Bryan's Sheep Hunt ... (2007)

Bryan drew a sheep tag this year, Idaho Unit 27-1.  I came along for part of the time.

Forest fires in the area delayed the trip until late October.

We flew in from Cascade via Arnold Aviation.

Pictured right is the lower end of Indian Creek.

  
     
Then past Marble Creek.  
     
Dropped off at Thomas Creek Landing Strip.  Bryan at right.  And our stuff off-loaded from the plane.  
     
Diary of the hunt ... (draft) ...

(In preparation)

 

Pictured right is the Mitchell Ranch area (Marble Creek).

Beyond is what I call the 'Hell's Canyon of Marble Creek' ( ... a half-scale Hell's Canyon).

  
     
Marble Creek Canyon at Canyon Creek ... about 8 miles in.

 

 ... when it was clear - it was icy cold at night, and warm - almost hot, by afternoon.

  
     
Back-pack hunt.

 

Good way to test what you are made of.

  
     
Glassing what I call the 'Marble Wall' ...

 

... and ...

  
     
Sheep! ...

 

Can you see them? ... (Two ewes and two lambs.)

  

     
Three nice rams!!!  

     
When it was not clear - the temps were around freezing ... so it was either snow, rain, or both.

Ughhhhhh.

 

I had to come out before Bryan ... but not without being delayed two days at Thomas Creek due to weather.

  
     
We met up with other sheep hunters at Thomas Creek.

Pictured left to right are: Jerome, Keith, and Cody.

Jerome and Keith had sheep Tags. 

Cody had an elk tag and got a nice bull.

  
     
Bryan up high ...  
     

From Bryan …

I spoke with Jerome last night.  He found those three rams on Saturday afternoon and killed a nice one.  […]  Keith and Cody left on Sunday (day after you).  Jerome's son Bridger flew in to finish the hunt with him.  The rams he found were the same ones I saw on Friday.  Bridger saw some ewes from the top and called Jerome to him.  The ewes went down and over a finger.  They followed believing they might have saw a 3/4 curl.  When they looked over the finger, they saw the 3 rams I found the day before.  They were tucked into a little nook that Jerome says could not be seen from the river.  The country was extremely steep and he missed with his first shot.  He held 4 inches low on the second shot and killed him.  The other two stood by the ram until they walked up to them and then moved only about 200 yards away and watched them butcher the ram.  He's saying its a 170 class ram.  The other bigger ram was 160 to 165.  The small ram was just approaching 3/4 curl.  I missed my opportunity but I'm glad that Jerome scored.