Differences in Dall, Stone, RM Bighorn, D Bighorn hunts

[WVELK]

I am trying to decide what sheep hunt to book. I may need outfitter selection help in the future, but for now I have a good reliable set of options for each - Desert in Mexico, Dall in BC or Alaska, RM Bighorn in Alberta and Stone Sheep in BC. I have a few friends that have competed the slam, but every time I try to get advice from them they are so sheep crazy the conversations go sideways. I am nearly certain that I would not try to get a slam. Two of the four is probably the max for me, and it may only be one. So that is why I want opinions as to which you would do if you only did one. Until recently, no sheep hunt interested me even though I have killed a lot of North American big game. Admittedly, I know very little about sheep. Will you please give me your thoughts as to the advantages and disadvantages of hunting the four and which is you favorite to hunt and why? That should get us started. Thanks in advance.

 

[Steve O]

I’d save Mexico for last.

Nothing can compare to a far north sheep hunt.

I went into my first sheep hunt over twenty years ago realizing it might be my only one and chose a mixed bag hunt as far north as you could go in the Yukon and was blessed with an awesome 10 year old Fannin ram and an experience I will treasure always.

NWT, YK, BC would be my pick. And since I’m spending your money I’d do the Stone.

 

[WCB]

I am trying to decide what sheep hunt to book. I may need outfitter selection help in the future, but for now I have a good reliable set of options for each - Desert in Mexico, Dall in BC or Alaska, RM Bighorn in Alberta and Stone Sheep in BC. I have a few friends that have competed the slam, but every time I try to get advice from them they are so sheep crazy the conversations go sideways. I am nearly certain that I would not try to get a slam. Two of the four is probably the max for me, and it may only be one. So that is why I want opinions as to which you would do if you only did one. Until recently, no sheep hunt interested me even though I have killed a lot of North American big game. Admittedly, I know very little about sheep. Will you please give me your thoughts as to the advantages and disadvantages of hunting the four and which is you favorite to hunt and why? That should get us started. Thanks in advance.

I'd skip Alberta Rockies and just do a Rez hunt in the U.S. you might actually see and kill a ram. Desert would essentially be your gimme pay and shoot sheep. Depending on your Dall or Stone for the most part those are going to be what you traditionally think of sheep hunting. Deep wilderness hike or horse back.

If I could just do one...it would probably be a Stone hunt at this point...In all honesty if there was a place to hunt Rockies in an actual wilderness setting with a reasonable chance to kill one that might be it.

Are you stuck with B.C. only on the Stone Hunt?

 

[WVELK]

I’d save Mexico for last.

Nothing can compare to a far north sheep hunt.

I went into my first sheep hunt over twenty years ago realizing it might be my only one and chose a mixed bag hunt as far north as you could go in the Yukon and was blessed with an awesome 10 year old Fannin ram and an experience I will treasure always.

NWT, YK, BC would be my pick. And since I’m spending your money I’d do the Stone.

Spending my money is exactly what I want the members to do. Why would you pick Stone?

 

[WVELK]

I'd skip Alberta Rockies and just do a Rez hunt in the U.S. you might actually see and kill a ram. Desert would essentially be your gimme pay and shoot sheep. Depending on your Dall or Stone for the most part those are going to be what you traditionally think of sheep hunting. Deep wilderness hike or horse back.

If I could just do one...it would probably be a Stone hunt at this point...In all honesty if there was a place to hunt Rockies in an actual wilderness setting with a reasonable chance to kill one that might be it.

Are you stuck with B.C. only on the Stone Hunt?

No, I am not stuck on any location or any sheep everything is in play. I appreciate the skip the Alberta Rockies have heard that before from other folks.. What are the Rez options? To be candid if I had the desire to go crazy over one sheep it might be the Rocky Mtn Bighorn. I saw one as a young child and it kind of stuck and I thought that is what I would try first, but don’t want to buy a gov tag and have heard horror stories as to Alberta

I have heard the same as to Mexico and the Desert. Why Stone over Dall? I really appreciate the response.

 

[Steve O]

I would choose the Stone because the prices on them are skyrocketing at a phenomenal rate…3-4 times what they were in 2019 compared to the others that have doubled. And the outfitters are going to keep grabbing that money at an ever increasing rate.

