Wild Sheep Forever Spring 2024 Edition

Chief Executive Officer – Kyle Stelter 250-619-8415 ● kstelter@wildsheepsociety.com

President – Greg Rensmaag 604-209-4542 ● rensmaag_Greg@hotmail.com

Vice-President – Chris Barker 250-883-3112 ● barkerwildsheep@gmail.com

Tristan Duncan 778-921-0087 tristan@wildsheepbc.ca

Joe Eppele

647-986-3859 joe.eppele@gmail.com

Peter Gutsche

250-328-5224 petergutsche@gmail.com

Vice-President – Mike Southin 604-240-7337 ● msouthin@telus.net

Secretary – Colin Peters 604-833-5802 ● colin.peters12@gmail.com

Treasurer – Joe Humphries 250-230-5313 ● joseph_humphries@hotmail.com

Justin Kallusky 236-331-6765 kallusky@hotmail.com

Benjamin Matthew MD 778-558-0996 ben.matthew@ubc.ca

Matt McCabe 250-320-6048 mattmccabe.wssbc@gmail.com

James Mitton 778-808-9001 jamesmitton15@gmail.com

Greg Nalleweg 778-220-3194 greg@nextgenelectrical.ca

Colin Peters 604-833-5802 colin.peters12@gmail.com

Communications Committee

Chair: Kyle Stelter ● 250-619-8415 kstelter@wildsheepsociety.com

Fundraising Committee

Chair: Korey Green ● 250-793-2037 kgreen@wildsheepsociety.com

Government Engagement Committee

Chair: Greg Rensmaag ● 604-209-4543 rensmaag_greg@hotmail.com

Hunter Heritage Committee

Chair: Jann Demaske ● 970-539-8742 demaskes@msn.com

Indigenous Relations Committee

Chair: Josh Hamilton ● 250-263-2197 josh.wssbc@gmail.com

Membership Committee

Chair: Peter Gutsche ● 250-328-5224 petergutsche@gmail.com

Projects Committee

Chair: Chris Barker ● 250-883-3112 barkerwildsheep@gmail.com

Jurassic Classic

Trevor Carruthers ● 250-919-5386 ● trevor.carruthers@shaw.ca

Raffles

Joe Humphries ● 250-230-5313 ● joseph_humphries@hotmail.com

Women Shaping Conservation

Rebecca Peters ● 778-886-3097 ● rebeccaanne75@gmail.com

Bookkeeper

Kelly Cioffi ● 778-908-3634

kelly@dkccompany.com

Executive Assistant

Michael Surbey ● 604-690-9555 exec@wildsheepsociety.com

Hunting Expo Coordinator

Kris Wrathall ● 604-340-4903

ovisslam@outlook.com

Administrative Coordinator

Rebecca Peters ● 778-886-3097 wildsheepsocietyofbc@gmail.com

Danny Coyne

Darryn Epp

Jeff Jackson

Trevor Carruthers

hat a profoundly inspiring era to be part of the wild sheep community!

The year 2024 commenced in typical fashion, marked by the migration to the WSF Sheep Show in Reno, where the British Columbia Mountain Sheep Special Tag shattered previous records, selling for an astounding $430,000 USD or $583,710 CAD. Much of the credit for this remarkable value is attributed to the extraordinary bighorn rams harvested under the same tags last year. Nelson Mitchell, who acquired the permit at last year’s Sheep Show and was guided by BC Backcountry and Beyond, and BC Resident Lindsey Stroud, who secured the permit through the draw system, each harvested a ram scoring identically at 195 6/8, a testament to the monarchs that roam our high country.

Following the Sheep Show, our journey led us to the Northern Fundraiser, which set new records for funds raised. The event commenced with the Frontiersmen Gear Friday Night Kickoff, introducing the latest addition to the Trench Brewing Conservation Series, the Dall’s Legacy Lager. We extend heartfelt gratitude to all who attended the event in Dawson Creek, contributing to its resounding success. Subsequently, we seamlessly transitioned into the Salute to Conservation and Mountain Hunting Expo in Penticton, where I am confident we redefined the standards for future gatherings. Sincere thanks are extended to all exhibitors, members, sponsors, donors, attendees, volunteers, and staff whose presence and contributions made the event possible. Special recognition is owed to Omer Hrbinic of Precision Optics for his visionary leadership and steadfast guidance.

This year, we introduced several significant additions to the event, beginning on Thursday with the inaugural South Okanagan Bighorn Sheep Disease Symposium, which welcomed experts and conservationists from around the globe. This was followed by the debut of the ‘MTN Tough Fitness Labs Run in the Park’ and the ‘Drinks for Dall’s Whiskey & Cigar Night,’ featuring our latest whiskey offering, Steeple’s Range, a double wood port finish rye whisky crafted in collaboration with Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. On Friday, we extended the event with an additional day of auctions and a banquet, where Jules McQueen, President and CEO of CarbonTV, delivered a keynote address. The evening concluded with the eagerly anticipated Stone Glacier Backpack Race.

Saturday brought another exhilarating day at the Mountain Hunting Expo, with attendees packing the exhibitor floor.

The ‘Beyond Bonds’ film by Women Hunt & Women Shaping Conservation was followed by a Q&A session hosted by Julie McQueen, featuring a panel comprising Brandi Love, Renee Thornton, Chair of Women Hunt, and Rebecca Peters, Chair of Women Shaping Conservation. The Saturday night banquet and auctions featured Glen Landrus, WSF Chair, as the keynote speaker, setting the stage for yet another successful evening of lively bidding.

During the Salute to Conservation, our Annual General Meeting saw some changes in our Board of Directors. We express our heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Directors Jesse Bone and Rob Englot for their years of dedicated service and commitment to conservation. We warmly welcome new directors Joe Eppele, a driving force behind the new Youth Life Membership initiative, the Half Curl, and Justin Kallusky, whose

contributions to sheep counts and habitat work in the Kootenays have been invaluable. Additionally, we welcome James Mitton, a dedicated volunteer whose efforts at various outdoor shows and the Jurassic Classic exemplify our ethos. We are excited about the prospects that lie ahead for this dynamic team as we continue our mission.

Our Conservation Partnership Program has experienced exponential growth, far surpassing our initial expectations. Together, these partnership agreements contribute over $200,000 annually to support wild sheep conservation efforts in BC. We extend our sincere appreciation to the companies that go above and beyond, including Sitka Gear, Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, Precision Optics, Schnee, Stone Glacier, WildTv, YETI, and our newest partner, onX Hunt, for their steadfast commitment to conservation.

Lastly, I must acknowledge our remarkable membership. At the time of our AGM, we boasted 1497 members, including 773 life members and 155 Monarch Members (pledging and contributing $749,000 in total). These numbers have since seen significant increases. To our membership, we extend heartfelt gratitude. You are the lifeblood of our Society, enabling us to continue our vital work. Thank you for your unwavering belief in us. Together, we will continue to make significant strides for wild sheep conservation.

Greg Rensmaag President

For those of you who don’t know me, name is Justin Kallusky. I work as a power line man for BC Hydro and am based out of Cranbrook BC in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Throughout my life I have had the good fortune of living from one end of this province to the other, trying my hand at a wide variety of different jobs, experiencing all that the different areas and communities had to offer. Despite living a life that seemed to be defined by continuous change, the one constant that remained true throughout, was my unwavering and unexplainable love of hunting. A quick glance through a family photo album would probably explain why. Pictures right from only a few weeks old, bundled up out on the northern ice, up to a young man seeking his identity amongst the sheep mountains are prolific throughout. My dad was my mentor and the man who introduced me to a passion that would not only shape my life but influence who I am as a person. It was common practice to be pulled out of school for weeks at a time to follow in my dad’s footsteps, chasing moose and elk all while gaining invaluable insight and life experience that would stick with me right into adulthood.

Nowadays I am trying to blaze my own trail and leave an indelible mark upon the sport which has been so generous and instrumental in my own life. The funny thing is, this is not something I consciously set out to do. Several years ago, I felt an existential longing to connect with other like-minded individuals and I had a genuine desire to give something back in some small way. Throughout a series of seemingly random events, I was introduced to the Wild Sheep Society after harvesting the new world record Mountain Goat. Upon meeting its leaders and members it was immediately evident that I had finally found my people, passion and purpose. The society and its members exemplify all the qualities which garner respect and admiration throughout the entire hunting and conservation community. The society truly feels more like a family than an organization. It was then that I realized

the circumstances which had led me to the conservation community were in fact not random at all. Since the days of following my dad around the wild reaches of our province a lot has changed. The pressures our wildlife face are to numerous to list. The neverending battle we face against an ever-changing societal shift towards hunting grows by the day. Industry and our government placing emphasis on the economy over ecology, exploding predator populations, disease, loss of habitat and diversity are but a few of the challenges we as hunter/conservationists face. At the forefront of this daunting and seemingly unwinnable battle is the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia. I could not be more honored to represent you, my fellow hunters and brothers on the Board of Directors. It is my sincerest hope that alongside the society I can, even in the smallest of ways, contribute something back and ensure future generations experience the exhilaration of chasing wild sheep in wild places.

Behind every success is effort...

Behind every effort is passion...

Behind every passion is someone with the courage to try.

Managing Sheep Health in the Face of Multiple Diseases: From Disease to Resiliency

by Helen Schwantje, DVM

hat does resiliency mean? A quick search online for definitions gives; “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties” and “toughness”—from these it is easy to understand that resiliency is a desirable trait, and important in these times of change. It’s a quality we all admire and try to achieve in our own lives, and I’d venture to say in others. And, of course, it’s a perfect fit with wildlife health.

On February 22, the Wild Sheep Society of BC (WSSBC) delivered a promise made at the 2022 BC Wild Sheep Summit and held the South Okanagan Bighorn Sheep Disease Symposium in Penticton, British Columbia (BC). For those of you that attended, I’m sure you have your opinions on whether the commitment was met and the meeting goal was delivered, but for those of you that could not attend, the following is a brief summary of the day. The Symposium vision and objective was to be collaborative, bringing wild sheep researchers, First Nations,

wildlife professionals, knowledge holders, hunters, outfitters, guides, government staff, and wild sheep advocates together to promote the use of science in the management of wild sheep health in general, and for South Okanagan bighorn sheep specifically. We were welcomed by legends. Firstly, the very first BC Wild/ Domestic Sheep Separation Coordinator, Daryl Stepaniuk, introduced his colleague Jonathan Kruger, past Chief of the Penticton Indian Band and so much more. Jon’s life history is intertwined with his community, bighorn sheep or yilíkʷlxkn, and their habitat and he continues his work as a leader. It was a huge personal pleasure to see him again as it was to introduce Nancy Wilkin, past Assistant Deputy Minister, current co-chair of Together for Wildlife and the Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council and much more. Both have played significant roles in wildlife management in BC, and they shared their perspectives on wild sheep and ways of working together. It was a true honour to be joined by those with such calibre and

status. They set the tone and created a culture for the day.

The invited speakers were from near and far and began with a local speaker, creating a foundation of past knowledge. Oliver born and raised Josh Hamilton of the WSSBC started with a description of the historic and present-day South Okanagan (SOK) bighorn habitat. His archival photographs and childhood stories of his family and traditions, many prior to vineyards and subdivision building, were fascinating but concerning, and it was sobering to see just how much change has happened to the valley.

Craig McLean of the regional wildlife office and Mackenzie Clarke from the Okanagan Nation Alliance spoke to the SOK bighorn subpopulations’ history and trends. They detailed the status of each subpopulation and herds, what health challenges each is facing, facts on the diseases, what has been done, and what are the methods currently being considered to mediate those challenges. Their talk was an excellent model of two forces of nature working together and how they are reaching

out to others, across communities, and borders to aid in achieving their objectives, helping the sheep.

Caeley Thacker from the BC Wildlife Health Program followed with more details on the three diseases and agents that are currently affecting SOK bighorns. Caeley began her talk with a broader view and definition of sheep herd health to set the stage for the next talks and followed with methods and facts on health surveillance of thinhorn and bighorn sheep across the province, including those affecting the SOK sheep.

With the basics on the SOK sheep presented, our international guests began to describe their concepts and experience with sheep herd management and the roles they play outside of BC. Daryl Lutz, Chair of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Wild Sheep Initiative (WSI) and Wildlife Management Coordinator for Wyoming Game and Fish Department provided his perspectives on the cooperative, multiagency, international committee he leads (WSI) and the products and resources WSI provides to assist with consistent and high-quality management of wild sheep in North America. Daryl provided his perspective on sheep populations, carrying capacity and habitat objectives and added current thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of connectivity amoung sheep herds and how that may impact disease transmission. Sheep management is complex and may need to challenge the status quo in the future. We need to pay attention to the sheep, remember how disease can make things even more complicated and we may need to protect bighorns from themselves. Being flexible may prove to be the key to creating resilient herds.

