Delta CUA x2

Daniel_M

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Doubled up over 9 days. Absolutely brutal, savage and exhausting country. Over 30+ miles and 2 rams packed out.

My ram went 10yo, 38" on the long side and broomed. Bases 13 14/16

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Joined
Jan 6, 2014
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AK
Very cool. Hope to hear some stories and see some more pictures. I've spent quite a bit of time in the DCUA, pretty rugged country.
 

oenanthe

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Aug 21, 2014
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Fbks, AK
Nice ram! Your buddys on the left looks good too. Walk in?

We're all dyin' to see more pics ... help us out! :D
 
Joined
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Great job guys, and a great start to your sheep hunting addiction! That's going to be a tough ram to top.


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SLDMTN

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Nice work guys! Hoping you do a write-up and share some more photos.
 
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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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After Kodiak last November my friend asked if I wanted to put in for party sheep. We kicked around a few spots and at his lead we put in for Delta. He has been in a specific area before and pulled out a 41" ram.

Luck came around Feb 18th and we pulled deuces. My diet and health immediately changed. Clean eating, weights 3-5x a week and as the snow melted the hiking began.

26 Aug we hit the hangar and wheels up at 0900. My partner took the long leg into country from Delta while I shuttled my truck to a strip 40 miles away at Dry Creek which is a major back country hub for most things Delta and TMA related whether it's for Sheep, caribou or Moose.

My photos are short for the first few days, slogging and glassing. Admittedly it was a lot to take in for a first time sheep hunter. This specific drainage was brutal. There was no above-vegetation landing. From the strip to our final camp above the creek we gained over 2000ft in drainage elevation, not even counting every ridge, gulley and run off we had to drop down into and climb out of.

Some of them were literally 60-90ft deep, fighting the willows the entire time and praying for a game trail to follow on the way back up.

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Not long after breaking camp Monday I spotted an absolute beast of a ram. His neck and curls skylined the terrain with the sun at his back, but not lighting us up on the valley floor. He was a brute. We did drop packs and make an attempt to climb into a better position but the mountain proved otherwise. Too steep, too loose and too dangerous for us to even attempt.

After hiking the side drainage into a glacial moraine, a better view of his home gave way. He would be untouchable.

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Day 4 pushed us down to the river bed for some faster coverage. We had decided that with the low numbers of rams in general, let alone the 1 legal we had seen on our side, we decided to push deeper. The river gave us a decent highway.

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Snyd

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You're hooked now! Nice job. I got hooked on sheep hunting in the DCUA when I accompanied a frined. 2 years later I got my first ram on a DCUA walkin hunt along with my buddy who got his also. Keep the pics coming!
 
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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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Day 4 landed our final camp below the headwaters and fork. Dubbed the Triangle.

We scanned a crew 38 ewes and lambs right out the gate, no rams. Late Tuesday my partner spotted 2 rams. Given their location across the river, we gave up thought of a chase and simply enjoyed watched them.

Wednesday came and went, no new rams.

By Thursday the itch was on. We put the rams down for a nap, and when we though they were anchored for the afternoon if was game on. We decided to hike upriver in hopes of finding a half way decent place to forde the river. Mind you the river drops well over 2000ft from its head to the dump. He was content going in between knee and thigh deep. I however didn't share the same. My feet being taped up are my lifeline on this trip, I couldn't risk a bad heel 10 miles in.

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After a quick high 5 on the ice, we backtracked about 1.5 miles before getting into a play position. A dry run off provided us the perfect access to a ledge above the rams. Completely out of sight with no risk of wind.
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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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You're hooked now! Nice job. I got hooked on sheep hunting in the DCUA when I accompanied a frined. 2 years later I got my first ram on a DCUA walkin hunt along with my buddy who got his also. Keep the pics coming!

Full disclosure I'm licking my wounds. This area was brutal, absolutely brutal. And we each packed our own camp and rams out.


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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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1655 we were in position. The rams hadn't moved but 10 yards.

Rifles at ready. We discussed order, target and secondary measures with 2 shooters and 2 rams on location the commotion and adrenaline can be a game changer. He was on deck with first pick, and his ram to the left of mine which made it easy. We waited until both were broadside before he took his shot and I would follow up.

I ranged my ram at 206yds. With less than 5* incline off the bench, I missed my first and second shot. High and to the left. 2 days prior I fell inside the bottom of one of our famous gorges and landed on my rifle. Wasn't too bad, no visual damage. But apparently enough for a clean miss. On my second shot he ran, but given the line of fire I couldn't press forward of the rocks for another look. ROE was already discussed, engage backup if needed. I planted my partners ram in place and we pushed forward to find my ram frozen in place. Not a clue where the shots came from.

After some Kentucky, I put him down with a high shoulder shot.

Not what I had expected of myself at 206 yards. But the wisdom of my good friend holds true, sometimes killing is dirty business.

And before quitting time, we had 2 rams down.

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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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21 hours later we were back in camp. After not getting down the mountain until midnight, we thought best to curl up in the fetal position and take a nap. Around 0430 a little campfire for moral and boots down at first light.

If you've never traversed a glacial moraine, it's best done after an aerial view. At dark we were getting lost without a significant field view, hiking down passages only to be terrained out so to speak.

You can see the massive rock piles left from the ice, creating a maze of passages and cut offs.
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With the river and glacier at our backs, we beat feet back to camp. It's amazing how slow and painful 2 sheep are. The rest of Friday was spent sleeping and working capes.

Saturday morning we packed up and headed for the strip. ~11 miles and 30 hours total time.


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SLDMTN

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Awesome write up! Can't wait for November to come again and start this whole draw process all over again.
 
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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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Yup. I'm home today cleaning up gear and licking my wounds. 30 hour packing out was brutal. I wish I could post video of the alder laden hell we traveled. Gulleys 60-90ft deep, only way out was using alders and cussing. Lots of "F" bombs.


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Daniel_M

Daniel_M

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Couple more...

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A little salt for the wounds. This fella was content sleeping 350 yards from us the day after we landed at spike with 2 rams.
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realunlucky

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Enjoyed reading all about your adventure thanks for taking all the great photos and sharing the journey

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oenanthe

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Thanks so much for the pics and story!

That may be the best BS you'll ever have. The TL is pretty good too!
 

BRWNBR

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F bombs??!! Noooo not you!! Did you trim your beard? Is your hunting buddy camera shy or do we not get to see pics of his ram? Congrats man! My client you met at the lodge just asked how your sheep hunt went!
 
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