Sheep Mountain Edition: First-Year Tag, First Sheep, 400 Yards Downhill

Preston had never applied for an Oregon sheep tag before. He heard about the draw on a podcast, figured he'd throw his name in, and forgot about it — until a letter showed up in the mail. First year applying. First tag ever. A once-in-a-lifetime California Bighorn Ram in Oregon.

This is how our 2025 season started.

The Sheep Mountain Edition

This hunt was a collaboration between MOA Rifles and Sheep Mountain Outfitters — one of the premier big game outfits in the Pacific Northwest. Together we built a turnkey package designed for exactly this kind of hunt: steep angles, long range, high pressure, one shot.

The Sheep Mountain Edition runs a Defiance action, carbon fiber McMillan stock, TriggerTech trigger, and your choice of bottom metal — all topped with a Leupold Mark 4 4.5–18x scope. Steel barrel standard, with a carbon upgrade available. Chambered in 7 PRC. The entire package — rifle and optic — comes in at $5,795.

Both MOA Rifles and Leupold are Oregon companies. Both build everything in the U.S. That mattered to Sheep Mountain Outfitters, and it matters to us.

The Hunt

The ram — nicknamed Butch — had been located about a month and a half after the draw. He was running with another ram named Sundance, and the crew knew what they were walking into. Opening morning, the rams were spotted on a vantage point above. Patient glassing, a careful stalk over the top of the ridge, and then Preston settled in.

The shot came at 400 yards — straight downhill. Compensated range of about 382. Steep angle, improvised position: bipod off, shooting from a bag with a rear rest. One shot. Ram down. Preston’s son was there to watch it happen.

What the Package Gets You

A lot of guys hear the price and ask about the scope separately. That is the price with the scope. Defiance action. McMillan carbon stock. TriggerTech trigger. Leupold Mark 4. All in, no corners cut.

Preston showed up, confirmed zero, dialed rocks to 650 yards the afternoon before the opener, and went to sleep knowing exactly what his rifle would do. When the ram stepped out broadside, he already knew the shot was dead before he broke the trigger.

On a once-in-a-lifetime tag, that confidence isn’t a luxury. It’s the whole point.

Ask us about the Sheep Mountain Edition →