Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation, Winter 2019, Issue 4

Spring 2019

the biannual journal for the Idaho sheep hunter

lucky 13 : British

Columbia stone sheep

above the arctic circle
my frank church rocky

ten mile creek ranch
northwest territories mountain caribou

idwsf conservation committee report

2 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

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THIISSSUE

16 FEATURES

20 IDAHO GOVERNOR’S TAG
Big Lost River Range
25 ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
31 From the Idaho Banquet to Greenland
MY FRANK CHURCH ROCKY
39 LUCKY 13
British Columbia Stone Sheep
45 TEN MILE CREEK RANCH
IDWSF Awarded Wildlife Community Challenge Grant
5 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES MOUNTAIN CARIBOU
12
13 inside IDWSF
15
23 Register for 2019 IDWSF Banquet
37 President’s Address
50 2019 lDWSF Life Member Raffle: Dall Sheep Hunt
58 Encourage Youth Hunting
2019 IDWSF Stone Sheep Raffle Entry
4 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019 2019 Membership Application / Centennial Life Member Upgrade
IDWSF Conservation Committee Report
2019 Idaho Bighorn Sheep Lottery Tag Entry

1ST SGT. MATT EVERSMANN (ret.)

REGISTER NOW

Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation

34th Annual Banquet and Auction

March 30, 2019

Boise Centre on the Grove

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___

Guest(s) names: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___

Youth name(s):_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___

Mailing address: __________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _____________________________________

Email address: _______________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________

Meal choice: _____ Beef _____ Fish (Please put # of each selection if signing up guests)

Ticket Pricing: Adult ticket pricing includes dinner and 2 drink tickets. Youth ticket pricing includes dinner. You may also register
and pay online at www.idahowildsheep.org. Payment must be received to conirm a seat. Cancellations must be received 7 days
prior to event to receive a refund. No refunds will be issued after March 23, 2019.

[ ] $90 Idaho WSF Member (Includes 2019 annual membership renewal)
[ ] $65 Idaho WSF Life Member
[ ] $65 Guest of Member
[ ] $90 Adult Non-Member
[ ] $25 Youth (17 and under)
[ ] $ 1,200 Table Sponsorship (includes 10 tickets). Table sponsors will be listed on programs and advertising.

Limited number of table sponsor’s available. Table Sponsor—If you want to remain anonymous, please check here [ ]

Table/Sponsor Name (name you want listed on materials): _______________________________________________________________________________ 9.
Table attendee’s: Names must be submitted at least 5 days prior to event.
1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
[ ] I want to join as a LIFE member for $500 and be eligible for the special life member drawing. (1 entry)

[ ] I would like to upgrade my existing Life membership to a Centennial membership for $1,000. (3 entries)

[ ] I would like to join as a Centennial member for $1,500. (includes 3 entries into life drawing)
[ ] I will not be able to make the banquet, but please renew my membership (check member type below)
___ Annual Membership $35 ___ 3 year Membership $95 ___ Life Membership $500
___ Upgrade from Life to Centennial $1,000 ___ New Centennial Membership $1,500
[ ] I would like to bring a mounted sheep to display, please contact me at the phone number listed above.
[ ] I will not be able to make the banquet but included is a donation to keep up the Idaho WSF work.


T A D: $ ____________________

[ ] I have enclosed a check or money order.

[ ] Please charge my credit card - Card # ______________________________________________________Exp. date: ______________

Please return the completed form:
BY MAIL: ID WSF, P.O. Box 8224, Boise ID, 83707 ~ BY EMAIL: [email protected] ~ BY FAX: 208-321-4819

$45,000.00 MEMBERSHIP FUNDS $42,255.00
$40,000.00
Banquet Attendance 489 $35,000.00
$30,000.00
440 $25,000.00 $22,750.00
360 362 $20,000.00
$15,000.00
$10,000.00 $22,270.00

230 230 $5,000.00 $18,470.00
$-
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 $2,130.00 $1,845.00

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

2018 BANQUET $160,000.00 BANQUET NET PROFITS
NUMBERS $140,000.00
$120,000.00 $150,001.00
►► IDWSF saw a 115% growth from $100,000.00
our previous years attendance $68,880.00
record. $80,000.00 $51,012.00 $55,188.00
$60,000.00
►► IDWSF Net Income grew by close $40,000.00 $30,330.00
to 200% from our prior record year $20,000.00 $20,690.00
and equaled as much as our previous
2.5 years combined. $-

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

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KUIU not only provides hunters and guides the best gear that
keeps us comfortable and performing at a high level, but they
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desert bighorn, it was inspiring to see how the hunt was as
much about teaching Cash our traditions as it was
completing his Grand Slam.

Jake Franklin KIKA Worldwide

EDITOR’S LETTER

SPRING 2019 Happy New Year! On behalf of all of us at Idaho Wild
Sheep, we wish you a healthy and successful year full of new
editor in chief / creative director hunting experiences. We’ve ended hunting season...now it’s
Lindsey Cleghorn banquet season! Be sure to register early for our IDWSF banquet on
March 30! After last year’s huge and successful event, tables and seats
sales & marketing director are already filling faster than ever.
Zach Higgins/Jim Warner We are so pleased to continue including information about our many
sponsoring companies who were so generous in donating last year.
circulation director As you read through the wonderful articles enclosed, several from
Teri Ottens hunts donated at the auction, please take the time to recognize the
companies who are supporting conservation of Idaho’s wild sheep
contributing writers by donating products and money to our organization. If you’re in the
Fred Imler, Bruce J. Mincher, Austin market for goods or services we would encourage you to reach out to
Atkinson, Shain Zenor, Mike Schlegel, Jeff the companies advertised.
McMurdie, Bill London In this edition we are lucky to hear from the Idaho Governor’s Tag
auction winner! Board member Bruce Mincher traveled to Greenland
Idaho WSF Board Members with IDWSF hunt sponsor Joe Jakob of Point Blank Hunts to harvest
Zach Higgins/President a musk ox bull. Visit Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness with Austin
Jim Warner/Vice President Atkinson in his search for a Rocky Mountain Bighorn. Experience
James Jeffress/Past President the thrill of taking an epic Stone Sheep with Shain Zenor, winner
Ashlei DeBolt/Treasurer of the 2018 IDWSF Life Member Raffle. Learn more about the
IDWSF’s conservation efforts and specifically the Ten Mile Creek
Steve Alderman/Director Ranch Easement. Finally, travel with Jeff McMurdie to the Northwest
Lindsey Cleghorn/Director Territories for giant caribou and wolves!
Don Colter/Director We accept submissions for our journals throughout the year. Do
Preston Funkhouser/Director you have an epic tale from this hunting season? We always look for
Bill London/ Director amazing stories written for the Idaho sheep hunter, but we would
Bruce J. Mincher/ Director be thrilled to include any elk, bear, or other hunts experienced in the
Bradley J. Morlock/ Director Idaho wilderness. If you purchased a hunt through our banquet we
Jason Pyron/ Director would love to hear about your experience and time spent with the
Michael Schlegel/ Director amazing outfitters who donated their time and resources to help you
Jake Shea/ Director accomplish your hunting goals!
Edd Woslum/ Director If you’d like to advertise within this journal, please contact me for
advertising rates and options! Until next time,

for advertising opportunities, please contact Lindsey Cleghorn
Lindsey Cleghorn at [email protected].
creative director/editor in chief
Idaho WSF Board of Directors