Kate Huyvaert finished the morning. She is the Rocky Crate & Wild Sheep Foundation Endowed Chair in Wild Sheep Disease Research at Washington State University. Longest title ever but she had so much to share. And share she did with a full description of how to re-look at bighorn sheep herd health from a disease ecology perspective. She used the phrase “using disease ecology as a bridge” through multiple examples of

diseases emerging as threats to humans and wildlife conservation. Kate’s enthusiasm for all things ecology was obvious and she served the crowd an ecological primer. Ecology is the study of relationships of living organisms to each other and their environment. She reminded us that the subdiscipline of disease ecology provides a fuller understanding of disease through examining the interactions of host(s), pathogens, their movements, and their ever-changing, shared environments. Again, it’s complicated but so are all the factors affecting animal health. Initially complicated slides and examples revealed the reality of interrelationships amoung animals, disease agents, environmental factors, and health—changes in health are linked to changes in ecology. She finished her talk with a recommendation to work towards more resilient sheep populations by building bridges with collaboration, asking for other perspectives, embracing complexity, and to, above all be effective communicators. It was truly inspiring to see Kate’s lens applied to wild sheep health.

The afternoon began with a series of examples of disease management actions using domestic and wild sheep case reports. Stewart Burgess is the Head of the Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics at the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland. He leads the sheep scab research group, which focuses on developing new tools for the control of sheep scab, a disease of domestic sheep caused by infestation of the skin with the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis. Stewart described a new diagnostic method, a commercially available sheep scab ELISA (blood test), which can detect infested animals before the appearance of clinical signs. He then talked about treatment methods such as traditional chemicals. He leads several sheep scab control programs across the UK and described a fascinating Scottish Government-funded control program on the Isles of Lewis & Harris, treating a “wild” population of domestic sheep in free-ranging conditions in wild Scotland. Stewart is new to bighorn sheep and while the mite that he works on is slightly different to what is in the SOK, he

obviously loves a challenge and is excited to support future research efforts here on finding successful treatments for mite infestations in SOK bighorns.

The most significant disease management action with bighorn sheep is a series of trials across their range to mitigate the impacts of the respiratory bacteria, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi). The experimental treatment is termed Test and Remove and is ongoing in many jurisdictions suffering from bighorn pneumonia outbreaks. The experience in BC started this series of case reports with Jeremy Ayotte, the current BC Wild/Domestic Sheep Stewardship Coordinator who described the ongoing Fraser River bighorn sheep project in place of Chris Procter, who was unable to attend. Jeremy described the sheep population, its status, the project, its methods, and lessons learned with the results to date. For those of you that have not viewed the film

“Transmission,” the Fraser Test and Remove project is highlighted in the film. It is a must-see to genuinely appreciate the impacts of this infection on sheep and the humans that work and live with them.

Mark Ball, Wildlife Disease

Specialist for Alberta reported on a 2023 disease management response to a M. ovipneumoniae-associated pneumonia outbreak in a small band of Sheep River bighorn sheep, west of Diamond Valley, Alberta. The size of the band, the diagnosis of M. ovi involvement, and their specific circumstances led to a decision to remove all in-contact sheep and a, to date, successful disease mitigation. Mark described the serendipity, teamwork and intense communication involved as well as ongoing actions and monitoring to confirm that this outbreak was isolated and remains controlled. In addition, Alberta is monitoring the health of other bighorn populations as well as significantly ramping up outreach efforts with domestic sheep producers and industry.

Frances Cassirer, the lead bighorn research biologist for Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game and the Hells Canyon bighorn restoration program developed the first Test and Remove experiments and remains an incredible resource for others with her program’s game-changing research. She spoke to their successes and ongoing challenges in bringing bighorn respiratory disease to its knees over 8 years of work, surprises

in the program, and their efforts in conserving the species in an everchallenging landscape that they belong in. Frances has not yet finished her mission and continues to inspire and work with all of us.

Our last speaker, Peri Wolff, combined two talks into one and discussed her experiences with understanding and managing Nevada’s bighorn sheep health in the face of multiple issues. She discussed other health challenges in wild sheep, including Bluetongue and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease viruses, introduced the complexity of recognizing and dealing with nasal sinus tumor in bighorns, and the shared susceptibility to many of these diseases with mountain goats. Peri finished her presentation with “Peri’s Pearls,” a series of lessons learned as a wildlife veterinarian working with bighorn sheep. Some of these pearls are perfect examples of wisdom for all of us to remember!

The day ended with an acknowledgement that many of the First Nation attendees as well as others were not present at the 2022 Sheep Summit and were not familiar with the final document coming from that meeting. The Summit recommendations for bighorn

management in Region 8, the Okanagan, were reviewed on-screen and all attendees strongly agreed that the highest priority for management action in the SOK was indeed disease. If you are not aware of this document, it is highly recommended to review on an ongoing basis to assess progress.

In the wrap up, we advised that the Symposium was recorded, and a list of registrants will be circulated. All PowerPoints will be accessible and integrated into the edited-for-time recording. The speakers are willing to provide further advice in the future and their time permitting, may be able to provide this in the form of an expert group. Many attendees stressed how important follow up in the form of future symposia could be—a check in on how actions are delivered.

We started the morning as a room full of individuals, some with connections within the group, some completely naïve to wild sheep and their diseases. Our objective for the Symposium was to share, network and to collaborate. Was that objective met? It is fair to say that all learned something on the day. Can we apply those lessons to bighorn health in the SOK? Can we work together on

those challenges? Will those who make decisions listen and learn too? Did we have the right people and resources available? If you were there, we are interested in your answers to these questions.

To repeat, the goal of the symposium was to have invited speakers present, discuss, and share information among attendees. The Symposium was to create a shared knowledge base and identify opportunities for cooperation in addressing BC’s most critical wild sheep health challenges, strengthening the collaborative approach that continues to support wild sheep management and conservation in the South Okanagan and across British Columbia. Our goal is to take these sheep populations from Disease to Resiliency.

Sincere thanks to all of the speakers who unselfishly shared their time and expertise for more than just the day. To Jeremiah Kruger of the Penticton Indian Band, a heartfelt thank you for his kindness and prayers and a huge shoutout to the servers and providers of coffee breaks, lunches, and treats. The Conference Centre staff are amazing! Finally, our gratitude to our Symposium sponsors, their generosity has helped create, elevate, and deliver this vision.

“A unique opportunity for local stakeholders, regional and international experts in bighorn management and health to share knowledge in a respectful manner. One of the most productive meetings I have attended.”

“I thought it was amazing. The discussions brought up many interesting facts on what sheep are going through in the region.”

“Now that we have listened the next move is to use the expertise, get out on the landscape and take action.”

“The sheep need our help, let’s take a chance and act, even a small step is worth it.”

“Really impressive how the Okanagan regional office and Okanagan Nation Alliance are working together on such an important issue.”

“Make this an annual event, let’s check in regularly, make sure recommendations are followed and monitored.”

“Thought it was a good way to hear what others were doing for sheep diseases and especially appreciated the ecosystem/habitat discussion as its often not heard.”

“Connecting face to face (instead of by email) is really nice giving a chance to talk in more detail.”

ur 2024 Wild Sheep Society Mountain

Hunting Expo and Salute to Conservation was a resounding success. Hosted in beautiful Penticton, BC on the shores of Lake Okanagan we enjoyed three days of celebrating wild sheep with our wild sheep family.

The sold-out Thursday night Drinks for Dall’s Whisky Master Class and Cigar event hosted by Tyler Dyck of Okanagan Spirits was a highlight. Guests enjoyed award winning whisky from Okanagan Spirits and learned valuable skills on how to taste and enjoy fine whisky. We unveiled our Steeples Range Rye, the third installment in our Conservation Series and the feedback was phenomenal.

Earlier in the day Matt Ward and Colin Peters hosted A Run in the Park: MTNTOUGH for Wild Sheep Conservation. Participants navigated an exhilarating adventure that combined endurance, camaraderie, and a passion for wildlife conservation. Runners donned their rucksack for a rugged 10-15km challenge set against the breathtaking backdrop of below-freezing temperatures in Okanagan Mountain Park. The winning female runner was Victoria Renwick and the winning male runner was Mike Stromgren.

On Friday and Saturday, the Mountain Hunting Expo sponsored by Precision Optics and Kifaru was packed as mountain hunters connected with vendors, suppliers and dealers for the latest and greatest in gear. Brands such as Sitka Gear, Kifaru, Stone Glacier, Crispi Boots, Fierce Firearms and more were in attendance allowing our attendees to try on the latest equipment, ask questions and, when they were confident, make purchases. Over the course of the weekend thousands filled the expo halls.

On Friday we premiered our new film On The Landscape, following the collaborative project between WSSBC, Region 3 Ministry of WLRS, and both the Skeetchestn and Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc First Nations to monitor Bighorn Sheep along the South Thompson and Kamloops Lake.

We followed this with our AGM where we welcomed three new members to our Board of Directors: James Mitton, Joe Eppele, and Justin Kallusky. In addition, we saw changes to our Executive with Greg Rensmaag moving from Secretary to President and Colin Peters stepping into the Secretary role. We are all excited to continue our work with this new team.

On Friday night we kicked off our Full Curl Friday night banquet welcoming Julie McQueen, President of Carbon TV as our keynote speaker. Julie shared a powerful message about her journey in the outdoor space and how she got started as a hunter. She discussed early challenges she faced as a new hunter and some of her personal experiences as a female. Julie’s mentorship by her father was crucial to her development and advancement.

Prior to Julie’s inspiring words guests were treated to Beyond Bonds a film celebrating the journey of three women united by their passion for learning, empowerment and selfreliance. Saturday afternoon, Women Shaping Conservation Chair Rebecca Peters, Women Hunt Chair Renée Thornton and Brandi Love participated in a post film Question and Answer session hosted by Julie McQueen.

Friday night after the banquet we packed the halls for our Stone Glacier Great Canadian Backpack races. We had numerous teams competing head-to-head for bragging rights and of course each winning men and women’s team received two Stone

Glacier Evo packs. Don Stevenson generously donated knives to all Youth participants with six youth competing. Throughout the entire event our Sheep Hunter University welcomed a wide variety of incredibly talented and experienced speakers. This included Adam Foss, Adam Janke, Matt Ward, Greg McHale and a virtual appearance from Aron Snyder just to name a few. In addition to this, we had our provincial wildlife biologists give their regional updates.

We kicked off Saturday morning with our Life Member breakfast to a soldout crowd. We gave away a Gunwerks Nexus courtesy of Gunwerks to one lucky Life Member. We also handed out a ton of prizes including a full day of sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River for four, courtesy of Streamline Guiding. We welcomed Tracey Wilson , Vice-President of the CCFR as our keynote speaker.

On Saturday evening we hosted our SITKA Gear sponsored Salute to Stone’s Banquet to a sold-out crowd. Glen Landrus, Chairman of the Wild Sheep Foundation entertained guests with our live auction set a new fundraising record. Newly elected President Greg Rensmaag presented the Wild Sheep Foundation the 2024 President’s Award recognizing their commitment to wild sheep in BC. Colin and Rebecca Peters received the Lex Ross Award recognizing their relentless commitment to wild sheep conservation in BC.

Overall, the weekend was a resounding success thanks to the support of our Conservation Partners, donors, sponsors and attendees. Most importantly we thank our members for their relentless support in looking after BC’s wild sheep and their habitat. We look forward to seeing everyone back in Penticton on February 20th to 22nd, 2025.

s the snow melts and the days lengthen, we prepare for Spring’s gradual green-up and the annual season of growth. At the Salute to Conservation and Mountain Hunting Expo in late February in Penticton, BC, we unveiled two new opportunities of growth for the Society’s membership.

Later in the magazine you will find an in-depth piece on our two new tiers of Monarch Membership, the Diamond and Pinnacle levels. These were created initially as a legacy for the Cabana family, but they immediately attracted the attention of a few of our long-standing Platinum Monarchs. We are excited to have this opportunity available to these fine people to further their investment in wild sheep.

During our sold-out Life Member Breakfast at the show, we announced an entirely new membership level, one dedicated specifically for our future leaders in wild sheep conservation, the Half Curl Youth Life Membership.

