Guided Dall Sheep - Bring my own spotter or just Bino's?

[GPATTI]

Going on an archery hunt this time next year with Lancaster in NWT. I have 10x42 Razor HDs and tripod. Should I bring my own spotting scope too, or nix the weight. Thanks!

 

[Capra]

I wouldn't leave home with out my spotter, but thats just me.

You might ask them.

 

[bates]

I'm in the same boat next year

Everyone tells me to save the weight the guides is sufficient

Plus with Lancaster you will be dropped off via helicopter. Are you hunting archery or rifle?

To me it's about taking it all in spotting game, digiscoping etc so I'm probably going to take mine

My pack weight is pretty low as I won't have stove and probably no tent

 

[bowtech3dhunter]

I would think glassing sheep without my own glass would make for a long boring day.

 

[WestDan]

I bring mine. I want to evaluate the sheep myself plus take pictures and fully enjoy the entire experience you're paying good money for. That's just me though. I'd rather take that weight penalty.

 

[idig4au]

Every time I bring my spotter on a sheep hunt, it seems to get left behind at base camp. I say leave it at home. A great way to shed a few pounds from your pack and luggage.

 

[Maverick940]

Gpatti and Mr. Bates:

Believe me, follow your outfitter's advice about weight and bulk limitations, especially in relation to bringing extra glass and unneeded/unwanted gear. He'll appreciate it and you'll get started on the right footing with him/her, in terms of building a compatible hunting relationship. You don't want to get on your outfitter's bad side, from the get-go.

Maverick

 

[adventure907]

While a spotter is extra definitely weight, if you are in great shape and don't mind lugging a few extra pounds, I say bring the spotter along. Part of the hunt is the experience of viewing the sheep and watching how they behave in their own habitat. Some guides appreciate a client who brings his own spotter, as it allows the guide to not only spend the entire time behind his own spotter, but the hunter also becomes more of an asset when it comes to finding, spotting, and judging distant animals.

Also, it allows you to digiscope, and to create visual memories and videos that will last a life time. While yes, the goal of backpack hunting is often to cut weight to the absolute minimums, sometimes a few extra pounds is worth it for the benefits it provides, granted you are in good enough shape to carry that extra weight.

 

[duchntr]

^^That sounds like great advice to me. I know for me I just like looking at stuff, sheep, bears, squirrels or whatever, and it just plain sucks always asking to use someone else's spotter to get a closer look.

 

[bates]

While a spotter is extra definitely weight, if you are in great shape and don't mind lugging a few extra pounds, I say bring the spotter along. Part of the hunt is the experience of viewing the sheep and watching how they behave in their own habitat. Some guides appreciate a client who brings his own spotter, as it allows the guide to not only spend the entire time behind his own spotter, but the hunter also becomes more of an asset when it comes to finding, spotting, and judging distant animals.

Also, it allows you to digiscope, and to create visual memories and videos that will last a life time. While yes, the goal of backpack hunting is often to cut weight to the absolute minimums, sometimes a few extra pounds is worth it for the benefits it provides, granted you are in good enough shape to carry that extra weight.

100% how i feel.

 

[WestDan]

Gpatti and Mr. Bates:

Believe me, follow your outfitter's advice about weight and bulk limitations, especially in relation to bringing extra glass and unneeded/unwanted gear. He'll appreciate it and you'll get started on the right footing with him/her, in terms of building a compatible hunting relationship. You don't want to get on your outfitter's bad side, from the get-go.

Maverick

This might be a little extreme. Bc he brings a spotter, he'd get on the outfitters bad side? If he's in good shape and can carry it, he's probably paying $20k+ for this experience and should be able to bring some extra glass to view the animals/country. I can see not being able to bring his own wall tent, but a spotter isn't that big a deal.

 

[Maverick940]

This might be a little extreme. Bc he brings a spotter, he'd get on the outfitters bad side? If he's in good shape and can carry it, he's probably paying $20k+ for this experience and should be able to bring some extra glass to view the animals/country. I can see not being able to bring his own wall tent, but a spotter isn't that big a deal.

Piper aircraft is only so big and carries only so much. Horses only carry so much and especially if it's sloppy and/or rugged. Of course, clients can usually carry only so much and that typically isn't much at all. A lot of outfitters jettison extra (unnecessary) items, such as spotting scopes.

 

[adventure907]

This might be a little extreme. Bc he brings a spotter, he'd get on the outfitters bad side? If he's in good shape and can carry it, he's probably paying $20k+ for this experience and should be able to bring some extra glass to view the animals/country. I can see not being able to bring his own wall tent, but a spotter isn't that big a deal.

