Dall Sheep - Why so Expensive?

[Wapiti1]

Gator covers the basics. I'll just add my approach.

My one dall sheep hunt, where I annoyed a guide, sorry Jake, was done last year when I turned 40 years old. I'd planned that hunt in some form for 18 years by starting a hunting fund when I got my first full time job. That fund has sent me to 3 continents hunting. This is not a boast, but an example of how it could be done. I have a wife, daughter, and all the other economic drains that most family men have as well.

Truthfully, the guide annoyance fee is directly proportional to how much hunting TV or Youtube the client watches. For every minute of viewing, the client sloughs off 5 hours of training because it looks so easy on film, it MUST be like that in real life. Then a big wet fogged in mountain hits them in the wallet as they sit in a tent reading a bad romance novel waiting for a break in the weather.

Jeremy

 

[adventure907]

I would have to retire and move there so I didn't need a guide ! lol... does Alaska still give you 5k per person just for living there or is that urban myth ?

Urban myth...

 

[mproberts]

I guess it comes down to priorities. $21K (after tipping, airfare, taxidermy) put into a mutual fund could mean retiring 1-2 years early, sending your kids to better school, or buying 4-5 good landowner tags in CO. Maybe one day... cause it's something I'd really like to experience.

Completely agree it's all about priorities.. and it is really hard for me to prioritize 1 hunt in 1 location for 1 species during 1 week over possibly 4 hunts in 4 locations for 4 species over the course of 4 years. Variety is the spice of life and I'm trying to enjoy as much scenery and hunting as possible while I still can. I'm not trying to get hit by a bus tomorrow waiting for a chance to hunt. It also blows my mind that guys give up years of hunting stockpiling points for decades to hunt unit X.

 

[Shrek]

It’s not a true market. If the government didn’t require a guide and sell concessions for dall sheep the price of a guided sheep hunt would fall. Socialism and crony capitalism are two sides of the same coin and both suck !

 

[huntstrong2850]

I’d give anything “almost” to go kill a Dall or stone, but like mentioned above you can experience so much more by doing other hunts around the world. Two Asia hunts for say Ibex and Tur for the same cost as one Dall hunt and do four of those hunts for the cost of a stone. I may never draw a sheep tag in the lower 48 but when working for your money it’s about what you want... do you want the one species or would you want to kill 2-3 species of goat/sheep elsewhere. Cause there’s just too many other options out there for extreme mountain hunts than focusing on a Dall for $20k... that’s just my opinion on it though and for some that Dall may mean more, it’s just where you want to put your money.


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[BRWNBR]

I’d give anything “almost” to go kill a Dall or stone, but like mentioned above you can experience so much more by doing other hunts around the world. Two Asia hunts for say Ibex and Tur for the same cost as one Dall hunt and do four of those hunts for the cost of a stone. I may never draw a sheep tag in the lower 48 but when working for your money it’s about what you want... do you want the one species or would you want to kill 2-3 species of goat/sheep elsewhere. Cause there’s just too many other options out there for extreme mountain hunts than focusing on a Dall for $20k... that’s just my opinion on it though and for some that Dall may mean more, it’s just where you want to put your money.


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Swap out the word “kill” for “hunt”. You may not even get that Sheep. Kinda changes the perspective anlittle. Some guys want one and are willing to sacrifices to get one. Some guys want one and aren’t willing to make the sacrifices.

 

[robie]

Swap out the word “kill” for “hunt”. You may not even get that Sheep. Kinda changes the perspective anlittle. Some guys want one and are willing to sacrifices to get one. Some guys want one and aren’t willing to make the sacrifices.

Jake, I thought it was guaranteed if you pay $20K! Don't crush my dreams that you could just tie one to a rock for me.

 

[BRWNBR]

Well if you paid me 20k.......lol
Actually illegal in Alaska guide regs to make any guarantees regarding success or even seeing an animal.