This membership is available only to those under the age of 18 and is designed to be a stepping stone for an individual on their way to a lifetime of wild sheep conservation with us. The cost of the membership is $500 and will come with the rewards that a standard life membership would, a youth life member number and a personalized plaque. In addition to this, they will also receive automatic entries into any youth give-aways, including youth events, as well as some WSSBC swag.

Upon attaining 18 years of age (or anytime before), the individual will have the option of graduating to a full-fledged life member for the price difference between the two memberships. These members will be recognized annually at our Salute to Conservation.

Since its inception a few weeks ago, we have already attracted twelve members to this program, and we are excited to see how this progresses in the coming years. Our youth truly are the future of our organization, and of

conservation itself, and we are proud to give them more support moving forward.

If you are interested in learning more about this program, please visit: https://www.wildsheepsociety.com/ halfcurllife/#join

WSSBC Volunteer Opportunities & Events: https://www.wildsheepsociety.com/volunteer/

April 6, 2024 – Spences Bridge Sheep Count

April 20, 2024 – South Thompson & Kamloops Lake Sheep Monitoring + Pint Night

April 27, 2024 – South Thompson & Kamloops Lake Sheep Monitoring

May 11, 2024 – South Thompson & Kamloops Lake Sheep Monitoring

May 25, 2024 – South Thompson & Kamloops Lake Sheep Monitoring

June 8 – WSSBC Mountain Monarch Golf Tournament – (Kamloops, BC)

June 15, 2024 – Fraser River Sheep Counts

July 5-7 – Ruck for the Shulaps, with Matt Ward and Matt McCabe

July 13, 2024 – Fraser River Sheep Counts

August 18, 2024 – Fraser River Sheep Counts

August 23-25 – Jurassic Classic

I was kicking rocks and deep in my thoughts on a lonely winding trail

Heading deep into the land of sheep amongst the talus rock and shale

Now with a heavy pack and an aching back, a man’s mind begins to wander

It often goes to a place of stillness and grace and deep questions it starts to ponder

Like the meaning of life and who’s to say what’s wrong or right

Because in the end our hearts will tell us the truth

Then we realize the answers lay in front of our eyes

It is in Nature we find the proof

For at no other time do we seem to find the space to be in hearts not our heads

Connected and still while expressing our will to live our lives without regret

So, if you think to yourself that we as hunters are simple minded folks just seeking a thrill

Try if you can to understand, what we seek is more than a kill

It is in the mountains and quiet places, where are soul lights up and our spirit chases

The most intimate parts of ourselves

Hunting helps us to see who God wants us to be, that’s just the cards we were dealt

So, we follow our hearts and choose to take part in a tradition as old as man

Hunting to find our peace of mind even if you’re not a fan

We are fathers and moms, daughters and sons, your neighbour, your brothers and friend

So please don’t label us if your able as rednecks, heartless and dense

Hear these words I say and stop trying to take away an integral part of my soul

I’m at a loss for words and just trying to be heard, hunting means more to me than you’ll ever know

or thousands of years man has headed to the wild in solitude looking not only for food, resources and adventure but often in search of finding the answers to life’s most existential questions. No matter the reasons for embarking upon such journey’s, it seems we have always known that enlightenment, a deep sense of peace and a connection to something much larger than ourselves inherently resided in the distant peaks and the earths wildest places. Nature not only provides everything that we need to survive in a physical capacity but it is where we go to find the intangible aspects of life we seek such as enlightenment, healing and inspiration. Hunting has always been and will continue to be how some of us choose to connect with the land, not by choice but because we are compelled to. It touches on a primal instinct which is ingrained into us at a biological and cellular level. In essence it is part of who we are. When we add the element of solitude to our experiences, often we are rewarded with profound realizations not only about ourselves but somehow, we

gain the ability to raise our level of consciousness which in turn allows us to see how we fit into the grand scheme of life. When we are alone in the wild, we experience a deep level of connectedness which provides insight into the meaning of even the most trivial or difficult situations. Often, we are able to see the intricate tapestry between our biggest struggles or failures and our greatest opportunities for growth.

So, as I hung up the phone it was with a multitude of conflicting emotions. Due to a number of uncontrollable events, my hunting partner had to pull the pin on our sheep hunting trip at the very last minute. It was a tough pill to swallow for both of us as I knew how desperately he wanted to go. It had been three long years since our last hunt together, an eternity for him, I’m sure. As is often the case not only had life gotten busy for him, it seemed bound and determined to test his character and resilience. Between a new born baby, building a house (which was being threatened by wildfire), his dad recently having a stroke and his partners mother in the

hospital with a life-threatening illness. Leaving to go on a two-week trip up north was simply out of the question. As he struggled to tell me the news, I could hear the trembling in his voice as he fought with all his strength to hold back the tears. It is in times such as these where we are pulled even harder towards the mountains. We both knew that getting away from his troubles and allowing nature to comfort his soul would do wonders for his mental state and despite the blessing of his partner to continue on with his plan, it was with a heavy heart that he put the well being of his family first. I felt his pain as if it were my own. It was then my turn to fight back the tears as I told him how proud of him I was for ultimately making the right decision. Being an incredibly selfless and caring friend, he worried how his absence would affect the viability of the trip for myself. I assured him despite a vast array of thoughts and difficult emotions that I would be ok. As I took a deep breath and put down the phone it dawned on me just how incredibly special and fleeting our time in the mountains is. We have no way of knowing what

difficulties life chooses to put before us and how many, if any opportunities remain. So, despite the feelings of trepidation that accompanies an undertaking as monumental as heading into a harsh and unforgiving landscape alone and being a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I felt a certain sense of excitement as something intuitively told me, the circumstances that had just transpired were not by chance. It just so happened that I was looking for answers and was feeling a little bit lost after the events of the previous year. Having just harvested the new world record mountain goat the year before I wondered what gifts hunting had left to give me that I had not already experienced. It felt like I had reached the pinnacle of my hunting career and that any future endeavours would pale in comparison. Had I really already received all that hunting had to offer me? Would hunting continue to inspire and be the source of some of my fondest memories?

I felt as though the answers resided both inside me and somewhere out in the mountains.

I would be heading into an area that I had hunted previously, deep within the rugged Cassiar mountains. The first two trips saw my partners and I take really nice rams out of the first basin you reach. However, on this trip I would be looking for an exceptional ram in country I had yet to see. Beyond the first basin lay an enormous plateau which I was sure not only held sheep, but was certain would be an absolutely breathtaking location to hunt. I desperately wanted to see the landscape beyond the reaches of the first basin. To hike in twice and not know what lay beyond the massive headwall literally kept me up at night, starring at google earth with my imagination running wild. So, with the intention of finally reaching the plateau, I promised myself I would not shoot a sheep anywhere else except if it was of course, a twister. After several hours of grinding through the mosquito choked spruce trees of the valley floor. I began ascending the nearly 3000 vertical foot climb with each step bringing me closer towards the familiar peaks and an old friend.

Nearly two years ago to the day I climbed up the very same route for the first time wondering if the mountain I was climbing even had sheep. It was a spot that I had no information on other than something told me to explore it. Right around the time I was beginning to question if my intuition had been correct and whether we had climbed this god forsaken mountain for nothing, I was shown an extraordinary sign. There laying amongst the lichen strewn rocks sat an old warrior ram skull seemingly forgotten by time. The timing of the discovery felt like nothing short of fate. It was exactly the sign we needed to continue on with conviction and eventually kill a ram. So, I stopped once again to pay my respects and reminisce about how he had met his end.

As I continued on and crested the final grade, I peered into the familiar valley below. There, stood a group of 7 rams with one being a legal shooter. It’s funny how the universe tests us to see how bad we really want something. After the grueling 20 kilometre hike my mind waged an internal battle but eventually the

desire to see the plateau won out over taking a ram in the familiar basin. I settled in for the night and grappled with the decision I had made to pass on the legal ram as the sun slipped away on my first day. The next morning, I climbed beyond the reaches of the basin and my gaze fell upon a vast expanse of rolling grass and rock that was fortified by some of the most beautiful sheep country I had ever seen. I was awe struck and I knew immediately that I had made the right decision. The scale and the magnitude of the plateau left me shaking my head. I felt incredibly insignificant yet at the same time empowered and connected as I stared out upon the land, which at one point in time had been laying on the floor of an ancient ocean. Its hard to conceptualize time in this capacity when our experience of it is miniscule in comparison to the timeline of our planet. A feeling of humility washed over me as I contemplated how I fit in to such a grand and intricate plan. As I wandered the plateau over the next several days in awe and amazement of the beauty of Gods creation, the desire and need to shoot a ram to make the trip a success was slowly replaced by feelings of tranquility and reverence. Now don’t get me wrong I wanted to find a monstrous ram in the worst way possible. Having invested a significant amount of money, time and effort into the hunt I desperately wanted to find the ram of my dreams. I reasoned to myself that if it was meant to be, then it would be and I tried to enjoy all the little things the hunt provided in the meantime. It was on a hunt with my dad several years prior that I finally figured out that the true gifts of a hunt often lay in the process and not in the results. I took an immense amount of pleasure in watching the sheep on the plateau go about their daily rituals. I was indeed a guest here and felt honoured to share the mountain top with such an incredibly iconic and inspiring animal. I had several occasions where a lamb and

ewe would visit me at my glassing location. I named them Eugene and Lamber and laughed to myself every time I would say their names out loud. As time went on, I felt as though I slowly became more a part of the land than a visitor to it. One thing that really stuck out to me was how time seemed to slow down to a crawl. With no appointments, commitments or distraction time slowly became irrelevant. Normally my experience with time is that when we are having fun and enjoying ourselves, time seems to slip away incredibly fast. When we are experiencing something uncomfortable or undesirable time simply can’t go fast enough. I found it odd considering I felt like I was having the time of my life. As I entertained the idea of that perhaps I had gained a new level of self

awareness or consciousness, I spotted what can only be described as the biggest ram I had ever seen in my life. From a distance of several hundred yards, I could clearly see the tips of the ram’s horns extending a good six inches past the bridge of his nose as he walked across the plateau, silhouetted against the horizon. As I beat my fist against my chest to dislodge the piece of cliff bar I had nearly choked on, I watched the ram bed and quickly made a plan. Given the lack of suitable terrain to facilitate a stalk I would have to take a round about route to the ram to avoid being spotted. After what seemed like an eternity, I cautiously crested the final rise that concealed the rams last known location. As I carefully peeked over the edge, I was gutted to see the ram had moved off in the midst of my stalk.

I spent the entire afternoon working the edge of the plateau and peering down into every nook and cranny that appeared suitable of housing the massive ram. As the sun began to work its way westward towards its final resting place, it dawned on me that I was miles from the tent and I had best be getting back before dark. Hunting solo in the mountains comes with its own unique set of challenges. Every decision is magnified given the fact there is no safety net in

the form of a hunting partner. Risk management becomes paramount. To stay any longer felt irresponsible so I somberly walked back across the plateau, lamenting how the big one had gotten away. I was then suddenly startled, as seemingly out of thin air, the massive ram burst out of a tiny depression which looked incapable of concealing nothing more than a chipmunk never mind a sheep. All in one motion I unshouldered my rifle, flipped the scope covers and brought the crosshairs to bare on the running ram but I was too late. A fleeting glimpse was all I caught as the giant ram disappeared over the edge of the plateau and into the abyss of cliffs and rock below. I was stunned. How could life be so cruel? The walk back across the plateau was one of the longest in my life. Replaying the sequence over and over again, questioning the universes motives for inflicting such cruelty upon me. One could hunt an entire lifetime and never see a ram of that calibre. It felt as though the carrot had been dangled right in front of my face only

to be suddenly ripped away, but why? As is often the case the answers to such questions are never immediately evident, however I wouldn’t have to wait long to receive my answer. My final day was spent scouring the plateau while making every deal under the sun with the big guy, for just one more glimpse of the ram of my dreams. Its funny how the universe has a way of knowing that our biggest opportunities for learning and growth often come when life knows when to give us what we need and not what we want. I was sure when I set out on the trail a week before that what I needed was a set of horns to pack out in order to consider the trip a success. As the sun cast its final rays upon the plateau, two young rams appeared on the horizon. As I sat there intently watching the two rams rear up and crash heads sending a chilling echo cascading across the plateau, I couldn’t help but feel as though they had come to wish me farewell. Then it dawned on me the beautiful intricacy of what I was witnessing. In that moment the two rams who

were clearly friends, engaged in what I perceived to be a friendly sparring match. But there was undeniable purpose to what I was witnessing. They were purposely and deliberately testing one another, gaining insight and information about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. For one day, these two friends would some day meet on the plateau and engage in a battle that could potentially lead to injury or death for the right to have their legacy continue upon the mountain. It was in that moment that I realized we do not need to always know what life is trying to teach us. All we need to have, is an open mind and heart, coupled with a deep inherent knowing that universe is always there to support us. It is constantly working to teach us important lessons that not only enable us to grow and evolve, but find beauty and pleasure in the seemingly insignificant events of day-to-day life. It dawned on me that the success I would experience on this trip would not come in the form of a set of horns. It was something much more meaningful and enduring. It was a new found depth and appreciation for the

way of life which I held so dear that would undoubtedly enrichen every experience that I had going forward. As the rams disappeared into the long shadows of the lonely peaks, my heart was left bursting with unbridled joy as I wondered what other revelations this hunt had left to show me.