I agree. If a hunter is paying a substantial amount of money to go on a sheep hunt, and bringing along his own personal spotter would significantly contribute to that hunters enjoyment of HIS hunt, no guide worth his salt should deny the hunter from bringing the spotting scope. It would be reasonable for the guide to lay out the pro's and con's of adding the extra weight, but in the end, the hunter paid for the hunt, it is his hunt, and if he want's to bring a spotter to add to the enjoyment of his hunt, then that is his prerogative to do so. A horse isn't going to keel over and die, and a super cub isn't going to fall out of the air with a few extra pounds of a spotting scope on board.

 

[Maverick940]

I agree. If a hunter is paying a substantial amount of money to go on a sheep hunt, and bringing along his own personal spotter would significantly contribute to that hunters enjoyment of HIS hunt, no guide worth his salt should deny the hunter from bringing the spotting scope. It would be reasonable for the guide to lay out the pro's and con's of adding the extra weight, but in the end, the hunter paid for the hunt, it is his hunt, and if he want's to bring a spotter to add to the enjoyment of his hunt, then that is his prerogative to do so. A horse isn't going to keel over and die, and a super cub isn't going to fall out of the air with a few extra pounds of a spotting scope on board.

Been in enough camps to know that a client should always run things by the outfitter before he brings a bunch of stuff that wasn't required or even suggested. The last thing any outfitter wants is for some guy to show up with a bunch of unneeded stuff. Best rule of thumb is to always ask the outfitter first and to never stray from what he or she tells you.

 

[Trial153]

I am carting it. I can't stand sharing glass.

 

[adventure907]

We are talking about a spotting scope, not a "bunch of stuff."

I say bring the spotter and have a great hunt. Especially if its something like a Swaro 65, you'll be glad you had it.

 

[Mjm316]

What brand/power spotter do you have VS what brand/power does the guide have? If you don't know it may be a viable question to ask your guide before you head on your trip.

 

[GPATTI]

All great info guys. Thank you!

bates - it is an archery hunt

 

[WestDan]

Piper aircraft is only so big and carries only so much. Horses only carry so much and especially if it's sloppy and/or rugged. Of course, clients can usually carry only so much and that typically isn't much at all. A lot of outfitters jettison extra (unnecessary) items, such as spotting scopes.

I completely agree with you on total weight, maybe just not the spotting scope topic itself. For example, I'm headed to the Yukon in 3 weeks for dalls and moose/grizz. My total equipment weight needs to be under 60lbs. As long as I have the clothing to survive, the rest is up to me. I'm deciding to allocate some of that weight to a spotter/tripod. Reason I do that is I really enjoy watching animals. The harvest is just the culmination of the hunt. Enjoying the scenery and getting to watch animals is all part of it for me. As long as you keep your weight under what the outfitter requests, the rest should be your preference. I'd just speak with your outfitter about total weight and then decide on your own allocation. Also make sure you're comfortable hauling whatever weight you decide to bring.

 

[Maverick940]

I completely agree with you on total weight, maybe just not the spotting scope topic itself. For example, I'm headed to the Yukon in 3 weeks for dalls and moose/grizz. My total equipment weight needs to be under 60lbs. As long as I have the clothing to survive, the rest is up to me. I'm deciding to allocate some of that weight to a spotter/tripod. Reason I do that is I really enjoy watching animals. The harvest is just the culmination of the hunt. Enjoying the scenery and getting to watch animals is all part of it for me. As long as you keep your weight under what the outfitter requests, the rest should be your preference. I'd just speak with your outfitter about total weight and then decide on your own allocation. Also make sure you're comfortable hauling whatever weight you decide to bring.

Holy crap! 60 pounds?!!! Geeeeesh!!!!! That's enormous. I can't even imagine needing that much junk. Wow!!!

I limit my guys to a maximum of 35 pounds, or else we don't fly. The Pipers that I use have a flyable payload of 300 pounds, after 3 hours of fuel and pilot. So, if a client weighs 200 pounds and camp/food/salt weighs 80 pounds, then a client needs to keep his total gear weight to less than 40 pounds or we don't fly. But, that's the way I do it.

Some outfitters fly BIG aircraft into pre-established campsites and in those instances, a guy could possibly (probably) bring more junk. I mean, if a guy just has to have the entire house including the kitchen sink, there are outfitters who cater to that sort of thing.

In any event, have a great hunt.

Maverick