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

[HornPorn]

I would try and find stone outfit in the Yukon or NWT. they appeal the most to me for some reason. That part of Canada seems the most remote too

There are no stones in the NWT. A Fannin yes

Yukon does have some stones

Quintessential stone sheep hunt would be northern British Columbia

 

[WVELK]

As to the preferred sheep hunt it definitely depends on your goals- Do you want the hunt to be successful? or is the adventure the most important part? Is the trophy itself the most important?


Personally I would say a September Stone sheep may be the best! The most beautiful sheep, longer hair in Sept and great country and the leaves changing. Every sheep has individual coloration. The hunts are usually horseback or backpack. On average the horns are a bit heavier than Dalls. Be careful who you go with, not a slam dunk or guaranteed hunt…

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Second I would go for Dall’s sheep. A full curl Dalls is amazing, a great trophy. The far north and the rugged country they live in to me is the iconic “sheep hunt” it is often the first and only sheep hunt most go on. Historically it was the cheapest and relatively successful option. Unfortunately Dall’s population have plummeted raising prices and killing success rates - especially in Alaska. IMO the best Dall’s hunts are in NWT where numbers are still good and Helicopter access is an absolute game changer- success rates are very high. Very different than my first successful Dall's hunt in AK which was walk-in Solo!

Rocky Mt bighorn has become very expensive and difficult to get a tag. I was lucky to draw a Colorado archery tag and kill one. I like the mountains the Rockies live in better than the country most Cali bighorns are found. Rockies are bigger on average as well. Hunting in the area I lived was nice to scout etc, but wasn’t quite the trip or remoteness the far north sheep provide.

Desert Bighorn- I have not hunted yet, (will soon) I guess I am not drawn to the desert- have been many times and even lived on the northern border of desert sheep (Colorado monument) the spectrum of hunts is wide- easy to super tough. Mexico is a mixed bag but the game ranching (and subsequent releases to the wild to supplement the free range populations) has kept the prices in check. Has also increased the horn size and accessibility to the sheep- depending on where you hunt.

This is excellent as are other responses. Thanks to all. I have been doing some research and reached out to some contacts. To answer your first question, harvesting a ram is the most important to me. I am not proud of that response, but it is an honest one. I have had many adventures in my life, but never sheep hunted.

I am meeting with someone regarding a Dall sheep next week. It would be in BC in September. That is certainly an option. However, I am really starting to lean toward a Stone as being my preferred choice only because I don’t think there are a lot of California or Rocky Big Horn options. I have someone close checking on those for me currently. If that chip fell into place that would be my preferred choice, but honestly I am blessed to even be in a position to consider any sheep hunt. So any of those three should be taken if it is the right opportunity.

Couple questions for all: 1. I am having a hard time understanding why Dall’s in NWT are preferred over BC, so why the preference for NWT? 2. What area is preferred for Stone? BC????

 

[HornPorn]

This is excellent as are other responses. Thanks to all. I have been doing some research and reached out to some contacts. To answer your first question, harvesting a ram is the most important to me. I am not proud of that response, but it is an honest one. I have had many adventures in my life, but never sheep hunted.

I am meeting with someone regarding a Dall sheep next week. It would be in BC in September. That is certainly an option. However, I am really starting to lean toward a Stone as being my preferred choice only because I don’t think there are a lot of California or Rocky Big Horn options. I have someone close checking on those for me currently. If that chip fell into place that would be my preferred choice, but honestly I am blessed to even be in a position to consider any sheep hunt. So any of those three should be taken if it is the right opportunity.

Couple questions for all: 1. I am having a hard time understanding why Dall’s in NWT are preferred over BC, so why the preference for NWT? 2. What area is preferred for Stone? BC????

The most sure thing for a North American sheep hunt north of the US is probably the Cali bighorn hunts. You usually take your ram in 2-3 days, but they cost $150K.

After that the desert hunts in New Mexico seem to be a layup

After that dall sheep. If you are in shape and can shoot, you will get a dall in the NWT

Stones are lower success rate than dalls, but much better than Rocky bighorns

Rocky bighorns are a 10% or less prospect in Alberta, but if you can a tag in BC those are higher success rate

 

[Steve O]

This is excellent as are other responses. Thanks to all. I have been doing some research and reached out to some contacts. To answer your first question, harvesting a ram is the most important to me. I am not proud of that response, but it is an honest one. I have had many adventures in my life, but never sheep hunted.

I am meeting with someone regarding a Dall sheep next week. It would be in BC in September. That is certainly an option. However, I am really starting to lean toward a Stone as being my preferred choice only because I don’t think there are a lot of California or Rocky Big Horn options. I have someone close checking on those for me currently. If that chip fell into place that would be my preferred choice, but honestly I am blessed to even be in a position to consider any sheep hunt. So any of those three should be taken if it is the right opportunity.