I like thinhorns and the places they live as well. Most Sone hunts are still very “traditional” as well and I love the tradition and romance of sheep hunting. Thus my suggesting saving Mexico for last. Lot of “farming” down there and it does not appeal to me.

 

[WVELK]

I would choose the Stone because the prices on them are skyrocketing at a phenomenal rate…3-4 times what they were in 2019 compared to the others that have doubled. And the outfitters are going to keep grabbing that money at an ever increasing rate.

I like thinhorns and the places they live as well. Most Sone hunts are still very “traditional” as well and I love the tradition and romance of sheep hunting. Thus my suggesting saving Mexico for last. Lot of “farming” down there and it does not appeal to me.

I turned down a Stone sheep hunt in the late 90s for $14,000 (I think). Looks like a great deal now lol. And, when I was in Alaska Brown Bear hunting in the mid to late 90s, I think top dollar for a Dall was $6,000.

 

[cbeard64]

Based on your statements I would go on a hunt with a good chance of success.

If you are set on a Rocky the only option that fits that mold is a high-success rate BC California bighorn hunt. Those are quite pricey.

Otherwise I would go on a Dall hunt in the Yukon or NWT. Beautiful sheep, beautiful country, and good chance for success. And the most economical of all the hunts (so far at least).

Desert sheep hunts are incredible but an entirely different experience than the other three.

A Dall and a Desert would be a great mix of experiences.

(I have been on hunts for all four.)

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

I’ve only been on two sheep hunts….a stone and a dall hunt. They were very different experiences in no small part due to the fact that one was the first week of August and one was the first week of Sept., but in the NWT (dall) I felt like I was in a more remote and wild place than in BC (stone). Not taking anything away from northern BC, it’s a beautiful and plenty wild place, and if I had the money I’d go on a stone hunt every year. But seeing other hunters/resident pressure just doesn’t happen in the NWT. You don’t even see planes in the sky. I’ve discussed this with other sheep hunters who shared the same opinion that the Northwest Territories is the wildest place they have ever been as well. So, my recommendation if you can only do one is a dall hunt in the NWT.

 

[WVELK]

Based on your statements I would go on a hunt with a good chance of success.

If you are set on a Rocky the only option that fits that mold is a high-success rate BC California bighorn hunt. Those are quite pricey.

Otherwise I would go on a Dall hunt in the Yukon or NWT. Beautiful sheep, beautiful country, and good chance for success. And the most economical of all the hunts (so far at least).

Desert sheep hunts are incredible but an entirely different experience than the other three.

A Dall and a Desert would be a great mix of experiences.

(I have been on hunts for all four.)

Good luck and have fun!!

Any suggestions as to outfitters for Bighorn of Dall? You can PM or text (304) 5453480? I have a very very close friend who outfits for Desert. I am just not sure, but what that is likely my least favorite. I don’t care for the habitat in which they live for one thing.

 

[WVELK]

I’ve only been on two sheep hunts….a stone and a dall hunt. They were very different experiences in no small part due to the fact that one was the first week of August and one was the first week of Sept., but in the NWT (dall) I felt like I was in a more remote and wild place than in BC (stone). Not taking anything away from northern BC, it’s a beautiful and plenty wild place, and if I had the money I’d go on a stone hunt every year. But seeing other hunters/resident pressure just doesn’t happen in the NWT. You don’t even see planes in the sky. I’ve discussed this with other sheep hunters who shared the same opinion that the Northwest Territories is the wildest place they have ever been as well. So, my recommendation if you can only do one is a dall hunt in the NWT.

Which was August and which in September? Any recommendations for NWT outfitters?

Do the Stone and Dall act significantly different? I was in Jackson Hole, WY for the holidays and looked at Big Horns every day. They are a tank of an animal. Love watching them. Have seen Dall’s at a distance in Alaska. I have seen Desert at a distance as well. Never have seen a stone.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Which was August and which in September? Any recommendations for NWT outfitters?

