AK Sheep, Population Observations

[wantj43]

Lots of 39" rams are rounded up to 40. The stats I looked at included about 30 years of data, the total length decreased when mandatory reporting started as well, horn circumference and age. Self reporting and measuring isn't consistent.

There are less than 50% of the sheep today that we had 10 years ago. Those big rams are harder to find, and very few old rams exist today. I believe F&G said the oldest they checked as of Monday was 9. They did check in a 12-13yo as I was leaving.

By the end of the week we'll know where we stand. As of Monday morning (9/19) there was 133 rams checked statewide. Usually ~70% are harvested/checked in by the first 15 days of the season. I believe there was at least half a dozen checked in after mine yesterday. I'm guessing we'll be a little less than last year, but not by a lot, saying 300-320. We have another 2 years before we really drop off, and I predict we'll stay around the same for a couple years, then its going to be ugly in some areas. Very few to no old rams, and very few 3-5 year old's in many places. I'm hopefully on a solid bounce back. We saw good lamb numbers last year and again this year.

I think there has only been 3 killed/check in the Chugach Park so far.

On sub-legals there were at 4/33 in Anchorage a

Lots of 39" rams are rounded up to 40. The stats I looked at included about 30 years of data, the total length decreased when mandatory reporting started as well, horn circumference and age. Self reporting and measuring isn't consistent.

There are less than 50% of the sheep today that we had 10 years ago. Those big rams are harder to find, and very few old rams exist today. I believe F&G said the oldest they checked as of Monday was 9. They did check in a 12-13yo as I was leaving.

By the end of the week we'll know where we stand. As of Monday morning (9/19) there was 133 rams checked statewide. Usually ~70% are harvested/checked in by the first 15 days of the season. I believe there was at least half a dozen checked in after mine yesterday. I'm guessing we'll be a little less than last year, but not by a lot, saying 300-320. We have another 2 years before we really drop off, and I predict we'll stay around the same for a couple years, then its going to be ugly in some areas. Very few to no old rams, and very few 3-5 year old's in many places. I'm hopefully on a solid bounce back. We saw good lamb numbers last year and again this year.

I think there has only been 3 killed/check in the Chugach Park so far.

On sub-legals there were at 4/33 in Anchorage as of Monday, I think that included the sub-legal auction tag ram. Guessing statewide sub-legal take is similar from FBX and Palmer offic

s of Monday, I think that included the sub-legal auction tag ram. Guessing statewide sub-legal take is similar from FBX and Palmer office.

 

[wantj43]

Yesterday a “solid” 14 year old was sealed in the Fairbanks office. Also had one over 450 degrees of curl.

 

[OXN939]

sub-legal auction tag ram.

Looooool

Thoughts and prayers for everyone in there the next few days... pretty rowdy trough headed our way looks like. Today and tomorrow morning good opportunities, but could get dynamic in a lot of the state after that

 

[Bambistew]

Yesterday a “solid” 14 year old was sealed in the Fairbanks office. Also had one over 450 degrees of curl.

That 12/13yo was a dream ram. Heavy, double boomed over FC, 36-37". I'd almost quit hunting sheep if I killed it...

Have you heard what the sub-legal count was in FBX?

 

[wantj43]

That 12/13yo was a dream ram. Heavy, double boomed over FC, 36-37". I'd almost quit hunting sheep if I killed it...

Have you heard what the sub-legal count was in FBX?

One sub-legal so far.

 

[cumminsbassguy]

4 days in the drainage and had a group of 10 lambs and ewes (1-1). A group of 12 ( 2 ewes -1 lamb or so ) a group of 2 young ewes and a group of 3 young ewes on the walk out. Not a ram to be seen in our drainage. Which makes us think we were late to the party and they got pushed out

 

[wantj43]

4 days in the drainage and had a group of 10 lambs and ewes (1-1). A group of 12 ( 2 ewes -1 lamb or so ) a group of 2 young ewes and a group of 3 young ewes on the walk out. Not a ram to be seen in our drainage. Which makes us think we were late to the party and they got pushed out

Good observations- if you haven’t already, might consider sharing the information with the area biologist.

