Going for another hunt: Stone or repeat Dall?

If a bc stone is your OIL hunt do it, $$$$ be damned , personally I would not return to BC , my uncles are still rabidly POed about a combined 30 days of hunting and only seeing a handful of what the guides called legal rams , but Hank couldn’t count any rings past 6-7 on any of rams and both pass up
a ” Yukon stone “ / full color fannin would be my choice
 
GSCO counts 9 North American Wild Sheep

Stone Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=30
California Bighorn https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=26
Dall Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=27
Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=28
Mexicana Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=119
North Baja Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=120
South Baja Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=121
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=29
Fannin Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=117

There are also free ranging Barbary Sheep/Aoudad in California, New Mexico and West Texas.

Free ranging Tahr in California and New Mexico.

Free ranging Red Sheep and Armenian Mouflon in West Texas triangle between Marfa, Alpine, Fort Stockton and Van Horn between TX90, TX67 and I-10.

There were free ranging Mouflon on Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii. I do not know what the status of those sheep is. I think they are hybrids.
 
personally I would not return to BC , my uncles are still rabidly POed about a combined 30 days of hunting and only seeing a handful of what the guides called legal rams , but Hank couldn’t count any rings past 6-7 on any of rams
What outfitter/concession in BC was this?
 
My thoughts, I’d go for the Stones. I’ve got all four, Stones is just a different hunt ie limited availability/geographical range. And quite a bit of chatter at sheep show of BC sooner than later going draw, but who knows? Good luck on making your decision!
 
My grandfather killed a stone in the 60s. $150/day 🥲 Is what I’ve been told by my uncle that the hunt cost. Not a big ram. I have the Shoulder mount. Pretty sure it’s the closest I’ll get to one.
 
Op, if you haven't read the post about stone sheep going on in this forum, you should. It echos a lot of the points I mentioned about some outfitters overbooking versus quota. Scary stuff when dropping $70,000.
Very true, the allocation system certainly isn’t self-regulating. Some outfitters vastly overbook quota, so it is simple math that some hunters must go home without. It isn’t like the USA where the tag is issued to the hunter and he is the only person who can fill it. Know a guy who after multiple unsuccessful Stone Sheep hunts simply gave up on that species.

It used to be that guys could cut deals for coming back or extending their hunts if unsuccessful, but demand is simply out of control and making returns/extensions much more complicated. Spoke with numerous sheep outfitters (of all NA species) during this past show season and many are booked through 2025 and some into 2026. That seems counterintuitive in the face of skyrocketing prices but that’s just reality.

Had the same dilemma as the OP. During the past year or two really looked into hunting a Stone. Decided to pass and go after a Desert and Fannin instead. Also different environments from chasing another Dall and both with higher average success rates than Stones.

Personally, I was gearing up to head back to Russia for Yakutia and Okhotsk Sheep. But alas, although it’s a spectacular adventure on the other side of the world, I‘m no longer willing to take the risk in traveling there (although I’m told it is still legal and possible).
 
There were free ranging Mouflon on Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii. I do not know what the status of those sheep is. I think they are hybrids.
lanai is the only hawaiian island that has wild pure bred mouflon. unfortunately though last couple of years the age class has been hammered and the ewe to ram ratio is all out of wack due to state mismanagement (they got rid of earn a ram). molokai never had (maybe you are thinking of blackbuck there?). Have heard some claim that big island has purebred moulfon but with their high wild feral sheep population and number of hybrids running around no chance. If you want pure bred mouflon you have to go to lanai (no feral sheep there to intermix)
 
GSCO counts 9 North American Wild Sheep

Stone Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=30
California Bighorn https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=26
Dall Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=27
Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=28
Mexicana Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=119
North Baja Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=120
South Baja Desert Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=121
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=29
Fannin Sheep https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=117

There are also free ranging Barbary Sheep/Aoudad in California, New Mexico and West Texas.

Free ranging Tahr in California and New Mexico.

Free ranging Red Sheep and Armenian Mouflon in West Texas triangle between Marfa, Alpine, Fort Stockton and Van Horn between TX90, TX67 and I-10.

There were free ranging Mouflon on Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii. I do not know what the status of those sheep is. I think they are hybrids.

I’ve never heard of tahr in the states


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This is one of the best threads in a while.

I think I'd go hunt in AK, then use the extra to do a hunt in Asia.

If you are hell bent on the Stone, you gotta do it now or regret it later. Full stop.

But if you are looking for big bad ass country and adding to your life story with as many hunts as possible, don't do the Stone and pick two other really committing hunts. Chugach AK, Snow sheep Nepal.
 
I can recommend like a great nternational hunt my country Spain for Ibex and Chamois , very comfortable hunt but if you want a real adventure nothing better than Pakistan ( Himalayan ibex, Sidhn ibex, urials blue sheep and of course Markhor...) Is the. Ost underrated country for hunt but in some years it will be in the top list
 
What do you guys do that for a living?
When these hunts become "affordable" to you, you are doing something right : )

I have 2 nice tags in my pocket for this season, but an exotic IBEX hunt is on my bucket list.
 
Well, I decided to do another Dall in NWT. Booked. I've decided to take my wife and share the time in the Mackenzie Range. Money was a factor as I enjoy my elk hunting and would prefer to continue that along with sheep hunting. Thanks for all the comments. I'd say the Stone won the group vote.
 
I’m sure you guys will have a great time. My wife has been with me on two hunts (WY Mtn goat and Vancouver Island bear hunt). Those were two of our favorite adventures together.
 
Well, I decided to do another Dall in NWT. Booked. I've decided to take my wife and share the time in the Mackenzie Range.
Awesome man. My wife went with me on my dall hunt, and is coming with me on my stone hunt. The hunt is obviously the culmination, but having her engaged in the training, etc. leading up to the hunt makes the entire experience something we can share. I have no doubt that if we are lucky enough to grow old together, we will always remember and talk about our sheep hunts.
 
Awesome man. My wife went with me on my dall hunt, and is coming with me on my stone hunt. The hunt is obviously the culmination, but having her engaged in the training, etc. leading up to the hunt makes the entire experience something we can share. I have no doubt that if we are lucky enough to grow old together, we will always remember and talk about our sheep hunts.
That's exactly what I'm hoping for, getting healthy together, sharing the adventure and growing old together. We'll have those Mackenzie Mountain views to share - can't take it with you.
 
if you don’t mind, curious about who you booked with?
Well, I decided to do another Dall in NWT. Booked. I've decided to take my wife and share the time in the Mackenzie Range. Money was a factor as I enjoy my elk hunting and would prefer to continue that along with sheep hunting. Thanks for all the comments. I'd say the Stone won the group vote.
 
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