10 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

P/C: BLM Idaho Wright Brothers, The Building Company
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President’s address

Happy new year from all of us at Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation! Given our successes in 2018 we are
extremely excited for what 2019 has in store for us. This past year was the culmination of six years of
hard work and dedication that resulted in a record number of new members, financial contributions,
funds raised, and Statewide Lottery Tag proceeds directed to Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG). Our goal is to
continue this wonderful growth trend both in membership and financial capacity to make a greater impact on
bighorn sheep in our state. Last year’s financial successes enabled our chapter to make significant contributions to
procure high risk allotments, disease research, and IDFG grants.
Two notable contributions our chapter was able to make was a $40,000 pledge to the Asotin County Conservation
District for the outreach program associated with the Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Restoration Program in
partnership with Oregon FNAW and Washington WSF. In addition, IDWSF is working with the National Wildlife
Federation on a Tier 1 (High) risk of contact allotment retirement. IDWSF has pledged $75,000 to NWF to make
this possible after years of proactive outreach and months-long negotiations. We are confident both of these
contributions will lead to the expansion of our state’s bighorn populations and return bighorn sheep to their
historical ranges.
In addition to monetary contributions, our chapter sent representatives back to Washington D.C. to meet with
state and federal representatives two separate times to bring the conservation battle to the front policy lines. All
of this wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support that our members, sponsors, and donors have made
on behalf of bighorn sheep.
Our Banquet Committee has been hard at work for the past two months to build upon our record breaking
2018 banquet. As you will see in your journal, our Life Member raffle will be for a Dall Sheep with Gana River
Outfitters in the Northwest Territories, and our raffle tag will be for a Stone Sheep with Yukon Stone, in Canada’s
Yukon Territory. In addition, the legendary 1st Sgt. Matt Eversmann, whose story was told in the award-winning
movie Black Hawk Down, will be our guest speaker. We also have expanded our banquet space to provide more
room throughout the event and increased our seating ability to 700 guests. If you want to volunteer to help
with the event please contact our office as we will certainly need all of the help we can get to produce a fun and
entertaining night of events.
Lastly, this will be my last President’s address as your president and I want to personally thank each of you.
The past two years as your President has truly been an enriching and humbling experience and I look forward
to continuing my passion for the next two years as Past President. Your incoming President, Jim Warner, is an
incredible individual and passionate conservationist and I am excited to see his talents at work in growing this
organization. We encourage people to get involved and help make a difference within our state because there is
nothing more rewarding than being part of something bigger than yourself and truly making change happen.
Thank you again and hope to see you all at our banquet on March 30th, 2019.

ZACH HIGGINS

Idaho WSF President

12 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

2019 LIFE MEMBER

RAFFLE

ALL Life and Centennial Members present Dall Sheep Hunt
at the banquet will be entered to win this
raffle valued at $26,000. No purchase
necessary but you MUST BE PRESENT TO
WIN.

Winner will be drawn at the 34th Annual
Idaho Wild Sheep Banquet and Fundraiser
on March 30, 2019 at the Boise Centre on
the Grove in Boise, Idaho. Register for the
banquet at www.idahowildsheep.org

Life Members present will receive one
entry and Centennial Members present will
receive three entries. Life and Centennial
Memberships can be purchased now
through the banquet. Current Life Members
can upgrade to a Centennial Membership.

This is a 10-Day Dall Sheep backpack
hunt July 15-24, 2020. Northwest
Territories, Canada. Accommodations
are included.

NOT INCLUDED:
Air Charter Fee from Norman Wells to camp: $1,700
5% GST tax: $1,750
Dall Sheep Tag: $120
Government Trophy Fee: $462
Non Resident Hunting Preservation Fund: $100
Transportation to and from Norman Wells
Hotels before and after the hunt
Shipping of horns and cape
Additional hunters or nonhunters if arranged
Additional animal trophy fees

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BIG GAME OF THE WORLD

Encourage

Youth

Hunting

Youth aged 17 and under who join the Idaho
Wild Sheep Foundation as Life Members will

receive a

Savage 64F Semi-Automatic,
Synthetic Stock .22 Rifle

Our youth is the future of hunting. IDWSF encourages
youth participation through special incentives and

hunts provided specifically to young hunters. We believe
in providing and encouraging a positive introduction
into the world of hunting, conservation, and family
participation in hunts.

*This promotion will run through our 2019 banquet, March 30, 2019. FFL paperwork and gun
pick-up will be coordinated through Al’s Gun and Pawn. Contact IDWSF for more details.*

idaho governors tag

big lost river range

W by Fred Imler continually searched for a ram. Although I could hunt anywhere
hen I was first invited to Idaho in 1999 I had no idea in Idaho, my dream was to kill a ram in the mountains that I can
what to expect. I thought of Idaho as a state that see from my lodge, which I consider my second home.
grew potatoes and I had no idea of the abundance
of big game. I found myself looking at Idaho’s highest
mountain, Mt. Borah, amazed to see mountain goats, moose, In early July I spent a week with my friend and partner in Big
elk, deer, and antelope. I was also told bears, lions, and wolves Lost River Outfitters, Will Marcroft, in the Big Lost River
roamed there as well. At that time I did not even know big horn Mountains looking at many rams and wondering if we would be
sheep roamed the Big Lost River Range of the Mackay area. able to find one of them on opening day. Even after I departed
in July, Will continued to spend countless hours looking for
In 2005 I put in to draw an Idaho sheep tag. I put in for a rams—one of them would become my trophy of a lifetime.
number of years and like many, was unsuccessful drawing a
tag. I started going to the National Wild Sheep Convention in I arrived in Idaho in August a few days prior to hunting season.
Reno, Nevada and watched the Idaho governor’s tag sell year Will and I went out once again to look for rams. For the next
after year. I unsuccessfully bid on it in 2017, but in 2018 I was three days we looked at many rams. As often occurs in August
the successful high bidder. After the auction closed, I texted all on the Big Lost River Range, smoke from fires hundreds of
my friends in Idaho to tell them the good news—that I would miles away settle over the mountains making it very difficult
be hunting sheep in the late summer and early fall of 2018. As to spot sheep. We were lucky that on opening morning the
excited as I was, they said they would be out looking for rams mountains were more visible than they had been for many days
in the morning. Over the next six months many of my friends previously and spotting sheep was easy. With myself and seven
good friends, Will Marcroft, Jake Johnson, Don Baxter, Riley
Baxter, Justyn Gillish, Jarred Gillish and Fred Waymire combing