 

[TXCO]

I leave in 3 days for a dall hunt which Ive been saving/paying for over the last 3 years. I dont have a boat, live cheap, and my wife is conservative with money. I have still hunted DIY for elk and bear the last 2 years and will be going after muleys again in September. Its about priorities and proper savings. The hardest part for me financially wasnt saving but actually convincing my wife it was ok to spend it after Id been saving for a few years.

Its been a lifetime dream and I am very excited. I dont think I will regret making the commitment. However, ask me again in two weeks

 

[Scott/IL]

When I took my current position, I made a promise to myself that I would hunt sheep one day. It’s my top bucket list hunt, and going the Dall route is likely the way I’ll go if I hold up on my promise. My disillusioned self envisions it being with my bow, as I rarely ever pick up a gun for hunting also.

I’m 2 years in now, and set up a separate bank account that has my hunting funds. With my DIY schedule of 2 Idaho deer and elk hunts, Arizona Coues, and Alaska Caribou....oh yeah and a wedding....on the plate in the next 12 months, my sheep savings may be pushed back some......but it’s definitely starting to look feasible at this point that 2021 or ‘22 I can pull it off if some other big ticket hunt doesn’t drain that account first.

Also, find yourself a woman that will support your addiction and says she can’t wait to have a sheep in the trophy room.


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[huntstrong2850]

Swap out the word “kill” for “hunt”. You may not even get that Sheep. Kinda changes the perspective anlittle. Some guys want one and are willing to sacrifices to get one. Some guys want one and aren’t willing to make the sacrifices.

See more and more stories especially when it comes to stone sheep of it only being a hunt with no kill for several separate trips.. and a lot of politics involved.. I’ve heard fewer stories of that with Dall but I’m sure that happens there too.


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[TXCO]

Dall is #1 on my bucket list too. I hunt with a bow 90% of the time and Im leaving it at home. It was a tough call that I wrestled with all summer but I think its the right one to have the most enjoyable experience.

I have basically done the same type of banking/budgeting as you and it works well. It also helps prove to my wife the money is there and already earmarked.

When I took my current position, I made a promise to myself that I would hunt sheep one day. It’s my top bucket list hunt, and going the Dall route is likely the way I’ll go if I hold up on my promise. My disillusioned self envisions it being with my bow, as I rarely ever pick up a gun for hunting also.

I’m 2 years in now, and set up a separate bank account that has my hunting funds. With my DIY schedule of 2 Idaho deer and elk hunts, Arizona Coues, and Alaska Caribou....oh yeah and a wedding....on the plate in the next 12 months, my sheep savings may be pushed back some......but it’s definitely starting to look feasible at this point that 2021 or ‘22 I can pull it off if some other big ticket hunt doesn’t drain that account first.

Also, find yourself a woman that will support your addiction and says she can’t wait to have a sheep in the trophy room.


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[txsouthpaw]

I could be wrong, but it seems like a simple case of supply and demand to me. The demand for sheep hunting is going up a lot faster than the number of outfitter permits is. This allows outfitters to charge more than the previous demand would allow for. In addition to your normal inflation of course.

I was going through some files recently, and came across pricing from a Dall Sheep hunt I made in 1981. It was unit 25 in the Brooks Range, inclusive of bush plane flight for $4,000. Running a quick inflation adjustment to today’s dollars, that $4,000 would equate to $11,426. With comparable hunts going today for $20,000 and up, it seems that supply and demand have had a substantial impact to pricing for some of the more desirable, limited quota animals. I just came off a BC goat hunt in December and would be surprised if there was a similar pricing disparity using the same parameters.

 

[Trial153]

View attachment 77628

I was going through some files recently, and came across pricing from a Dall Sheep hunt I made in 1981. It was unit 25 in the Brooks Range, inclusive of bush plane flight for $4,000. Running a quick inflation adjustment to today’s dollars, that $4,000 would equate to $11,426. With comparable hunts going today for $20,000 and up, it seems that supply and demand have had a substantial impact to pricing for some of the more desirable, limited quota animals. I just came off a BC goat hunt in December and would be surprised if there was a similar pricing disparity using the same parameters.