There is something so incredibly cathartic about walking through the mountains with a heavy pack upon your shoulders. For myself the need to detach from the uncomfortable feelings in my body allows me to go to an almost meditative state. I tune into my heart beating against my chest, the oxygen rushing into my lungs as my chest rises and falls with each breath and I become acutely aware of the environment around me. It is in these moments that my mind has the space to contemplate some of life’s most intriguing and difficult questions. This particular time after feeling so incredibly grateful for the experience that had just transpired, the thought of “what would I ever do if this privilege to chase wild sheep and every other species for that matter was taken away?” I stopped dead in my tracks grasping what that scenario

would look like. Given the fact that I had literally just experienced life changing realizations all because of the gift of hunting. I was left feeling literally sick to my stomach. If only somehow people who were indifferent too or who were opposed to hunting could understand the depths of what hunting meant to me and how it transcended what was portrayed on television and social media. I asked myself “how could this have happened?”

“How is it that people who don’t understand hunting, have missed the mark so badly that they cannot even begin to accept that which they don’t understand.” It was then I realized, it was our own fault. Sadly, over time we have presented an incredibly onedimensional side of ourselves. We as hunters have done an inadequate job of conveying the depth of our love and appreciation for the lifestyle which we hold so dear. Simply posting pictures of ourselves sitting proudly behind dead animals is not something that everyone can necessarily relate too. Even in the act of telling our stories we often miss the mark and fail to express the emotions that are

associated with our experiences. As a passionate hunter and someone who understands the hard work, dedication and perseverance that goes into a hunt, I am slowly growing tired of the same old narrative when I read social media posts and short stories; (we hiked in super far, it was really hard, my pack weighed this many pounds, I shot an animal and this is what it scored) Really? Have we not evolved beyond that?

How can we expect those who don’t understand hunting, to relate to this? The one thing that we all have in common and that bonds us all in this human experience is how our passions transform us, inspire and speak to us. In order to gain

acceptance and understanding, we need to convey the complexity and variety of our experiences we feel while hunting. We need to tell them about how it is something that has helped us become closer to a family member, overcome a difficult time in our lives or how connected to our higher power we feel while hunting. We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable and share not only our greatest triumphs but our biggest fears and most crushing defeats. In essence we need to become relatable. At a time in history where people have never been so disconnected from nature, it’s important we elicit or spark interest in others about how incredible hunting must be in order

to make us feel such a wide array of complex emotions. We can show people hunting and the people who do it are the furthest thing from one dimensional they could imagine. As I continued walking down the trail kicking rocks and deep in my thoughts, I was grateful for this new insight and I was in awe of how wonderfully intricate life can be. Had I taken a ram or had I not been alone in the mountains surely, I would not have been able to receive the insight and gratitude that would undoubtedly enrichen all of my future endeavours not just on the mountain but in everyday life. It was at that moment that I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that everything truly happens for a reason and was at peace with how the hunt had unfolded.

I can think of no other sport which faces such a daunting uphill battle towards gaining public acceptance and understanding while struggling to securing a future in which we are no longer afraid of losing that which we not only love, but often defines us as individuals. Just as the climber is inexplicably drawn to conquer the mountain, the surfer succumbs to his longing to ride the waves, we as hunters not only want but need to roam wild places in search of the animals which both inspire and humble us. Hunting happens to be our canvas for how we express our connection to nature. So next time you head into the field, try to do so in a manner which you broaden your perception of success and allow yourself to remain open to all possible outcomes. Success doesn’t always necessarily come in the form of an animal. When we let go of our expectations, we allow the space necessary to receive all the gifts life is trying to share with us. I believe it is with this mindset that we can more accurately convey our experiences in such a way that others are capable of understanding why hunting is so important to us. And I believe that is how we can all can experience the humanity of hunting.

by Jared Christon

Canadian Black Bear Taxidermy

hether you’ve sheep hunted before or it’s a brand new venture, you’ll already know it’s no easy endeavour. A tremendous amount of work goes into your quest well before you’ve loaded your backpack. You’ve researched a hundred options of where to go, narrowed them down to a few key places, and finally decided on your location. An extensive amount of time has gone into training and keeping in shape because physical fitness is crucial to the outcome of your hunt. You’ve checked and rechecked your gun or bow to make sure it’s shooting straight, and now, all that’s left to do is get out there and find the ram of your dreams. In light of that, almost nothing excites a sheep hunter more than looking at rams through the spotter. Having reliable quality optics can make the difference between finding rams and overlooking them. When judging sheep, you want to have the best optics you can afford. You spend countless hours behind your glass every year and cannot put a price on good glass. Quality optics are literally priceless on a sheep hunt.

They will allow you to judge length and mass better and play a massive role in aging a ram effectively from a distance. Find optics that fit your eyes. Some brands are better suited to some eyes, so you must test them before buying. Ensure they don’t make your eyes tired or fuzzy while looking through them. You don’t want to strain your eyes while behind your glass. I believe Swarovski, Leica, Ziess and Nightforce are some of the highest-quality optics brands to have in your pack.

Many times, the difference between an average ram and a giant can be challenging to estimate. When field-judging rams, who can say you’re doing it wrong if you get a satisfactory final result? However, I’ve found the following tips helpful for learning to streamline the judging and aging process.

If you’re not a seasoned sheep hunter, looking at a ram through your spotting scope and judging its horn length will take a while. When you’re relatively new to sheep hunting, looking at photos of sheep is a great

place to start. Look in magazines such as “Wild Sheep,” “FNAWS,” or “Grand Slam Ovis,” as there’s often a description underneath the picture that includes length and score. This is a great way to practice judging length and aging sheep.

Rams’ horns can differ significantly in shape and appearance from one ram to another and still have the same length and score. One ram’s horns could come high off his head, sweeping far back and down low, making him barely more than ¾ curl, while the ram beside him could have horns that have a tight, shallow curl, come above the bridge of the nose, and flare out. Both these rams could have the exact same length and score because average rams’ horns are just that—average—and for Dall or Stone sheep, that is usually about 35 inches. What I like to do is establish a baseline. Then, when you know what an average ram looks like, you can start to pick it apart from there. You can say things to yourself like, “OK, the ram I’m looking at comes a little farther back than normal, so maybe I’ll add an inch. They’re not as low as an average ram, but his horns come

farther forward, tip up way above his nose, and flare way out. So I can add an inch for the horns coming farther forward and 2-3 inches for his horns coming farther forward and flaring up and out.” Working through this process step by step will get you a rough estimate.

A 40-inch ram is that magical number we all hope for when hunting sheep. If that’s the class of ram you’re looking for, you may see his horns come high off his head, come far back and down below the jawline, and come halfway between his eye and the end of his nose when viewed from the side, with his horn tip looking like it connects with the base, for a total full curl. That’s one example. But remember, more than one combination of shape and appearance can end up being a 40-incher.

Nothing is more disappointing than when, after finding rams, having spent a lot of time getting to them and getting on them, you realize none of them are the mature ram you’re

looking for. When looking at rams from a long distance, you often can’t tell what you’re really seeing. If you see weight in his horns in the third quarter down by his jaw, chances are it’s going to be a ram with some age. Younger rams’ horns are thinner. They don’t carry the mass the older rams do. When you’ve gotten close, and you’re field judging a ram at, let’s say, 200 yards, and you know that 12-12 ½ inches on the bases of a ram’s horn is about average, then you can start to pick apart his horn weight to see how well he carries it. Older rams with good genetics will carry their horn mass well from the base right through the first and second quarter measurements, gradually getting smaller toward the tip. In these mature rams, you will see that he carries the weight in his horns down into the lower third, down by his jaw.

Ageing sheep in the field is very important. Usually, when hunting, the younger rams get the older ones spotted. When you find young rams

when glassing, older rams may be nearby. Younger rams tend to be more active, stretching more often. A mature ram can remain in bed for 12 hours daily, chewing his cud. When I’m looking at sheep at 200 yards through my spotter, the first thing I do is start counting age rings. Some may disagree and say you should first look to see if he’s legal by length. I count age first because sometimes it may be hard to tell if he’s legal or not by length or curl right away, and getting the right angle to tell may take some time. By looking at age first, you will select the oldest, most mature ram with the lowest chance of making it through the next winter.

Also, you increase your chances of harvesting a ram by being good at aging sheep. In most areas of BC and the Yukon, the regulations allow you to harvest a thin-horned sheep based on age alone. Some rams will never be legal by length but will be legal by age and are still good — or even incredible — rams. Their horns may come high off the head,

curl far back and down below the jaw line, and never make the legal line, yet it could be well over nine years old, and without knowing and being comfortable shooting on age, you could let the ram of a lifetime walk away. If you’re going to pull the trigger based on a ram’s age, it is imperative to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have correctly aged him and that the hunting regulations for that area do, in fact allow the harvesting of a ram based on his age. Thinking a ram is older than he actually is while field judging him could be a very costly mistake. If you’re looking at sheep within shooting range, you should be able to see the difference between a ram that’s 7 ½ -8 ½ years old and one that is 10 ½ -11 ½ years old. Sometimes, age rings can hide under the hairline on the bases, especially if you’re hunting late season. So, how do you know if that’s the case? Look at the space between his annuli (growth rings). These rings are formed in winter when the ram’s horns are virtually not growing at all—when all the energy

from the food a ram consumes goes into keeping him alive instead of into his horn growth.

The distance between a ram’s growth rings will get progressively smaller and smaller from one year to the next as they get closer to the horn base. If, for example, a ram’s sixth-year growth over the spring, summer, and fall is five inches, and his seventh year is four inches, it’s highly unlikely to have the eighth year of growth underneath the hairline. But if you can see the eighth year of growth over the spring, summer, and fall to be two inches and the ninth year to be one inch, there is a chance that the tenth year of growth could be hiding at the hairline or just underneath. When I’m guiding, and we are lying on a mountain looking at sheep, my most important factor is age. To me, the oldest, ‘gnarliest’ rams are the ones that are the higher-quality trophies. Regardless of how big they are, the oldest rams are the ones that are the biggest trophies because they are the ones who are the smartest, have the most experience, and are

harder to hunt than younger rams. Seeing the age rings stack up at the bases, knowing that the ram you’re looking at has been around the mountain for close to or even more than a decade, is what makes the most desirable trophy in my books.

“Rack bracketing” can go hand-inhand with establishing a baseline. When you know what an average ram looks like for length and average mass, you can start to put the two of them together. I like placing sheep into categories. Is he a 140-class ram? 150? 160? 170? By doing this, you can start to pick the details apart and ask yourself questions such as, ”How heavy are his bases?” and, “Does he carry his weight well in the second and third quarter?” From here, you can fine-tune your judgment calls and do your best to come up with an accurate final number.

Know what makes a sheep score. If a ram has 39 inches of length, 13-inch bases, 12-inch first quarters, 10inch second quarters, 6.5-inch third

quarters, and is symmetrical on both sides, you’re looking at a 160-class ram. This addition process is the same for all rams, and you can apply it to any sheep if you can estimate length and mass accurately.

Making those calls and being able to judge rams accurately comes from a lot of experience in the field. That doesn’t happen overnight; no matter how much sheep hunting you’ve done, there’s always room to learn more. There isn’t any right or wrong way to start; the important thing is that you try. The best mountain hunters I know are the ones with the most experience and who take the most time observing and studying their animals. The more sheep you look at and get to put a tape on, the better you become at judging them.