16 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

the mountains looking for rams, my hopes of finding a ram When I located the sheep in my scope and pulled the trigger, I
were increased. could tell it was a solid hit. The ram stopped immediately and
The first day of hunting was August 30, 2018. Along with my humped up, but he was still standing. They both yelled, “Shoot
seven friends, I saw several magnificent rams, but none we him again!” After another solid hit, the ram went down.
decided to go after. Later that day another good friend, Pres We immediately headed for the ram, to make sure the he did
Marcroft said he had spotted a group of five rams and one not get away. What seemed like a long time to get there was
of the rams was worthy of a closer look. We decided the next probably only about 15 minutes. When we got to the ram we
morning we would start the climb up the mountain for a better got a close up look at the magnificent bighorn. The rest of
look. the group had watched from the original ridge where we had
The next morning several of the guys left well before daylight spotted the ram. They immediately headed over and within an
to start up the mountain in the Big Lost River Range, above hour we were all celebrating my successful bighorn hunt.
my ranch. Myself and two of my friends rode horses to the What seemed to be just a dream was now a dream come true
timberline. We met up with the first group that had already and to be surrounded by some of my greatest hunting buddies
spotted the rams. The big ram we were looking to find was with from Idaho, who had helped make my dream a reality, and to be
the group. He was what I was looking for, only slightly broomed in the Big Lost River Range made it that much more special.
and with heavy bases. I now have three of the four North American sheep and am
As bighorns often do for safety, he was in a perfect spot for his looking forward to someday finishing my grand slam. ▪
own protection. No matter which way we would approach, he
would either see or smell us, so we had to play a waiting game. 17
We watched the rams for hours through spotting scopes. He
finally stood up and fed out of sight over the ridge. When the
rams disappeared over the ridge, Will and Jake said it was time
to make our move. For what seemed like hours Will and Jake
helped me maneuver across the tough rock slides of the Big
Lost River Range. We finally arrived on the ridge where the
sheep had originally bedded. As Will peered over the ridge the
sheep spotted us. Immediately they sprang to their feet and took
off running. Will and Jake were by my side, they were shouting
me orders; one telling me which one was the big ram and Jake
shouting out yardages. In seconds the yardage went from 200 to
300 yards. Will and Jake were both shouting “Shoot! SHOOT!”

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above the
arctic circle

From the Idaho banquet to greenland

The chalky grey Watson River by Bruce J. Mincher
flows directly off the ice cap. Its
frigid flow depends not on tide, enjoyable. My point of arrival was rising above the chalky water more than
but temperature, and it drops quickly Kangerlussuaq, a west Greenlandic town a mile away. But Karsten pronounced
when the weather turns cold and the of about 500 souls, located where the one of the dark specs to be worthy of
glacier stops melting. The practical result Watson empties into the Sondrestrom closer inspection. We hoofed it back to
of this is that jet boat access to many Fjord, that finally empties into the the boat and motored down the river
hunting areas is lost in cold weather and sea 120 miles to the west. Formerly about a half mile from where we judged
it’s not unusual for the boats to get stuck a U.S. air base during World War II, them to be. Finding an eddy we secured
on sand bars that didn’t exist only hours Kangerlussuag now hosts a Danish the boat and climbed the broken muddy
previously. air base as well as Greenland’s biggest bank that led to the brush covered
The sand is as grey as the river, airport. On the street one commonly slopes above. As quickly as we could
composed of fines ground from the hears Danish, English, Greenlandic, and negotiate the tundra we hastened toward
living bedrock of Greenland by the even other languages in use. our prey, side-hilling a few dozen yards
expanding and contracting ice cap. above the icy river.
Greenland is a land of granite and ice My quest for a Greenland The first animals we spotted were cows
and when the river drops the granite musk ox bull began two and calves, members of that group
fines become great grey sand dunes years earlier at the Idaho reputed to contain the bull worth
constantly shifting in the artic wind. A Wild Sheep banquet in inspecting. They are truly unusual
ring of coastal tundra surrounds the ice. creatures. They wear a shaggy coat
The vistas are large and desolate in a Boise. that covers the entire body but stops
pleasing sort of way. like a wooly skirt just below the knees.
Sometimes it’s possible to spot musk ox My quest for a Greenland musk ox bull Great clumps of loose wool adorn their
from the river. Then a suitable landing began two years earlier at the Idaho Wild shoulders and sides. Curved yellow
site must be found since the banks may Sheep banquet in Boise, ID. As soon as I horns with shiny black tips protrude
be too steep to climb. A worthy bull saw musk ox on auction I knew I would from the wool. They are designed for
must be identified and a stalk must be buy it, even if it sold higher than I could this difficult environment and I admire
planned. More often walking, rather book it directly with the outfitter. I love them as true survivors.
than boating, precedes the stalking, remote places and it doesn’t get more We were now pinned down and couldn’t
with hours of hiking across the treeless remote than Greenland. And the money get any closer without giving ourselves
tundra being required to find that would go toward putting more sheep on away. Impatiently we waited and Karsten
perfect bull. the mountain. It was a win-win scenario. continued to study the group through
August 2018 above the Arctic Circle was The hunt donor was Joe Jakab of Point his binoculars. There was indeed a
surprisingly mild and dry. The long days Blank Hunts. Joe was in the room that nice bull, but he was always partially
were sunny with only light frost in the night and the ability to talk with him obscured by the brush, or sometimes by
mornings. This was a pleasant discovery, about the hunt provided even more a huge lone chunk of granite that just
as I had flown in from Iceland, where encouragement—not that I needed it. happened to be in the worst possible
the cold rain and wind were not so place.
But back to Greenland. On the third The minutes ticked by. After a half hour
day of hunting my guide Karsten Ling we climbed straight uphill in a desperate
spotted a group of musk ox on the far bid to gain a better vantage. I felt like
side of the river from where we had
been hunting. To me they were only tiny
dark specs on the olive green slopes

20 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

“Great clumps of loose wool adorn their
shoulders and sides. Curved
yellow horns with shiny

black tips protrude from the wool.
They are designed for this difficult

environment and I admire
them as true survivors.”

21

I was hunting mountain goats instead JOELPILCHERART.COM
of musk oxen as I needed all fours to [email protected]
make the ascent. This move, plus a
fortuitous one by the bull provided me @JOELPILCH
the broadside shot at about 130 yards
that I had waited for.
At the shot through the shoulders he
too started uphill. My second shot
missed him completely as the bullet
was absorbed by a high bit of tundra
not visible through the scope from my
prone position. No matter, he soon
turned and proceeded down slope,
quickly piling up and beginning to roll
down the hill. “No, no, no; not in the
river!” I unconsciously shouted, and
Kartsen turned to laugh at me. My
Greenland bull came to a rest about 50
yards above the icy Watson.
My quest to hunt this unique animal,
this survivor from Pleistocene days,
was successful. I was elated and
thankful at my good fortune, and highly
recommend this experience to those
who love remote and untrammeled
places as much as I do. ▪

ENTER TO WIN 15-DAY STONE SHEEP HUNT THROUGH IDAHO WILD
SHEEP FOUNDATION COURTESY OF YUKON STONE OUTFITTERS!

Enter to win a 15-Day Stone Sheep Hunt with
Yukon Stone Outfitters August 12-26, 2020 in

the renowned Pelly Mountains of Canada’s
Yukon Territory. Horseback or backpack. Value
of the hunt is $44,500. Accommodations during

the hunt are included.

ONLY 500 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD!

Do NOT need to be present to win.
400 tickets will be available prior to banqut

with 100 held for sale only at banquet.

Winner will be drawn at the Idaho WSF
Banquet March 30, 2019. Winner will be

notified by phone.

