What does it cost to hunt sheep?

[Shane]

those free range hunts?

Very much so. It's not high altitude, but VERY rough with about 2,000' of elevation change - and STEEP. Spotting from the rim is easy, as that's where the roads are. The hike in for the stalk and then the pack out was an all-day-long deal. Hike in started at 6:00am, shot was at 10:30am, and we got back to the truck at 5:30pm. That was day 2 of the hunt. We were fortunate to have located a couple of shooter rams the evening of day 1. You have 5 days. My hunt was at Sierra Diablo. It is the roughest area TPWD has for sheep and very remote. Elephant Mountain is rough, but more road access closer to the rough areas.

 

[mtnclimber]

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

There is definitely ALOT of money to be spent than just the price you pay a guide. I was just speaking in relative terms. definitely more money will be needed than just 13 g's.

As far as a lower 48er moving up to AK to chase rams, its a lot more difficult than it sounds. Unless you get lucky, or have a friend with a cub, finding good rams usually takes years worth of hunts, researching, and meeting the right people along the way. A lot of people think its easy to just move to AK and start whacking rams.

Not to discourage you, but plan on spending more than just 2 or 3 years up here if your serious about gettn a good one.

 

[PA 5-0]

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

I am flying from Philly into Fairbanks late on the 7th. Hiking in on the 9th with the 10 day hunt starting on the 10th. Can't tell ya how pumped I am right about now!!!!! Still nursing my way out of a knee injury but the legs and back are feeling strong, the pack is feeling lite. Counting the days>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Shane]

I am flying from Philly into Fairbanks late on the 7th. Hiking in on the 9th with the 10 day hunt starting on the 10th. Can't tell ya how pumped I am right about now!!!!! Still nursing my way out of a knee injury but the legs and back are feeling strong, the pack is feeling lite. Counting the days>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Post lots of pics when you get home! Good luck on your hunt. Living the dream!

 

[PA 5-0]

$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.

Incredible Ram Shane. And some incredible pics. I gotta tell ya, I didn't know Texas had Desert Rams or mntns that dramatic. Congrats and thx for sharing.

 

[justin davis]

$250 if I ever draw here in colorado

 

[KINGSNAKE]

Another more economical option is free range aoudad sheep hunt In new mexico and west texas.

 

[SDHNTR]

Your mind! Hunt sheep once and you won't ever be the same.

 

[Buster]

Your mind! Hunt sheep once and you won't ever be the same.

Hahaha!

 

[jwb300]

Awesome pictures Shane - great work on the Ram. Beautiful country.

 

[fillthefreezer]

I didn't know Texas had Desert Rams or mntns that dramatic. Congrats and thx for sharing.

right there with ya!

 

[Jdog]

Your mind! Hunt sheep once and you won't ever be the same.

ain't that the truth...

 

[littlebuf]

As far as a lower 48er moving up to AK to chase rams, its a lot more difficult than it sounds. Unless you get lucky, or have a friend with a cub, finding good rams usually takes years worth of hunts, researching, and meeting the right people along the way. A lot of people think its easy to just move to AK and start whacking rams.

Not to discourage you, but plan on spending more than just 2 or 3 years up here if your serious about gettn a good one.

Good points. I was born up there and still have family there. My uncle was a guide in Alaska for better than 30 years before his body gave out on him. I could probably do OK, and so could most dedicated individuals who went there with the intent of seriously hunting. The ranges there in are no real secret and you can hire out bush pilots. After that it's about putting a bunch of hard ass work. Like I said the dedicated individual

 

[Cactus kid]

Another more economical option is free range aoudad sheep hunt In new mexico and west texas.

It's more economical for sure, but it just isn't the same.
This was about 5 years ago, free range.
I have another DIY booked for next year, but there is something special about those spiral horns.

 

[KINGSNAKE]

Nice sheep. Was that taken with a limited quota tag or one of the other tags

 

[Cactus kid]

Thanks for all the posts!

I actually changed career paths so I could have a good income with flexibility and time off specifically to hunt. So the last minute hunt may be a great option.

Moving to Alaska is an interesting idea and may be a real possibility one day (they are paying very lucrative sign on bonuses for my field) but with wardrobe that consists of mostly tank tops and flip flops it would be cheaper to just hire a guide.

 

[Cactus kid]

Nice sheep. Was that taken with a limited quota tag or one of the other tags

In Texas they are considered exotics and no tag is required. Just a hunting license. But there is no pubic land that holds them.

 

[stevenm2]

Your mind! Hunt sheep once and you won't ever be the same.

You know I was looking through this thread and ran into this. I was lucky enough to get a once in a lifetime tag in Oregon last year for Bighorn. Great hunt! I had a great time and truthfully I am not the same.
I got much more than a hunt out of the deal. I am working out everyday at 59 1/2 yrs. old I am in better shape than have been in 30 years. (the pic was last August) I was notified I got the tag in June had 2 months to prep for this hunt (I won't do that again) I hired a Guide it was a good move.
I have no regrets if you get the chance do not hesitate!

 

[Shane]

Incredible Ram Shane. And some incredible pics. I gotta tell ya, I didn't know Texas had Desert Rams or mntns that dramatic. Congrats and thx for sharing.

Thanks. The mountains and canyons of the Texas Trans-Pecos region (far West Texas) are pretty cool. The Texas Bighorn Society and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department have done and are doing great work in expanding the state's desert bighorn herd. We'll likely never have the numbers that Nevada has, but they're growing.

 

[Shane]

In Texas they are considered exotics and no tag is required. Just a hunting license. But there is no pubic land that holds them.

Actually, there is some public land in Texas with aoudad, but it is limited entry draw hunts through the TPWD. There are thousands and thousands of acres of private free-range land in the canyons of the Panhandle and the mountains of the Trans-Pecos region that hold aoudad and offer hunts as well. You can find private land hunts for anywhere from $1,750 or so and up. Most quality hunts will run you more like $2,500-$3,000 or more, but it is some of the best sheep hunting you can do. Probably THE best for the money if you're paying for a hunt. Very challenging and fun animals to hunt in that kind of rough country.

There are lots of high fenced game ranches in the Hill Country and other areas that have aoudad as well, of course. And there are some that have escaped and are free ranging in those areas too. But hunting them in the wild and rough country of the Panhandle and Davis Mountain areas is the way to go. It's a real sheep hunt experience in those places.

In all honesty, after going on the desert bighorn hunt last summer, I'd have to say that aoudad are probably a more challenging animal to hunt. They're more wary and spooky - more like a whitetail. The desert sheep we encountered were much less spooky. They were damn hard to get to where they hung out, but they tolerated our presence much more than aoudad do. Every sheep hunter should go on a good aoudad hunt at least once. The only downside is that they are terrible eating. Bighorn is 1,000,000 times better on the table.