- Joined
- Jan 22, 2025
- Messages
- 34
I'm headed to Alaska this August to hunt the Tok OTC area with Matt Snyder. I heard and read a lot of good things about him on other rokslide forums as well as podcasts/youtube videos, so I reached out to him about 18 months ago. He wasn't even taking on new clients at the time because he was booked out as far as he wanted to be, but I got on his cancellation list. He reached out about an opening a few months ago so I jumped on the chance to hunt with him! I didn't draw the non-resident TMA tag, so I will be hunting OTC. But I understand Matt lives near the hunting area, traps and scouts it practically year round, has hunted it for years, etc. He has also been getting his sheep (I understand he only takes 3 hunters a year now) the last several years despite the lower numbers, so I feel like I am in good hands with him!
Anyway, this is not only my first sheep hunt, but also my first extended backpack hunt. I have been doing a training program with Evoke Endurance that is focused on backcountry hunt training. They specialize in endurance training and have recently been working with more and more hunters (the founder even wrote a well-known book about training up-hill athletes). I think I've watched every dall sheep hunt video there is on YouTube and listened to every dall sheep hunt podcast available to help get my gear dialed in and give me a better idea of what to expect and how to best prepare for the hunt. Matt also provided a detailed gear list, and given his extensive experience hunting the area, I'm confident he has that pretty dialed in. He also seems to be very responsive and available to answer any questions I might have. But I'd still love any thoughts, advice, feedback, words of wisdom, etc. anyone has on must have gear, best gear brands, best prep, knowledge and/or experience hunting those areas, etc.
Thanks!
Anyway, this is not only my first sheep hunt, but also my first extended backpack hunt. I have been doing a training program with Evoke Endurance that is focused on backcountry hunt training. They specialize in endurance training and have recently been working with more and more hunters (the founder even wrote a well-known book about training up-hill athletes). I think I've watched every dall sheep hunt video there is on YouTube and listened to every dall sheep hunt podcast available to help get my gear dialed in and give me a better idea of what to expect and how to best prepare for the hunt. Matt also provided a detailed gear list, and given his extensive experience hunting the area, I'm confident he has that pretty dialed in. He also seems to be very responsive and available to answer any questions I might have. But I'd still love any thoughts, advice, feedback, words of wisdom, etc. anyone has on must have gear, best gear brands, best prep, knowledge and/or experience hunting those areas, etc.
Thanks!
