Bret was one of two of my fellow California bowhunters who drew a once in a life time Desert Bighorn tag this June. Early on he committed to doing this hunt with archery gear, with his friend and hunting partner Jack Hankins. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bret while hunting at Tejon Ranch as well as the California Bowmen Hunters Broadhead Shoot last May. On December 20th on the fourth day of his hunt he successfully arrowed a ram that was measured by the biologist at 180 7/8″. The current Pope and Young record is held by a New Mexico Ram killed by Jim Hens in 2007 that panel measured at 178 6/8″.
Bret shared his story, which undoubtedly will make it into Relentless 365, the California hunting magazine. It truly is a story of perseverance.
My hands have finally quit shaking enough that I can type! (this is no joke, after I shot it, I borrowed Jack’s cell phone but couldn’t type in the numbers as I was shaking so bad) Started out Saturday with Bill, Dave, Doug and Myself, the wind was about 40-50 mph with rain but we still saw sheep. Bill and Dave saw 7 ewes and 1 small ram and Doug and I saw a group of 3 med rams then 5 rams with a shooter. We were about 800yds away and we snuck up when they went behind the ridge but blew it when we came out of the first gulley the same time the sheep were coming out of the second gully, Busted!
Sunday Doug and I spotted a big ram about a mile away, and he stayed at the scope while I did a 2 mile end around to get on him. When I got into position the sheep changed course from coming across the face right at me to going straight down. Now I had them at 240 yds in the open and I was stuck. When they went out of sight I started after them but they gave me the slip in a couple of canyons and ended up crossing by Doug (of course!)
Now Jack showed up and Bill, Dave, and Doug had to leave to go to work. We ended up going back about a half mile to get my pack that I had dropped for the stalk. We decided to go further down the ridge line when Jack spotted a group of sheep with 3 giant rams! We started after them but hit some cliffs and since it was already 2:30pm and my legs were like jello from the last stalk we decided to head back to camp and try this southern area in the morning. The next morning we hiked from south to north on the same ridges we were hunting and not one single sheep! They all disappeared! we didn’t know if the scent from all of the scouting on sat and sun buggered them up or what. At this point we had seen about 51 sheep between the five of us over two days, but nothing on day 3.
Day 4, Oh Boy! Started out even farther south where the 3 big rams had been and I saw a sheep disappear over the ridge. I snuck up close took off my boots, climbed a cliff, carefully walked over knowing they would be right below the cliff I was on, and I’m thinking its the group with the rams, but as I ease over, 28 yards away are 9 ewes and lambs! No Rams AHHHGGGG!. I walk back to Jack who is staring at the group of ewes who had run around the edge right at him, no camera handy of course! as we discuss our next move we walk over to a ridge to look beyond and Jack throws his glasses up and says hey! there’s the 3 big rams! about a mile away bedded just off the ridge top (my hands are starting to shake again) We know this ridge now and plan a course that will take us up the other side of the top so we can sneak in. after about a mile and half walk we get there but some sheep are on our side now. We hold tight till they walk out of view then take off to our right to go around the nob to cut them off.
When we get there we can’t see them so I start stalking around the face with Jack about 20 yards behind. I feel I running out of room and they should bed close so I drop to my Knees and start scooting around the hill when I see sheep backs! I look back at Jack who’s standing about 30 yards behind me and signal to get down the sheep are right in front of me. I scoot a little closer and see a ewe and she is staring thru my bush and know something is wrong! then she just walks up to 10 yards to look over my little bit of cover ( a foot and a half tall scrub) right at me and blows out with 25 sheep! And the 3 giant rams are in the group (we thought there were only 7 sheep) I’m at full draw swinging on them thinking, no I can’t take a shot like this when they stop! I let down range it for 60 yds but shoot 57 (thank god I just bought this rangefinder with arc!) at one of the Giant rams who is in front and hit him perfect height but back in the liver. I see the blood spot immediately and know its a fatal hit! The whole herd runs down this super steep canyon then stops when he gets all weebly woobly then he walks over to a bush and lays down. He lifted his head twice while we were watching then lights out!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not an experience sheep hunter and figured he was about 165″, when the biologist scored him at 180 7/8″ I about crapped my pants! Now, not only am I floating on air, I’m doing back flips at the same time!Well I can’t write anymore as I’m starting to shake again so here are a couple of pics
Bret with his hunting partner Jack Hankins and Bret's record book Desert Bighorn Ram
It was probably good Bret felt like he was walking on air, because this looks like a heavy load!
