How To Hunt Wild Sheep

Do you want to hunt wild sheep? Hunting wild sheep is challenging since it is difficult to spot and track. You must be patient and disciplined to successfully hunt wild sheep. Additionally, wild sheep live in rugged terrain and you have to be physically fit to track and hunt them. In this article, we discuss how to hunt wild sheep.

How To Hunt Wild Sheep

1. Scout The Terrain

The first thing you should do when you want to hunt wild sheep is to scout the terrain. Wild sheep are usually found in rugged terrain. Use Google Earth, topographic maps, or hunting apps to scout the terrain. Study the terrain for ridges, rocky slopes, dense regrowth, high hills, and valleys, and get familiar with it. Look for possible areas where they congregate or bed down. Also, look for possible feeding and water areas. Wild sheep are herbivores; they eat grasses and forbs.

2. Get In Shape

Bighorn sheep live in rugged terrain. To successfully track and hunt them, you will have to be physically fit since tracking and hunting them will involve long hikes in very rough, punishing, and remote terrain. It is physically demanding and to stand a good chance of successfully hunting wild sheep, you have to be in good physical shape. You don’t want to get injured in a very remote area where it will take many hours to get medical assistance.

3. Get On The Ground

After gathering information from Google Earth or other online resources, you want to physically get on the terrain to do more scouting. Use binoculars or spotting scopes to glass for wild sheep. They are usually active early in the morning or late in the evening. Get there during these times to glass for wild sheep. We reviewed the best spotting scopes on the market and you can read them from this link.

4. Be Patient

Bighorn sheep are very alert and can be spooked easily. They are wary animals and it may take days or weeks before you can get close to them for a good shot. Tracking and hunting wild sheep is not a quick hunt. You have to exercise patience, discipline, and stay calm to be successful when hunting them.

5. Predator Calls

Using predator calls when hunting wild sheep can be an effective strategy for attracting them into shooting range. Mimicking the sounds of distressed prey or the calls of predators can pique the curiosity of wild sheep, causing them to investigate the source of the noise.

Hunters often use electronic or manual predator calls to produce realistic sounds that can lure sheep out of cover or draw them closer for a clear shot. However, it’s essential to use predator calls judiciously and in conjunction with other hunting tactics, such as scouting and strategic positioning, to maximize their effectiveness.

Additionally, hunters should be familiar with the specific vocalizations of the wild sheep species they are targeting to select the most appropriate calls for their hunting area. You can read our review of the best predator calls from this link.

6. Decoys

When hunting wild sheep, using decoys can be a valuable tactic to attract these elusive animals within shooting range. Decoys are typically designed to mimic the appearance and behavior of wild sheep, including their posture, size, and coloration.

Placing decoys strategically in areas frequented by wild sheep can create the illusion of a group of sheep grazing or moving together, which may entice curious individuals to approach for a closer look. Hunters often combine decoys with predator calls or other attractants to enhance their effectiveness further.

However, it’s essential to use realistic and high-quality decoys that closely resemble the wild sheep species found in the hunting area to ensure they are convincing to wary sheep. Additionally, hunters should position decoys carefully to take advantage of natural terrain features and prevailing wind conditions for the best chance of success.

7. Use Bait

Using bait when hunting wild sheep is not a common or recommended practice. Wild sheep are typically grazers and foragers, and their natural behavior does not involve seeking out bait sources like other game species.

Additionally, wild sheep are known for their wariness and cautious nature, especially in areas where they are hunted regularly. Introducing bait could disrupt their natural patterns and make them even more skittish.

Moreover, baiting may not be legal in many jurisdictions for hunting wild sheep due to conservation concerns and regulations aimed at maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem and preserving the natural behaviors of wildlife populations. Therefore, hunters pursuing wild sheep typically rely on other hunting methods such as spot-and-stalk, glassing, or calling to locate and approach these elusive animals.

8. Ground Blind Setup

Set up a ground blind in an area where you spotted wild sheep grazing or bedding down when you glassed the terrain. Take the direction of the wind into consideration as you want to be downwind of the sheep so they don’t pick up your human scent and leave. You can read about the best hunting ground blinds on the market today.