That’s telling for sure.

 

[BRWNBR]

View attachment 77628

I was going through some files recently, and came across pricing from a Dall Sheep hunt I made in 1981. It was unit 25 in the Brooks Range, inclusive of bush plane flight for $4,000. Running a quick inflation adjustment to today’s dollars, that $4,000 would equate to $11,426. With comparable hunts going today for $20,000 and up, it seems that supply and demand have had a substantial impact to pricing for some of the more desirable, limited quota animals. I just came off a BC goat hunt in December and would be surprised if there was a similar pricing disparity using the same parameters.

Man I wish it was that simple. I’d bet insurance, permits, licensing and charter rates haven’t increased at the same rate as inflation has. Crud they probably didn’t even have to have insurance back then lol

 

[wind gypsy]

It sure seems like a stupid amount of money to spend on a hunt.. Which is why I hurried up and booked a dall hunt before having kids or an ol lady’s opinion to consider.

 

[mproberts]

Man I wish it was that simple. I’d bet insurance, permits, licensing and charter rates haven’t increased at the same rate as inflation has. Crud they probably didn’t even have to have insurance back then lol

It's funny and unexpected for sure, but gas prices relative to inflation were actually more expensive in 1981 then they are now.. juss sayin'

 

[BRWNBR]

I believe av gas (plane fuel) was just around a dollar in the early 80’s and is over 4 dollars on the road systems now, Bush fuel closer to 7 or 8 a gallon. I’m not positive. Just going off what the pilots have said.

I’ll check with some guys and see.

U.S. Aviation Gasoline Retail Sales by Refiners (Dollars per Gallon)

 

[CTobias]

Can someone explain why Dall Sheep hunts cost $17K plus, even in the units where it's walk in?

Because they can get that much for it. My sheep hunt cost me about $40 in gas. Then again, I upgraded every piece of equipment this year, but I don't count that as a cost, so much as an investment.

There are a lot of great sheep guides here in Alaska, and there are also a lot of fly by night hacks. If you are going to spend the money, do your research on what area you want to hunt, and what guide you want to use.

The funny thing is, you may not even be hunting with an actual licensed guide. Just the guide apprentice. The guide just has to be in the same GMU at the time you are out there with the guide apprentice. At least I believe it goes something like that. Who knows, I could be wrong. I have no deisre to ever be a hunting guide. I will stick to the sport fishing.

 

[Molon Labe]

When I took my current position, I made a promise to myself that I would hunt sheep one day. It’s my top bucket list hunt, and going the Dall route is likely the way I’ll go if I hold up on my promise. My disillusioned self envisions it being with my bow, as I rarely ever pick up a gun for hunting also.

I’m 2 years in now, and set up a separate bank account that has my hunting funds. With my DIY schedule of 2 Idaho deer and elk hunts, Arizona Coues, and Alaska Caribou....oh yeah and a wedding....on the plate in the next 12 months, my sheep savings may be pushed back some......but it’s definitely starting to look feasible at this point that 2021 or ‘22 I can pull it off if some other big ticket hunt doesn’t drain that account first.

Also, find yourself a woman that will support your addiction and says she can’t wait to have a sheep in the trophy room.

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Speaking to your last statement...a woman that will support your addiction...and then cross referencing with the rest of your post where you mention planning a wedding.

Well...you are not married yet...several good friends of mine do not go on as many hunts or have mounts in the main part of their house...after they got married to the "perfect" wife that was ok with all the hunting etc.

I lucked out a bit...but I would push for more people to get prenups...not financial prenups but more along the lines of "husband will be able to go on at least 2 mountain hunts per year and can keep up to but not exceeding 4 trophy mounts on the main floor of the house"

Get it on paper!