When it comes to hunting mature sheep, if you want the ram of your lifetime, it’s crucial to determine which hunting areas have good genetics. It sounds simple, but you won’t kill big rams unless you hunt where big rams live. Some people forget this fact. Usually, areas that grow big rams have a lower sheep

population density than others. Lower numbers of sheep per square mile provide higher quality food sources and a better winter range, resulting in less competition for the highnutrition food that rams need to make it through the winter.

Areas that have higher sheep density usually grow smaller rams. More sheep equals more competition for food and for the ewes in the rut. The harder the rams have to compete in the rut will play a big part in how well they make it through the winter. If rams have to run harder to compete with other rams over the ewes, they burn a higher proportion of the fat they stored up throughout the summer to help them make it through the hard winter months. Do you want to hunt big sheep? Consider hunting areas that may have fewer rams than other areas. Many people have a negative perception of trophy hunting. They think trophy hunters are only after the horns of the animal, that they don’t want the meat, and that the meat gets wasted. That is a misconception. To me, trophy hunting means you do not shoot everything that walks. It

means you’re selective regarding which animals you harvest, picking the oldest and most mature ones. Yes, the horns are part of the success. Almost every hunter loves a good set of horns! But along with that is the supply of fantastic meat that comes with harvesting the animal. It doesn’t get more organic than that!

I believe a true trophy hunter knows that the trophy isn’t only the animal. That it’s the hunt, the pursuit, the whole experience. It’s the hard times mixed with the struggles and the joy of overcoming whatever obstacles the wilderness throws at you. The trophy is the adventure and the people you share it with. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re wasting your time because we don’t harvest an animal every single time we go out—even if we could. If harvesting an animal is the only thing that makes the trip successful, you’re sure to end up disappointed and are, in my opinion, missing the bigger picture. Working hard for it is what makes a hunt both enjoyable and successful, even when you decide not to pull the trigger.

In my opinion, sheep aren’t an animal that a hunter needs to shoot every season. Having the opportunity to harvest a handful of rams over your lifetime is a remarkable achievement, even if you’re someone who can harvest a ram every single year. Having the physical ability to head into the mountains, go hunting every year, see legal rams, and turn them down makes you a more accomplished and respectable hunter. Letting them walk when they’re not the class of animal you’re looking for and still being glad you did so, even if that means you go home emptyhanded, is what creates a reputation worthy of genuine respect. You hunt because you love to, because it’s a part of who you are. As a mountain hunter myself, nothing beats the feeling of walking up and putting your hands on a very hardearned, mature ram. There’s just no comparison. Now go hunt hard!

1. Job/Volunteer Title

Wildlife Specialist for the Terrestrial Species

Recovery Branch – BC Government

2. Job/Volunteer Description

In recent years, my job has taken me down a different path, away from general wildlife management and wild sheep-related initiatives towards a more specialized role in species-at-risk recovery. Specifically, I work within the Province’s Caribou Recovery Program, and specialize in population recovery actions for at-risk caribou herds, with a focus on managing predator-prey interactions.

3. Related Experience/Duration in industry

I studied Fish and Wildlife management and completed a Master’s degree in Wildlife Biology. During that time, I spent seven years working as a hunting guide for Dall’s sheep, caribou, mountain goats, moose, and bears. I have been working full-time as a government wildlife biologist/specialist for nine years, based out of Fort St. John in the Peace Region.

4. Why are you passionate about wild sheep?

There’s just something about mountain sheep. Maybe it’s the landscapes in which we find them, their relatively rare occurrence across the globe, their ability to survive and thrive under brutal conditions, or the way we admire a set of curly horns. It’s probably a combination of all these things. Those who have spent time following these animals throughout the mountains know exactly what I mean. I don’t believe you can truly appreciate just how special wild sheep are until you’ve spent time in their environment, especially pursuing them as a hunter.

5. Favourite parts of your role that affect wild sheep

Although my work role has changed and I am not as directly involved in wild sheep management as I once was, I’ve still had the good fortune of participating in surveys and radio-collaring projects in recent years. Capturing and collaring sheep on windswept mountain tops in the dead of winter is an experience I’ll always appreciate. Likely the best part of my job is spending 100s of hours each winter flying through the Stone’s sheep

habitats of the Northern Rockies. My time spent working in the mountains is always a good reminder of the complexities of managing wild sheep, relative to habitat quality and quantity, predator abundance, competition with other ungulate species, climate change… just to name a few of the factors affecting our wild sheep populations in the north. I do hope that my career path brings me back into sheep management and conservation at some point, so I can contribute positively like so many of my colleagues do on a regular basis.

6. External influences/Challenges you face in your job to help average people understand it’s more difficult than it may appear?

I believe it’s fair to say that many aspects of wildlife management in British Columbia have changed in recent years –not necessarily for better or for worse, but changing, nonetheless. For a biologist, these changes come with an acceptance that “science-based decision making” is being phased out, at best, by “science-informed decision making”, recognizing there are many social and political factors that have significant influence on management decisions. Perhaps it has always been this way to a certain degree, but I’ve seen the pendulum swing further in that direction already in my young career. For many biologists, this means adapting the way in which we work and changing our expectations – shifting away from ‘western science’ and learning to work effectively with First Nations and interest groups to try to do the best we can for wildlife. It’s a new frontier for many of us. With so much focus on wildlife harvest regulations and restrictions, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the factors that truly have notable influence on wildlife populations.

7. Any comments relating to your appreciation for, or involvement in WSSBC

The WSSBC is instrumental in the management and conservation of wild sheep populations in the province. Advocating for wild sheep and their habitat at a time when wild sheep may otherwise be lost in the mire of wildlife politics has been so important in keeping bighorn and thinhorn sheep prioritized BC. No group advocates for wild sheep harder than the WSSBC, and no members are more willing to put their time and money towards a good cause than WSSBC members. Where government is unable to devote the time, money, and staffing towards wild sheep, WSSBC has proven that they can raise awareness to keep the spotlight on sheep as a focal species for government to manage, or acquire the funds and capacity to spearhead some real on-the-ground wild sheep conservation initiatives themselves.

yle, there on that far side, some goats just came up skyline above the burnt timber.”

After watching a young billy and a nanny feed through the new burn we had come up empty handed for more goats until Brayden took one last look at the right time and spotted this group coming up over the top towards us...

Last year I was lucky enough to draw a mountain goat tag in a great zone and had the opportunity to harvest a 16 year old billy with horns that stretched the ten-inch mark. Not sure how we could top that again. I decided to put in the same area but in a different zone this time. After the long wait for our limited entry to be posted, I was thrilled to see I had drawn another mountain goat tag. Little did I know Brayden had also drawn a goat tag in a different area. This was shaping up to be a good year.

As the summer months faded into the fall, we patiently waited for November to arrive. During the warm spell in September my daughter and I took advantage of the heat of the rut and managed to take her first bull elk, a stunning 8x7. With November approaching fast it was time to switch gears from elk to mule deer and goats. Early November found us hunting some open fir timber faces where it provided my daughter and myself with two great bucks. Her best buck to date and fortunately a buck I called swagger, a 200 inch non typical that I was able to connect on for myself. The time had come to switch gears and start gearing up for late season goats. The first chance we had, Brayden and I made our way into his area as it’s usually snowed out before the end of November. After the long 3.5-hour drive, we finally made it to our destination. While we waited for daylight, we looked over some maps and areas he had previously scouted in the summer. It was a cold morning. With a light dusting of snow and clear skies we patiently watched the stars fade and turn into daylight. Backcountry hunting is always a beautiful sight in the morning especially when daylight dances over the snow-capped peaks in the distance.

It didn’t take long, and we had a group of goats spotted. 2 billies and 4 nannies. One billy was super young, and the other billy appeared to have some age. We planned and headed up the avalanche beside them. Luckily, they had fed towards us in that time. Once they came into view Brayden got into position and got ready to fire. The billy stopped and fed for a split second, Brayden aimed and sent a round down range followed by a loud whack. The billy rolled a few times and piled up into a log pile. After the retrieval we snapped a few pictures and broke him down headed down the mountain. The drive home was in the dark, it was bright and peaceful. The following weekend we headed into the area that I had drawn bright and early as it was equally as far and mostly on dirt road as well. One small kicker is my tag was inside a

road closure, so we had to hike in the dark for about 5 km. We pulled up to the river crossing and got our gear sorted out. To cross the river, we had to wear waders and get across the river without getting wet as it was pushing minus 20 degrees Celsius that morning. As we started the trek, the sun was starting to rise over the distant mountain peaks. The sight was unbelievable.

After the 5 km hike in, we made it to our first glassing spot. We hunkered down in some timber and started to pick the new burn apart. Two years prior a huge fire had gone through and decimated the mountain side and all its timber. It was a black and wide-open landscape that clearly held goats. It didn’t take long, and we spotted a young billy and a nanny. We watched them for about an hour to see if anything else was around, but nothing showed. We were both getting cold, it was time to move. We loaded up our stuff and walked up the road a few more kilometres so we could see the rest of the drainage and the mountain range.

The air was cold, there wasn’t much snow, but it was cold. The hillside above us was windswept and almost empty of snow. With no more goat sightings we started to think the goats may still be back farther in the drainage. We needed to decide on what we were going to do for the rest of the day. I was packing up my spotting scope and gear when Brayden screeched, “Kyle, there on that far side, some goats just came up skyline above the burnt timber.” Right away we spotted a big-bodied billy with about 9 other goats in front of him. We were too far away, we had to get closer so we could judge this billy and see what he was. Loading our gear as fast as we could, we headed farther up the road closure towards the goats.

As we approached the spot, we picked out all the goats that had now fed off the cliffs and down into a small rock bowl at the edge of the burnt timber. The billy stayed high; he was skylined. The sun showed off his yellow-stained cape. With the bluebird sky as a backdrop, it was easy to see that his horns would stretch to the 10-inch mark. Now we just needed to get an age class on him. He had a very prominent Roman nose and horse face. Big front end. From 800 yards away I could count a few age rings up high, so I was very confident this goat was 6 years plus old. We waited for him to feed down to the nannies and then made our final stalk. We had an open knob more than halfway to the goats. I figured that knob would put me inside 300 yards from the billy.

As we picked our way through the broken timber, we ambled up the frozen shale hill to where we wanted to be. We stopped about 80 yards from the top so I could put my Kuiu super down jacket on, so I didn’t get cold in case it was going to be a long wait. I chambered a round in my Kimber 280ai and made my way to the top of the knob. Hidden behind a small rock I could make out a few scattered goats across from us. They were at the bottom of the rock face mulling around, but we couldn’t locate the billy. I slowly crawled forward so I could see down into the rock bowl a bit farther and there he was, tending to a hot nanny. I nodded to Brayden to get ready. I set my Spartan bipod up and settled my 280ai in place. All I needed them to do was move up above the tree line as the burnt timber was blocking a clear shot. Time stood still. It felt like an eternity. Finally, the nanny had enough and pushed up the basin floor. He was in tow. They both stopped on a small rock outcropping and

stood there broadside. I settled the crosshairs from my Swarovski z5 on top of his front shoulder. As I squeezed the trigger the report of the rifle echoed back at us through the rock filled basin. He had fallen.

After a round of high fives and some hooting and hollering we ambled through the rocky crags and made our way over to the fallen billy. I laid my gun down beside him and grabbed his long black horns. Long thick horns sweeping back are all tell tale signs of a big mature goat. 7 years old and 10-inch horns. I was ecstatic. Two years in a row I got the pleasure of laying my hands on two mature 10-inch billy goats. The backdrop was perfect, the lighting was golden. The day was amazing.

The walk out was worth the pain and suffering. With a pack full of meat and a life size cape, we pushed through fading light and aches pains of a long day. As we hit the river crossing our chariot awaited. There’s one thing for sure, late season goat hunts just hit differently, especially when you have great friends to experience it with.

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE BY

by Rebecca Peters

he Salute to Conservation & Mountain Hunting Expo proved to be a truly exceptional event, and recognition is due to the outstanding leadership of Kyle Stelter, whose vision and dedication guided us through the details of organizing such a complex gathering. As well the Directors’ exceptional dedication and support has played a huge part in the contribution of its overall greatness. Thank you to our Conservation Partners and the collaborative efforts of everyone involved made this event

not only a celebration of conservation but also a tribute to the passion and dedication that drives this initiative... conservation of wild sheep!

