received in my life.
In December, we decided that my dad, my grandfather, and I would go down and go hunting while my mother and brothers stayed with my grandma in Bullhead City, Arizona. My dad also invited his coworker, Brady, along to film my hunt for the Huntin’ Fool Advisors series on YouTube. We got to the unit and took a long, rocky dirt road for about 20 miles until it led us to the base of rocky country and set up our camp. Brady arrived shortly after us, only to find the water jug he had brought had broken and he had no water at all. Luckily, we had plenty of water with us, so there was enough for everyone. After we set up and unloaded the two four-wheelers, we spent the rest of the night glassing and talking over a plan for the next day.
The next morning, we got up before sunrise and drove up a dirt road that led to a water catchment. We found a group of sheep, but we were too far off to see if there was a shooter in the group. That evening, we ended up hiking a small hill that got us close enough to judge the rams. We used our Phone Skope to get a bunch of video and pictures of the rams. We then headed off the mountain and back to camp. At camp, we reviewed all the video and pictures, and I decided I would take the big ram in the morning if we could get in range for a shot.
The next morning, we drove back to the water catchment and started hiking at light. There was cactus everywhere, and we were constantly getting poked, with Brady getting the worst of it. He got it stuck in his leg really bad, and it took him about five minutes to get it out. I got it the least, thank goodness, but everyone got it at some point.
We made it to the top and found multiple areas where illegals had built rock walls to be a lookout for the others going across the desert. We found car batteries, clothes, and even a grill. Just below the lookout, I spotted my ram chasing a ewe. I quickly got set up for the shot as Brady got his camera set up. The shot was 350 yards across the canyon. Once Brady was ready on the camera, I squeezed off the shot. That first shot was a little back, but the ram bedded down, quartering to us. It was a very tough shot as his horn was covering part of his vitals. I had to slip the bullet by his horn and hit his front shoulder. I took a deep breath and slowly squeezed the trigger. The shot was perfect, and I had my ram.
After a two-hour hike on really loose and sketchy terrain, we got to the ram and Brady proceeded to take a lot of pictures. After that, we skinned the ram and headed back to our camp. The next day, we packed up and headed out. By this time, my grandpa and I were running out of our secret stash of gummy worms, so we left at the perfect time.
This hunt was a huge blessing, and I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. It was such a great time to bond with my dad and grandpa, and I wish I could do it again. Big thanks to Brady for filming the hunt. Thanks to my dad for taking me and teaching me and to my grandpa for the tag and coming with me and supporting me.
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford
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