 

[ColeyG]

Wow. Sounds like a couple of unicorns got found by a few lucky hunters.

Ouch on the governors tag. That is unfortunate.

 

[cumminsbassguy]

Good observations- if you haven’t already, might consider sharing the information with the area biologist.

We were talking about that one the ride out. I will be doing that. My buddy (who's hunted that spot 3 years) said he couldn't go a day without seeing a band of rams. Or 30+ lambs and ewes in a group.. he was shocked when we scoured that drainage to no rams

 

[VernAK]

Local results thus far:

DCUA........4 rams
TMA...........2 rams
Mt Harper 1 ram

 

[Sneaker]

Auction tag really went sub legal? What's the story on that?

 

[Bambistew]

Auction tag really went sub legal? What's the story on that?

Yes, apparently $230k doesn't buy why it used to.

Lots of stories floating around. Supposedly missed a big ram and then it ran into a group and he shot the wrong one. Hard to say if the story will ever come out considering the $ and people involved. Got to keep shit like that under wraps and play it up as aw shucks, could happen to anyone. These are "professional" hunters they should be held accountable and made an example of. If they can't follow the law and get off with a slap on the wrist, no one should have to.

 

[WalterH]

I think I remember a guide talking about the non-res auction tag on the "sheep hunt pricing" thread a while back. Perhaps we will get the rest of the story there?

 

[diamond10x]

Another sheep report:

In a large portion of a unit that usually sees 50%+ success rates, 4 of 22 hunters (hunters split between 3 or 4 outfitters) killed rams. I know of a 5th ram that was killed in the area by a buddy so that would be 5 out of 24.

 

[Alder_]

2024 ram, cause sheep thread needs a sheep.

 

[Bambistew]

Another sheep report:

In a large portion of a unit that usually sees 50%+ success rates, 4 of 22 hunters (hunters split between 3 or 4 outfitters) killed rams. I know of a 5th ram that was killed in the area by a buddy so that would be 5 out of 24.

50% success for guided hunts? That's some expensive camping trips. I think it's worse than last year. I don't think we'll see 300. Age of harvest will be really low. Hopefully lamb numbers are looking better.

 

[IBen]

9yo 37/36 nearly 15 inch bases

 

[AK_Skeeter]

Two sheep hunts this year....

First hunt I saw an abundance of sheep and 8 rams came out of that drainage this year. Lots of up and comers. One observation this year which was interesting to me was that we saw lots of rams in groups of 1-3. In previous years rams have been grouped up with 5-10 other rams. Don't know what to make of it.

Second sheep hunt was in an area I have hunted 7 other times. In areas we typically see 100 sheep over a 2-3 period, we only saw roughly 30-40 and no legal rams and only 1-2 lambs. All the rams we saw were 4-5 year olds. It's an area known to have been hit hard over the past two years by spring weather. Sad to see that area in such decline.

1-2 lambs! That is the problem in the last 4 years, extremely low lamb production and survival.
Winter rains, icing and rain on snow events are the primary cause. The winters of sugar snow that
blows away may be less common in the future.

 

[diamond10x]

50% success for guided hunts? That's some expensive camping trips. I think it's worse than last year. I don't think we'll see 300. Age of harvest will be really low. Hopefully lamb numbers are looking better.

That success rate is across the board guided and non. The numbers of guided in the area I have no idea of success rate historically but I'd have to think its 70+ to bump up the non-guided numbers. That 4 out of 22 this season is a disappointing number. Some expensive camping trips no doubt. From what I heard is that they weren't seeing a lot of sheep either but, almost all ewes that were seen had a lamb/lambs with her which is good news.

This report lined up with what I was seeing in the same range, not a lot of sheep but every ewe I saw had a lamb or two with her.

 

[Trial153]

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

if you think they are doing much better in CA, your sadly mistaken.