The noticeable participation of women & children this year added dimension to the event, portraying a family friendly aspect. The Women Shaping Conservation (WSC) team contributed by volunteering in different event areas, from registration to helping with the Backpack Race and ensuring guest assistance. Kelly Cioffi and Madison Porter managing the accounting payments for both

live and silent auctions, ensuring a smooth and efficient financial process throughout the event. It is essential to acknowledge that the success of an event pivots on the dedication of numerous volunteers and supporters. It was an honour to have Tracey Wilson, Vice President of Public Relations for the CCFR, at our Life Member Breakfast. As Canada’s sole in-house registered gun lobbyist and a dedicated hunter and sport shooter, Tracey provided an update on the ongoing legal battle against the Federal Government concerning

our firearms. Her extensive insights into the legal challenges surrounding firearms and her avid support for women, youth, and education made her presence at our event truly amazing.

Women Shaping Conservation held a seminar, led by Julie McQueen, President & CEO of Carbon TV, centred on the premiere of the Beyond Bonds film, featuring Renée Thornton Chair of Women Hunt, and Brandi Love Women Hunt committee member & 2021 Women Hunt alumni. Beyond my role as Chair of the Women Shaping Conservation committee, I also serve as a Women Hunt committee member & alumni of the 2021 Women Hunt program. Brandi Love and I were among the initial group of 12 women chosen for participation in the Women Hunt program.

Renée Thornton has been influential in encouraging women to enter the hunting space, emphasizing her passion for women’s involvement with the Wild Sheep Foundation and Women Hunt. Her advocacy reflects the importance of organizations opening their doors and promoting awareness and it was truly an honour to have her presence at our event. In my 2021 application for the Women Hunt program, I expressed the intention to create a seminar or group activity for women at the Wild Sheep Society of BC convention. I envisioned organizing and promoting a seminar where women interested in hunting and conservation could engage and learn more about these pursuits.

One of the aspects of the Women Hunt program is to ‘give back’ and for the last two years my focus has been just that. Another reason I felt so strongly about creating a film centred around women in the hunting space was to express that we are all capable of learning to hunt and participating in conservation efforts.

In British Columbia, where hunting faces challenges, our government’s

actions complicate matters for hunters and conservationists, impacting our rights and heritage. Despite not being the main focus here, it’s another reason why I emphasize women’s involvement in these activities. With 80% of women overseeing economic decisions and responsibilities within the home, I believe women play a significant role in preserving our freedom to hunt and provide for their families. This isn’t about excluding men but emphasizing the need for more women to support and encourage this way of life.

Our Friday night keynote speaker was Julie McQueen, President & CEO of Carbon TV, and her passion and dedication to hunting and conservation proved truly inspiring. Her delivery resonated with both hunters and non-hunters in the room, as she shared her journey as a woman navigating the hunting and conservation space. Notably, her ability to reach non-hunters was impactful, with women expressing to me afterwards a newfound perspective on hunting after hearing Julie speak. This is a significant shift, emphasizing the potential for changing perceptions and understanding among those who may not have considered hunting before. Julie’s speech carried many important messages, but what struck me most was her concluding note. Rather than emphasizing the need for improvement, she highlighted that we’ve all done an amazing job, worked hard, and achieved a lot to be proud of in this moment. It served as a powerful reminder to celebrate our successes and acknowledge the progress we’ve made.

If you haven’t met Brandi Love, you’re missing out. Her infectious charisma and genuine love for sharing make her stand out. Recently voted in as Director for the Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta chapter, Brandi and I have shared this journey since 2021. The key takeaway here is the significance of building connections, not just within the hunting and conservation space, but within our local communities sharing our love of conservation and hunting with others. Brandi’s ability to inspire is widely appreciated, and her willingness to gracefully navigate uncomfortable situations sets an admirable example. Throughout this journey, I’ve nurtured many important friendships that I deeply cherish. While acknowledging the numerous women in the hunting and conservation realm doing outstanding work, I want to celebrate them all. Keep pushing forward, stay authentic to yourself, and find your place in this space because we all belong, each with something valuable to contribute. In closing, we exist as continual students and teachers, swapping between mentor and mentee, where the lines between guidance and learning blur in an ongoing sequence of shared knowledge and growth.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming a volunteer, please feel free to reach out to me at: rebeccaanne75@gmail.com or 778-886-3097.

Every backcountry hunter’s been there - just days or weeks before the season starts, you realize you’ve been a bit too dormant over the winter... and spring. You’re not in the right physical condition for what lies ahead. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and as you scramble to whip yourself into shape, you hope it’s not too late. But it almost always is.

Year after year it’s the same mad dash, and year after year you swear to never let it happen again. So what if this time around, instead of that last-minute panic, you start your hunting fitness journey in the spring and steadily build strength and endurance before, during, and after hunting season? You need at least 12 weeks of serious conditioning to be ready for backcountry hunting - this isn’t an arbitrary number either, there’s a laundry list of physiological reasons behind this 3-month timeframe. By beginning your training in spring, you’re giving yourself ample time to gradually improve physical and

mental toughness, critical factors for successful backcountry hunting. Pouring this solid foundation deep into the offseason allows you to focus on fine-tuning your skills closer to September, rather than playing catchup. You’ll be far more prepared to handle unpredictable weather, tough terrain, and the mental obstacles of conquering the remote wilderness. Your training throughout the year should be broken down into phases, with a different focus for each one. The off-season is all about hulking up muscle, strength, and size. But when spring rolls around, it’s time to lean out and build endurance for the summer months.

That’s where this guide comes into play. We’ll show you what a proper spring training routing looks like for backcountry hunters, covering three key physical components - endurance, strength, and flexibility. We’ll also spend time on ways to train your mental strength, and finally, we’ll close out this intro to spring training

camp with several tips on staying injury free.

If you enjoy struggling for breath and constantly fighting fatigue, skip this section. If you want to have the best hunt of your life and enjoy the experience along the way, then you need to reawaken your cardiovascular system in the spring.

While everyone is familiar with the obvious benefits of cardiovascular training, it’s the less obvious ones that tend to get the backcountry hunters motivated to dust off their running shoes.

Cardiovascular training gives you significantly more energy to stay alert, increasing your focus and decreasing the likelihood of making mistakes. Cardio is also an unpleasant feelingit’s uncomfortable - and the first sign of discomfort is when most people tap out. But for the backcountry hunter, this is your cue to push forward, harder than before. This difficulty is

going to power you through tough situations when you need it most.

All training sharpens your mental strength, but in the opinion of many, cardio workouts can create a razorsharp edge like no other.

Running: Distance vs. Sprinting

There are two basic types of running workouts: distance running and sprinting. Each has its own merits, but sprint training is more time-efficient and allows you to mix in other exercises in your workout. You can run on a treadmill indoors if you like, but if you’re able to head outdoors, always opt for that.

For distance running, track metrics such as heart rate and minutes per mile run. For sprinting, you can use your heart rate to measure your intensity. To make your sprint workouts harder, cut down on rest times.

Rowing: Full-Body Activation

Rowing is a full-body activity, which is helpful for anyone short on time with goals that engage their entire body - this makes it particularly useful for backcountry hunters, where your

legs, back, and arms work together in the rowing motion.

Training your upper body with an endurance exercise like the rower is important because you need to fight upper body fatigue in countless ways while hunting and hiking.

Similar to running, you can do quick sprints or longer-duration rowing workouts. Doing sets of 200 meters as fast as possible will make you winded. You can also do a longer, 20-minute row for endurance, covering as much distance as possible in that amount of time.

Hiking + Weighted Pack

Few things will prepare you for hunting season like throwing a heavy pack on and hitting the trails. It’s the equivalent of the Oklahoma Drill for football players, but since it’s so specific to hunting, weighted pack hikes will give you a good gauge of how prepared you are for hunting season.

Throw weight into a pack and set out for a modest distance (make sure you bring plenty of water). You can also walk on a treadmill at an incline

to simulate hiking with a weighted pack - try to match the weight in your pack to what you’d bring with you on an extended hunt, then level up the weight to what your goal pack-out weight would be.

Successful hunters need enough strength to confidently navigate the backcountry, haul their gear to their kill, and then haul a way heavier pack on their way out. It’s hard to think of other mountain sports where your pack gets heavier the longer you stay in the wild if you ultimately see success. Punching a tag is a feeling like no other, but it’s also an incredible amount of work. Thankfully adrenaline is there to help, but that will only get you so far. Getting stronger is the best way to tackle this - it makes carrying that weight easier and reduces your risk of injury.

Deadlifts: Carry Heavy Things

There are a few variations of this exercise, but the barbell deadlift is perhaps the best. It allows you to lift

a lot of weight, preparing your body to pick up and carry heavy things. Deadlifts strengthen the legs, hips, back, and core muscles.

It’s important to note that your form is more important on deadlifts than almost any other exercise. When performed improperly you can hurt your lower back or knees.

Lunges: Asymmetrical Balance

Deadlifts are an example of a twolegged lower-body strength exercise.

Lunges are a one-legged exercise, which forces you to use more balance. Single-leg movements strengthen your ankles and prevent debilitating sprains when you’re in the backcountry.

Lunges prepare you for hiking and climbing over obstacles because you walk and often climb using one leg at a time.

Lunges place more stress on one leg at a time, rather than evenly distributed across both. It’s important to have both single and doubleleg exercises in your program; individually they offer unique benefits, as a mix though, you’ll create a stronger and more balanced lower body.

Rows: Upper Body Boost

Strong legs can help you get to your destination, but you need a strong upper body to hit your target, amongst other countless motions. Whether you’re bowhunting or otherwise, it takes confidence in your upper body muscles to fire with steady aim. Rows are the perfect exercise for archers in particular because they strengthen the same muscles you use to draw a bow. They’re also extremely versatile since you can do rows with dumbbells, a barbell, or kettlebells (check out our free KB20 workout to see the power of rows in action). A strong back is also useful in other ways as you might imagine, like picking up heavy things and maintaining proper posture while shooting. Little things like that...

Spend even an hour hiking in remote wilderness and you’ll gain a real appreciation for flexibility and range of motion. Every turn is an opening to test how far your limbs and joints can stretch before they give out. You know all about the demands of strength and cardio for backcountry hunting but don’t make the mistake of skipping on

flexibility training. Well, at least do so knowing you risk a greater chance of injury by doing so.

That’s not you though - you’re planning to work far too hard for your upcoming elk hunt. So let’s get your body on the same page as your mind and prep it to tackle cliff faces, deadfalls, and shifting terrains like a pro. We’re going to pull a few of our most effective stretches for the occasion - they’ll go a tremendous distance in keeping you injury-free.

Figure-4 Stretch: Prioritize Hips

Healthy hips are going to move you to success on the mountain - it doesn’t take an orthopedist to explain they’re pretty important for walking, hiking, climbing - just about any bipedal movement... And while some injuries you can push through without completely altering your plans if you hurt your hips, you’ll soon have a new goal; getting back to safety without additional harm.

One way to keep your hips in top condition is regularly incorporating stretches like the figure-4. This stretch focuses mainly on the glutes, the big muscles that power much of your hiking. Some smaller muscles in your

hips need to be stretched, like the piriformis - if this muscle tightens up you’ll feel an enormous amount of pain. Nobody wants that while chasing bulls at 8,000 feet - so make sure you include hip stretching in your program.

Child’s Pose: Relax A Bit

Borrowed from yoga, this movement will stretch you out and make you feel zen at the same time. It’s an extremely relaxing stretch that’s also efficient since it works multiple muscle groups at once.

As you sit back on your heels, if you do so properly you’ll feel a stretch in the quadriceps, the muscles that run down the front of your legs. And as you reach your arms forward you’ll feel your upper back and shoulders stretch out as well. It also lengthens the lower back, a particularly important area to remember after a long hike.

Doorway Stretch: Pull Your Shoulders Back

If you work at a desk and slouch, or you’ve pushed your push-ups or bench presses a bit too hard in the past, your shoulders might be rounded

forwards. Don’t stress too much if any or all of those prerequisites apply to you, it’s a common posture and it means that your chest muscles are tight.

It is cause for concern if you let this continue though. Tight chest muscles can put you at risk for a shoulder injury, so it’s important to stretch them regularly. The doorway stretch is easy to do in your home, and there’s a solid chance you’ve unknowingly done it before, and felt some pleasant relief in your shoulders.

Simply grab onto the doorway and lean forwards, letting the door pull your arms back. Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds and repeat 2-3 times per muscle group.

As we round out this spring training guide, we have to drop a bit of hunting fitness caution on you. Your goal in this timeframe is to stay healthy while you improve the overall health of your body. You’re going to need every inch of your being in prime condition to navigate to the backcountry. An injury now is going to derail your training.

