February 14, 2017
By Pope and Young Club
On November 21, 2016, Tony Loop, of Appling, Georgia, closed within 30 yards of the largest ram he had ever seen. The big ram had no idea he was there. Loop steadied his bow and released the arrow. The time seemed to stand still. Finally, the arrow found its mark, hitting the ram between the shoulders and angling out the right front chest.
The ram jumped up and ran about 100 yards onto a narrow rim and lay down. He tried to contain his excitement, but he and his guides knew they may have just arrowed a potential new world’s record Desert bighorn sheep.
“As we knelt beside the big ram and admired this great warrior, I was overcome with both joy and...