Dall Sheep Research Advice Needed

Ltsheets · Aug 16, 2017

Well it's finally time for me to start doing research on Dall Sheep outfitters. I'm starting to save up and will be ready sometime in 2019, 2020, or 2021 depending on the cost of the hunt. I've already contacted a few outfitters and have heard back from a couple but I know its the busy season for them. I'm hoping anyone on here who's done a Dall hunt can provide me some feedback on who they used and the cost of the hunt (if you don't mind me asking). I'm just trying to get the process started so I can start narrowing down the gigantic list of outfitters out there to really start digging and planning. Thanks!

Zeke · Aug 16, 2017

Alaska can be cheaper...depending on who and where but success rates are lower than NWT and Yukon.

I've been 3X but it's all been with the same outfit in NWT, Arctic Red River Outfitters. They do a great job and success is super high if the hunter is physically and mentally ready for a full-blown backpack hunt.

If the backpack adventure isn't your cup-o-tea, there are still many others from which to choose in Alaska, Yukon and NWT.

hey, even a girl can do it (but she's damn tough)

Zeke

Ltsheets · Aug 16, 2017

Zeke!! I was guessing you might have done one of these hunts based on some of your sheep hunt posts in the past. I had not looked into that outfitter yet so I'll take a look at them. That's a beautiful ram!

johnnycake · Aug 16, 2017

Jake Jefferson in Alaska has a stellar reputation and consistently gets his clients great sheep. He's a regular poster on Outdoors Directory.

http://alaska-bearhunting.com/sheep/

Ltsheets · Aug 16, 2017

Emails sent to both. Thanks guys and keep them coming!

bobby7321 · Aug 19, 2017

I haven't hunted Alaska but I've hunted the Yukon and NWT for sheep.

My hunt with Stan Stevens at MMO was one of my favorite hunts ever. I can not wait to go back. Here is a short video I made of the hunt

https://vimeo.com/102747543

Good luck on your search. I would definitely reach out to Stan, you'll have a great trip. There are a few other reports recently on this forum from guys who have hunted there, check those out as well.

jims · Aug 19, 2017

Most of the NWT and Yukon hunts are a chunk more cash than Alaska. If $ doesn't matter I would pick Canada! You may or may not be alone in Alaska while you are almost guaranteed solitude in NWT/Yukon. Also possibly bigger rams than on the average Alaska sheep hunt.

mulecreek · Aug 21, 2017

I have been on two Dall hunts. One in AK and one in NWT.

AK Pros: Price, availability, options. Cons: Competition, no defined guiding areas, over harvest in some areas, weather delays.

AK sheep hunts are better priced but in many areas the harvest is too high. I hunted for 14 days. We were in rams every day and found a total of one legal ram. Weather delays for flying and for glassing were significant. AK gets the storms first and they are more frequent than in YK or NWT. We saw other hunters, both guided and DIY guys while in AK. Don't get me wrong, you can have a great hunt in AK. A lot of people do. It is a great place to hunt.

NWT Pros: No competition. Zero, zilch, nada, nothing. You will never see another person hunting. Harvest is far more controlled. You will see many legal rams. Defined guiding areas so no outfitter competition. It is hard to find a negative review of any of the outfitters in NWT. Weather is typically better in the rain shadow. Cons: Price is higher. Travel costs are typically more. Long waiting period.

The long waiting period can be a good thing. It gives you time to save up the money. I booked three years in advance with Stan Stevens. A third at booking, a third at the start of the year you will hunt and a third the day you show up. I would suggest you contact the outfitters for prices rather than get prices from past hunters. The hunts are booked so far in advance and change from year to year. But I bet you can get a pretty close estimation on your own. When I go back it will absolutely be with Stan. It was a fantastic hunt and it was everything he said it would be. I am sure you could find the same thing in AK or the YK as well. It's expensive no matter where you go, so once you find a great hunt you might as well stick with it.

WVHUNTER · Aug 21, 2017

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID8/5812.html

This is a thread from a couple years ago that has a lot of good information about Dall sheep hunting

kimbersig · Aug 21, 2017

this is a very busy time for them. you might not even get reply's until late sept as many will go straight from sheep to bear then to moose. I did a dall hunt last year in AK and was doing the same research you are doing several years ago. Canada is definitely more expensive but its for good reason. they do kill bigger sheep typically. I ended up going with Alaska partly due to budget because I could go hunt, tip, and taxidermy for the cost of most sheep hunts in Canada! If money is not a big concern I'd do Canada in a heart beat. if budget is an issue I'd recommend sticking with Alaska and looking at the outfitters that have sole use concessions with the park service like I did. don't have to worry about other guides in the area that way! Good luck!!

