Two Hunters Review Stone Sheep Hunts In British Columbia

Two subscribers filed reviews this month on Stone sheep hunting in British Columbia. Both are positive, despite only one hunter taking a sheep. The first report is from Rich Papapietro, who hunted the Toad River area with Terry Stone of Stone Mountain Safaris (250-232-5469) back in September 2010. Papapietro says this portion of the Northern Rockies is "classic Stone sheep country with steep mountains, plenty of water and boggy bottoms. The area was thick with game, including bear, moose and mountain goat." Stone sheep were also plentiful, and Papapietro says he saw more than 50, including many mature rams, during his five-day hunt. As with most classic sheep areas, weather was extreme, with half of his hunt being beautiful and clear, the other half a mixture of rain, snow and fog. Camp was comfortable with spacious tents, a shower and hot house. Papapietro says Stone was an excellent guide who went out of his way to provide top-notch service. "He got us to within 30 yards of the mature ram I took. I don't know a lot of guides who can do that." The second report is from Mac Plymale who hunted sections of Tatlatui Provential Park in August with Ron Flemming of Love Brothers & Lee (250-842-6350). Plymale says he knew going in just how difficult getting a sheep in this area would be. "Two thirds of Love Brother's hunt area is inside Tatlatui, and not all of that area's open to sheep. The areas that are open aren't known for having a high density of sheep. In fact, they only take one, maybe two, hunters a year after sheep. Flemming was upfront about my odds. He told me going in that there are probably only 20 to 30 rams in the whole area." Despite the low numbers, Plymale says, the rams that do come out of that area measure between 38 to 48 inches. "It wasn't for lack of effort on Flemming's part that we didn't get a sheep," he says. "The weather just didn't cooperate. We had rain and fog every day. If the weather had been nice, I have no doubt I would........(continued)