9. Camouflage Clothing

Always wear layered and camouflaged clothing that closely matches the terrain to help conceal you from the bighorn sheep. Wild sheep have very good eyesight that allows them to quickly see you if you are not concealed. Most wild sheep hunts occur above the timberline so you may only have rocks and the topography to put between you and the wild sheep.

10. Practice Long Shots

Most of the shots you take when hunting wild sheep will be from a distance. To improve your skills and accuracy with long shots, you must put in a lot of practice in taking shots from a distance. Additionally, make sure that the rifle you purchase is a quality rifle for taking accurate shots from a distance. A high-quality bolt-action rifle is a good choice for hunting wild sheep.

11. Check Your State Laws

Hunters must be aware of their state’s laws and regulations concerning hunting wild sheep. These laws vary from state to state and can include restrictions on hunting seasons, bag limits, weapon types, and hunting methods.

Additionally, many states have specific permit and licensing requirements for hunting wild sheep, including limited-entry or draw hunts to manage populations sustainably. Understanding and adhering to these regulations not only ensures compliance with the law but also contributes to the conservation and management of wild sheep populations.

Failure to comply with state laws can result in hefty fines, loss of hunting privileges, and harm to wildlife populations, so hunters must familiarize themselves with the regulations before embarking on a wild sheep hunt.

12. Bonus Finds

While glassing for wild sheep, you may find some elk or mule deer in some areas. Just keep this in mind so that when the opportunity comes, you will not be taken by surprise.

Wild Seep Hunting Tips For Beginners

1. Late summer or early fall is usually the best time to hunt wild sheep.

2. Get physically fit to hunt bighorn sheep as they live in rough, rugged, remote, and punishing terrain.

3. Be prepared to hike long distances.

4. Be patient when hunting wild sheep. They are very alert and difficult to hunt.

5. Wild sheep are most active early mornings and late evenings.

6. Use hunting binoculars or spotting scopes to glass and hunt wild sheep.

7. Use predator calls to lure wild sheep into open areas for a good shot.

8. If baiting is legal in your state, use hay as bait for hunting wild sheep.

9. Use decoys to also lure wild sheep into open areas.

10. Always stay downwind of wild sheep so they can’t pick up your scent as you track them.

11. Hone your long shot skills by practicing.

12. Wear proper clothing when hunting wild sheep.

13. Stalk wild sheep cautiously and quietly with the wind in your favor.

14. Remain calm and take your time to line up a shot.

15. Get a bolt-action rifle for hunting wild sheep.

16. The .270 Winchester ammunition is the most popular type of ammunition for hunting wild sheep.

17. Take a lot of ammunition when hunting wild sheep.

18. Check your state laws and be sure it is legal for you to hunt wild sheep.

Wild Seep Hunting Gear

1. Hunting Binoculars

Use high-quality hunting binoculars to scout wild sheep.

2. Spotting Scopes

Spotting scopes can also be used to glass and hunt wild sheep.

3. Hunting Knife

Always carry a good hunting knife when you hunt wild sheep.

4. Headlamp

Take along a headlamp or a flashlight as you move along the rough and dangerous terrain, especially when it starts to get dark.

5. Flashlight

Carry a flashlight as moving through rocky slopes and rough terrain in the dark is dangerous.

6. Layered Camouflaged Clothing

Wear layered camouflaged clothing to keep you warm from changing weather conditions and conceal you from wild sheep.

7. Walking Sticks

A pair of walking sticks can help you navigate the rough and mountainous terrain that you will move through to hunt wild sheep.

8. Eye Patch

An eye patch helps eliminate the squinting when looking through a spotting scope for many hours.

The Bottom Line

Hunting wild sheep is challenging, and dangerous but can also be rewarding. Wild sheep are elusive, alert, spooked, and very difficult to hunt. With little planning, patience, and discipline, you can successfully wild sheep. In this article, we discuss how to hunt wild sheep. You can read how to hunt hogs, how to hunt mountain goats, how to hunt red fox, how to hunt dall sheep, how to hunt aoudad, and how to hunt fox if you are interested in hunting hogs and foxes.