Solo Dall Sheep hunt

[hunt'n'photos]

Those that know me or have hunted with me know that I have been trying pretty hard to get a sheep for a while! This was my first solo sheep hunt, but 3rd total for sheep in 2014 and 5th hunt over the last 4 years! It was the most brutal hunt to date, with 47.94 hiking miles logged on the GPS but the most satisfying as well! I set out totally unsupported for this adventure of a lifetime and it paid off big time in the end!

Thursday Morning, 4 Sept, I loaded up the airplane and set off on my solo sheep hunt. This would be the first time I hunted alone and totally self supported in Alaska. I was a little nervous, but I was sure it would be an amazing adventure!

I dropped off some fuel at an airport along the way for the return flight and was climbing through the mountains shortly after. Here is a photo recount of the hunt.

 

[hunt'n'photos]

 

[hunt'n'photos]

After 7 days of hunting harder than I have ever hunted in my life, this was the result.

36 7/8" ram with 14 1/4" bases and a rough B&C score of 158.

Took two full days to pack him out and back to the strip and the flight out to beat the weather and not get stuck up there was a little sketchy, but I am already looking forward to next year. My get out for goats again in a few weeks though!

 

[Stid2677]

I know we spoke on the phone,, but again Congrats on success on so many levels. It has been a joy to share your love of Alaska with you.

Steve

 

[Shrek]

Congratulations !

 

[muleman]

Congratulations on your hard earned success.

 

[Akdaniels]

Awesome!

 

[Jason Snyder]

Great recap! Congratulations.

 

[Trr15]

Incredible. Congratulations.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Beautiful Ram congrats! That has to be quite the adventure to fly yourself in and hunt for sheep in AK.

 

[Huntr]

Congrats on a fine hunt!

 

[Ryan R]

Congrats!! Great pics!

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

Great write up and photos. You obviously earned your success. ( love the custom work on that boat paddle stock ).

 

[bizyrok]

Wonderful photo essay that resulted in a well earned sheep. Not too many can fly themselves into sheep country. Congrats on a highly successful journey. What caliber were you using?

 

[JustOneMoreShot]

Great ram congrats on a well earned trophy! Good luck with the goat hunt as well.

 

[Timberninja]

Great photos, thanks for sharing, and congrats on a stellar sheep!

 

[hunt'n'photos]

( love the custom work on that boat paddle stock ).

Thank you! I built that gun almost 25 years ago. Has a custom, 2lb trigger, glass bedding, floated barrel, and the inlays that I built to widen the grip a little. I have made some great shots with that over the years and have no clue how many whitetails and antelope I have taken over the years. Since I have been in Alaska I have taken two caribou, a mountain goat and this sheep with it though. and this one was 430 yards. My goat was 375 with Luke Moffat doing the ranging for me.

Wonderful photo essay that resulted in a well earned sheep. Not too many can fly themselves into sheep country. Congrats on a highly successful journey. What caliber were you using?

It was a .270

 

[hunt'n'photos]

Beautiful Ram congrats! That has to be quite the adventure to fly yourself in and hunt for sheep in AK.

Not too many can fly themselves into sheep country.

I decided a year and a half ago that if I was going to retire from the military in Alaska that I needed to get my pilots license. I bought this plane and have just hit 315 hours behind the stick this week. This was the first time I have been able to fly myself in for a hunt and it took lots of off airport practice to get comfortable enough to attempt that. I am really looking forward to what the future will bring!

 

[Becca]

I know I told you already, but congratulations on a hard earned ram Cory! Could not be more excited for you!!

 

[Matt W.]

Great story Cory! I too sure put in a few hunts before I got my first ram. It was extremely satisfying, kudos on getting it done solo and taking a pretty darn nice ram to boot! Congrats!