Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Montana umlimited bighorn areas

I have wanted to do that one for many years. I expect to not bag a ram, but there is no chance short of winning the lotto that I can hunt sheep anywhere else. I just can't pull 12g's out of my families mouth for AK. I already have the wife prepped for me spending the dough to take pictures of landscape....lol. oh well, can't winn if you don't play!

Nice ram, Pat

Is that a tent in the picture behind that ram? I thought you just threw your bag on the ground under a tree and pulled a piece of plastic over you...like you and Jerry did on top of that mountain in that big rainstorm back in about '85 or '86?

As for the statement of guides sitting on rams and threatening other hunters, well, like Scenarshooter, I also hunted several of the Unlimited areas for many years and I never saw this occur. I'm not saying it never happens or that it can't happen, I'm just saying I've never seen it happen.

I've also known Scenarshooter for about 30 years, and like the pictures he has posted on this Forum show, he's killed more game animals, and more BIG game animals than most of us will ever see. Pat is about as hard a hunter as anyone will ever see. Only one day you left the mountain too early, didn't you Pat?

I mentioned above that I had hunted Montana's Unlimited sheep areas for a number of years. I wasn't successful every hunt, and some hunts I didn't even see a sheep. And I regret now that I didn't hunt them harder back then.

Like Scenarshooter posted, we used to be able to buy an Unlimited tag if we were not successful in the drawing for limited areas. I haven't hunted in the Unlimited areas since FWP made the Unlimited tag our first choice.

And I was successful on a few of my Unlimited ram hunts...

Unfortunately, 12 Grand won't do it anymore either.

Ted

thanks for sharing the information, pics, and memories. It definately fuels the mind.

I was playing on the poor economy....lol

Kurt, We sure had some good times chasing those rams in the Hilgard's back in the 80's! It was sad to see them close that unit.

For anyone listening, Kurt's collection of westerm trophys would rival anybody's that I know. I suggest when he speaks, keep your ears open....lots of knowledge there and he's willing to share it.

His Golden Retriever, "Buffy" was one of the coolest dogs I've ever been around.

Sumpin' tells me you'd do alright at that too.

how do you know when the quota has been met......if you are miles deep?

guys thanks for keep up the faith for me, this seems to be the most taboo topic in the world. I, as a working class joe who makes my money right in the heart of that season have a tough time scouting it let alone hunting it. nobody wants to tell much because of the vulnerability of the hunt. I really appreciate the pics and info.....very classy.

You have to call out, cell or sat phone.

is that a daily thing? what was the procedure pre cell phones?

Word of mouth...Forest Service guys or FWP Wardens would ride the trails,visit camps and spread the word. Once in awhile someone would show up with a ram taken beyond the 48 hour closure notice, but not very often.

The status of the units is also broadcast on an AM radio station (can't remember which one) every evening.

How long, on average, is the unit actually open? Does it generally close after the second day or what it the norm?

Brent

Is there a minimum curl restriction?

Yes, it is 3/4 curl. The montana regs tell you how to determine if it is 3/4 curl or better.

Can someone explain how it works to me?? Not that I am a rock but I am curious about where and when and how one obtains a tag??

You have to put in for the draw in May, but when you choose an unlimited unit theres no guess about if a tag is gonna show up in August. X2 on there being alot of bad info out there I think there are alot of people tryin to scare people off. It is very rugged and there arent many sheep but it is doable. You just have to put alot of work and time in. Id say that if your a non resident itd be just as cheap and quicker to just buy a guided Dalls sheep hunt

Call Mike Lovely; if he's still in business he will give you some good information.
http://www.rboutfitters.com/hunt/sheep.php