Podcast Summary: Live Wild with Remi Warren

Episode: 206 | Ram-A-Lamb-A Jam Sheep Camp
Date: October 24, 2025
Host: Remi Warren

Overview

In this episode of Live Wild, Remi Warren takes listeners on an in-depth journey through a recent desert bighorn sheep hunt in Nevada with friends Mike and Christy Marchese. The story details not only the hunt’s strategic elements but the powerful community aspect of sheep camps, the rarity of drawing a Nevada sheep tag, and the perseverance required during challenging mountain conditions. Remi also shares advanced insight into hunting tactics—especially around when patience is most important in stalking and taking game.

Camp Culture & The Sheep Tag Story

[01:50 – 11:00]

• The Rarity and Significance of Drawing a Nevada Sheep Tag
  • Christy Marchese, deeply involved in wild sheep conservation since childhood, finally draws her long-desired Nevada desert sheep tag.
  • Remi emphasizes the Nevada tradition where sheep hunts are communal, with friends and family forming a large support crew:

    “When one of your friends draws a sheep tag, it’s a chance for everybody to go out and get on the hunt… It kind of is a community and a group effort on a lot of these hunts.” – Remi Warren [05:10]

  • The camp is dubbed “Rama Llama Jam Camp” by Christy’s daughter Liberty.
• Pre-Season Scouting
  • Christy and Mike dedicate 13–15 days to scouting.
  • Use of shared knowledge from earlier archery hunters, especially Justin, who provided photos and footage of a standout ram.

The Hunt Begins: Scouting & Locating the Ram

[11:00 – 28:00]

• Final Scouting Before the Season
  • Multiple teams spread out with radios, braving rain and cold to glass for rams.
  • Remi spots a promising group of rams, possibly including the ram from the footage.
  • Determining age and quality by counting annuli (age rings):

    “I tell Mike, I’m like, this is an old ram. I can count 10 on him right here from the spotter… I would bet money this ram’s 10 and would be almost certain he’s probably 11.” – Remi Warren [23:00]

  • Confirmation that this “target ram” is likely the desired animal, thanks in part to his distinctive broken nose.

Opening Day: Competition, Weather, and Adaptive Tactics

[28:00 – 46:00]

• The Unexpected Challenge of Other Hunters
  • On opening morning, multiple groups pursue the same rams in tough blizzard conditions.
  • Another hunter shoots at the group, but misses.
  • Remi’s party quickly pivots as the sheep disperse.
• Relocating & Strategic Adjustments
  • Communication among the team is crucial:

    “John radios us…they’d spotted the target ram, like, essentially on the mountain right above, like, the face of the mountain right above the truck.” – Remi Warren [38:15]

  • Negotiating and cooperating with other hunters encountered mid-hunt, diffusing any potential “race” for the same sheep.

The Long Stalk: Persistence and Patience

[46:00 – 01:12:00]

• Playing Cat-and-Mouse with the Target Ram
  • The ram eludes the hunters by moving unpredictably, requiring the group to make repeated ascents and descents in blizzard and rain.
  • The team balances aggressive movements with careful patience so as not to spook other sheep.
• Critical Decisions: When Patience is the Right Move
  • Remi emphasizes matching strategy to unfolding conditions:

    “Sometimes we get locked into a course of action…you kind of have to go, okay, now what’s the best course of action?” – Remi Warren [01:08:24]

  • Deciding to crawl over 300 yards through wet wash, waiting for ewes to move and create a window to close the distance undetected.
  • Notable patience shown by Christy in declining easier shots at lesser rams, determined to pursue the target sheep.

Closing the Deal: A Perfect Approach and the Shot

[01:12:00 – 01:23:00]

• Final Stalk and Set-Up
  • The team uses a tripod-mounted rifle rest to get a solid shooting position despite challenging terrain (“no left-handed mountains” joke).
  • The group waits, soaked and cold, until the ram stands and offers a clear broadside shot.
• Patient, Ethical Shooting
  • Remi recounts the importance of not rushing, letting Christy wait for the perfect angle:

    “You have all the time in the world… Just wait for your shot. Pick the right shot.” – Remi Warren [01:18:06]

  • Christy’s shot placement is flawless; the ram drops immediately.
• Celebration & Reflection
  • Friends and family gather for photos and pack-out; the ram is revealed to be an exceptionally old specimen—likely 11 years, missing most bottom teeth, with a broken nose from rutting.
  • Liberty and Louie, Christy’s children, participate in the pack-out despite the harsh conditions.

Lessons Learned: Patience, Adaptation, and Making the Best Play

[01:23:00 – 01:35:00]

• Tactical Analysis
  • Remi contrasts “the approach for now vs. the approach for later,” advocating for choosing the best final shooting position rather than simply the easiest:

    “Go the best way, not the easy way.” – Remi Warren [01:27:41]

  • Highlights the difference between scenarios demanding immediate action and those rewarding patience:

    “There are those times where you have to act fast… But in one where the animal is just feeding and has no clue you’re there… It was a wait-for-the-perfect-shot scenario.” – Remi Warren [01:31:40]

  • Patient, methodical stalking and judicious shot selection are often the difference between success and a blown opportunity.

Quick Gear Shoutouts & Field Tips

[01:35:00 – 01:42:00]

• Optics and Rangefinders
  • Remi praises the Vortex Razor UHD binos and Vortex Razor HD 4000GB rangefinder:

    “Man, those 12s have helped me just turn up stuff that is hard to find.” [01:36:11] “That’s been so dialed… absolutely dialed.” [01:38:15]

  • Importance of keeping optics clean in foul weather; recommends the Live Wild lens cloth kit.
• Branded Logo Wear and Arrows
  • Mentions new hats and shirts from his Day 6 company and availability of custom arrows/broadheads for bow hunters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nevada sheep camp culture:

  “It is a community and a group effort on a lot of these hunts… It’s getting to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime hunt more than once.” – Remi Warren [06:10]

• On the old ram:

  “He’s absolutely missing all of his bottom teeth. Just down to the bone. It’s crazy.” – Remi Warren [01:20:20]

• On patience and success:

  “The patience in that, waiting for the right shot, made a big difference on the outcome.” – Remi Warren [01:32:25]

• Humor in the mountains:

  “There’s no left-handed mountains.” – Remi Warren [01:16:30]

Key Takeaways

• Drawing a sheep tag is a rare, lifelong aspiration enriched by the shared experience of community camp.
• Methodical scouting and building local “intel” set up the best chances for success.
• Adaptive strategy—knowing when to sit tight and when to go all-in—marked the difference in this hunt.
• The right kind of patience, especially in shot selection, leads to cleaner kills and more fulfilling hunts.
• Good gear and clear optics are crucial, especially in tough conditions.
• Taking time to celebrate the community and the animal honors both the effort and the traditions of western hunting.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nevada sheep hunting culture: [05:10]
• Locating and identifying the target ram: [23:00]
• Opening day chaos and other hunters: [33:00 – 41:00]
• Deciding on THE play for the stalk: [01:08:00 – 01:10:00]
• Christy’s patient perfect shot: [01:18:00 – 01:22:00]
• Reflection on patience and tactical decision-making: [01:26:40 – 01:33:00]

Conclusion

Remi Warren’s story from “Rama Llama Jam Camp” embodies the rewards of hard work, communal hunting life, adaptability, and the “right kind of patience”—all culminating in an unforgettable hunt for a truly ancient desert sheep ram. The episode is filled with both tactical insight and genuine passion for western hunting tradition, making it a must-listen (or must-read!) for serious hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike.