Washington Chapter | Foundation for North American Wild Sheep ( FNAWS )

Tucannon Bighorn Hunt 1999
by Graham G. Weiss

On August 5th, 1999 I received notice from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that I had been successful in drawing a bighorn tag in the Tucannon unit of southeast Washington. With 984 applicants for this one permit, I was taken back when I read the words, “Congratulations! You successfully drew…”. As soon as I caught my breath, I got on the phone with my taxidermist John Lewton, who unequivocally recommended Craig Martin of Tucannon Outfitters. Because of scheduling conflicts, I was almost unable to go wit Craig. However, Jerry Tyrrell was kind enough to postpone his Washington Governor’s Elk hunt with Craig to accommodate my schedule.

Prior to my arrival, Craig had video-taped eight rams, of which one was the one we were after. This is all the motivation that I needed to get pumped for this hunt. A number of people familiar with the Tucannon unit had told me this hunt would be an easy bighorn hunt due to the rolling hills at moderate elevations. The hunt proved to be anything but effortless.

Opening morning found my three guides (Craig, Glen Landrus and his cousin Earl Landrus) and myself looking for the needle in the haystack. We located four rams but “the” ram was not with them. Needless to say, this easy hunt turned out more difficult than any of us had expected. After six days (23 man-days) of hard hiking and scouting, we found the ram. However, it was not meant to be. We ran out of light before we could complete the stalk. During the two-hour hike back to the truck I was both excited and disappointed. After all, we had finally located the ram but there was a good chance that we had spooked him into new country. With only one day left on my scheduled hunt, I was starting to get anxious.

Fortunately, Craig’s sheep sense got us back on the ram early the next morning. We maneuvered undetected to within 100 yards of the four rams. The wind was perfect and the hot Weather (90 degrees each day) finally worked in our favor. Sooner or later the rams had to move out of the open sun and when they did I took my shot. My ram was fatally wounded but not down. A second shot form my Rifles, Inc. .280 put him down permanently.

When I eagerly approached my ram I was overwhelmed by his immense size both in body mass and horn mass. For the first time in my life I experienced ground growth instead of ground shrinkage. My ram is classified as a hybrid California bighorn, but resembled more of a Rocky Mountain Bighorn. He must have been in excess of 300 pounds on the hoof and had a lush dark chocolate hide. When we finally taped him, he was 38” on both sides with nearly 16” bases. Glen Landrus’ rough B & C score came in at approximately 181. He was later scored after the mandatory 60-day waiting period and came in officially at 180 4/8 B & C. I am told that this is the largest ram to ever come out of the Tucannon and may very well be the biggest ram taken in the state of Washington for many years to come.

I would like to thank the state of Washington, including biologist Pat Fowler for keeping this unit open for 1999. Based on the diminishing health status (a scabies outbreak) of the Tucannon herd and the increasing mountain lion population (one evening we encountered a ewe that had been attacked by a mountain lion). I would be surprised if this unit is hunted again anytime soon.

I would also like to thank my three guides. All three of them worked as hard on this hunt as if the coveted tag was their own. As for Craig, I feel as if I made a new friend for life. Craig truly is passionate about hunting. The motto on his business card is more than accurate: “Quality before Quantity.”

Upon arriving back home in San Diego I felt like a new father showing off pictures of a new baby. As I sit here reflecting on this hunt, I have to wonder if I will ever be able to top it.