Fourteen missed calls? When I’m working from home, I have somewhat of a routine – get some coffee down my neck, feed our lab, let her out, watch 20 minutes of sports updates, and check any emails that came in late. However, this morning, I’d missed 14 calls before coffee and I didn’t know why.
I have many hunting buddies, but a couple of us are fanatics about applying for most of the western states and applying for those 1% or less success trophy areas. I think Nevada was the only state where one could actually look up who drew by someone’s last name, so everyone could see if you drew. I called Brian, my multiple missed call buddy, as I thought something was terribly wrong, but what he told me couldn’t have been more terribly right! We do like to pull pranks from time to time, but I made it quite clear that if he was pulling my leg I had room left on my wall for a shoulder mount of him.
I looked up the results and started to shake a little. I think I spilled some coffee, started yelling for my wife, and did some sort of a dance around my office. I think my lab thought we were going hunting as she started hopping and circled around with me.
I’ve been very lucky and have taken 26 of the North American 29. I’ve hunted my entire life, but I started big game hunting in the early 90s. I went on an Alaska moose, grizzly, and caribou hunt for $5,500 total; that was the price back then. My point is, my pockets aren’t bursting, so I can’t just pick what I’d like to hunt and just pay for it. I’ve done it all the hard way and on a shoestring budget. In every state where there’s Desert sheep, I apply for where the smallest average rams are as those odds are slightly better. I’d just wanted, hoped, and prayed to draw any tag. Nevada checks all five choices before going to the next applicant, so I figured I’d put a couple of great areas first and then use my strategy for the final three. They drew my name early, and that’s when the dance began.
It only took an hour or so before the outfitters started to call too. I live in Washington, so there was no way to scout, but this is a tag one doesn’t want to blow. I did my homework and decided to go with Silver State Outfitters. Colby and his team would send me trail cam pictures from time to time just to keep my blood pumping.
November couldn’t arrive soon enough, and we were finally on the mountains. This unit held tons of rams. A Conservation Officer told me there were over 600 sheep in this unit but it should have under 400. It felt like everywhere we looked we saw sheep. We were looking at rams that pushed B&C proportions. We would decide something wasn’t right and say, “Let’s go find another one.” It was so much fun and amazing to experience. I like a ram that has flares, and after all, we’re the ones who are going to look at it for years to come. We came across some rams that were loaded with mass but were badly broomed and short. They were great rams, but you can’t fake goose bumps. When you see “the one,” it doesn’t take a lot of discussion.
Colby’s dad is a legend in the desert and knows sheep. It’s hard to get him too excited about a ram, but he sounded pretty jacked when we got his call. Wayne had spotted six rams together and advised us that two appeared to be definite shooters and they both flared. We did the desert boogie as fast as we could to get to the mountain he’d last seen them summit. This unit has a substantial ewe hunt a month prior, so these sheep had been shot at. Once they spot you, they don’t stick around. Wayne advised us of the mountain they’d run over, and we started our climb. As we eased to the top to do the peek-a-boo, there was nothing. This mountain range went on and on, and Colby looked at me and advised that they’d be over one of them. He asked if I wanted to keep going. I responded with an out of breath, “Duh,” and we kept going.
We finally spotted five butts and one face grouped together on our fourth mountain. That one young face spotted ours and took off. Colby told me to get ready, so I got prone and on them. It all happened so fast, and all six rams were running in a line at 380 yards. Colby advised me, “It’s the last one!” I put my 400-yard pin on him, and he just dropped. Colby dove on me and said, “You just shot a monster!” We were thrilled, and there’s just nothing like that moment when it all comes together.
Colby glanced back at the mountain and said the ram was back up and to get back on him. I got back in position and found him in the scope. I heard, “Do not shoot. Wait, let me look at him.” This ram appeared to be OK, so we were really giving him the once over before firing again, but man my finger was itchy. Colby quickly scanned where I’d shot and saw my ram lying there nose up. Whew! This was the second of the big boys in this group, and he’d doubled back to find his buddy. He was a dandy too! Both of his horns flared, and it was really cool watching him in my scope and finally go out of sight. Just a heads up, there’s another giant out there waiting for you.
We made our way to my ram, and Colby wanted me to walk up to him first. It was a feeling I’ll never forget. What a sight! He had it all – good mass, great length, one side flared, one broomed, and he even had a chunk missing. He was loaded with character and had a pristine, beautiful, dark chocolate coat.
I’ve been doing my homework via Huntin’ Fool and applying for 17 years now. I’ve only drawn one coveted tag prior to this one. This part is painful to some of my buddies, but I drew a Washington mountain goat tag this year too. That’s two once-in a- lifetime tags in one year. I guess that’s how this tag game goes, so here’s to hoping for a repeat this year.
A special thanks to the Silver State posse of Huntin’ Fools for all of their help, knowledge, and homework.
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