Hey Velo Dog! Thanks for the welcome wish.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon sure is some spectacular country and hunting it on horse back is definitely the way to go. It is some big, steep, deep and rugged country! I shot the sheep in my avatar last year in Unit 26 which is the Big Creek drainage - tributary to the middle fork. He was 11 1/2 years old so probably due to be removed from the gene pool
![Big Grin :D :D](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@14.0.2/assets/72x72/1f600.png)
To get him I had to climb, slide and fall down 2500 feet of canyon, cross a river and climb back up 1500 feet of rock and cliff to get the shot. Then it was back the same way with him on our backs for a total of 8000 vertical feet in one day. Toughest hunt/pack I've ever had and I wouldn't trade a second of it
![Smile :) :)](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@14.0.2/assets/72x72/1f642.png)
To your point about caribou, yes there is a very small population of woodland caribou hanging on by a thread in the selkirk mountains of northern Idaho and souther B.C. A lot of effort and resources are going into preserving them but it seems to be a losing battle. Last I heard they were holding at a couple dozen animals.
On a more positive note, the grizzlies in the selkirks are doing really well! Their numbers continue to increase every year. I bumped into one twice 2 years ago when I had a moose tag for that area. My buddy that I am going to Africa with next year drew that moose tag this year so we will be hunting that area for a few weeks this fall.
With ya on the $ for buff and ele. Going to be cow or tuskless for me for the foreseeable future. If I'm lucky
![Smile :) :)](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/twitter/twemoji@14.0.2/assets/72x72/1f642.png)
Great chatting back and forth with you!
Have a good one
Dan