Planning a once in a lifetime sheep hunt

[Peter638]

I’d like to start planning what may very well be a once in a lifetime hunt for stone sheep or Dall sheep. Those are the two species I narrowed it down to.
September stone sheep in I’m thinking British Columbia. If I cant come up with the funds for that I believe a Dall sheep hunt is easier to attain.
I called a couple outfitters but would like some insights, recommendations and some advice on where to get started. It definitely wouldn’t be this year and a long shot for next year even though I’ve found availability for both. Would like to accomplish this before my 50th birthday so that gives me a max of 8 years to plan.
I was quoted at 90k for a BC Stone sheep hunt and about 35k for an Alaskan Dall sheep hunt. Since it might be the only hunt I do in sheep country, I’m hoping any major mistakes might be avoided by communicating on this site. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[wildwilderness]

I would be very cautious of an Alaskan Dall's hunt. The population is half of what it was 10 years ago and success rates are dicey. There are a few outfits that still have good areas- and usually cost more for it.

 

[IBen]

Id recommend going to alaska and doing drop camp black bear or caribou or anything in the mountains even a backpacking trip. Just being in similar terrain, getting your stuff there and back, and getting to talk to other hunters and guides at small strips along the way will be worth it. Then when you do your sheep hunt which wont take place for another 2-3 years most likely at-least you’ll have an idea of what to expect and you’ll be much better prepared than the guy who did mtn tough and got sick from peak refuels.

 

[khart_6882]

Id recommend going to alaska and doing drop camp black bear or caribou or anything in the mountains even a backpacking trip. Just being in similar terrain, getting your stuff there and back, and getting to talk to other hunters and guides at small strips along the way will be worth it. Then when you do your sheep hunt which wont take place for another 2-3 years most likely at-least you’ll have an idea of what to expect and you’ll be much better prepared than the guy who did mtn tough and got sick from peak refuels.

Please tell me there’s a thread I missed where someone did mtntough and got sick from peak refuels lol


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[IBen]

Please tell me there’s a thread I missed where someone did mtntough and got sick from peak refuels lol


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I witnessed it this past year, non stop farting and burping.

 

[waspocrew]

Not sure on Stone Sheep availability, but Dall up in the NWT is booking out quite a ways. When I was looking into Dall hunts last summer, I spoke with several outfitters and got in on a cancellation with South Nahanni for Aug of 2026. Otherwise, Gana River was booking 2028 and Raven's Throat was booking 2029.

 

[Peter638]

Id recommend going to alaska and doing drop camp black bear or caribou or anything in the mountains even a backpacking trip. Just being in similar terrain, getting your stuff there and back, and getting to talk to other hunters and guides at small strips along the way will be worth it. Then when you do your sheep hunt which wont take place for another 2-3 years most likely at-least you’ll have an idea of what to expect and you’ll be much better prepared than the guy who did mtn tough and got sick from peak refuels.

I wouldn’t mind a caribou hunt and that’s sound advice as well. I’ve only hunted whitetail deer and only with a bow. Don’t even have a rifle yet.

 

[Peter638]

Not sure on Stone Sheep availability, but Dall up in the NWT is booking out quite a ways. When I was looking into Dall hunts last summer, I spoke with several outfitters and got in on a cancellation with South Nahanni for Aug of 2026. Otherwise, Gana River was booking 2028 and Raven's Throat was booking 2029.

Oh wow. I mean I don’t mind starting now and hunting 2029

 

[HornPorn]

What stone outfitter did you talk to?

 

[Peter638]

Id recommend going to alaska and doing drop camp black bear or caribou or anything in the mountains even a backpacking trip. Just being in similar terrain, getting your stuff there and back, and getting to talk to other hunters and guides at small strips along the way will be worth it. Then when you do your sheep hunt which wont take place for another 2-3 years most likely at-least you’ll have an idea of what to expect and you’ll be much better prepared than the guy who did mtn tough and got sick from peak refuels.

Now I know what mtn tough is. Ha
Definitely don’t want to get sick up there in the mountains.

 

[Peter638]

What stone outfitter did you talk to?

Tuchodi River outfitters

 

[HornPorn]

Tuchodi River outfitters

Have heard great things about them

 

[Peter638]

Have heard great things about them

They have a spot open next year too. Or at least they did when I called. It’ll take me some time to save up for it. They were saying they have very good success rates.

 

[Smoke10]

I would highly recommend talking to Tyrrell's Trails for Alaskan Dall sheep if you haven't already. They are a top notch crew!

I hunted with them for Dall sheep in August and got kicked out of the <1 club with a great ram

 

[HornPorn]

I would highly recommend talking to Tyrrell's Trails for Alaskan Dall sheep if you haven't already. They are a top notch crew!

I hunted with them for Dall sheep in August and got kicked out of the <1 club with a great ram

Congrats! Can you share a pic of your ram?

 

[Smoke10]

Congrats! Can you share a pic of your ram?

Thanks. Here are a couple

 

[HornPorn]

Thanks. Here are a couple

Awesome, old warrior there! I came real close to booking a trip with TT. Still might

 

[cbeard64]

It sounds like you are not set on either species or even leaning very much one way or the other.
If that’s the case, I would book a Yukon or NWT Dall hunt. Beautiful country, beautiful sheep, excellent success rates.
Stone’s are insanely high for basically the same/very similar experience. Plus success rates on Stone’s are going down every year - even with the good outfits.
I get it if someone just has to have a Stone. But, otherwise, why pay 2-3x as much for the same hunt with less chance of success?
And unless you have super-inside information from the best sources I wouldn’t touch Alaska with a 10 foot pole right now.
JMHO.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[Peter638]

It sounds like you are not set on either species or even leaning very much one way or the other.
If that’s the case, I would book a Yukon or NWT Dall hunt. Beautiful country, beautiful sheep, excellent success rates.
Stone’s are insanely high for basically the same/very similar experience. Plus success rates on Stone’s are going down every year - even with the good outfits.
I get it if someone just has to have a Stone. But, otherwise, why pay 2-3x as much for the same hunt with less chance of success?
And unless you have super-inside information from the best sources I wouldn’t touch Alaska with a 10 foot pole right now.
JMHO.

Good luck and have

It sounds like you are not set on either species or even leaning very much one way or the other.
If that’s the case, I would book a Yukon or NWT Dall hunt. Beautiful country, beautiful sheep, excellent success rates.
Stone’s are insanely high for basically the same/very similar experience. Plus success rates on Stone’s are going down every year - even with the good outfits.
I get it if someone just has to have a Stone. But, otherwise, why pay 2-3x as much for the same hunt with less chance of success?
And unless you have super-inside information from the best sources I wouldn’t touch Alaska with a 10 foot pole right now.
JMHO.

Good luck and have fun!!

If money wasn’t an issue, I’d do both!
Is the terrain in British Columbia different than Alaska. Thought BC would be greener and Alaska Dall sheep country more barren. I’m not certain of the difference in terrain.
I’m leaning towards Dall sheep right now. If I find a way to make extra money, I’d go for Stone.

 

[blacksnake0]

Agree with everything @cbeard64 said above go hunt the Dall! I have hunted both; put money aside and I would go hunt the Dall again every time if all was equal.