Oldest Sheep Hunter

[IdahoElk]

My buddy and I were talking at Elk camp and who are sliding into 60 about how many more years we can climb these Idaho mountains chasing Elk?
I said Sheep hunters are the real bad asses of the hunting world and figured they tend to tap out at an earlier age because of the tough hiking and conditions they endure.
So for inspiration lets hear how old some of you guys are that still chase Sheep
Respect.

 

[lonedave]

I was 61 when I shot the ewe in my avatar (solo) with a traditional muzzleloader and my wife has agreed to let me book a sheep hunt next spring, so depending on what year I can book, I'll be probably 66 plus by the time I go....and I do intend to go! Does that count?

 

[KClark]

Last year I did a 10 day walk-in up in the Brooks Range with my older brother. I came down with covid the first day out and the weather was less than ideal, rain or snow every day but one. We still managed a 15-20 miles off the road but came out light. I was just shy of 61 and it was my 5th backpack sheep hunt. I am headed back in 2023.

 

[Kotaman]

I was on a Stone hunt, the other Hunter was 85.
On my Dall hunt this year the other Hunter was 76.

 

[Decker9]

My dad still joins us on our sheep hunts at age 71. Every year for the past few, he says he’s done, but every year he digs deep and finds the drive to go again. The man is pure animal in my mind.

3 generations this year. Over 70 km on the feet in a week (mostly bush ). No ram, but lots of smiles and memories.

 

[IdahoElk]

My dad still joins us on our sheep hunts at age 71. Every year for the past few, he says he’s done, but every year he digs deep and finds the drive to go again. The man is pure animal in my mind.

3 generations this year. Over 70 km on the feet in a week (mostly bush ). No ram, but lots of smiles and memories.
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That's awesome!

 

[AK Troutbum]

I have a buddy that lives for sheep hunting, works out daily and does at least one sheep hunt/year. He refuses to use air transports and rarely will use an ATV, so basically it's all walk in from off the road system. He's not successful every year but he has killed more than a handful of sheep, and he's in his mid 70's.

 

[kaboku68]

Ivan Vail is a retired fire chief who lives on Ivan's Way on Murphy Dome road. He is 89 years old now but his last hunt in the Central Alaska range was when he was 82. He was successful and shot a 36 inch ram hunting solo. He uses an old Model 70 Pre-64 in 243 winchester. He didn't use a tent but just a visqueen piece of plastic. He made himself a number of pemmican bars. Ivan always hunted in pendelton wool shirts, a waxed Filson slicker and blue jeans. He had old school Norwegian triple welt hunting boots. He used an old pair of 7X35 BL binoculars and a bushnell spacemaster. The pilot asked him what he should do if he had an emergency and Ivan told him that dying during sheep hunting would be the best possible way to go. The old bird still goes down to Chitina and hunts Brown Bears during the fall solo.

 

[kaboku68]

Tom Butler who lives in Kenny Lake is 74 years old. He gets a cranker most every year. And I mean crankers.

 

[kaboku68]

James Tilley is 78 years old. He hunted DS160. This is a picture of him from 20 years ago.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Cool! There is still hope!

Randy

 

[mtwarden]

Was helping a buddy out a week ago with his father-in-law who drew a Bighorn license in the Cabinet Wilderness (after 41 years of applying!), he's 72 and still going strong.

Hoping my bighorn license comes sooner than 41 years of applying!

 

[BC Alpine Hunter]

Ivan Vail is a retired fire chief who lives on Ivan's Way on Murphy Dome road. He is 89 years old now but his last hunt in the Central Alaska range was when he was 82. He was successful and shot a 36 inch ram hunting solo. He uses an old Model 70 Pre-64 in 243 winchester. He didn't use a tent but just a visqueen piece of plastic. He made himself a number of pemmican bars. Ivan always hunted in pendelton wool shirts, a waxed Filson slicker and blue jeans. He had old school Norwegian triple welt hunting boots. He used an old pair of 7X35 BL binoculars and a bushnell spacemaster. The pilot asked him what he should do if he had an emergency and Ivan told him that dying during sheep hunting would be the best possible way to go. The old bird still goes down to Chitina and hunts Brown Bears during the fall solo.

That is straight gangster. I don’t know how else to describe this man. That picture truly does say 1000 words.

 

[Mykolaivka887]

So for inspiration lets hear how old some of you guys are that still chase Sheep
Respect.

Soon to be 67 and I still spend 31 to 47 days each year hunting Dall Sheep.

 

[IdahoElk]

Soon to be 67 and I still spend 31 to 47 days each year hunting Dall Sheep.

That's great, how many years have you been hunting Sheep?

 

[Mykolaivka887]

Been hunting sheep 56 years.

 

[FINNBOY]

My buddy and I were talking at Elk camp and who are sliding into 60 about how many more years we can climb these Idaho mountains chasing Elk?
I said Sheep hunters are the real bad asses of the hunting world and figured they tend to tap out at an earlier age because of the tough hiking and conditions they endure.
So for inspiration lets hear how old some of you guys are that still chase Sheep
Respect.

Idaho Elk, did my Dall sheep backpack hunt this past August in the Wrangell-St Mountains at 72! Being an East Coast Flatlander(NH), I trained going up and down 100-150 flights of stairs everyday with a pack. Yes, the younger guide and packer (Idahoans)smoked me(can’t beat young legs with infinite energy), but I kept a steady pace and kept going. Prepare yourself mentally. “Follow your dreams “ and do the research and select an excellent outfitter(Mont).

 

[IdahoElk]

Idaho Elk, did my Dall sheep backpack hunt this past August in the Wrangell-St Mountains at 72! Being an East Coast Flatlander(NH), I trained going up and down 100-150 flights of stairs everyday with a pack. Yes, the younger guide and packer (Idahoans)smoked me(can’t beat young legs with infinite energy), but I kept a steady pace and kept going. Prepare yourself mentally. “Follow your dreams “ and do the research and select an excellent outfitter(Mont).

Awesome!

 

[wyosteve]

Thought I’d post this since he’s not a computer guy. My friend from Maryland drew a Wyoming tag this year after 23 years of applying. Horseback 24 miles into the Thorofare and took this 10 year old ram. And, he’s 83!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Been hunting sheep 56 years.

Cool story Rob hardy