Hunting the "Cheap" Sheep

Northern Safari

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 15, 2024
We are all aware of the ever-increasing costs of hunting North American sheep and how out of reach these hunts are for many of us. Not only the price, but the reportedly extremely low odds of success of these hunts make many of us second guess wanting to drop $50,000-$150,000 USD on such odds (~10%).

For those that would rather hunt sheep on more of a deer & elk budget with a much higher chance at success, have you considered or already hunted any of the following?

1. Black Hawaiian Sheep & Mouflon, USA (<$5,000)
2. Dalmatian Sheep, Croatia (<$5,000)
3. European Mouflon, various (<$5,000).
4. Barbary Sheep Aoudad, USA (<$10,000)
5. Snow Sheep, Russia (<$20,000)
6. Blue Sheep, Nepal ($25,000-$30,000)
7. Marco Polo, Kyrgyzstan ($30,000)

Yes there will be travel costs involved for all of these, but that also applies to getting up to the far north domestically.
 
I've hunted sheep on a couple of the Hawaiian islands and you can easily do it for far less than $5k. As far as just the hunting goes, it's about $100 for license/tags, and then just the price of vehicle rental and gas.
Yeah definitely, DIY options for a few of these will bring the price down quite a bit. I was just listing the outfitted costs I was seeing online for each.
 
I've hunted sheep on a couple of the Hawaiian islands and you can easily do it for far less than $5k. As far as just the hunting goes, it's about $100 for license/tags, and then just the price of vehicle rental and gas.

[mention]AK Troutbum [/mention] did you have to pay for property access? Or was it diy or how did this work? Super interested! Thanks.


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[mention]AK Troutbum [/mention] did you have to pay for property access? Or was it diy or how did this work? Super interested! Thanks.


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I've only bow hunted Maui and Lanai, both public and both pretty simple, logistically speaking. Lots of game, lots of spot and stalk, but it can be pretty difficult and I've yet to be successful. So all that said, we try and do a vacation there every winter or two and I just started bringing a bow on the last couple of trips, so I've only actually hunted a couple days each time.
 
Blue sheep is not a cheap sheep. Nowdays is almost impossible make this hunt in less than 40k and still going high.
These were the prices that I was referencing. While some are more expensive, there were a few under $30,000.

In a world where we are seeing $70,000 Dall sheep hunts, this is "cheap".
 
I've only bow hunted Maui and Lanai, both public and both pretty simple, logistically speaking. Lots of game, lots of spot and stalk, but it can be pretty difficult and I've yet to be successful. So all that said, we try and do a vacation there every winter or two and I just started bringing a bow on the last couple of trips, so I've only actually hunted a couple days each time.

Bad ass! Thank you!


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I've only bow hunted Maui and Lanai, both public and both pretty simple, logistically speaking. Lots of game, lots of spot and stalk, but it can be pretty difficult and I've yet to be successful. So all that said, we try and do a vacation there every winter or two and I just started bringing a bow on the last couple of trips, so I've only actually hunted a couple days each time.
I've heard they can be difficult to get in bow range of.
Hawaii gun laws are really dumb.
 
I've heard they can be difficult to get in bow range of.
Hawaii gun laws are really dumb.

Yeah, with a rifle anything that HI has would be a slam dunk, because there is a ton of game (at least that’s been my experience), but man it sure is fun chasing stuff around with a bow.
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The Asian hunts have been tough as late with import permits way behind. I heard they finally approved 1 Marco Polo tag from 2019 😬 Also a string of shady outfitters and brokers.

the “mandatory” tips and bribes etc to get gear and guns through and back home makes the true cost way higher. Have heard the customer service is definitely lacking, especially in the Stans and any post communist area.

Still would be an adventure, just go in knowing what to expect. (Not from any first hand experience just what I’ve heard talking to others)
 
The Asian hunts have been tough as late with import permits way behind. I heard they finally approved 1 Marco Polo tag from 2019 😬 Also a string of shady outfitters and brokers.

the “mandatory” tips and bribes etc to get gear and guns through and back home makes the true cost way higher. Have heard the customer service is definitely lacking, especially in the Stans and any post communist area.

Still would be an adventure, just go in knowing what to expect. (Not from any first hand experience just what I’ve heard talking to others)
The multiple accounts of "sketchiness" from these Stan countries have been holding me back from booking the hunt.

Good to know regarding the Marco Polo import, any idea if the same issue applies to trying to bring in Mid Asian ibex?
 
I have not heard of any problems with Ibex. It appears sheep permits are getting approved weekly. But I know a few people still waiting.
 
I’d rather cut open my freeze dried meals and put them in another bag than chase most of those animals on that list.

Nothing more disappointing on a hunting forum than to open the sheep forum and see an aoudad hunt. Or a “sheep” from Hawaii.

Just being honest
I wouldn’t put free range aoudad in the same category as Hawaiian sheep, but yes they are not the same critter as BH or DBH or Dal or stone
 
I wouldn’t put free range aoudad in the same category as Hawaiian sheep, but yes they are not the same critter as BH or DBH or Dal or stone
I agree, they aren't the same experience as a true mountain hunt for a NA sheep but they also cost 1/5th -1/10th the price.
 
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