I just returned from second sheep hunt in 2 months, and can report another successful hunt with my custom 340wby, "Shadow". My hunt was with George Kelly in Willmore wilderness area of northern Alberta Canada, and I will try to give you a few other comments on this hunt.

It was a long hunt and we covered a lot of area on horse moving spike camp 5 times, and climbed a lot of mountains looking for a legal ram. It was the climbing of the mountains that once again made me appreciate the lightweight of the "Shadow". On the 13 Th. day of hunt, and a 30 minute walk to look at some tracks (I decided to leave back pack, which contained camera, behind because of short climb), which turned into a 5 hour climb and 1 hour stalk, we spotted 9 rams at the top of mountain in a shear ledge of rock.

The 9 rams were secure in the rocks above some 800yards away. After some time George suggested I fire a round 200 yards on the other side of rams, which I did. The rams exploded from rocks toward us and angled toward the top, and at 385 yards I hit the first ram with a 225 a-frame, and the ram went down like a rock, slid over the edge, fell 200+' and hit the bottom, and proceeded to bounced about a half mile down the steep mountain side.

Because the camera was back in my pack, I could not take a picture showing the big horn and the massive mountain he fell from/down. The enclosed picture was taken the next day back in spike camp. The horns were not massive, but the ram was an old guy, 10.5 years, and because of bad teeth did not have many months left in the wild.

As a side note, the other 2 hunters were shooting 7mm and a 30-06, and they both wounded and lost rams. Also, when we got back to base camp, the other 2 guides who seemed to doubt merits of 340 as sheep gun, both asked if they could "shoot a few rounds".

I am scheduled to leave in a few days for third sheep hunt this year, Marco polo in Tajikistan, and the 340 "Shadow" will be the gun of choice for this hunt to. Perhaps I will have pictures for you at S.C.I..

All the best

Gary Parker