Additional costs to be covered by winner:
Bush flights: $1,400
Hunt Package 5% GST tax: $2,107.50
Hunting License, Sheep Tag, and Hunt Preservation Fund: $500
Government Sheep Harvest Fee: $250
Transportation to and from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, CA
Hotel before and after hunt
Tips/Gratuities
Crate and Freight Charges for shipping trophies
Additional hunters or nonhunters

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________City: ____________________ State: ______ Zip: ____________

Phone: ______________________________ E-mail: _______________________________________________________________________

Tickets: Tickets are $100 each

________ Number of Tickets

Payment:
___ Credit Card # ___________________________________________________________________________________ Exp: ____________
___ Check enclosed

Credit Card payments can be faxed to, 208-345-4819 or emailed to [email protected]
Phone Orders will be accepted at 208-345-6171
Mail to: Idaho WSF, P.O. Box 8224, Boise, ID 83707

www.idahowildsheep.org | www.facebook.com/idahowildsheep

MY FRANK CH U

24 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

H URCH ROCKY
“It is better to experience something once
than to hear about it a thousand times.” - ancient proverb

by Austin Atkinson

My hunting career has given me the opportunity to ewes and lambs that walked right through our spike camp, very
hear a thousand sheep stories, but I knew this was few sheep were located.
one I needed to experience. Sheep hunting gets my After that first scouting trip, I really kicked into research mode,
blood pumping more than any other species, and the above reading every post online that was even remotely related to
adage has fueled my addiction for adventure and to explore my sheep area. I contacted other hunters who had previously
new hunting areas over the past few years. My desire to hunt drawn the same tag, and besides Brian, none of them were
bighorn sheep has driven me to pursue hunts with the best successful on their hunts, but they all had plenty of stories to
draw odds and subsequently the poorest harvest successes. This tell. Gradually, I realized talking to other hunters became more
is what caused me to end up in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of of a “what not to do” game.
No Return Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness area
in the lower 48, with seemingly endless miles of rivers, streams, Gradually, I realized talking to other
cliffs, and canyon country.

My Rocky Mountain sheep story began in 2011 when I met hunters became more of a “what not
Brian Rhead on a hunting forum and began discussing our to do” game.
strategies for obtaining a sheep tag in Idaho. I had recently
begun working as an assistant guide on Dall sheep hunts in This was valuable information as I knew the six-week season
Alaska and had the sheep bug. Brian and I frequently compared and big wilderness country would make the hunt feel very
ideas and Google Earth scouting notes and kept in touch as we short. My nightly ritual was to spend a few minutes on Google
monitored the unit we selected that would be our best chance Earth and mark waypoints on my OnXMaps mobile app. I
at obtaining a tag. As luck would have it, Brian drew his sheep evaluated my approach options and tried hard to find where I
tag the very next season and went on to take a beautiful ram felt a band of rams would be hanging out. It was difficult for
on his way in to our predetermined glassing spot. As a non- me to stay focused with an expensive sheep permit in my back
resident having to front more than $2,100 on a credit card for pocket. People would ask if I was excited, and I would smile
almost three months, it became increasingly tough over the weakly and nod. Truth be told, I was so stressed about blowing
years to justify applying where there is no bonus point system this once-in-a-lifetime chance, it was difficult to be excited. I
and slim draw odds. However, I kept at it and stuck to my unit knew I would have to be at the top of my game.
choice year after year until one day in May 2018 I made sure my Later, I learned that one of the biggest factors affecting the
wife was next to me as I checked my draw results once again. outcome of my upcoming hunt would be the behavior of
With my fingers crossed and her good fortune, the moment wildfires in the central Idaho area. As with most wilderness
I had been waiting for had arrived! I had a tage for a Rocky areas, natural-caused wildfires are not suppressed as long as
sheep. they are contained in the wilderness boundaries. Often, this
creates an enormous amount of smoke that can render your
I had a tag for a Rocky sheep. glassing impossible or even block access to the trailheads. I read
horror stories of hunters being able to hunt less than one week
In the heat of summer, I took my brother-in-law, Austin Allred, of the season due to fires. However, I was able to turn the
with me on a scouting trip to see if we could locate any water curse of wildfires into a blessing for my hunt. With thorough
sources on the ridges we intended to hunt and hopefully see a internet searches, I found maps and photos from the recent
sheep or two. With daytime temps in the upper 80s, it became years’ wildfires and I found a couple that were located in the
obvious that we would not be able to carry enough water to
replace the amount we were sweating off. Other than a few 25

middle of my unit. Knowing that animals, especially sheep, love On September 13th, I drove back up to Idaho and all that was
fresh burns and the new forage that pops up the next summer, on my mind was the other hunters who may already be at my
this became my new target area. I spoke with the region’s sheep spike camp coordinates or at my intended glassing spot. I was
biologist who shared with me their numbers from the most antsy. Thinking on the 30 percent average harvest success over
recent count. She said there appeared to be 20-25 class III/IV the past 10 years was the only thing that kept me sane. I knew
rams that wintered in and around my unit. With over 70 square most hunters would not find the rams before I arrived, if at all.
miles of rugged country to search, I knew I would have to be My father and Brian met me at the trailhead where we loaded
extremely lucky to locate a band of rams before I ran out of our packs and set off. We crossed the river in our “Walmart
time or motivation. special” rubber raft and began the hike deep into my unit. The
After returning from guiding sheep and bear hunts in Alaska, hunt was on!
it was time to hike in to hunt the August 30th opener. I drove
north to Idaho to meet up with my father, Mitch, and my It’s tough to draw a sheep tag in here,
brother-in-law, Austin. Unfortunately, I came down with the it’s even tougher to get into the unit,
symptoms of giardia, compliments of too much Alaskan but the toughest part of all is finding a
water, and felt as if I were on my deathbed. Nothing short
of that could have kept me from opening morning for my mature ram to kill.
prized sheep hunt. As we decided that I could not attempt to
backpack into the Frank Church with my current health, all I The plan was to make it to our destination within three days,
could think about was the other tag holders shooting “my ram” spending plenty of time to make sure we were not passing
opening day. It ate at me not to give it a shot, but in the end, sheep in the lower river breaks country. Between the three of
it was beneficial for us to throw in the towel for a couple of us, we picked apart every crevasse and timber pocket, hoping
weeks and return when the wildfire smoke subsided and the to catch a glimpse of a ram. After two days of bushwacking,
above average temperatures finally broke. multiple hikes up and down to vantage spots, and seeing only
ewes and lambs, we decided it was time to make the 4,200 foot

26 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

vertical climb to a new spike camp and glass down into the next flat space. After dividing out our water to make sure it was
canyon. My dad’s knee was starting to flare up, so he made the rationed properly, Brian and I grabbed our necessary hunting
tough decision to hold back and work his way back down to gear and continued up the ridge towards the next canyon. At
the river and not push it any further. It was tough to leave him this point, we left the lush coniferous forest and entered the
solo, but we knew it would be serious if he got any deeper into freshly burned area. Everything was charred black from top to
the wilderness and hurt his knee any worse. bottom. However, there were a few green sprouts popping up
The morning of September 16th, Brian and I dropped back that gave hope to new life.
to the creek from our vantage point and filled up our packs After a few minutes of walking in the soft, black dirt, we
with as much water as we were capable of standing up with. I spotted sheep tracks, and they looked like ram tracks! What
had eight days worth of food and Brian had two days worth, a relief it was to know they were close. We raced up to the
knowing he had to return to work on Monday with or without glassing knob and set up our tripods to glass for the few
me. The climb kicked our butts. It took us all day to go 0.75 remaining hours of daylight. After an hour tucked behind a
miles on the GPS, with over 2,000 feet gained. Our walking rock, wearing my down insulation, glassing the same clearings
sticks were traded for gloves and tight hand holds on the uphill over and over, I finally made out what appeared to be a ram’s
tree limbs and bush clumps. As soon as the sun faded over the behind.
ridgetops, we set up a spike camp in a saddle just wide enough “Brian, I got rams!” I yelled. Bedded just 600 yards below us
for the Hilleberg tent footprint. It was too dicey to proceed in the wide open rocky slope were three rams. We had done it.
any further up the ridge in the dark. After a lovely night’s sleep It’s tough to draw a sheep tag in here, it’s even tougher to get
between a cliff and a rock, we were re-energized and ready to into the unit, but the toughest part of all is finding a mature
continue up the ridgeline to the burned area and our last spike ram to kill. We were relieved and nervous. I took a drink and
camp. ate a snack to try to lower my shaking levels as I watched the
We made good time on the remaining 2,100 vertical feet and ram in my Vortex binos. With my Red Rock Precision rifle in
set up camp on a little bench that gave us a 20-yard circle of

