Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Phil Shoemaker-- Sheep guide

Phil,

I read in your artical on the 458 Lott that when you first moved to Alaska you guided for Dall sheep before becoming a bear guide. I'm headed up to your country this fall for my first Dall sheep hunt and was wondering if you could relate to us some comments on calibers and firearms that you or your clients used on this animal?

Any suggestions on needed or unuseful gear or related items would be appreciated.

Kennon

O.K.,

Anybody else?

Since you opened it up to us non scribes;

Use any caliber you want. I used a .270 and it worked great. Make sure it is LIGHT. In fact, minimize all your gear. I figured I would just go with what I had, heck, whats another couple of pounds. As soon as I got back, I was upgrading to lighter stuff. You don't really need much to get by!

My .270 is 10 lbs, upon return I built a 7 lb .300WSM for my next trip. If I was just going after sheep, I would have built a light .270, but I'm going to try for a Grizzly as well.

Get a good comfy pack and load it up and hike around the hills at home.

Take "Balance" energy bars. They are much better for you than candy.

Phil has signed off for a while. I think he went back to camp. Steve

Thanks fellows for posting.

I have always been a pragmatic sort and eventually settled on the 30-06 asthe rifle that best fit my use on sheep. I have used it all over the world as well on ibex and sheep and still prefer it. the .270 and .300's are arguably just as good.

Phil,

What rifle weight are you comfortable with for sheep hunting? Also are most shots under 300 yds.?

Rugernut,

Art (Sitka Deer, mod here) would be another poster to ask about these sheep questions. He has a few decades of experience or so.

Thanks bearstalker.

Rugernut

Most of my shots a sheep have been under 300 yds but you never can be sure of it. I like a fairly light weight rifle but you can get too light. 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 are fine by me

458Win, I found a magazine, I believe it was Successful Hunter, at my cabin last weekend that is about two years old. Your piece was about the SHOT show and all the high-tech gear that hunters bring to your camp. I read it again, for about the fifth time, and enjoyed is as much as the first.

458Win,

My memory is not real good at times, but I think that I read an article in SH, mayber their first issue where you used or took a .375 H&H on a sheep or goat hunt in some Asian country. If I'm remembering correctly, what was the reason for taking the .375?
[bleep]

I used to carry an 18 inc bbled .375 up here in Alaska as well. The trip to Tajikistan was a last minute deal as I filled in for another hunter. He had planned on using a .375 and according to Russian/Tajik rules I was told I had to as well. It was no handicap.

Phil,
Who was the outfit you hunted with in Tajikistan? Kern, Atcheson, Deltana, or ....???