NWT and Yukon Dall hunts

[albertadave]

My wife is booked with Ben in 2028, she was one out 19 applicants chosen for the WSF sheep lay away program. Her price was locked in late 2024 $37K.

What is the WSF sheep lay away program?

 

[One300wsm]

They only did it one year in 2024 for 4 hunters. They paid 15k towards your hunt. You got to pay the remaining amount over 4 years.

 

[albertadave]

Thanks.

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

I am assuming these prices are reflective of access (helicopters) and high success rates. From what I have read, NWT helicopter hunts sound like near 100% success.

 

[One300wsm]

I am assuming these prices are reflective of access (helicopters) and high success rates. From what I have read, NWT helicopter hunts sound like near 100% success.

Pretty much if you’re in good enough shape to get there and don’t miss. Just because you ride in on horseback which isn’t easy in itself if your riding 4 hours or more or fly in via beaver, float plane, cub or helicopter doesn’t mean you don’t have to walk. But flying in via helicopter id say increases your chances a lot they can drop you just about anywhere.

 

[medvedyt]

I am assuming these prices are reflective of access (helicopters) and high success rates. From what I have read, NWT helicopter hunts sound like near 100% success.

remember success rate is different if you have to get a full curl or 8 years old ram or a 3/4 curl. big difference but yes helicopter is helping for success but i will say it is a combination of both to extend plus less competition with resident hunters as the access is harder despite the two roads going into the mckenzie from the yukon.

success rate is impossible to get unless you know how many hunts were sold, how many hunters came and how many purchased sheep tag and hunted for them.

but i will not lie the more you all focus on NWT the better it is for locals here in the Yukon ...

 

[MosquitoCoast]

I was not at the Sheep Show. However I heard that some Dall outfitters are booking hunts out into year 2030 at $70 K!
If this is true, as long as there’s some hunters out there that will pay that number, then the hunt prices are just gonna continue to spiral upward…like they’ve been doing!
Def out of reach for too many hunters.

Try booking a stone or a big horn! Glad I took my Dall and Stone when I did. If you are thinking about NWT vs Yukon be aware that NWT many outfits use Helicopters which makes putting the hunters on a mountain easier. In the Yukon, they don't allow helicopters so usually you are starting from a low point and there can be a lot more physicality. But either way, you're gonna burn a crap ton of calories. Be prepared.

 

[medvedyt]

and i forgot to include for the difference of course between nwt and the Yukon: nwt hunting start for sheep on the 15 of July while here it is the 1st of august except the so exclusive kluane sheep that can be started on the 21 of july for non resident while the draw one is on the 1st of august. but i honestly do not know if any sheep left there after few brutal winters and over harvests ...

 

[Ophert]

NWT has like 10-15 resident hunters for sheep each year. There are some serious hunters no doubt, but people tell me about their trips as a resident and they basically fly into the closest lake they can, hike 5-10km max and don't bring good optics or any at all, maybe binos.

Outfitters using helicopters can put their hunters right on the sheep. Not to be rude but just look at some of the people taking sheep in the outfitters pictures and tell me those people could hike 15-20+km up a mountain with a straight face.

I also believe Yukon has a lot more outfitters in general. NWT has 8? I think? and they all take pretty much the same amount of hunters per year, so more demand doesn't = over harvest really. They have all been killing roughly 20-32 sheep each per year since the 80's, more demand will just make them raise prices and extend their waiting list.

 

[medvedyt]

well for the nwt there is no number published about harvest nor quotas. which is way easier to do for the yukon as we got annual harvest and per atipp we can get the harvest by residents and non residents.

as of last year for 2024 season it was 86 sheeps taken by residents and 148 by non residents ... show me anywhere in north america where the harvest is more by non residents than residents/locals and you will understand a little more about the difficult situation that may occurs sooner than later.