Dall sheep doable for under 25k ?

[craig Holland]

Am I unrealistic in trying to find a dall sheep hunt for under 25k with a decent outfitter?

 

[Thejet]

Yes sadly

 

[CMP70306]

So I’ve seen the insane prices for sheep hunts and I just have to ask what makes them so damn expensive? Is it a supply vs demand issue or is the cost due to side stepping a decades long wait on a tag?

 

[Bambistew]

So I’ve seen the insane prices for sheep hunts and I just have to ask what makes them so damn expensive? Is it a supply vs demand issue or is the cost due to side stepping a decades long wait on a tag?

Its supply and demand for Dalls. There is no shortage of guys with $30-40k burning a hole in their pocket to shoot a sheep. If you ask an outfitter, they don't make any money off a hunt though.

The decline in dall sheep populations hasn't helped slow the increase of costs either.

 

[Nickziegler]

Its supply and demand for Dalls. There is no shortage of guys with $30-40k burning a hole in their pocket to shoot a sheep. If you ask an outfitter, they don't make any money off a hunt though.

The decline in dall sheep populations hasn't helped slow the increase of costs either.

I have seen an outfitter blow hundreds of thousands of dollars after season on his own hunts on IG. I know it's sarcastic but they are doing above average in my opinion.

I would just go do a mtn goat or mtn caribou hunt for that coin.

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[wind gypsy]

I have seen an outfitter blow hundreds of thousands of dollars after season on his own hunts on IG. I know it's sarcastic but they are doing above average in my opinion.

I would just go do a mtn goat or mtn caribou hunt for that coin.

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Or they are swapping enough hunts to get those hookups at least.

 

[Nickziegler]

Or they are swapping enough hunts to get those hookups at least.

True

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[Dexter Grayson]

Or they are swapping enough hunts to get those hookups at least.

That sounds more realistic.

 

[Rowndy]

There are a handful of outfitters that still have quality hunts in that price range. You just won’t find them advertising in magazines or at shows, or they don’t even have websites because they have very small businesses, guide their own hunts, keep to themselves, and stay booked up via word of mouth. They also have far better success rates than many outfitters that have prices $10-20K higher that you see in every search(in AK that is).

Unfortunately there are plenty of outfitters that will always sell far more hunts than they know have any chance of success, for far more money than they should just because the demand is there, therefore they can continue to get away with miserable success rates. Prospective hunters really need to be diligent with their research, and hunters need to be willing to share legitimate bad experiences publicly.

I also think there are Alaska residents who are intentionally putting out negative information regarding sheep populations in Alaska on these forums to dissuade NR hunters from hunting there. I believe some have good intentions and believe that limiting hunting in general will improve the population, but I think most are doing it to scare NR hunters and influence regulators to limit NR hunting opportunity. This might actually be having an inverse affect by increasing urgency and demand for Dall sheep hunts in Alaska, causing NR’s to think they have to go before opportunities close completely, driving up demand and prices.

Further, I’m no good at math or accounting, but everytime I see or hear someone mention what a Dall sheep hunt cost in the 90’s I’m really curious how that actually equates to todays prices given inflation between then and now. Someone smarter please do the math…

 

[Doc Holliday]

There are a handful of outfitters that still have quality hunts in that price range. You just won’t find them advertising in magazines or at shows, or they don’t even have websites because they have very small businesses, guide their own hunts, keep to themselves, and stay booked up via word of mouth. They also have far better success rates than many outfitters that have prices $10-20K higher that you see in every search(in AK that is).

Unfortunately there are plenty of outfitters that will always sell far more hunts than they know have any chance of success, for far more money than they should just because the demand is there, therefore they can continue to get away with miserable success rates. Prospective hunters really need to be diligent with their research, and hunters need to be willing to share legitimate bad experiences publicly.

