Having recently talked with a ODFW Bio, the news is out that the Coyotes are eating well! There is an over abundance of Rodents and Rabbits in S.E. Oregon. Time for hunters to get out reduce the Coyote numbers if they want Pronghorn and Deer fawn survival in the future!
Keeping this short with an ending comment!
“If you can’t call in a Coy Dog, you don’t know how to call” (CF)
Hawiian Black Corsican taken near Ashwood, OR – Little Trout Creek
I was lacking a Hawaiian Black Sheep in my quest for the Grand Slam of Exotic Sheep.
One needed a Mouflon, Corsican (Pure Breed), Texas Dall (Pure White-Long Hair) and the Hawaiian Black in order to have a Grand Slam.
I had already taken a Corsican early on once I found exotics running loose in
The Mouflon came a bit later and I took a Texas Dall in
During my hunt for the Texas Dall, I had the opportunity to harvest a Hawaiian Black and larger a Corsican than I already had, but past them up in quest for the Texas Dall. I do remember that hunt as there were so many rams, I was overwhelmed. I had concentrated on getting the Texas Dall.
Ok! Getting to the hunt for the Hawaiian Black, I again was going to hunt outside of
I knew that when the sheep were in the area, that they would most definitely be located in the draws above Little Trout Creek, I could get in on them easily from above. Most of the cover would be Juniper, light sagebrush and rimrock.
I believe that I had Chuck Megeske with me on this hunt and we headed up good old
I was fortunate to be able to find a nice ram running with a couple of other rams.
I do believe that the Hawaiian Black was the most difficult to find while hunting the canyons around Ashwood, Willowdale, Donnybrook,
I was able to make a dandy 450 yard shot on the ram with my 257 Weatherby, loaded with a 120gr. Sierra Grand Slam.
On this hunt, I was the only person to be able to connect on a ram.
A winter Hawaiian Black taken by LT.
Taken at 200 yards – Post Hollow – 257 Weatherby
I remember Dynamo’s comment to me “Bubba, I think you could have shot a bigger ram, like the one I got” Little did Dynamo realize that the Texas Dall (Corsican) Ram that I shot at 200 yards cross canyon would have a net score 105 (Gold Medal) would be the largest free ranging Texas Dall Ram ever shot in Oregon. Al and I had glass a herd of rams and eves for about an hour as they maneuvered their way to us. I had lots of time to decide on the type and size or ram that I wanted to shoot.
It had a been a virgin trip into Little Trout Creek, near Ashwood, OR. We had gotten permission to hunt the Darrel Friend Ranch. The sheep had a range of about 20 miles that they would move within from ranch to ranch and BLM. During a spring run-off I watch sheep jump and swim across a river. We had been the first persons other than family that got the opportunity to hunt this ranch.
Again this ban of sheep and other exotics had been turned loose some twenty years before this hunt by “Old Harry”. He had found ranchers that would be willing to let him turn them loose for future use of paid hunting. “Old Harry” just got to old to see where his dream went.
“John, this Frank from Portland and I am in the sporting goods business , I understand that you have free ranging Aoudads running around on your place?” “Yes I do”! “What can I do for you, I don’t let anyone except family hunt my ranch?” “Just wondering if you are into horse trading?” “What do you have to offer?” “Well I would probably like to know what you would really like to have for the opportunity for me hunt your place for an Aoudad Billie.” “How about a mastercase of 22LR.” “John, consider it done, anything else you might want!”
LCDR AL Murray with my Billy shot at 650 yards with 257 Weatherby.
About two weeks later Al an old Navy buddy and myself showed up with a master case of 22 Long Rifle ammo and a Kershaw Knife. “I doubt that you boys are going to find any goats this late in the afternoon, but go ahead and try up in Devil’s Canyon, just follow the dirt road and take left before the creek and it will get you up there.”