Alberta Bighorns - Identification of 4/5 Curl Sheep

Mr. Dynamite · #1 03-18-2017, 05:58 PM

I came across this old booklet a while back, and thought it might be of benefit to others. Sharing education with other hunters is always a good thing. I have posted the pictures so that the ram appears first, then the statistics on the ram's curl size are in the picture following. That way you have a chance to look the ram over before seeing if it actually is 4/5 eligible or not. PDF of the whole thing is right here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-J...ew?usp=sharing

Mr. Dynamite · #2 03-18-2017, 05:59 PM

Mr. Dynamite · #3 03-18-2017, 05:59 PM

Newview01 · #4 03-18-2017, 06:29 PM

Interesting. Important knowledge.

nube · #5 03-18-2017, 06:34 PM

Notice the Regs posted in this that say Eye Socket.... I know a guy that had a ram taken because of this. The horn needs to be a lot longer to make it legal if going from the eye socket VS the eyeball. I'd like to know how you can tell where the eye socket is when looking at a ram on the mountain lol

ram crazy · #6 03-18-2017, 07:57 PM

I don't know how you could make the call from any of those pics. They have to be in proper profile to clearly make the call and the only close pic would be 3b and even it is not perfect. It look like you still see the off horn on the back, tough to tell with a black and white pic.

Bushrat · #7 03-18-2017, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ram crazy

I don't know how you could make the call from any of those pics. They have to be in proper profile to clearly make the call and the only close pic would be 3b and even it is not perfect. It look like you still see the off horn on the back, tough to tell with a black and white pic.

Yes, they need to define how to look at a sheep head, from what angles, and why a sheep is or isn't legal. Those pics from bad angles could get you in trouble really easily if you're not familiar with how to properly judge sheep horns and went hunting using the above information and pictures as a guide to judge sheep. Maybe that's why they took that mess out of the regulations, its more confusing to newbies than helpful.

dave99 · #8 03-18-2017, 09:28 PM

Interesting read. The definition of 4/5 curl appears to have evolved over the years, apparently in order to reduce confusion.

The current definition stays clear of any mention of a ram "tipping up", and is adamant on viewing a ram in profile and at equal elevation before pulling the trigger.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

nube · #9 03-18-2017, 10:39 PM

Horn shape plays a big role in things when you have a ram tipping up and is a squeeker.
I agree with Ram crazy as well on his thoughts. Bad examples on those pics

Grizzly Adams · #10 03-19-2017, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nube

Horn shape plays a big role in things when you have a ram tipping up and is a squeeker.
I agree with Ram crazy as well on his thoughts. Bad examples on those pics

Judging rams, one of the Black Arts , since legal rams are so few and far between and people unconsciously push the envelope. Logic says, if there is any doubt, don't shoot.

Grizz

bigwolf · #11 03-19-2017, 08:54 AM

With all these pictures of legal bulls, one starts to beleive they are easy to hunt.

t.tinsmith · #12 03-19-2017, 09:39 AM

Judging rams is a difficult. I don't understand taking a 4/5 ram unless it magically had a great mass of horn.
I am from BC and a squeaker full curl ram can be pretty unimpressive,imo. Let these great Alberta rams grow to their potential

nube · #13 03-19-2017, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Judging rams, one of the Black Arts , since legal rams are so few and far between and people unconsciously push the envelope. Logic says, if there is any doubt, don't shoot.

Grizz

True but a ram has to be about 1/2" to and inch longer or moe to be legal when you start talking eye socket.
Correct me if I am wrong but I do not think the wording eyesocket is in the printed regs at all. It talks eyeball but some fish cops will use eye socket and ding you.

mgvande · #14 03-19-2017, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ram crazy

I don't know how you could make the call from any of those pics. They have to be in proper profile to clearly make the call and the only close pic would be 3b and even it is not perfect. It look like you still see the off horn on the back, tough to tell with a black and white pic.

I looked at '3b's' all year and the picture, in my opinion is of an illegal ram.

Sorry I mean 3a

Grizzly Adams · #15 03-19-2017, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nube

True but a ram has to be about 1/2" to and inch longer or moe to be legal when you start talking eye socket.
Correct me if I am wrong but I do not think the wording eyesocket is in the printed regs at all. It talks eyeball but some fish cops will use eye socket and ding you.

It says eye, but the eye socket is about twice as large, so if you bring in the cleaned skull, you're disadvantaging yourself.Heard talk that in future you'll have to take your ram to specially designated officers. Know of at least one case where a noticably short ram got passed. some good Samaritan outfitter reported it, but too bad, so sad, guy got his sheep.

Grizz

kujoseto · #16 03-19-2017, 12:31 PM

This was a really interesting read. There are a few they say are legal that I wouldn't pull the trigger on because they were so close. I liked seeing them only from angles that aren't ideal. It helps to determine if I'd spend more time trying to get a good profile of a similar ram or move on.
I keep wanting to go for my first ram and things like this just scratch the itch

ram crazy · #17 03-19-2017, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgvande

I looked at '3b's' all year and the picture, in my opinion is of an illegal ram.

Sorry I mean 3a

Sorry my post should have said 3a as well and not 3b and in the 3a pic you can still see the back of the off horn, so that ram is not in perfect profile.

ram crazy · #18 03-19-2017, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kujoseto

This was a really interesting read. There are a few they say are legal that I wouldn't pull the trigger on because they were so close. I liked seeing them only from angles that aren't ideal. It helps to determine if I'd spend more time trying to get a good profile of a similar ram or move on.
I keep wanting to go for my first ram and things like this just scratch the itch

If you have to spend hours upon hours watching rams that are close to determine, then thats what you do. That is the beauty of sheep hunting "YOU DON'T GET IN A HURRY" it can be a game of patience. The fella I sheep hunt with has a very good high powered camera and he takes a ton of pics, then studies them. This can be a great tool as well, and it shows you due diligence. I'm no expert at it, and once you get the bug you will never get rid of it.

Bushrat · #19 03-19-2017, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ram crazy

If you have to spend hours upon hours watching rams that are close to determine, then thats what you do. That is the beauty of sheep hunting "YOU DON'T GET IN A HURRY" it can be a game of patience. .

If You have to spend hours to determine if a sheep is legal, it is a squeaker at best and I couldn't be bothered. "Not in a hurry" but wouldn't waste time on a barely legal squeeker when I could those 'hours' to find a decent ram.

ram crazy · #20 03-19-2017, 05:30 PM

Bush, that was directed for the new sheep hunters just starting out learning to judge rams.

Rock&Ice · #21 03-20-2017, 07:30 AM

Thanks for sharing. An interesting exercise

Grizzly Adams · #22 03-20-2017, 07:51 AM

"YOU DON'T GET IN A HURRY"

Good advice, but often ignored when there are 4 other guys scoping the same ram.

Grizz