The usual suspects are to blame for injuries this time of year, including training too hard, choosing the wrong exercises, and using improper form. These costly mistakes can take you out of the hunting season or limit your abilities - let’s avoid that by avoiding injuries altogether.

Use the following proper training principles to help keep you on track with your goals:

Warm Up Properly

Even if you have limited time to work out, warming up properly should still be a priority. The few minutes it takes to warm up is much less costly than the time it takes to recover from an injury. What does this look like? A proper warm-up consists of dynamic movements that prep your body for the workout by warming your muscles and making them more elastic.

Remember that type of stretching you used to do in grade school - the one where you sit still and pull on your arms and legs to stretch? Don’t do that - it’s not helpful. Static stretching, as it’s called, might even make you perform worse in the gym. This type of stretching doesn’t raise your body temperature - it literally

does not warm you up - creative naming aside, make sure to take a few minutes for dynamic stretching before your workouts. Exercises like butt kicks and arm circles before jumping into your workout.

Use Proper Form

Good technique is critical for any type of exercise, and unfortunately for beginners, that means it’s workout agnostic. Lifting heavy weights can damage your body if you don’t move properly. For example, it’s extremely easy to round your back in a deadlift, which can lead to a serious lower back injury. For example, in a deadlift, if your back is rounded you can injure your lower back.

Take Enough Rest

You don’t need to exercise as hard as you can every day. It’s a great ambition, but misguided for remaining injury-free in the best physical and mental condition. Sometimes you just need to rest or change the focus of your training. Doing too much too often can wear down your muscles and joints, leading to injury. It can also be a drain on motivation too. A good rule of thumb is to avoid doing the same workout on back-toback days. That guarantees at least 48

hours of rest per muscle group, which should be enough time to recover. Working out 5 days per week gives you two rest days to use anywhere in your schedule.

Keep Your Program Balanced

Even if you’re not doing the same exercise on back-to-back days you can overtrain and wear down certain joints. If your program isn’t properly designed you might put too much emphasis on one body part or movement. If you bench press three days per week but never do pull-ups or rows you’re training your chest too much.

It could take a while, but over time this leads to an imbalance in muscles – where the strain between your back and chest are too lopsided. Eventually, you might develop a shoulder injury from weak stabilizing muscles in your back.

Mental and physical training are inevitably tied together. While putting your body through grueling workouts, and training your muscles and cardiovascular system, you’re also training your mind. You’re embracing the discomfort and working toward a greater purpose. You’ll feel that sweet

reward in the backcountry, but not in a dreading manner. No. Rather, it will feel like a sense you’ve been through it before, and you know you’ve come out on the other side of it when you pushed forward.

If you’re hunting the backcountry this fall or winter, you need to design workouts for what specifically awaits you. Take 14 days to see how MTNTOUGH can help you get where you want to go, at no cost. We’ve created an entire hunting fitness ecosystem just for the challenges you’ll soon face. If you decide to train elsewhere after the trial, be sure to apply the methodology we’ve shared.

Because if your spring training plan consists of throwing a bunch of exercises into a training routine and going through the motions, you’re wasting your time. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to make it through the hunt unscathed. But if you’re smart about your approach, you’ll develop skills that have the power to change your life. And that’s never something to leave to luck.

To read the full article on the MTNTOUGH website:

https://mtntough.com/blogs/mtntoughblog/hunting-spring-fitness

by Nolan Osborne

f mountain hunters are a curious lot, sheep hunters take it to a different level. Jokes about cutting toothbrushes and decks of cards aside, we are an obsessive bunch. For the majority, the annual or semi-annual pilgrimage to the Sheep Mountains is precisely that - a spiritual quest. We create spreadsheets for pack weights, train year-round for a ten or fourteen—if we are lucky—day trip, and pore over digital maps. An entire segment of the firearms industry has blossomed alongside the popularity of sheep and mountain hunting, driving innovation in a way that the hunting rifle market hasn’t seen in decades. We demand better, stronger, and lighter all the time—and we’re willing to pay a pretty penny for it.

And yet, there’s one crucial piece of kit that is often overlooked despite its integral role in our adventures - our blades. One might suggest that a knife is a knife. If it has a sharp edge, it will do the job, and one wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Perhaps the lack of intricacy or technology allows our thoughts and desires to wander past the knives and onto the flashy European optics and carbon fiber packs. Indeed, the advent and popularity of disposable blade knives haven’t done our lot any favours - and that may be symptomatic of our society as a whole. We live in an age of convenience, where Amazon will deliver damn near anything in a couple of days. Regardless of the cause, the fact is that knives are one of the least considered, understood, and maintained items in the sheep hunters’ arsenal these days, and I’ve seen enough come through the field to stand on that point.

While I could wax on for several more paragraphs lamenting the overuse of scalpels, the loss of bushcraft, and the lore of the hunt, I’ll spare us all the time. Thankfully, there’s still the old guard among us and a rising tide within the younger generation who value a well-built knife’s versatility, durability, and sentimentality. One that accompanies you for decades of misadventures and mishaps and hopefully whets your appetite for more of such adventures in the process.

So where does all this leave the prospective buyer, the sort that is ready to shed the sacrilegious ways of the scalpel and carry a reliable fixed blade or two around until the blade is worn thin and the finish is dull and grey? The number of blade shapes and designs available can be overwhelming, and most aren’t aimed at our crowd. So, how do you choose what blade is right for you, your needs, and your hunting style when the space covers everything from flashy mall ninja balisongs to intricately crafted chef knives that cost thousands of dollars?

Fear not, dear reader. Despite my wandering and tonguein-cheek pre-amble, we are here to simplify this process. For most sheep or mountain hunters, one or two fixed-blade designs will suit almost all of our needs, whether skinning out a ram at 7000’ or breaking down a whitetail in a logging block. Thankfully, dozens of quality knives are available that fit our needs; whether you choose a Frontiersmen Gear blade or one of our competitors, we aim to ensure you have the right knife for your hunting style and the understanding of blade design to make an informed purchase.

We’ve broken down the most common designs you see in the hunting space and what we think they can and cannot do for you in and out of the field. I find, more often than not, hunters tend to “over-gun” themselves with a knife, ending up with a larger blade than needed and usually unwieldy in more delicate situations. You might be surprised by the versatility of a small blade – despite its diminutive demeanor, they are capable of all but the largest tasks.

CAPER

Despite being the smallest, this is arguably the most versatile knife in my kit. Taxidermists and guides traditionally use a caping knife for the fine detail work of

prepping hides. They are generally of a narrower blade depth – think spine to cutting edge – and typically in the 2” - 3” range. The Havalon or replaceable blade scalpel is a lightweight, albeit fragile, example of a caping knife. I’ve skinned, deboned, and broken down more than a handful of moose with scalpels in the past, but my preference is a fixed-blade design. A good caping blade will allow you the dexterity to turn lips, eyelids, nostrils, and ears and still function well for skinning, deboning, and popping joints. It won’t excel at skinning large game like moose or elk, but it will be capable. If you only have the budget for a single knife and cape work is a priority, this is your blade profile.

SKINNER

A proper skinning knife is a more specialist blade shape by design. Though many blade shapes are marketed as skinning knives, traditional skinning knives generally follow the same profile. These knives come in various lengths, typically between 2.5” and 5”, although you will find some larger than that designed for more serious fleshing applications. They are purpose-built for skinning large game and really shine if you are skinning and fleshing multiple elk, moose, or brown bear-sized game every season. Skinning blades typically have a deep belly with a stubby upswept tip to maximize the cutting-edge surface area. When skinning and fleshing, the more cutting-edge contact you have with every stroke, the faster the work goes. This category’s versatility will vary significantly with the overall design. Still, they excel at their niche and tend to fall short on fine detail work and anything you typically use a sharp-pointed tip for. Most skinning blades will have far more blade depth than your typical caping knife or general hunting blade. If you’re a professional guide or the designated skinner in your moose, deer, or bear camp and want to expand your blade arsenal, this type of blade should be on your list. Alternatively, if you’re cutting multiple tags a year and looking for a better

Caper

blade to skin with, this is a great option. Most hunters could serve all their needs with a quality skinner and caping knife if a single-blade quiver isn’t their cup of tea.

GENERAL HUNTER/EDC

The general hunter or EDC (Everyday Carry) is likely the most ubiquitous blade profile in this space. Commonly known as just a hunting knife or a belt knife, every knife maker or manufacturer has at least one in their lineup, and they come in a great many shapes, sizes, and materials. While many mountain or sheep hunters today likely don’t reach for this design for a long backpack trip, they still have their place in your kit. Most general hunter or EDC blades fall around 4” to 4.5” in length but can be anywhere from 2.5” to 5”. A good GH/EDC blade should be capable of most of your knife needs across various applications, be it skinning, fleshing, deboning, or even cape work or larger ungulates and big bears.

I use two blades in this category while guiding and hunting for myself, both of which have proven excellent companions in the field and are well-versed at everything from skinning to food prep in a wall tent camp. The smaller of the two is a 2.75” cutting edge full tang drop point 440C custom with an overall length of 6” and sees most of its action in August and early September while hunting sheep and mountain goats. It owes its dexterity to its smaller blade and handle and is the perfect size for skinning out thin-skinned game like stone sheep and working around their delicate ankles and tails for life-size capes. The larger is a 4” cutting edge, M390 steel full tang Frontiersmen custom with an 8 5/8” OAL, and it is truly a work of art. This is the primary knife I carry while running a horse string around the Northern Rockies, and it is my go-to blade for skinning and breaking down

any larger game, like moose and caribou. When it comes to mountain hunting, specifically sheep and goats, a smaller blade will always be more versatile, and I would suggest something in the 2.75” to 3.5” cutting-edge range to provide the greatest utility. More often than not, hunters “over-gun” themselves with a fixed blade and end up leaving it at home or in camp. The larger you go in blade size, the less versatile they become. The additional mass will also wear on you quicker with big jobs. Every seasoned backcountry hunter should own a fixed blade in this range and understand how to maintain it. A well-designed and chosen fixed blade is an incredible tool in the backcountry under capable hands.

CAMP KNIFE

The Camp or Survival knife is more popular among the bushcraft crowd than hunters. They usually share similar lines to a general hunter or EDC blade but with a significantly increased size. Often, these blades sit in the 5-6” range, but you will find some designs that run longer. They are generally built with strength and durability in mind and have thicker spines and blades than dedicated hunting knives. Commonly used for hacking, chopping, batoning firewood, and even prying, they don’t lend themselves as well to the more delicate work required of a hunter’s knife, but they will get the job done. I feel that knives 5” or larger – unless in a boning or filet profile – lose the versatility of a smaller belt for the hunter. If you are dead set on a larger camp knife, look for a good blend of rigidity and lightweight, as well as a handle and blade profile that allows you to choke up on the blade and make controlled use of the tip. It never hurts to have a solid, larger blade around camp or in your pickup, but the further we move up in knife size, the less use you will find it has, particularly with our interests as mountain hunters.

Skinners

General Hunter/EDC

CHOPPER

The last group of knives I will cover is the large chopper, bowie, or survival knife. These blades are specialized tools that don’t have a wide range of use for the hunter. They usually run from 8” to 14”, with broad blades and thick spines that carry rigidity throughout. These blades excel at chopping, clearing brush, and splitting kindling. They have more utility for an avid bush crafter than they do for us hunters – I much prefer the size and weight of a good machete on the trail than a large, heavy knife. Many of the custom knives in this range are show pieces to be displayed in a collection, showing off the knifemaker’s talents and artistry. Often combined with exotic and stunning materials, they are genuine pieces of art.

OVERALL DESIGN

Now that you understand standard blade sizes and designs, there are a few important things to note before you buy your knife. Even if you’ve narrowed down the category of blade you want to buy for your needs, there can still be a wide range of options. Some of these are purely aesthetic, such as color or even handle material, while others, like blade steel or tip shape, change the performance outcome of the blade. There are three main styles of knife edges: plain, serrated, and combo edges. For our needs as hunters, the plain edge is the only one you should consider for a dedicated hunting knife. These traditional designs feature a sharp, continuous edge from the blade’s heel to the tip. They are easy to maintain and cut smoothly and efficiently. Serrated blades or combo edges (a plain edge from the tip through the belly and the section closest to the heel featuring serrations) are designed for culinary or military applications. They excel at cutting material or objects with a hard outer edge and softer inside, such as bread or sawing through ropes, belts, etc. Serrated blades are far more challenging to maintain a sharp edge once dull and have a tearing effect on meat and hides.