Do the Stone and Dall act significantly different? I was in Jackson Hole, WY for the holidays and looked at Big Horns every day. They are a tank of an animal. Love watching them. Have seen Dall’s at a distance in Alaska. I have seen Desert at a distance as well. Never have seen a stone.

The dalls and stones are very similar genetically, but their range is different. Stone hunt was early August and dall was early September. BC was greener more lush…NWT is rockier. All of the NWT outfits are great and will give you a quality experience. I believe there are only 8. The differentiators would be who uses helicopters and who doesn’t as well as who would have availability for you. From what I’ve heard many of them are booking into 2028 and 2029 at this point

 

[cbeard64]

Any suggestions as to outfitters for Bighorn of Dall? You can PM or text (304) 5453480? I have a very very close friend who outfits for Desert. I am just not sure, but what that is likely my least favorite. I don’t care for the habitat in which they live for one thing.

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the Yukon or NWT Dall outfits. I went with Tim Mervyn in 2017 and had a great hunt. They say populations are down in that area now. Lancasters seems like great guys. Arctic Red, Tombstone, Nahanni Butte, and several others all seem to get high marks. Really depends on the type of hunt you want (backpack, horseback, helicopter use or not, etc., etc….). Each outfit does things a little differently. I love the traditional horseback style of hunting. Alaska is a complex puzzle I would not be willing to try and solve at this point.

I took my California Bighorn with Bruce Ambler in BC. It was a mountain hunt with low odds of success but he and another outfitter have hunts on the Fraser River that are very high success hunts. But they are very expensive.

I get what you say about the desert hunts. They are a different experience for sure. Would not be my first choice either but I drew an AZ tag and really came to love the desert environment when I hunted them.

 

[cbeard64]

To answer your question directly: if I could only do one sheep hunt I would probably hunt Dalls in the NWT. With a mountain caribou tag in my pocket and 14 days to hunt them both. I love the white sheep and the country they live in.

 

[idig4au]

Backpack dall hunt in the in Mackenzie Mts in the NWT is the nearest to Utopia for me. Stone hunting is the Stikine area in BC is a close second. I would also put snow sheep in Kamchatka near the top.

 

[CHL]

Long ways to sheep hunting from West Virginia! Everything these guys have said above about the habitats, hunting, and outfitters is spot on. Only thing I’d add is I’ve been fortunate enough to get both thinhorns and a desert, and have hunted in AK and the Yukon for sheep. But don’t discount the desert because they’re pretty cool, and some of that country in those mountains can be tough as well. Plus, they’re a darn pretty animal too!

 

[Steve O]

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the Yukon or NWT Dall outfits. I went with Tim Mervyn in 2017 and had a great hunt. They say populations are down in that area now. Lancasters seems like great guys. Arctic Red, Tombstone, Nahanni Butte, and several others all seem to get high marks. Really depends on the type of hunt you want (backpack, horseback, helicopter use or not, etc., etc….). Each outfit does things a little differently. I love the traditional horseback style of hunting. Alaska is a complex puzzle I would not be willing to try and solve at this point.

I took my California Bighorn with Bruce Ambler in BC. It was a mountain hunt with low odds of success but he and another outfitter have hunts on the Fraser River that are very high success hunts. But they are very expensive.

I get what you say about the desert hunts. They are a different experience for sure. Would not be my first choice either but I drew an AZ tag and really came to love the desert environment when I hunted them.

Yep. AZ Desert hunts, at least mine and the one I helped my buddy with are a GREAT and very tough hunt…that’s not what a lot of the Mexico hunts are like. Seems Mexico sheep hunts have had a checkered past. For over 100 years you really have to be careful. Big money sure does breed corruption.

 

[Mojave]

Quite a few post already, not sure if you will get down this far. This is a very gross generalization.

Alaska
Here are my thoughts. For my money I would not hunt sheep in Alaska as a non-resident guided outside of the draw hunts in Tok and Chugiak. The odds of success are too low, some own-use areas are better, than the general areas.

So no for general areas in the Brooks and other areas, yes for draw tags, maybe for own use. Do a lot of research. $25,000-$40,000

Yukon and NWT for Dall $30,000-50,000 this is where I would hunt Dall. There are a lot of outfitters, some are famous like Raven's Throat and Red River. Find one you like and go. Do research, there are some not so great areas.

