Dall Sheep Hunt NWT - Day #5
We didn't wake real early this morning, as we were still dog tired and sore from hiking fifteen hours yesterday and not getting back to camp until the "wee" hours. It didn't matter anyway, as today was pre-designated as a "move day". Jacob was called to service again, and arrived late morning to help pack us out to a new spike camp location. It took a while to take down the tent and tarp, as well as pack everything and haul it up to the helicopter pad for loading. We also worked a large breakfast into the schedule!
By the time Jacob arrived we were chomping at the bit to get to new country. Slim, and as much camp gear as would fit, went on the first load. Twenty minutes later Jacob was back for me and the balance of our "stuff". It is great riding in the front of that small copter flying right on the deck where you can see all the game.
There were caribou everywhere you look, although we were coming up with a serious shortage of good bulls. Jacob landed us in a valley two basins beyond the furthest one we had hiked to from the first camp location. Slim is sure there are some good rams around here "someplace" so we want to hunt the same range, just a bit further west.
We took our time setting up camp. Jacob stayed for a while to help, and then was called away to fly more lumber.
First he gave us a full report on what was happening with all the other hunters. Tod had received a call from home informing him of pressing business that caused him to cut his hunt short. He never got a shot at the ram he chased the first few days, but thankfully took a good caribou early on. Eric and Daniela both had their bulls, and everyone was back at camp early preparing capes and horns for the trip home. Here they are with their bulls.
Back at base camp the rest of the group pose with their bulls (left to right: Eric and Daniela Shields, Plil Race, and Joe Coleman
It seems I'm the last to connect and everyone has their fingers crossed that I'll get another opportunity. I have three days left and plenty of new ground to cover, so all is certainly not lost.
After setting up camp we had a little lunch and then decided to "freshen up" a bit. There is a roaring creek a few hundred yards from our camp. The sun was shinning and the water was clear and "cold"! It felt great to wash, once the numbness went away!
It was also good to rinse out some socks as we had packed pretty light and been hiking some long days. The rest of the time was spent resting, glassing from camp, and getting gear re-organized for tomorrow's hike.
Phil working hard glassing the hills and valleys for caribou (photo by Joe Coleman)