Start Sheep Hunting

[cured_ham]

I would like to start putting in to draw a sheep hunt. I am from KY so all tags would be non resident. I have mainly been an archery hunter and enjoy that the most. Can someone point me to a beginners resource of some sort for where I should start looking to see which draws I should put in for? When I look at TopRut all of the sheep hunts have low odds and I do not want to price myself out of applying. I currently build elk points and hunt in CO and WY but it looks like NR sheep tags there are very hard to come by.

Thanks!

 

[LightFoot]

Sheep are very hard to draw everywhere but places it will cost an arm & leg to hire the required guide (AK and Canada).

Look at GoHunt or reach out to HuntinFool.

Saving money to go guided in AK or Canada will most likely get you sheep hunting before drawing a tag.

There is always the unlimited areas in Montana.

Good luck.

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[Wapiti1]

You have four choices to guaranty a hunt. Pay to hunt in AK, Canada, Texas (Desert Bighorn), or Mexico ($20,000 to $90,000). Apply for the MT unlimited and give it a go ($2000+). Buy an auction tag ($80,000+). Or decide that Auodad are awesome, and hunt them in NM or TX ($2000-$7000).

All other tags are lottery of some sort. You just have to apply, buy raffle tickets, and hope.

Sheep are expensive no matter how you slice it.

Jeremy

 

[cured_ham]

I will have to look into the Montana unlimited areas. I had not heard about those.

Thanks!

 

[Eastcoasthunter94]

I will have to look into the Montana unlimited areas. I had not heard about those.

Thanks!

From what I’ve read they are super hard and in grizzly territory. If I were to try them I would find a local outfitter who offers unlimited hunts. Definitely cheaper than a guided hunt somewhere else.

 

[tam9492]

I decided to invest in raffles rather than points, and it’s worked so far! You can find some decent odds if you look around enough...

 

[PSH]

Greetings from another Kentuckian. As mentioned above, hit the raffles first, best odds by far. Next apply for the true random draw states that don't use a point system (I believe NM and ID). Third-focus on the states that do use the point system. Some of these states you have better odds if you use an outfitter to put you in the lottery systems. Last but not least, start saving for that dream sheep hunt. You will most likely save enough before you ever draw a tag. Dall's will be your cheapest sheep to hunt (25k-35K), but in my opinion the toughest and most rewarding.

Lastly if you want a taste of sheep hunting with less cost (but still costly), try your hand at a mountain goat or a mountain caribou. Plenty of good hunts available in the 8k-10k range, and in the same territory/terrain as the Dall's.

 

[cured_ham]

At the risk of sounding like an idiot how would one find these raffles?

Also mountaing goat is on the list too. I got my first taste of western hunting in 2020 elk and now I need more.

 

[tam9492]

Quick google of sheep raffles should bring up a few. Huntin' Fool raffles one about every month. Wild Sheep Foundation and Sheep Show (which is just ended not too long ago) gives away a dozen or more. Many of their chapters also have raffles.

Goat raffle going on in the Goat forum right now, too.

 

[cured_ham]

Thanks! Google is my friend. I will keep eyes out. I saw the goat raffle, may try to get in on that.

 

[Sandbrew]

Good raffle here for sheep and mt goat. https://www.bighornsheep.org/raffles

 

[PNWGATOR]

Wild Sheep Foundation <1 club is another chance.

 

[Brendan]

I will have to look into the Montana unlimited areas. I had not heard about those.

Thanks!

Could be a great experience if you want to go sheep hunting in beautiful country. Probably a horrible experience if you want to see sheep, let alone get a shot at one.

 

[Dalep]

I just learned I need to start paying for raffles. Otherwise it’s 15k for an AK hunt

 

[jofes]

I just learned I need to start paying for raffles. Otherwise it’s 15k for an AK hunt

It's more than that for a reputable outfit.

 

[wildwilderness]

Only a lucky few will ever draw a sheep tag. It will cost you $100-1000s every year to put in. Your odds are probably 1:1000 as a Non Res to draw in 20 yrs so realistically paying $20k now for a Dalls hunt is way better odds than putting $1000 into raffles and draws that won’t get you anything.

If you truly want to guarantee you will kill a sheep in your life (different than just going on a hunt) you need to pay the money.

My best advice is to increase your income to the point you can book a hunt (possibly two) with a reputable outfitter. If you are young choose the right education/profession to attain that goal. Or start a business, or a second job etc and start saving.

The last option that anyone can do if they are truly willing is Move to Alaska! Or Bristish Columbia. OTC sheep tags every year. Plenty of good paying jobs and a great place to live. So the way I see it no one has an excuse for not hunting sheep

 

[tam9492]

I think about moving to BC frequently...

 

[TheGrayRider]

Please keep in mind that buying a $25,000 sheep hunt or luckily winning a lottery tag does not guarantee a legal ram on the ground. Many sheep hunts require two or possibly three attempts to succeed. Nothing cheap about this sport, unfortunately!

 

[6mm Remington]

I've put in for Montana for a ram tag for 42 years in a row and have never drawn. That being said, this is my year!! I think there is something around 100-120 ram tags for the whole state each year and most districts the chance of getting drawn is .5 - .7! Yes less than 1 percent chance of getting drawn. A person can purchase a bonus point chance when they apply. You accrue those each year if you keep applying and give the few bucks extra for the bonus point. It doesn't really increase your odds much if at all as everyone who is serious purchases those bonus points. It goes to sheep habitat and other things related to sheep. You can also purchase Super Tag chances for severals species in Montana. If you draw say a ram tag, you can hunt anywhere in the state in any open hunt district during the season. You can also purchase as many as you want at $5.00 a pop. Again these funds go directly to sheep projects, habitat, etc.

You might as well try Montana. What have you got to lose? Someone has to draw!!

 

[7layerburrito]

It's more than that for a reputable outfit.

Yeah, I can't imagine finding a quality hunt for less that 20. 25k the way prices are going.