27

hand, this should be a chip shot. However, the wind was racing slippery, snow-covered journey down to the river the following
10-15 mph from right to left in an upward motion as it hit the day, but we were now accomplished sheep hunters, and that
hillside. Knowing we would only have one shot at these rams, makes sore joints and achy backs hurt much less.
we decided to cut the distance as much as possible to diminish
my margin of error. We carefully dropped down the steep slope Sure, it’s just a sheep, an 8-year-old ram with soot-covered
underneath us, totally exposed, but hoping the rams would stay horns, but to those who understand the emotions and rewards
put just a few more minutes. The best ram in the band didn’t of hunting, he is more than that. He’s a symbol of time, effort,
like the sight of two guys covered in KUIU gear dropping into friendship, investment, and conservation efforts in Idaho. He’s
his basin, so he got out of his bed and began pacing around the a symbol of the journey we all got to experience, and his meat
other younger rams. I dropped my pack on a small log below was the best tasting meat I’ve ever been able to share with my
and got into a miserable downgrade shooting position. Brian family.
had the range and wind meter and was calling the shot as I took
a couple of practice squeezes and tried to guess the updraft of He’s a symbol of time, effort, friendship,
the wind. At 490 yards, I loaded a cartridge and watched the investment, and conservation efforts in
oldest ram turned broadside. The setup felt perfect to me, so I
let him have it. Idaho.
“Miss!” Brian yelled. The wind had pulled my bullet high and
just over the ram’s shoulder. All proper shooting techniques There are a lot of cliché phrases that come to mind after
were now out the window and I frantically reloaded to get a tough hunt in the wilderness, and I feel all of them are
more lead in the air. After another 43 seconds of pure chaos probably true. First of all, I could not have had the energy to
trying to line up the crosshairs on the right ram and letting the embark on this hunt without Wilderness Athlete products. I
6.5x284 speak again at 503 yards, Brian finally said the special spent more money on their products than I’d care to admit,
words we hope to hear from our spotter, “Got him. You did but with the nighttime optimizer pills, each morning, I felt like
it!” The rush of emotions came over both of us. I had just I could continue hiking and the drink supplements kept me
taken a ram not one hour after we had seen him. It was a little going during the day. Also, I would not have been able to draw
bit of a rodeo, but we had made it happen. After a lengthy this tag or experience this hunt without the love and support
session of photos, lifesize caping, and plenty of smiles, we had of my wife, Chelsie. Finally, I would never have known of the
our first load of meat and the cape on our backs for the climb treasures that existed for me in the outdoors without the help
back up to spike camp. of my father and mentor, Mitch Atkinson.
Brian headed down to his truck early the next morning as my
brother-in-law, Austin, came to the rescue to help me pack out They say sheep hunting changes you. I think it did for me. It
the cape, meat, horns, and all of our remaining gear. It was a strengthened the relationship I had with my family, my hunting
buddies, and my Lord, the Creator of all this. ▪

28 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 20198

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On the 13th day
of my hunt, Tanner
guided his 13th ram for
a lucky hunter that
just happened
to be me.

30 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 20198

lucky 13

british columbia stone sheep

S by Shain Zenor going to finally be a sheep hunter after more years than I could
itting around a fire in Northern BC with my new friends, even remember.
Tanner, Taylor and Morgan, one of them asked, “What
did you think when they called your name that night at I can’t speak for other sheep hunters as to what they think
the Idaho Sheep Banquet?” The question flashed me back to
that night, “Did that guy just call my name… He just did it again, about before a hunt, however I sure know what I thought
I think…. it couldn’t really be me could it?” I remember looking about. I thought of long days hiking, hours of having my binos
around realizing my Dad and I are the only two Life Members and spotting scope pressed against my face, and big old rams
with a last name starting with a Z. It had to be me. I remember with horns that tip out and away from their head. I thought
thinking, “Don’t get too excited until you know for sure; really… about what that moment would be like when I had a ram in
don’t get to excited, Hell… why not, it might really be me and my crosshairs and knew that I was about to take the shot of a
if it is, I’m totally getting a sheep. Not just a sheep, but a Stone lifetime.

Sheep!” To answer their question I think I just told them that it I thought about what that moment
was crazy, surreal even. I still didn’t think it was really me until
Zach showed me my name on the ticket, and after he did I just
needed to sit down for a second to let it soak in. would be like when I had a ram in my
crosshairs and knew that I was about to

I think most of the time a sheep hunter gets to plan a hunt like take the shot of a lifetime.

this for years. It takes that long to get ready, do the research, I day-dreamed of what my ram might look like and how the
save the money, and get in shape. I didn’t have that kind of hunt might unfold. Well let me tell you, this hunt, it was all of
time. I think I packed and repacked my gear at least a dozen the above and so much more.
times, each time thinking about what I wanted this trip to be
like and yet understanding that so much about the trip was out
of my control. I would do my very best to be prepared. I would
work hard and stay positive every second of the hunt. I was
31

After you fly into base camp at Tuchodi, you meet everyone, running towards us and from the west. They passed by north
eat a fantastic dinner prepared by Laura, then sit around a of us just a few hundred yards. Shortly after, three more would
campfire in the center of the grounds to tell some stories and come in towards us from the northeast. If that wasn’t awesome
listen to others. The next day it’s a buzz of activity with guides enough I also watched three wolverines work and hunt their
and wranglers putting the final touches on gear and packing way across the same mountainside.
boxes while the hunters get ready checking their rifles and
maybe even getting one more hot shower before heading out. I had just seen my first Stone Sheep,
Tanner, Taylor and I with seven horses headed out on our 4.5 and I will never forget them.
hour ride to camp. We had great horses and the trip in to camp
really went about as good as you could hope. One tip though, One of the rams in the last group looked to be larger than the
don’t pack things like your raingear in the pack boxes for the others and Tanner wanted to get a better look. As we started
ride into camp to make your backpack lighter, it’s not worth it. to move up the mountain he stops me and tells me to get
Your guide and wrangler might think you’re a tough guy from down. Taylor had come up behind us and was motioning that
Idaho, but you’re really going to be wet and colder than you’ll he could see sheep in front of us. Taylor caught up and told us
want to admit. that one of the rams looked to be heavy and bigger than the
Would you believe that while setting up camp we actually saw rest. We gave them a chance to feed over the ridge and then we
sheep, young rams and only about 1,000 yards from camp. It moved up to the top.
was like looking at something out of my dreams but in real
life. I had just seen my first Stone Sheep and I will never forget Looking over the edge I was shocked to see we were looking
them. off of a long ridge of cliffs. We would see over 20 rams that
The first day of my hunt started by crawling out of a tent to day and even name a few. The White Face Ram was an 8 ½
hear the sound of horses, bells ,and the crackle of a fire. After year old with low dropping horns that didn’t make it back up
some bacon, eggs and pancakes we headed out. Just a few to his nose. The Heavy Horned Ram was another 8 ½ year old
hours later, Tanner and I were pinned down by three rams ram that to me looked much older with his massive horns and
a body that was impressively large. It was while watching these
rams that Tanner and I talked about what it was that would
“trip my trigger”. Tanner told me of another hunter and how

