| While my
buddy and I were carrying my 27-1 ram out on our backs, my Dad was arranging
for an outfitter and guide to help him zero in on his. |
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| We
flew into Cabin Creek where we met RP, Outfitter. From Cabin Creek we went to RP's main camp, and then down
Big Creek to meet up with our Guide, Stan Potts. |
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| At the
rendezvous point Stan left a note with further instructions and that
`excitement awaits' ... we headed up to meet him.
Unit 26 is more open, and more rugged, and perhaps more typical of sheep
country. |
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| When we met
Stan, he reported he had a band of five or six rams spotted, about a mile
away and a thousand or so feet above us. We could see where he had
seen them.
We established a camp and contemplated how to get on them. By all
rights it would take several days, at least, to get over to where they were.
So close, and yet so far. They were in a VERY formidable place.
On our way up for a closer look, I spotted another band of sheep at about
800 yards. We glassed them and found a `shooter', and decided to put
on a stalk.
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| A mid-day
storm helped mask our approach. As the storm subsided the sheep came
out to graze. We had closed the distance. Dad took his ram at
254 yards, one shot. It's not easy to draw Unit 26. Dad had to make
this hunt count - and he did.
Congrats Padre!!!
Some video clips ...here
Bud Filler
with Unit 26 Ram |
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Bud Filler
(Shooter) and Jeff Filler (Video and Still Camera) with Bud's Ram |
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| Stan had
also been seen elk in the area while glassing for sheep. The day
after Dad got his ram, we found the elk, and Dad got a 5 x 5 bull.
RP
skinning Bud's elk. |
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| This was my
first time on a horse. I was sore. Either walk and get tired, or
ride and get sore.
But Unit 26 is huge country - you'll want a horse.
While waiting for RP to bring our stuff to the main camp, I went out and
thinned the deer herd of one of the smaller bucks. (Once we did the
dishes, swept the floors, and cleaned up - we kind of ran out of stuff to
do.) |
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Jeff
Filler, Cameraman, self portrait ... (I'm carrying the two hind quarters of
my deer, and, obviously, a camera, straight up out of a steep canyon!) |
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| It was a
fabulous hunt ... |
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