I have always been fascinated with the Red Rock Mountains and Canyons of Southern Utah. The diverse habitats and landscapes are amazing. To experience places like this is one reason I love sheep hunting. People frequently ask, “What draws you to mountain hunting?” To me, mountain hunting, and specifically sheep hunting, is a combination of being tested both physically and mentally, which adds another level to a hunt and to the overall experience.
As I started to plan my filming schedule for 2021, not knowing what traveling would be like after the COVID-related restrictions, I decided to plan as many US based hunts as possible. I believe in and support the great conservation work done each year by many accredited organizations. Therefore, I make it a point to be an active participant in auctions affiliated with those organization to help support their efforts. Most years, I don’t end up winning any auctions. But in 2021, I won the Navajo Nation’s Desert Sheep Hunt at the Eastern Wild Sheep Show auction.
The Navajo Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Program was established in 1997. One purpose of this organization is to use habitat management to improve wild sheep populations. Since the program’s inception, the Navajo Nation has increased the sheep numbers from 30 to more than 400 today. In 2000, the Navajo Nation started limited hunting and the associated revenue has aided in bringing back numbers in both the San Juan River and the Upper San Juan River herds. Limited permits can only be purchased at special auctions. Monies raised from these auctions support the Navajo Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Program and ensure continued success.
The Nelson Desert Bighorn is a remarkable animal that has adjusted well to its extremely inhospitable environment with almost no water in the Red Rock Mountains. These sheep may not seek regular sources of water for weeks and rely instead on small pools of rainwater or what little moisture can be found in the food they eat. They have adapted to an environment where many natural predators are unable to live and survive in a dehydrated condition. It is remarkable that this animal can lose up to 30% of its body weight until it can again find drinking water and recover. The sheep’s home, while beautiful, is extremely harsh and difficult to live in. That, and all the conservation work done by the Navajo Nation, allows these red rock dwellers to increase in population.
If you ask my wife, she will tell you that I have a lot of life goals. One of those goals is to be successful in taking the North American 29 three times, all on film: once with a rifle, once with a bow, and once with a muzzleloader. Thus, part of my annual trip planning is dedicated to this goal. I have 29 x 3 in the back of my mind. (Follow along with my North American 29 here.)
On this Red Rock hunt, I chose my Gunwerks .50 Caliber Muzzleloader to successfully take a Desert Sheep with a muzzleloader and document the experience on film. Traveling with a muzzleloader is difficult because air travel with muzzleloader powder is impossible on commercial airlines. Fortunately, I was able to arrange for powder to be there. Hodgdon and Western Powders have been a great partner, helping me navigate the powder travel challenges over the years.
Another question I’m often asked, “What is the muzzleloader I use and why?” My response starts with, “I use the best Muzzleloader in the world.” That is a true statement. I have as much confidence when using my muzzleloader as I do when using my rifle in the field. I can’t shoot my muzzleloader as far as my rifle, but I don’t have any trouble taking a shot, if the conditions are right, up to 400 yards with my muzzleloader. I have the Gunwerks .50 Caliber Muzzleloader, topped with a Leupold 4-25 Mark 5 scope. I shoot a weighed 100 grains of Blackhorn 209 powder and use a 327 grain Parker Productions bullet. If I can get a good spot to lay prone, get solid, and read the wind correctly, I can make the shot.
In early November 2021, I arrived in north-central Arizona’s city of Page as a guest of the Navajo Nation. Navajo land is over 27,000 square miles (larger than 10 of the 50 states in the U.S.) and encompasses territory in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. I met my guide, Steven Peter, just before noon at the Page boat launch and we traveled by boat up Lake Powell to the hunting area just across the state line into southern Utah.
The landscape we boated through was red rock mountains and canyons that reached down to the water. It was both beautiful and extremely rugged at the same time. After two hours, we reached the spot where we would set camp for the hunt.
After setting up camp, we moved to a nearby knob to glass for sheep. After a couple of hours with no luck glassing, we took the boat downriver and unsuccessfully tried another spot. Arriving back at camp at dark, guide Steven, Justin (my field producer), and I ate our freeze-dried meals, crawled into our sleeping bags, and dreamed of the good things that would happen the next day.
The next morning was bright and clear as we boated upriver and found a spot to land our boat. Steven pointed to a mountain and said we were going to climb “to the top” to glass all around, including the backside. I have spent months hunting mountains all around the world, but never in terrain quite like these sheer red rock mountains with almost no vegetation. Virtually every step was on an incline and the rock was extremely smooth and slippery. Even though people would travel up and down the river to sightsee, it was obvious we were not going to bump into any hikers in the red rocks.
Partway to the top, at one of our stops, Steven glassed up a sheep and we spent more time concentrating, eventually glassing up four rams and numerous ewes. One of the ewes was collared from a previous relocation effort. The Navajo Nation has done an amazing job of transplanting sheep and building up the sheep numbers, and quality, in their areas. Although it was nice to see the rams, one of which was borderline, we decided to continue up the mountain to look for an older, larger ram.
After reaching the top of the mountain, we glassed for another two hours and saw another smaller ram. Deciding it was time to move, we trekked down to the river and moved our boat to a new landing site on the opposite side of the channel. We again started hiking towards the top, and at a good glassing spot, we spotted another small ram agilely maneuvering across the rocky terrain. Continuing up, we eventually reached the top and spotted another so-so but acceptable ram. We decided to attempt a stalk for a closer look. Unfortunately for us, there was no effective way to approach the ram without being seen. As expected, once he saw us exposed, he left his perch and moved off the backside of the mountain, never to be seen again.
Hiking back down to the boat, we glassed up another band of ewes accompanied by a smaller ram. That night, back at camp, it was another freeze-dried meal, and we discussed our game plan for the morning.
The next day, after a quick coffee and a freeze-dried breakfast, we took our boat back to the same area as the previous morning. This time, however, we decided to hike up the opposite side of the river so that we could glass back over the area we had hiked the previous day. We did not see any sheep.
Changing plans again, we moved by boat to the area where we had seen the ewes and a smaller ram during the late afternoon of the previous day. They were there again. Crouched down watching the ram, we discussed whether we should move in his direction to see if another, larger ram might be around. But just then, we heard rocks moving and hooves running behind us.
The noise was a large group of ewes, a young ram, and a big, old heavy ram. They were moving at 255 yards, and it was an easy decision. Justin quickly got his camera set up on the group as I prepared my Gunwerks muzzleloader. The sheep were moving in and out of each other as I waited for a clear shot at the ram. Five minutes seemed like forever, and he eventually cleared to the right of the ewes. The shot was perfect, and he was down.
Walking up on the ram, he was a big, old, broomed stud and the perfect ram to end my hunt in Navajo land. We took some time getting additional footage, pictures, and talking about our experiences in the red rocks. It was late before we arrived back to the boat with our gear and the ram, so we traveled back to our campsite for the night. It was a great night around the fire with Justin, my guide, and new friend Steven, and the ram’s head. It could not get any better than this.
Early the next morning, we loaded our boat and traveled back downriver to Paige, Arizona. Packing out, or in this case boating out, is always an exhilarating feeling to a hunter when tags are notched. There is nothing like enjoying the scenery. Taking it all in and reflecting on the moments of another once in a lifetime adventure. This trip was over but my memories of taking the big, old red rock ram with my Gunwerks .50 Cal will be with me forever.