32 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

after seeing an old heavy horned and broomed ram next to saw some grizzly tracks in the sand along the stream during the
a legal but younger tipped ram, the hunter chose to harvest ride. Our new camp was next to the stream just above the high
the older broomed ram. I had really only dreamed of taking a water mark. Tanner told me we would be able to look for sheep
flashy turned out and tipped sheep. But looking at these rams I and drink coffee at the same time and that’s exactly what we
now wasn’t sure what I wanted. did. The next four days saw us spending many hours looking,
For the next two days we watched the same rams and kept an but not finding any sheep.
eye out for new sheep to move in. The more I watched the
more I liked the heavy broomed ram. I even questioned Tanner That’s not to say we didn’t find things to look at, we saw a
a few times to be sure the ram was only showing seven annuli. caribou, some Mountain Goats and even a Grizzly. It was in
I officially passed on the ram and walked away from a 208 yard this camp and on one of the hikes with Tanner that for only
shot on Day Three. The following day we would head north the second time in my life I really felt like I was somewhere that
looking for new sheep to gaze at. only a handful of people had possibly ever stood.
We spent the next five days really hunting one particular
sheep. He was a dark ram with horns that were clearly over It was in this camp and on one of the hikes with
the nose. His heavy tipped horns and dark body made him Tanner that for only the second time in my life
easy to identify even when he was with his two buddies. This
is the kind of sheep you dream of and hope to get a chance I really felt like I was somewhere that only a
to hunt—and hunt him we did, walking several miles each day handful of people had possibly ever stood.
to get out to the spot they liked to lay down in the afternoon.
We would reach it just in time to have them move off and We had climbed over a rocky ledge next to a waterfall and
disappear. After not seeing him for two days Tanner thought it entered a high valley, there was water and grass in the bottom
was time to move on. By now most of the sheep we had seen and towering walls of rock and scree slopes guarding it on
had pushed into the timber out of sight. three sides. As we worked our way to the back of the valley
Day 10, we packed up camp, loaded the horses and moved. I stopping and glassing as we moved, I couldn’t help but think a
don’t know how far it really was, but I know it took most of ram was just on the other side of every rock.
a day to get there. We saw six sheep including a six-year-old
ram, more than 30 elk, and a moose on the ride in. We even It was the afternoon of Day 12 when Tanner and I talked
about how we should spend the last two days of my hunt. I
knew that we had a full day just to break camp and ride the

33

horses back to base leaving us with only one more day to hunt. met he tells me, “I see him and he’s old, but you’re not going
Tanner was calm as always reminding me that the hunt wasn’t to like the shot.” As he explains that he could hold on to my
over and that we could hunt right up to the last minute if that’s backpack as I get close to the edge and lean over for the shot,
what we needed to do. It was that night that we agreed that a I must have had a look of, “I don’t think so!” on my face. We
move was probably our best decision. We would go back to came up with a different plan to move around the side of the
where we had started our hunt, look for the rams we had seen mountain to see if we could get a better angle.
before and possibly pick up a new one. As we moved we saw something that explains why sheep
Day 13: If I’m honest, I would tell you I came to grips that I can be so hard to find. We stumbled on a cave covered with
had experienced a great hunt in an amazing place with three hundreds of sheep droppings and just a few yards lower
awesome people and that it might just not be my time to take a another depression that was again covered in hundreds of
sheep home. It was quiet as we packed up camp, some of that droppings. The only way you could see a sheep in one of
might have been that Tanner, Taylor and I were all thinking these spots other than standing right there would be from the
about the hunt winding down without taking a sheep and some vantage point of a helicopter.
of it was missing sounds of bells and horses. Morgan had been As we moved away from the sheep cave and back over to the
gone a while looking for the horses who must have thought the edge of the cliff, Tanner spotted the rams lying in the rocks
hunt was over as they appeared to have headed back early to below. We moved to the edge slowly and low to the ground.
base camp. As I set up to shoot the 260 yards at 42 degrees, Tanner took
We glassed as we moved, we spotted elk and a nice bull moose. another look through his spotting scope. The minutes felt
As we came to the same pass that we had hiked to for the like hours until he looked up, gave me a wink, and said, “He’s
first several days, it became a well-rehearsed drill, Tanner and legal.” He explained that all of his first year and most of his
I gathered our hunting gear as Taylor and Morgan took the second are gone, but he still shows eight rings for sure making
horses down to set up a camp for the night. We quickly headed him nine or 10 years old.
the 300 yards straight over to the cliffs. Those few minutes I wish I could tell you everything that was going through my
were full of suspense. Are the rams going to be there? Will we see head at that moment, but there’s just no way I can. I remember
the White-Faced Ram? Would there be one that was in a spot that
we could get to? A quick look at all the spots they had seemed to
like didn’t turn up a single sheep. It was a moment that felt like
it was moving in slow motion.
As I turned to Tanner he looked at me and shook his head,
“No.” I turned around and looked behind us to notice
something that just didn’t look like a rock on the skyline. I
lifted my binos to see a ram standing there facing our way,
“Tanner, I see a sheep, it’s a ram.” We both scrambled to
get spotting scopes on the ram only to realize he was a great
looking five or six-year-old, but not shooting legal. Then
Tanner said real quiet, “I got another one...” and began to
describe him as wide and heavy with sag in his back indicating
age. Both rams had begun to move away from us and suddenly
it was like everything jumped into fast forward.
We both grabbed our gear hurriedly talking about how this was
the chance we had hoped for. It was going to be a push and
we didn’t have much time. The sheep were already moving and
had a 1500 yard head start. As we made our way to a saddle we
realized we had probably gotten ahead of the rams. We slowed
down and started working our way back ruling out country as
we glassed. Tanner really showed his salt moving closer and
closer to a set of cliffs until he had made his way out of my
sight. When he reappeared I could see it on his face, he found
them! He motioned for me to come down the ridge and as we

34 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019



thinking about my breathing and how I was going to squeeze
the trigger when the gun went off. The sheep jumped up and
headed up the slope. I shot again, this time the ram dropped
and started sliding down the rocks. Some yelling and a few high
fives were exchanged, and to tell you the truth it was all just as
awesome as I had always thought that moment would be.
We ended up going back to camp and having to recover our
prize the following day. A 260 yard shot would turn into a
several mile recovery as getting down the cliffs was not a safe
option especially as it was getting dark and starting to rain.
He’s an old ram with heavy broomed horns and a grey face and
neck, his body is darker but not one of the dark chocolate/grey
rams that do come out of this area. On the 13th day of my
hunt Tanner guided his 13th ram for a lucky hunter that just
happened to be me.
There is so much more I could tell about my 15 days at
Tuchodi. The time when Morgan and I were so happy to
find water on the side of the hill, how good we ate every day,
parts of the mountains that looked to be completely covered
with blueberries. The time I got to visit with Larry about the
history of the area and some of what he has seen in his years
there. The last breakfast we had when Monte helped Laura
cook sheep back strap and bannock. And how hard three
people who had never met me before worked to make my
hunt so great. All 15 days were Awesome and something I will
remember forever! To my family that has always supported
me, I Thank you. To Jim, Zach and everyone at the Idaho
Wild Sheep Foundation who helped put this trip together, I
Thank you. To Monty, Larry, Tanner, Taylor, Morgan and the
entire crew at Tuchodi River Outfitters who made this a true
experience of a lifetime, I Thank You! ▪

“This is the kind of sheep you dream of and
hope to get a chance to hunt—and hunt
him we did, walking several miles
each day to get out to the spot
they liked to lay down
in the afternoon.“

36 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019



MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION

Print and complete the application form, and mail with payment to the address below. Membership can also
be completed online at www.idahowildsheep.org.

