Montana-UNLimited Sheep

[adirondackman]

#5442

I was wondering if anyone is familar with or has hunted the Montana UNLimited sheep areas? I’m tired of playing the lottery game and I’m losing youth fast:lol: I know that it would be a tough hunt and that the Sheep population is thin. I could use any Info or insight that anyone has regarding these areas. Thanks in advance.

[Don Thomas]

#41506

I assume you are actually talking about Montana’s UNlimited sheep areas, near Yellowstone Park. Great country, but… To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever killed a sheep in any of them with a bow. It’s a tough hunt with a rifle. The animals are few and very widely dispersed. You would be lucky to see a mature ram. I don’t mean to sound discouraging… just realistic. Go ahead and go, but my advice is to call it a wilderness hike with a bow and not a sheep hunt. Don

[adirondackman]

#42097

Thanks Don, I appreciate the info. – Yes I ment the unlimited areas. With a quota of 2-3 Rams I assumed that it would be a tough hunt. Sometimes a wilderness hike with a bow is just what the doctor ordered:lol: Anyone up for the challenge?

[Bear Paw]

#56889

I had a friend that went into that area a few years back on horseback (hunting with a rifle)…..spent 10 days back in there and never saw a sheep, but they do kill sheep there.. Another problem is that you could buy a tag, go to the expense and time of getting back in there and if the quota is reached early your hunt is over… Not a real big deal for a resident, but I’d think it would be a consideration for a non-resident. The country is extremely rugged….hard to describe in words….you have to hike it to really understand. It’s not a matter of hiking in 3 or 4 miles… It’s much more involved than that.

[adirondackman]

#57120

BearPaw – Thanks for the info. What would you attribute the lack of success there? Do you think that the Sheep population is very sparse throughout the area or is the country so rough and remote that it is hard to hunt. Maybe a combination of both?

[Bear Paw]

#57227

Adirondackman wrote: BearPaw – Thanks for the info. What would you attribute the lack of success there? Do you think that the Sheep population is very sparse throughout the area or is the country so rough and remote that it is hard to hunt. Maybe a combination of both?

It’s been a few years since I’ve talked to anyone who has hunted there, but from what I understand the sheep are few and far between… The ruggedness and remoteness of the terrain is obviously a factor as well. There are areas of Montana (and Western Canada) that are as rugged as the unlimited areas in Montana, but there is better access. I’m guessing our wonderful wolf population that has been getting so much attention lately probably have dined on some sheep as well….If they can decimate an elk herd it would seem that bighorn sheep would be pretty easy pickings as well.

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