Jul 08
21
Second Chance Ram
Although barely audible above our pounding hearts, we could hear the ram munching grass as it went from 30 yards to 20. It was only hours before the season would open, when this duo of rams, one nice full curl and a sickle horn, walked up on us. Frozen in the standing position, the big ram continued to feed and the other bedded down. It went on for 15 minutes, until they finally meandered up the valley, higher and higher and eventually disappeared. Such was the way our hunt began. Although that ram didn’t end up dead, we had plenty of other hot spots to seek out. It was Pat lucketts second time in the Brooks Range, and he had returned for another chance after the snow and weather kept him tent bound the year before. Back at camp we immediately spotted a band of rams and ewes just up the draw from the tent, with one really nice ram in the bunch.
So off we trekked but soon realized they were further than met the eye. The easy trek turned into a hand over hand steep climb. We ended up having to camp on the summit, and pursued them the next morning. A few more sheep joined the group over night, which included another nice ram, which brought our spirits up. The stalk that ensued tested both our abilities. Crossing the last ravine, we found them bedded down not 200 yards away. We got in position crawling on our bellies, and with the wind in our favor and good weather, I picked out the bigger of the two, and the 30-378 roared to life, the ram didn’t even get up. I don’t think I have ever seen someone so ecstatic, but Pat had reason to be. We had spent alot of time pursuing that ram, and it was all worth it. Although our loads were heavy coming off the mountain, our spirits were high, with the taste of success strong in the air