I also think there are Alaska residents who are intentionally putting out negative information regarding sheep populations in Alaska on these forums to dissuade NR hunters from hunting there. I believe some have good intentions and believe that limiting hunting in general will improve the population, but I think most are doing it to scare NR hunters and influence regulators to limit NR hunting opportunity. This might actually be having an inverse affect by increasing urgency and demand for Dall sheep hunts in Alaska, causing NR’s to think they have to go before opportunities close completely, driving up demand and prices.

Further, I’m no good at math or accounting, but everytime I see or hear someone mention what a Dall sheep hunt cost in the 90’s I’m really curious how that actually equates to todays prices given inflation between then and now. Someone smarter please do the math…

Not smarter, but found this link:

Inflation Calculator

Free inflation calculator that runs on U.S. CPI data or a custom inflation rate. Also, find the historical U.S. inflation data and learn more about inflation.

www.calculator.net

 

[Cheesehead]

 

[Steve O]

Not smarter, but found this link:

Inflation Calculator

Free inflation calculator that runs on U.S. CPI data or a custom inflation rate. Also, find the historical U.S. inflation data and learn more about inflation.

www.calculator.net

View attachment 806117

In 1996 I could not in good conscience Dall sheep hunt with my wife for BOTH of us for $6000 with a very legit outfitter out of Fairbanks. She could hunt or stay at the lodge if she did not; same price.

That’s one regret. I have just a few.

So the chart shows a little over double on buying power but hunt costs are 5-10x the cost.

If you want to extrapolate all this to Canada where prices for hunts are even higher, Canadian outfitters used to give you the exchange rate off for paying in US funds. Now they are pocketing (as of this past week) an extra 40% over the already inflated prices. And the have been doing that a long time; at least 25 years.

Good gig.

 

[FAAFO]

I also think there are Alaska residents who are intentionally putting out negative information regarding sheep populations in Alaska on these forums to dissuade NR hunters from hunting there.

you are right, you’re terrible at math. We are less than half of the historic harvest. And it’s going to get worse.

 

[Rowndy]

I never said populations and harvest wasn’t low, I just meant to say the motive of some seems to have more to do with keeping NR hunters out than population growth.

Back to the OP- opportunities do exist.

 

[cbeard64]

The realistic answer if you want a decent chance at a ram is no.

 

[FAAFO]

I never said populations and harvest wasn’t low, I just meant to say the motive of some seems to have more to do with keeping NR hunters out than population growth.

Back to the OP- opportunities do exist.

 

[Falcon]

I went once in 2007 in the Alaska Range all in for 8k. I was 44 and told my wife I wanted to experience this once before I got too old. Best decision I ever made.

 

[eamyrick]

And paying the outfitters is just the start of the expenses, tags, commercial airline (plus last minute change fees), additional baggage, hotels that are 2-3 lower 48 etc. You should 100% do it but there is nothing cheap about going to Alaska (done two trips in last 4 years).

 

[Bambistew]

I also think there are Alaska residents who are intentionally putting out negative information regarding sheep populations in Alaska on these forums to dissuade NR hunters from hunting there.

Can you please point me to this population data that incorrect? There is 50% fewer sheep in Alaska today than there was 15 years ago. Wer'e killing half as many sheep as we did 15 years ago, and the trend isn't going to change anytime soon.

The NR success rate is 30-40% less than it was 15 yaers ago and only half as many are coming. Many outfitters are booking less becaues they don't have rams to shoot.

Are there still sheep to shoot? Yep, can you still kill one? Yep Is the sheep hunting still "good?" That depends on who you ask. The hunting is a shell of what it used to be. Hunt'em until they're gone. No reason not to at this point. No one else is letting off the gas, I'm not going to either.

Trying to dissuade NR? Thats funny, considering most outfitters are booked years out.

The Dall population in Canada has also fallen off a cliff. 50% less sheep there too according the the most recent data.

 

[IBen]

Am I unrealistic in trying to find a dall sheep hunt for under 25k with a decent outfitter?

No