Sheep Hunt Day 4

Today dawned with overcast skies and a slight breeze out of the southwest. Sometimes this means warmer weather(not sure how much warmer it could get up here) other times it means rain and cooler temps. This close to Yellowstone anything could happen. Looking south in the direction of Yellowstone Lake it seemed to be nothing but endless clouds. The barometric pressure gave me that feeling that 'sheepier' weather was on the way. The ewes and lambs were out feeding again at first light but no rams could be located. After three days of glassing the same country I was starting to get that feeling of doubt about my chosen perch. Being someone who likes to hike all over the country its a challenge to stay put for days on end. But in this country on this type of hunt one needs to conserve energy for when they actually do see rams. However I had one other mountain 3 miles away that I knew rams had been harvested on in the past and there had already been two other hunters on this mountain. With the weather seeming to want to stay mild and possibly cooling off, it would be a good day to move camp. At 10 a.m. I loaded up camp and got to walking. The hike alone was worth it-a razor sharp ridge with wide views into the park and forest service land, all the while my next sheep mountain in sight. Finding a good spot to camp, I made the short walk to a nearby water source to re-hydrate and resupply. Life is a little easier in this spot. I hiked up to glass the rest of the day being greeted by wind and rain. Several mountain goats provided a good way to pass the time. It's interesting to watch them lie on a cliff edge like a porch dog with driving ran in their face. Their indifference to the harsh terrain they call home is staggering. The country on this mountain has the ideal ram needs according to the biologist-plenty of steep country with a pittance of grassy slopes I'd consider taking a shot on a ram in. After seeing no sheep a a half hour before dark, I eased down the mountain to camp. The rain finished up giving way to a clear night sky. A dead whitebark pine trunk near camp made the ideal spot to sip a snort and watch stars as only they appear in the high country.