8 minute read
STONE RAM TOUGH
STONE STONE RAM RAM TOUGH TOUGH
Terry Rodakowski poses with his 9-year-old full-curl ram, a prime Stone sheep specimen. “The wait was tough but well worth the final outcome,” he says of two years of Covid delays that served to ripen the anticipation and adventure all the more.
A long-awaited trip to the remote mountains of far northern British Columbia yields a memorable full-curl sheep for an Oregon hunter.
STORY BY TROY RODAKOWSKI PHOTOS BY TERRY RODAKOWSKI
This year, my father, Terry Rodakowski, celebrated his 71st birthday in March, his 50th wedding anniversary in July, and bagged his Stone ram in August, putting him just a couple sheep shy of his Grand Slam.
“I’d like to get my slam done by the time I’m 80,” says Rodakowski. He has gotten a bit of a late start on his goal, since he didn’t begin hunting wild sheep until he was in his mid-60s. However, he is in fantastic shape for his age and plans to keep it that way for as long as possible.
TRAVELING TO CANADA in pursuit of the beautiful Stone sheep, he was excited to make the trek by plane, boat and horse. Needless to say, these sheep are found in remote areas that take a good amount of travel time and sore muscles. Both Rodakowski’s guide and wrangler were in their early 20s with a few good years of experience under their belts. The two-plus-year wait due to Covid restrictions made the anticipation for this hunt even greater for Rodakowski. “The wait was tough but well worth the final outcome,” he says.
As someone who’s made similar hunting trips, I can say that you find yourself relishing every moment, from the plane to the river and riding the horses. Sore muscles are the norm on these expeditions. Hunts like these may look glamorous, but to be honest, they are a lot of work for all involved.
Stone sheep range from the northern Rocky Mountains and the Skeena region of British Columbia to Alaska and the Yukon. Around 85 percent of all the Stone sheep in the
A rainbow brightens the remote wilderness of the northern Rocky Mountains of Canada that is home to the subspecies of Dall sheep. To reach the hunting area and a spike camp, Rodakowski, who hails from western Oregon, travelled by jet, bush plane, boat, horse and on foot.
world are found in BC; however, the population seems to be decreasing in parts of the province and therefore population and habitat management are of utmost importance. Some factors that are limiting Stone sheep populations include predators like wolves, coyotes, wolverines and grizzly bears, and other ungulates that compete for forage. Regarding predators, recommendations have been made to increase hunting seasons on wolverines and grizzlies where they prey on sheep. Research on lambing to reduce predation by eagles has also been implemented in recent years.
FOR THE HUNT, Rodakowski had a 6.5 PRC built by In-Rut Rifle Company from South Dakota. His boomstick was loaded with Berger 156-grain EOL VLD bullets from Choice Ammo in Victor, Montana. After months of practice with his rifle, Rodakowski was proficient from long range out to 1,000 yards. Of course, glassing sheep and getting as close as possible was top priority. Field judging a good ram through a spotting scope would be easier from a few hundred yards. Unfortunately, the weather was foggy and cool, which made glassing very tough from long distances across the green canyons of upper British Columbia and Northwest Territories.
Rodakowski steadies himself for the shot he had waited for. He used a custom-built rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC and a Berger 156-grain EOL VLD bullet to make the 555-yard shot.
This would be Rodakowski’s third sheep and second towards his North American Grand Slam. The plan was to travel to the small town of Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, where he’d board a small-engine bush plane and fly to a base camp, then boat upriver for a day on horseback to reach hunting country. There, they would set up a mobile spike camp.
On opening morning, the hunter and his guide climbed to a vantage point where they were able to find a group of rams feeding in a small hillside basin. These sheep live in some of the most rugged country in North America and getting close is not always an option. As they got their spotting scopes out to take a look, a dense bank of fog, mist and drizzle settled in, reducing visibility to near zero. Finding a mature ram is not always easy, but the hunters had time to wait out the thick blanket of fog and organize their gear.
Older – meaning 8-, 9-, 10-plusyear-old – rams are the least likely to survive the winter, so in order to harvest the individuals that will least impact the herd, the hunters should target these more mature rams because “technically” they are going to die within the next year or two anyway. If a ram is 10-plus, there is a good chance he’s on his last legs
and likely not breeding anymore, instead sitting back and watching the drama of the rut unfold, conserving his energy for the long winter ahead, and taking the limited feed from the young up-and-comers.
Close analysis of the sheep is important when hunting to determine the age and quality of the ram. Hence, using good glass is very important and almost a necessity for most hunters. With the spotters set, it was now time to wait and see what would be unveiled once the fog lifted.
AFTER PATIENTLY WAITING
for several hours, the fog began to break, revealing several sheep across the canyon. Some of them were bedded and others were already up feeding. Rodakowski and his guide began to take their time and look them over closely. There were three full-curl legal rams in the group, with one in particular standing out to both of them.
Like a couple of snakes, the two slithered across the mountainside, trying to get as close as possible for a potential shot. The rangefinder said they were at 555 yards, and it looked as if they would not be able to get much closer due to the terrain. The wind had picked up a bit too, which made things even more challenging. Now all the hunter had to do was wait for the ram to stand and stretch. His Zeiss V6
Another look at Rodakowski and his fine northern British Columbia ram.
3-18x50 scope was dialed for windage and ready to rock and roll.
The setting was beautiful, like a high-dollar painting, as the sun began to peak from behind the rolling fog, revealing those sheep. “Simply unforgettable,” says Rodakowski, describing a moment in time carved into his memory forever.
Finally, the ram stood up to stretch and it was time for the hunter to make his shot. Rodakowski took a deep breath, held it, steadied his rifle’s crosshairs and gently squeezed the trigger. The report from the shot echoed throughout the canyon walls like thunder. The mature ram took the 156-grain Berger through the chest and staggered, falling to the ground and rolling a couple hundred feet down the slope. A gigantic sigh of relief and deep breath were taken before all of the high fives and celebration. The work to preserve the meat and get it off the mountain was now first priority and the thought of fresh backstraps over the fire was very energizing.
Sore muscles and tired feet were a welcome feeling for this hunter who spent a lifetime waiting for this single moment to fulfill his dream of a backcountry Stone sheep.
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