Yes, I want to help “Put Sheep on the Mountain”. Enclosed is my check.

I am a new member
This is a renewal

Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation Membership
• $35 for One-Year Regular Membership
• ____ $95 Three Year Membership
• $500 for Lifetime Membership – Life Member #__________ (Office Use)
• ____ $500 YOUTH Lifetime Membership – Life Member # __________(Office Use)
• ____ $1,000 I want to upgrade my existing Life membership to a Centennial membership
• ____ $1,500 Centennial Membership – Centennial Member # __________ (Office Use)

National Wild Sheep Foundation Membership
• _____ $45 Annual Membership
• _____ $120 Three Year Membership
• _____ $80 Family Membership
• _____ $100 International Membership (Non North America Residents)
• _____ $1,000 Life Membership under the age of 59
• _____ $750 Life Membership Age 59-64
• _____ $500 Life Members 65+
• _____ $1,500 Summit Life Membership
• _____ $25 <1 Club membership is open ONLY to those aspiring sheep hunters who have not yet taken a North

American or international wild sheep ram*. Annual membership in the <1 Club is only $25. MUST be a current
WSF member.

Name:

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip:

Home Phone: Business Phone:

E-Mail Address:

Please mail your application and check to:
Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 8224, Boise, ID 83707

Phone: 208-345-6171 ~ Fax: 208-321-4819
Email: [email protected]

Website: www.idahowildsheep.org

Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit association.

ten mile creek ranch

Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation Awarded Wildlife Community Challenge Grant

During the summer of 2018, by Mike Schlegel Rams on property October 2018
the Idaho Fish and Game
Commissioners announced awarded the Region 2 grant and we are relinquishes certain development rights,
they were offering seven $10,000 fish and in the process of working with partners all other rights incidental to property
wildlife community challenge grants, one to develop a conservation easement ownership are retained by the landowner.
for each fish and game administrative for the property, raise money for the The landowner may sell, donate, lease,
region, plus a $30,000 statewide grant. easement, and assist with the search for a mortgage, and exclude others from their
The grants were for fiscal year 2019 conservation buyer. property, but the terms of the easement
(July 2018 – June 2019) and required a In the summer of 2018, Western Rivers are binding on successive landowners.”
minimum of a 1:1 match by the applicant. Conservancy (http://www.westernrivers. The primary purpose of the conservation
We applied for two grants: one in IDFG org/) purchased Ten Mile Creek Ranch, easement for the Ten Mile Creek Ranch
Region 6 in the South Beaverhead including 26 undeveloped subdivided property is to protect bighorn sheep and
bighorn sheep population management lots, with the intent to work with Idaho their habitat found on the property plus
unit area to improve population census Fish and Game and non-governmental other conservation resource values.
techniques and data; the other, in Region agencies (us and others) to develop a The Ten Mile Ranch property contains
2, a conservation easement for the Ten conservation easement for the property, important lambing and lamb-rearing
Mile Creek Ranch along the Snake River generate the money needed to off-set habitat, and receives concentrated year-
south of Lewiston in Hells Canyon the easement and then sell the ranch. round use by bighorn sheep. These
to protect/enhance bighorn sheep Specifically, “A conservation easement is bighorns are often visible from the
populations. a legal agreement between a landowner Snake River and enjoyed by thousands
IDWSF wrote a letter of support for and a qualified organization in which of people every year. This property is
conservation of the Ten Mile Creek the landowner voluntary agrees to limit adjacent to Game Management Unit 11
Ranch in 2017, which was approved certain types of development and uses in which only one limited-entry bighorn
by Idaho Department of Fish and (e.g. intense subdivision) to protect ram tag is currently issued annually. Unit
Game about a year ago. IDWSF was specific conservation values such as
wildlife habitat, agricultural land or 39
water resources. While the landowner

Plat map for the 10-Mile Ranch property
Bighorns near the house on the river

40 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

11 has produced the top-scoring rams acres of river breaks, with approximately affiliates, plus other select organizations,
in Idaho and is one of the most highly 5 miles of river frontage. There are two to help fund this project. For more
sought after tags in the nation. According houses on the property, a caretaker’s information on the property and the
to the IDFG bighorn sheep management house at the top of the property at the project contact:
plan, there is also tremendous potential access point off a county road, and a Zach Spector
for growth of this population. lodge along the Snake River; a paved road 503-241-0151
connects the two. There is also a private, [email protected], or
The Ten Mile Creek Ranch is located paved boat ramp on the property. Mike Schlegel
approximately 10 miles south of In addition to providing direct support, 208-630-3001
Lewiston, north of the IDFG Craig IDWSF will be working with the Wild [email protected]
Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Sheep Foundation, its chapters and
The ranch includes approximately 2,920
Aerial view of the 10-
Mile Ranch property