Yukon for Fannin and Stone. Same as above double the price.

BC for Stone $80-150,000, be highly selective in who you go with. There are several guys that don't actually have enough rams in their unit to kill the number of rams they sell hunts for.

Alberta and BC for California or Rocky Mountain Bighorns same as above.

Reservation tags and private land tags in the USA for Deserts and Bighorns. Prices vary could be $80,000-200,000. Private land tags like Ted Turners place near Truth or Consequences NM is an option, I would consider if I was serious about a desert.

Mexico high fence deserts, there are private land high fence hunts in Mexico that count for Boone and Crocket. These are cheaper.

Mexico free range deserts these are slightly more expensive.

Carmen Island Deserts most expensive.

If I was going to do one hunt, I would do a combo hunt in the Yukon, BC or NWT for caribou, moose, bears, wolves, maybe mountain goats and sheep. Thes seasons may not align in the NWT the way they do in BC an the Yukon. 21 day type hunt horse back. Weather will suck, hopefully you will see everything and have good shots and getting everything, it will be the epic adventure of a lifetime.

Alaska may offer some kind of a combo.

Ranch hunts in Texas and New Mexico and Mexico might offer another species like mule deer, oryx or Barbary sheep.

If I had $150,000 to blow on a once in a lifetime hunt, it would be in the Yukon or BC with the best outfitter I could book. For stones, moose, goat, caribou, bears and wolves.

 

[WVELK]

Quite a few post already, not sure if you will get down this far. This is a very gross generalization.

Alaska
Here are my thoughts. For my money I would not hunt sheep in Alaska as a non-resident guided outside of the draw hunts in Tok and Chugiak. The odds of success are too low, some own-use areas are better, than the general areas.

So no for general areas in the Brooks and other areas, yes for draw tags, maybe for own use. Do a lot of research. $25,000-$40,000

Yukon and NWT for Dall $30,000-50,000 this is where I would hunt Dall. There are a lot of outfitters, some are famous like Raven's Throat and Red River. Find one you like and go. Do research, there are some not so great areas.

Yukon for Fannin and Stone. Same as above double the price.

BC for Stone $80-150,000, be highly selective in who you go with. There are several guys that don't actually have enough rams in their unit to kill the number of rams they sell hunts for.

Alberta and BC for California or Rocky Mountain Bighorns same as above.

Reservation tags and private land tags in the USA for Deserts and Bighorns. Prices vary could be $80,000-200,000. Private land tags like Ted Turners place near Truth or Consequences NM is an option, I would consider if I was serious about a desert.

Mexico high fence deserts, there are private land high fence hunts in Mexico that count for Boone and Crocket. These are cheaper.

Mexico free range deserts these are slightly more expensive.

Carmen Island Deserts most expensive.

If I was going to do one hunt, I would do a combo hunt in the Yukon, BC or NWT for caribou, moose, bears, wolves, maybe mountain goats and sheep. Thes seasons may not align in the NWT the way they do in BC an the Yukon. 21 day type hunt horse back. Weather will suck, hopefully you will see everything and have good shots and getting everything, it will be the epic adventure of a lifetime.

Alaska may offer some kind of a combo.

Ranch hunts in Texas and New Mexico and Mexico might offer another species like mule deer, oryx or Barbary sheep.

If I had $150,000 to blow on a once in a lifetime hunt, it would be in the Yukon or BC with the best outfitter I could book. For stones, moose, goat, caribou, bears and wolves.

Well I am locked in now so no matter how far down the messages are, I will be reading them. I can see how people get excited and say what the heck I am going to try all four when they have the cash to do so.
There are certain things I like about each. I will giving this some thought and posting again soon.

 

[Shortround]

I’ve guided a 3/4 slam - dall, bunch of stones, couple bighorns in Alberta — and if I was in your shoes I’d go on two dall hunts, maybe one classic horse hunt in the Yk and a backpack in the nwt. Alberta is shot out, you’ll pay $75000 to maybe kill a squeaker, stones are headed that way soon only pricier.
If you’re going for the sheep hunting experience, I think it’s only available via draw tags in the us and dalls in Canada.