Ltsheets · Aug 22, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-17 AT 08:37AM (MST)[p]I appreciate the advice so far everyone. I have done a lot of research already since I started this thread. My budget has also changed a bit sine posting and I'm now leaning towards a hunt in Canada for Dall/Fannin or possibly delaying the hunt and going after Stone if my wife doesn't lose her **** seeing the cost of a single animal haha.

I have been in touch with MMO and they are trying to convince me to book with them for 26,5 in 2019 but that's stretching my budget for that year. I just responded to them seeing what they're 2020 cost will be.

I've also spoken to Jake Jefferson and we really hit it off. Seems like a great guy and ironically there is a guy who lives about 500yds from me who's hunted with him several times.

Some others I'm considering are Ruby Range, and Raven's Throat for Dall and potentially Fannin.

If I delay for stone, I'm considering Big Nine. It's something I never thought I could afford but with the extra couple years of savings, if the wife is on board, I could do it.

kimbersig · Aug 22, 2017

I think you are on the right track. have you considered going to the sheep show in Reno in January? most if not all the stone sheep outfitters will be there and sometimes you can get a show special on a hunt. If nothing else you can talk to them all face to face to get a better feel for each one. Hell you might even win a hunt if you buy some raffle tickets!

Ltsheets · Aug 22, 2017

Yeah I've definitely thought about it but don't know if I can afford to be gone any this January. This is going to be my first season guiding ibex and I want to be there to learn as much as I can afford to. If I don't book before the 2019 show, I will plan on attending with the purpose of potentially booking at the show.

>I think you are on the
>right track. have you
>considered going to the sheep
>show in Reno in January?
> most if not all
>the stone sheep outfitters will
>be there and sometimes you
>can get a show special
>on a hunt. If
>nothing else you can talk
>to them all face to
>face to get a better
>feel for each one.
>Hell you might even win
>a hunt if you buy
>some raffle tickets!

cbeard · Aug 23, 2017

I just got back from a wonderful Dall sheep hunt with Mervyn's Yukon Outfitting. (Can't get photos to post or would start a thread.) I took a beautiful 12 year old full curl ram and had a great experience in some of the most remote and beautiful country on earth. Saw many sheep and several shooter rams. The country was not easy but the horses made reaching many areas to hunt possible. Like all fair chase sheep hunts, it's up to the hunter from there.

Their operation was top notch in every respect.

I would be very leery of AK right now for the reasons mentioned above. Most outfitters in the Yukon and NWT are reputable. Yes, the cost is higher and the wait times longer - but there is a reason for that, namely better sheep quality, more remote country, and far less competition.

Good luck in your research and your hunt!

Ltsheets · Aug 24, 2017

Cbeard,

Congrats! Post up some more Hunt details when you can! I've emailed Mervyn a couple weeks ago and exchanged a few emails. Seems like a good outfit for sure. Any pros or cons you saw from his outfit?

cbeard · Aug 24, 2017

I really have nothing but positive things to say. And I don't mind telling it like it is. They have 8-10 camps but rotate them by hunting 5 each year.

Sheep numbers are excellent. The rams are there. Of course, the more remote areas and willingness to spike out rather than hunt from cabin increases one's chances for a better ram.

Tim and Jen communicate well, keep the camps well supplied, have excellent guides top to bottom, good horses, and Tim is constantly flying the camps himself to check on things.

Their area is beautiful.

It's a great outfit top to bottom.

I wish I could get pics to post. My ram was a dream come true for me. He exceeded all my expectations.

marley · Aug 24, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-17 AT 01:54PM (MST)[p]I've hunted dall sheep twice in the south Brooks Range. Both times with Chris Zwolinski. I never saw another hunter in the area he hunts on either hunt. He is a small time guide only taking 2-4 hunters per year. I would go with him again in a heart beat. He's much cheaper than most as well with his prices around $13K the last time I hunted with him. PM me if you'd like his phone number.