Bighorn sheep locations on the
10-Mile Ranch property

41



43

NORTHWEST

MOUNTAIN

44 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

TERRITORIES

CARIBOU

Author Jeff McMurdie

as told to Writer Bill London

Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation (IDWSF) Life Member Jeff covered knob that overlooked a natural mineral lick the
McMurdie attended the 2018 IDWSF banquet last March. caribou frequented. Within ten minutes a respectable bull
During the live auction he won a North West Territories appeared. First day dilemma: shoot-don’t-shoot? Both men
Mountain Caribou hunt with Gana River Outfitters. The decided to pass in hopes of larger bulls later.
hunt included 12 days of horseback caribou hunting with
options for wolves and wolverine. Jeff was paired up with First day dilemma: shoot-don’t-shoot? Both
Pennsylvanian Eric Abernathy from the Eastern Chapter of men decided to pass in hopes of larger bulls
the Wild Sheep Foundation. Eric and Jeff met while en route
to base camp. In the gentlemanly fashion of sportsmen, they later.
decided that Eric would get the first opportunity at a caribou
while Jeff would be first on a wolf. As it was, the next week was tough hunting. The weather was
At the Palmer Lake base camp, Jeff and Eric met Gana River warmer than normal, in the high 60s, causing the bot flies to
owner Harold Grinde, his wife Laura, and assorted family and harass and harangue the poor caribou into the higher cooler
crew. Also packing in was Jim Winjum, President at Kenetrek country near snow fields. The bot flies, also known as warble
Boots LLC, who was archery hunting Dall sheep along with flies, of the Oestridae family, lay eggs in the hair of the
his friend and photographer Brad Renfry. Jim’s guide was Scott caribou. The caribou body heat makes the eggs hatch into
Kennedy. Jeff and Eric would be guided by Dane Schott. Camp larvae that immediately burrow under the bou’s skin. There,
cook was Kathryn Fjellbirkeland ‘Fjell’ Schott (Dane’s wife), the larvae stay for up to six months before dropping to the
and the wrangler for the trip was Wyatt. ground to pupate and become adults. The bots make caribou
After sorting out gear they rode horseback for seven hours spooky and flighty. Several times Jeff was watching a group
to spike camp. Encouragingly, caribou were seen on the way. of caribou when one would suddenly dash away trying to
While Jeff rode his horse along the trail, several of the pack escape these flies.
horses were ‘ponied in’. This is when a horse is not tethered by
a picking string to the horse in front of it. The ponied horse One day Dane, Jeff, and Eric rode into a high region known
follows along or cuts into line as it wishes. This practice avoids as the “Purples” appropriately named for the purple rocks
long confusing pack strings connected by picking-strings, but it found there. Dane suddenly said, “Wolf.” Jeff dismounted
does add a degree of chaos and fun to a ride. his horse to see a beautiful light gray, almost white, wolf.
For lodging, the hunters were given the options of an old cabin Chambering a round while shouldering his rifle, Jeff saw the
or wall tents. Jeff opted for the cabin while the others tented. wolf walking away behind a tree, not offering a good shot.
Jeff spent some time tidying the cabin, but felt it would be Jeff aimed at the other side of the tree, but the wolf did not
worth it to have a dry floor and wood stove if cold wet weather show itself again. Jeff saddled up hoping for another chance
moved in. at a wolf.

On the eighth day, the trio were glassing when Dane spotted
a large bull caribou a couple of miles off. Eric and Dane
left towards the bull while Jeff stayed where he could see it.

The first day of hunting Dane took Jeff and Eric to a tree 45

The bull laid down and was difficult for the others to re-locate. smoothly and Jeff was able to prone out for the shot. The bull
Eventually Eric spotted the bedded bull at 60 yards, whistled to was dropped cleanly. A beautiful mature animal!
get it to rise and shot it. There was rejoicing! Eric had shot a
large bull. It was a long pack back to camp and wet weather was The bull was feeding at 500 yards. There was a
setting in. pine tree 200 yards from the team, if they could
With Eric’s bull hanging, Jeff was in the batter’s box for the crawl undetected to it the bull would be at 300
next caribou bull, but there were only a few hunting days left.
The cabin became a popular place for drying out clothing and yards.
the telling of daily events. Dall hunters Jim and Brad reported
seeing several large caribou near a glacier. Jeff was thinking that After pictures and handshakes, the wrangler left to gather
he had seen many Dall sheep while glassing for caribou. It only Eric and Fjell. The rain continued as everyone worked at
made sense that the sheep hunters would see the big bou. skinning and boning out the meat. Jeff was impressed with the
The next day found everyone out in the rain looking for Jeff ’s cleanliness and the respect that the Gana River crew treated
bull. Dane spotted a large set of upright caribou antlers 900 the animal and meat. A pack horse was brought over and game
yards away feeding behind a pine tree. Soon it raised its head bags of meat were loaded into the panyards. When Dane
and just ran away. A few Grizzly bears were sighted wandering started to load the head and cape the horse exploded! The head
about. Further glassing revealed another large bull four miles went straight up and Dane caught it. One panyard landed on
away. They all saddled up and rode towards it through deep the horses’ head while the other was thrown off a few yards
muskeg and bogs, often up to the horses’ bellies. A steep as the horse ran away. It took a while to settle the horse and
canyon forced the group to divert away from the bull and retrieve the meat.
stumble onto more caribou. Careful not to spook those animals
they resumed glassing for the bull. Dane spotted antlers at 600 By then it was getting late and dark. Fjell mentioned that it
yards. Eric and Fjell stayed put while Dane, Jeff and Wyatt rode would be safer to wait until morning before trying to take the
onto a bench and eventually tied the horses. horses through the muskegs. Reluctantly, everyone agreed and
The bull was feeding at 500 yards. There was a pine tree 200 started looking for firewood and a place to bivy for the night.
yards from the team. If they could crawl undetected to it, What followed was a long, cold, boring night spent huddled
the bull would be at 300 yards. The sneak to the tree went around a small fire trying to stay warm and hoping that the
grizzly bears stayed away. At first light the team was on its way.
The rain had made their original route too slippery so they
forged another only to be cliffed out above a waterfall. After
another detour they rode into camp tired and wet, but happy

46 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 20189



with the caribou. There was still more reason to celebrate, Jim
had killed a dandy Dall with his bow!
The spike camp ‘air strip’ is a gravel bar on the river. The rain
had raised the water level and the airstrip was soon to disappear
so Harold flew in to take Eric out to base camp. Later he
returned for Jeff.
Breakfast the next morning was interrupted by dogs barking.
Harold mentioned that a certain dog only barked when there
was a wolf near. He went outside and howled. The howl was
answered from the trees across the airstrip. Jeff and Harold
rode a UTV to the area on the other side of the strip. Jeff was
told to sit on a picnic bench and to be ready for a shot. Harold
howled again and a wolf walked out of the trees over 300
yards away. Jeff shot, the wolf dropped, but then ran back into
the trees. The men tracked the wolf and recovered it. Oh the
ironies of hunting thought Jeff, “All that time in the wilderness
and I shoot a wolf from a picnic bench.” ▪

48 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019

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49

IDWSF conservation
committee report

Committee Members: Jim Jeffress, Mike Schlegel,
Bruce Mincher, Jason Pyron, & Bill London

The conservation committee has been involved on several fronts; call with the forest supervisor; however the USFS is
primarily habitat, disease transition (primarily Movi) from reluctant to make this determination. If their final decision
domestic sheep to wild sheep, and education. does not support SCC for bighorn sheep, we may many, in
1. The US Forest Service management conjunction with other parties, may have to appeal.

plans IDWSF continues to participate in the Bighorn Advocates
The US Forest Service (USFS) is renewing forest Association, an interesting group of bighorn sheep
management plans. Each forest has its own plan that guides advocate. We have set aside our differences and have
their management programs for the next several years. The agreed to work for what is best for bighorn sheep. The
IDWSF works closely with the USFS and monitors their associations’ focus on SCC classification is an example of
decisions and how they affect wild sheep. coming together for a common cause.
The classification of bighorn sheep as a Species of
Conservation Concern (SCC) is an issue we have worked 2. Domestic sheep grazing allotments:
toward on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. There are converted to cattle, purchased and/or
eight distinct bighorn sheep populations on the forest; retired
all below habitat carrying capacity and four are below
the Salmon-Challis Forest viability threshold. Respiratory In the continued effort to reduce Risk of Contact between
disease is a significant issue. We contend for those domestic and wild sheep the IDWSF has been working
populations to thrive and increase, SCC designation is in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation to
necessary. Their planning document lists eight criteria for a identify critical domestic sheep grazing allotments that can
species to be considered a SCC. We have documented that be converted to cattle, purchased and/or retired. Through
bighorn sheep meet all criteria, plus have had a conference these efforts the Fisher Creek sheep grazing allotment
adjacent to the Cecil D Andrus White Cloud Mountains
50 IDAHOWILDSHEEP.ORG / SPRING 2019 Wilderness was recently permanently retired. IDWSF
contributed $15,000 toward retirement of this allotment.