What does it cost to hunt sheep?

[Cactus kid]

I have always dreamed of tagging a wild sheep. I have been a member of the wild sheep foundation since I was mowing yards at 13. Now at the age of 26 I am finally able to start saving for a sheep hunt of my own.

Realistically what should I expect to pay for a quality hunt? I am not picky with which species, but I do know dall sheep is the least expensive to chase.

 

[todd kelly]

Are you wanting to do a guided hunt or diy?

 

[Cactus kid]

I'm open to either, but im a Texas resident. I have started applying for tags but the odds of drawing in the next decade are slim.

 

[todd kelly]

A guided hunt your prob looking at $15-$25 grand

 

[Stresd]

A guided hunt your prob looking at $15-$25 grand

Ouch!!! Geez I am Glad I was born in BC and can hunt unguided.

 

[shaun]

A guided hunt your prob looking at $15-$25 grand

Agreed!

Alaska Dall: 15-20

NWT Dall: 20-25

Stone: 25-35

Big Horn: BC 50k

Desert Big Horn: Mexico 50-60

If you pull a rabbit out of your hat and draw a tag in the lower 48 you can kill a ram for just tag cost if you put in the time. Most hunts down here if you draw are 6500-8000

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Agreed!

Alaska Dall: 15-20

NWT Dall: 20-25

Stone: 25-35

Big Horn: BC 50k

Desert Big Horn: Mexico 50-60

If you pull a rabbit out of your hat and draw a tag in the lower 48 you can kill a ram for just tag cost if you put in the time. Most hunts down here if you draw are 6500-8000

I thought some states even down in the lower 48 require a guide for non residents?

 

[shaun]

Not that I can think of. I don't screw with sheep in WY or MT though. I know NM changed tags to favor guides now for non res

 

[todd kelly]

If you are serious about this and have a flexible schedule, get on some cancellation lists. It will be last min and zero prep time, but you can save yourself 25-50% on hunt costs.

 

[tstowater]

I thought some states even down in the lower 48 require a guide for non residents?

Some do, Wyoming in particular if you hunt in the "wilderness".

Also, if you go north to hunt, remember the rest of the costs: airfare (driving isn't free to AK), charters, licenses, hotels, tips, transporting animals and meat home, etc, etc. That adds up fast. Say you buy a $17,000 Dall hunt, you are likely to have another $4 to $8,000 of "incidentals". The more expensive the hunt, the higher these will be. Do a $35,000 Stone hunt, bet you will have another $10,000 in it by the time you are done.

Whatever you do, do it with your eyes open and the cheapest isn't always the best thing to do. Shaun did the AK last year and can give you the hard numbers as well as anyone. There are some others doing it this year..

 

[tstowater]

If you are serious about this and have a flexible schedule, get on some cancellation lists. It will be last min and zero prep time, but you can save yourself 25-50% on hunt costs.

I would agree, but you need to know who you are dealing with and understand that airfare can be difficult to get and damn expensive on short term notice.

Also, you need to be ready, mentally, physically and financially to do this type of hunt. Having the luxury of time availability is kinda important also.

 

[mtnclimber]

15-20k for AK Dalls is a little steep. There are some good guides in the state that are more like 13k

 

[PA 5-0]

15-20k for AK Dalls is a little steep. There are some good guides in the state that are more like 13k

I am 3 months out from my AK sheep hunt and if I thought about the money I've spent, I would throw up. Its all good though.

AK was the way to go for me as I am not interested in spending $10-20k putting in for a tag that I might draw in 25yrs. In general, walk in hunts in AK start at $12,500(what I paid booking 2yrs ago). Fly in hunts start around $15k and go up. Airfare to AK for me was $970. Then, some outfitters you have to fly into their area which was up to $1200. $1000 bucks for a sheep and griz tag. Then you have hotels on either end of your hunt. Hopefully animal processing fees. Guide tips. And don't get me started on buying the necessary light weight gear. I have spent at least $6k including a Swaro spotter and a light weight rifle. Remember, half the fun of a once in a lifetime adventure is the preparation phase. Researching gear, buying gear, testing gear, training hard, meeting new people on forums like this, learning a new quarry, hunting method, new area, etc, etc. My advice is if you don't have the money laying around, book the hunt 2-3yrs out, start saving and have a blast getting ready for it. PM me if you need some ideas on outfitters. The good ones are booked 2-3yrs out anyway.

I figure when its all said and done, I will have burned $25k after paying for my ram mount. Now if you already have a lot of the high dollar stuff like a spotter and light gun, its a little less painful. I researched and stressed a bunch about spending that much money on a hunt. I was thinking what that amount of money could do for the kids, college, etc,etc,etc. But we are only on this earth for a short time and we are mountain hunters. Sometimes you gotta say F'k it. One thing is guaranteed: ur wife and kids are not gonna put all that money in the casket with you.

Good luck,
Dan

 

[colonel00]

Great info, Dan. What dates will you be up there and where are you flying in and out of?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I went to AK last year, you can find good dall hunts under $15k but it's getting tougher. I booked 2.5 years in advance at a lower price, good way to go IMO.

 

[littlebuf]

to the OP. your young. find some work in alaska, move there for say 5 years and hunt all the animals you want over the counter as a resident. that in reality is the only way ill ever be able to do it. my kids will be grown and ill be in my early 40's. my wife said she would do a few years in alaska if i could make it work. quit frankly i think that would be easier than coming up with 30 grand for a hunt and more fun. im not one for being "guided" theres my dream any way, guess ill see...

 

[Shane]

$10 for the draw entry and 4 tanks of gas to get there and back in West Texas. Incredible luck is priceless though.

I'm pretty sure the rest of my Grand Slam is going to cost a lot more, but at least I got a great deal on the desert.

 

[gelton]

$10 for the draw entry and 4 tanks of gas to get there and back in West Texas. Incredible luck is priceless though.

Impressive. I have been learning more about the Texas Bighorn draw. I know the odds are ridiculous though. Any inside details or strategies? What area did you take this one in?

 

[Shane]

Impressive. I have been learning more about the Texas Bighorn draw. I know the odds are ridiculous though. Any inside details or strategies? What area did you take this one in?

The only strategy is to enter the drawing and get very lucky. I had 6 preference points, but the year before a guy drew with no preference points. He drew the Texas Grand Slam, which is 4 hunts: mule deer, whitetail, pronghorn, and desert bighorn. I drew "just" the bighorn tag. Those are the only two tags available in the state by drawing. There are one or two charity auction tags and a few landowner tags for sale, but they are $60K and up.

They will have this year's drawing info posted sometime in June: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/

 

[littlebuf]

those free range hunts?