Dall Sheep Hunt - 2007 by Michael Eichele

[Jon A]

Congrats! Well done. BTW, what tripod is that for your spotter?

 

[Michael Eichele]

Thanks,

The tripod is made by "The Outdoorsman's" in Phoenix. I use a ball head with a pistol grip (not pictued due to time). They are very stout and lightweight. I highly recomend them if they are in your budget as they are not cheap. They are about 300 bucks with legs and ball head.

 

[Buffalobob]

The bottom picture is really a great picture illustrating how tough the hunt was to have to climb all that way up to the ridge hauling the necessary gear and then to make a shot from a less than optimum position.

Great pictures and I look forward to the story.

 

[Michael Eichele]

The bottom picture is really a great picture illustrating how tough the hunt was to have to climb all that way up to the ridge hauling the necessary gear and then to make a shot from a less than optimum position.

You are very perceptive. That shot was somewhat difficult. I had an easier shot 5 years ago despite it being over twice as far. As you can see, I didnt have time to get a suitable support under the stock. My crosshairs were in a constant circling motion around the vitals. Normaly I would be very nearvous about moving so much because I ussualy have a rock steady hold in a normal position but since I was able to keep the motion in the vital area, I followed it through to the end. I dont even remember my finger settling in on the trigger, I just remember half way through the trigger's cycle I realized how I was building steady pressure on the trigger when it would have been so easy to punch it. I talked myself through it and said to myself, youre doing great, just keep building steady pressure despite the motion, a moment later the shot happend which was a total suprise. When I came off the recoil, I saw he was down.

 

[Eaglet]

Nice shot, congratualtions!

 

[Len Backus]

Way to go!

 

[royinidaho]

Ahhhhh, so that's what keeps ya goin'

 

[Mountainsheep]

Congratulations Michael!

Handsome ram; great shooting from the difficult, but beautiful terrain, Good going!

Dave

 

[lerch]

Absolutely beautiful animal, i hope someday to hunt those purty things!!!! beautiful country too, where did you hit it??? there aint no blood on that pretty white coat???

Congrats

steve

 

[Michael Eichele]

I hit the ram behind the shoulder while he was strongly quartering away with his head down. The bullet passed behind the length of his left shoulder traveled the length of his neck and hit him in the bottom left corner of his skull and stopped. It is amazing how thick and strong their skulls are. I was using a 200 AB @ 3149 FPS and his skull still stopped it. The left side of his body harbored the blood. That is why we took all right hand side photos so that they would be as clean as possible.

 

[goodgrouper]

Congrats on a beautiful trophy! I would love to have one of those white rams on my wall.

And we all know you could have dumped that ram from the valley below. You just wanted to get some exercise hiking all you gear up that mountain!

You mention shooting a 200 grain AB at 3149. This must be from a 300 ultra using Nosler brass and H1000?

 

[Michael Eichele]

Thank you GG,

The load is Nosler brass with H-50BMG. I use this powder because it is so very slow. I am using a BR tightneck chamber and the tight overall chamber with the tightneck as you know generates a huge amount of pressure. To use RL-25 or RETUMBO and such I have to reduce the charge so much that there is an ungodly amount of air in the case. H-50BMG allows me to fill the case without any pressure issues.

 

[silvertip-co]

You are VERY lucky to be able to do that. Great looking ram.

I hope to do same before I get too old to crawl around.

 

[gliechty]

Nice ram Michael, congratulations.

I know how much different that rifle should look by now. AAARRRGGG!

Keep the dream alive for the rest of us!!!!!!