Last but not least, one of the more important considerations you should make when purchasing a knife is the steel blade it is built from. There are endless options, and you could write an entire book on different blade steels and their respective properties. High-carbon blades are incredibly popular amongst

knife makers, particularly in the culinary realm, but a quality stainless steel blade is a must for the avid backcountry hunter. Stainless steel will have a higher corrosion resistance, which is essential for the longevity of your knife. We’re talking about using a knife for dozens of years, not dozens of hunts, and we all know that the weather we encounter in the mountains of British Columbia can be unforgiving. A broad range of stainless steels exists, with 440C being the cheapest and powdered steels like Magnacut and M390 on the upper end. Quality is measured on an edge retention and hardness scale, translating to ease of maintenance and sharpening. The harder the steel is and the better it retains its edge, the harder it will be to sharpen once dull. Hence, high-end steels are better suited to a specialist or dedicated knife enthusiast with an intricate understanding of knife maintenance and sharpening. For most hunters, a quality stainless steel like Nitro-V is an excellent balance of edge retention, hardness, and ease of maintenance and sharpening. Nitro-V is a proprietary stainless steel introduced in 2017 for the purpose of building high-quality knives. It offers a functional blend of high corrosion resistance, hardness, and ease of maintenance, which is why we have chosen it as our primary blade steel for Frontiersmen Gear Mountain & Ridgeline Series knives. I believe in constant and minimal blade maintenance versus letting an edge get so dull that it nearly needs regrinding. My Nitro-V mountain series blades have stood up to the field test of several 100-day guiding seasons and all the weather that comes at them without requiring expert knowledge and specialized equipment to sharpen them while on the trail.

– Stay Sharp, Stay Safe Chopper

Boning

t our 2024 Salute to Conservation in Penticton, Wild Sheep Society of BC CEO Kyle Stelter presented the Cabana family a Monarch Pinnacle plaque recognizing Danielle Cabana. This award will forever memorialize Danielle as our first Pinnacle member in our Monarch program.

In late 2022, Danielle passed away due to health complications and our wild sheep family responded swiftly with love and support for the Cabana family. Denis and Tressa and the entire family have given generously supporting wild sheep through their volunteer efforts.

Nolan and Amanda Wannop lead a #danistrong campaign to raise funds through a dedicated raffle with a goal of raising $100,000. Money raised would be directed through our Monarch membership program to the Society’s conservation initiatives.

In 2023 a #danistrong raffle, through our collective effors, raised $100,000 attributed in Danielle’s name. Danielle’s name will be memorialized for eternity as the top Pinnacle Monarch member ensuring her legacy lives on. A portion of the proceeds from her Monarch membership will be directed to a bursary for young women that encourages their involvement in the outdoor and conservation community.

Members, send us your hunt story (~50 words plus a picture or two) to communications@wildsheepsociety.com.

I was fortunate enough to have my dad come along with me on one of my sheep hunting adventures. My dad and I chased elk and deer together growing up on the island, but this was his first time hunting in the north in sheep country. He put in lots of time training for this hunt. I was really hoping to get dad on a ram, he was fully dedicated to hunting with his bow only. We had ten days to get it done, there was no pressure from other hunters and the weather was perfect. We pushed hard on day two and spotted rams, there was one obvious heavy horned beauty in the group. I feel very lucky to be able to have shared this successful hunt with the old man.

170 1/8” B&C

– Doug Skelly

I was fortunate enough to cut my first sheep tag last year with two great sheep-hunting partners, Nick Millic and Matt McCabe. We’d packed in three days prior to the opener with hopes of having a ram picked out. The weather had other plans for us, but we finally found a shooter by Aug 3rd. I’ve hunted stones for the past seven years and passed on a number of younger rams, with the goal of taking a nine-year-old or older stone, and this was no different. There was a much larger seven-year-old in the band, but age is more important than score. We sat on the band for 2.5 hours before my ram stood up. One 250yard shot and it was all over.

– Lorne Trousdell

A successful season! Started with a decent Bear (on day 2). This was followed with my third season hunting elk, narrowly missing out on bulls each season previous. This year, I was woken by the sound of 3-4 bulls chuckling around camp at 3 am. I first thought I was dreaming, attributed to excitement and anticipation, before hearing footsteps to realize these weren’t factors of my imagination. Sitting in the dark, I listened and used maps to track the bull’s movement. In early daylight, I set off and started to call. Long story short, closing in on the herd bull, bugling back and forth, I heard racking and chuckling withing ~30 yards behind me. Never killing a bull and being solo, I wasn’t going to be fussy and went for the satellite. Thinking he was coming in, I waited for a minute or two. I raked and chuckled and got a response but was staying put. I decided to go to him and within 20 steps and around a tree I saw his silhouette in the early morning light. Taking the frontal shot, his legs folded from under him.

Two days later, I shot my first bull moose (LEH) solo, but luckily had someone drag it to the road. Few days later, my friend Ken and I helped call in a 5x5 elk for our friend, Jay. The season was finished off with a whitetail. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my goat, but hope to get my lynx.

– Dr Nicholas Nikesitch, PhD

by Bill Pastorek

by Colten Gilbert

n August 2020 I walked off the mountain with a California Bighorn sheep in my pack, finishing a successful hunt with Dad and two of my brothers. As I hiked out, I declared, “This won’t be my last day of sheep hunting.” Once I got home, so began the grueling physical preparation, along with the saving, planning, sifting through outfitters, and overthinking that a hunt of a lifetime requires.

I’d heard of Alaska Guide Service operated by George Bock and Ron Warren through a friend who spoke highly of them. So, I called and asked the pair a lot of rookie questions I’m sure, but eventually I booked my hunt for 2023.

On a slow day in January, while I was killing time in a goose hunting blind, George’s call cut through the silence. He asked me if I’d like to move my hunt to 2022 due to a cancellation. I was excited to say the least.

Summer passed slowly, but finally the big day came. After arriving in Alaska, we flew in a Helio Courier bush plane for about an hour to get to camp.

Words cannot describe how amazing Alaska is, especially from the air! I saw several moose and bears as we flew in and sure enjoyed the ride. After I landed, I shot my rifle and prepared my pack for the next morning.

The first day of the hunt was warm, as George, our packer Ronnie Lopez, and I hiked the seven miles to spike camp. The route took us across a series of boulder fields, a side channel glacier known as an ice ribbon, and along a cliffy ledge to a flat green spot known as Waterfall.

After arriving and setting up my tent I started looking for white dots. It was an excellent glassing position, as I could see a lot of the valley. I quickly spotted sheep, mostly ewes and lambs but one group of younger rams. That evening we hiked a mile or so east of camp to glass into an area that historically held sheep. But even after a few hours nothing turned up.

We woke early the next morning to heavy rain bouncing on the tent. I wasn’t surprised, and I’d even planned for bad weather, but the anticipation of my once-in-a-lifetime hunt was

building. What felt like several hours was really only one. When the rain finally stopped, we strapped on our packs and started up the long, glaciated valley.

To say the terrain was rugged would be an understatement. We crossed a glacier with crevices in the ice that could have handled a Peterbilt with a trailer attached. Most holes weren’t quite that big but if you somehow slipped, the odds were against you coming out alive.

About four hours into the hike, we reached George’s glassing point that looked towards an area nicknamed ‘Nightmare’ by sheep hunters long ago. I gazed through my binos like I’d done thousands of times before, but this time the view was a little different. Roughly a mile away I spotted a scattered group of white dots spread randomly across the moraine. We grabbed our spotting scopes and eyed up what I’d been dreaming of—a band of 15 rams.

It didn’t take long to realize we needed to close the distance. Just as we started to plan our approach,

the rams got up and started feeding uphill. They fed slowly at first, but then they started to do more walking than eating. Before long, they gained enough elevation to tuck themselves away in some truly nasty country. It was steep, rocky, and nearly inaccessible from anywhere that wouldn’t give us away.

Knowing we had to close the distance, George led the way back down the glacier and around the crevices we had wound through earlier. Then we hiked back up the valley near the base of the mountain to stay out of sight. After four long hours we were only about 1,000 yards away and could size up the rams, eventually confirming at least three were mature rams.

As the sheep fed up higher it was difficult to keep track of which ram was which. So, as many hunters have before, we gave them names to help tell them apart. There was your usual

Curly and Pretty Boy, and the ram that became my target we named Brutus.

Hours passed and I began to worry we would need to leave the rams for the night and make a play in the morning. I was enjoying watching the rams and taking it all in when George whispered something I’ll never forget, “We’re going to kill that ram tonight.” My heart raced when I knew we would stay at our glassing knob until dark. George was confident the rams would eventually feed down off their high perch above the valley. And he was right.

Shortly after 7:30 pm a couple of the young rams stood up and started a slow march down the steep shale. Over the next hour, one by one, most of the other rams followed. However, the three stubborn old rams remained bedded. It was as if Brutus was taunting me... slowly turning his head back and forth as if to say, “Come and get me!” Then Pretty Boy and Curly

stood up and gave Brutus a nudge; they were finally on the move.

Forty-five exciting but nerve-racking minutes passed as the trio slowly fed downhill. On their march down Brutus and Curly put on quite the show, smashing their horns together and beating up on each other like a couple of disgruntled brothers.

When the rams fed out of sight for a few moments George and I took the opportunity to work out the shooting rest. I left my spotting scope and phone with our packer Ronnie just a few feet back. He captured some truly awesome video of what transpired.

After we verified which ram was Brutus, George determined his distance and basically told me to get a move on. “He’s at 416 yards,” George said. Then he added, “If he feeds down any farther, we’ll lose sight of him. Are you ready?” “I sure am,” I whispered. I’d already dialed in my scope and grabbed one more piece

of shale rock to put under the butt of my rifle. I took a deep breath and squeezed off a shot.

I didn’t hear the shot. The next thing I knew I was looking through my scope at Brutus and George was yelling, “You smoked him!” I hopped back on target for a follow up shot, but Ronnie and George let me know it wasn’t necessary in unison with an excited, “Ram down!”

I couldn’t believe it. My dreams had come true at a place nicknamed ‘Nightmare’. I threw my gear in my backpack, skied down through the scree, and then splashed across a small creek. When I approached Brutus, I saw he was a bit of everything... broomed on his right side, carried his mass well, and went 40 inches on his left side. A ten-yearold ram. I couldn’t have been happier!

I knew this hunt would be a physical and mental test, but I didn’t fully understand what that meant until my ram was on the ground and the pack out commenced. Up to that point it had just been a lot of miles, but really only two full days of hunting. I shot my ram 30 minutes before dark, which meant we had a long, dark trek back down the glacier to our spike camp. With heavy packs and headlamps, we started the journey.

To top things off, it seemed as if when I pulled the trigger the floodgates opened, with a steady rain making an already challenging trip even more difficult. The ice below our feet was slick with rain, so we carefully wove in and out of the large cuts in the ice. Periodically, we turned off our head lamps to catch a glimpse of the mountain and gauge where we were on the glacier.

Finally, around 2:00 am we reached our tents, dried off, and climbed into the sleeping bags for a short rest. In the morning the fun wasn’t over. We woke up to one of the strongest windstorms I’d ever experienced. At times it felt like I needed to help support the tent or it would collapse. After a few hours the wind died down, and we climbed out of our tents and carefully worked together to take

them down. Then we packed up the entirety of camp, including the meat, cape, and horns. With even heavier packs than when we started we began what turned out to be a two-day pack-out back to base camp. All the while the wind blew and the rain fell, but the bad weather didn’t lessen my excitement.

I’m beyond grateful for the experience. In fact, I feel truly blessed. I’m an average guy, but there was nothing average about this hunt! I couldn’t have made this dream happen without the support of my wife Abby. She is my greatest motivation and always helps me work towards my goals and keeps things moving back home while I’m off on adventures.

There are so many other people to thank, but the one person I need to mention is the late Ken Jafek. Ken was a passionate outdoorsmen and one of the early Life Members (#22) of what is now known as the Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation. He was a mentor of mine on my first sheep hunt and taught me a lot about bighorn sheep.

Two days before Ken passed, he called me out of the blue and gave me some sage advice. Ken explained that when he was my age he had missed a chance to go on a “dirt cheap” Stone sheep hunt. He had heard I was thinking of going on a Dall hunt and told me, “Don’t you dare wait. You better go while you’re young.” Ken’s words still ring in my ears.