Couple questions for all: 1. I am having a hard time understanding why Dall’s in NWT are preferred over BC, so why the preference for NWT? 2. What area is preferred for Stone? BC????

All NWT has is Dalls. There are very limited options for Dall in BC.

BC is the heart of Stone sheep territory. They are pure in BC.

 

[WVELK]

The most sure thing for a North American sheep hunt north of the US is probably the Cali bighorn hunts. You usually take your ram in 2-3 days, but they cost $150K.

After that the desert hunts in New Mexico seem to be a layup

After that dall sheep. If you are in shape and can shoot, you will get a dall in the NWT

Stones are lower success rate than dalls, but much better than Rocky bighorns

Rocky bighorns are a 10% or less prospect in Alberta, but if you can a tag in BC those are higher success rate

Interesting. Why are the Cali bighorns more likely to be taken.

My one contact is checking on a BC Rocky Mtn Bighorn tag for BC. Your statement makes me feel great if that tag comes through.

I know elk, but not sheep. I can tell you all have spent time and time again educating yourself on sheep.

 

[cuerro viejo]

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

It’s the one that will continue to jump the most price wise as it’s the smallest number of tags a year

 

[cuerro viejo]

Interesting. Why are the Cali bighorns more likely to be taken.

My one contact is checking on a BC Rocky Mtn Bighorn tag for BC. Your statement makes me feel great if that tag comes through.

I know elk, but not sheep. I can tell you all have spent time and time again educating yourself on sheep.

Take Idaho for example the cali’s are southern part in the lower country. Compared to the RMBH that are at or above tree line.

Cali is like a mid mountain sheep.

You can find BH tags from 100-120k in CO and some of the NM Reservations.

 

[Sully_44]

I’m very interested in getting a slam someday, but realize that’s going to take making an ungodly amount of money. If I was in your situation and I didn’t necessarily care about what species I killed, I think I’d choose Dalls. Simply because that’s the type of country I think about when I think of sheep hunting. AND, if you can afford to do a stone hunt, then you can afford to do 2-3 dall hunts. I’d pick my top 3 dall destinations and spread them out every 3-5 years. Go hunt 3 times in the north country for the same price as a stone hunt and end your sheep career with ~40+ days of sheep hunting, and potentially 3 rams vs. ~20 days and potentially 1 ram.

 

[Sandbrew]

I love spending other peoples money - But be forewarned I have found this quote and pearl of wisdom from Jack O'Conner to be true for me.

"There is no half way. After his first exposure, a man is either a sheep hunter or he isn’t. He either falls under the spell of sheep hunting and sheep country or he won’t be caught dead on another sheep mountain."

”The Bighorn,” March 1960

I am always searching for a way to go on my next sheep hunt since my first archery ram hunt in 2000. After I harvested my first ram I was hooked. Since then I have been on 3 more Rocky Mountain Bighorn hunts a Dall hunt and 2 Stone hunts of my own. I have tagged along or helped family and friends on at least 15 more sheep hunts. I have probably spent a sheep hunt worth of dollars on raffle tickets chasing my next adventure and my Grand Slam/FNAWS. If it was me and I could only go on one more sheep hunt I would chose a British Columbia or Yukon multispecies hunt with a stone sheep as a primary target and a pocketful of tags for everything else incase we filled early.

 

[Scottf270]

I would do a Dall hunt in the NWT and a for sure free range hunt in Mexico for desert big horn. No way I'd drop $100,000 with worse odds on a stone.

 

[WVELK]

I’m very interested in getting a slam someday, but realize that’s going to take making an ungodly amount of money. If I was in your situation and I didn’t necessarily care about what species I killed, I think I’d choose Dalls. Simply because that’s the type of country I think about when I think of sheep hunting. AND, if you can afford to do a stone hunt, then you can afford to do 2-3 dall hunts. I’d pick my top 3 dall destinations and spread them out every 3-5 years. Go hunt 3 times in the north country for the same price as a stone hunt and end your sheep career with ~40+ days of sheep hunting, and potentially 3 rams vs. ~20 days and potentially 1 ram.

That is not bad logic and I do hate to waste money even though I could afford to do all 4 in two years if the tags were available. Once can’t forget where he or she started. I think this forum is the best on the net by far, and this sheep subclass of the forum may be the best out there. Thanks again and again for the input. It is all valuable.

 

[WVELK]

Let me ask the group this question. Many of you talk about the odds of getting a stone, or odds of getting a Dall, or some other odds. Where, generally, are you pulling your data from on the net? Or, some other source. Odds are very important to me. I have never backed away from a challenge. Heck they told my mother there was not need to get a sports physical for me in college I would not live to graduate. 38 years later I am still here. However, I am not stupid either and I have no interest in trying to beat impossible odds. The glaring example is where folks write about outfitters selling more hunts than are legal rams in the unit or their concession. That is a no for me.

 

[wyosteve]

Since you mentioned Dall in BC, just be aware there is only a very small area in NW BC that has Dalls.