Dall Sheep (Pics)

kilowatt · Jan 4, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-06 AT 10:56AM (MST)[p]The top photo shows our mode of transportation from the airstrip to camp. It's a 1940 Dodge Power Wagon left behind by the US military when they abandoned the McGrath weather station at the end of WWII. The ride to camp is only 13 miles, but it takes 3 1/2 hours, as there is no road, and several dozen crossings of the Kuskowim River. The truck has no brakes because they would freeze up when John leaves them behind for the winter. John and the truck are the same age.

The middle photo shows the cook shack that doubles as the outfitter and his wife's cabin.

The lower photo is where the other hunter and I stayed. It's a 14x16' framed wall tent with beds. Nice and clean, and there were two others just like it. One for the guides, and the other for storage.

The top photo is the view looking south from camp. The middle mountain is where I killed my ram. He was at the top of the mountain, right above the dark shadow near the peak. We stalked him from the right-hand side of the mountain. Very steep stuff, indeed.

My ram isn't that big (33" long, 12.5" base), but I'm more than pleased. I should have him home from the taxidermist in February.

The last photo is of John, taking care of my horns. Shortly after, his allergic reaction got worse, and he and I made the long trek to Anchorage.

Packout · Jan 4, 2006

Great story and hunt. My dream hunt has always been for Dahl Sheep. Unfortunately, I will probably never be able to afford to go on a hunt like that so I am very glad you shared your experience. Congratulations on a fine ram taken in some beautiful country.

dwalton · Jan 4, 2006

Packout,

Thanks for the kind words! My hunt took place in the Alaska Range with John Latham. I shared camp with a fellow from Arizona. Nice guy who took a beautiful 37" ram the day after I killed mine. My guide tried to talk me out of this ram, as he thought we could do better. I told him that this was my one chance at a Dall for many years, and if the ram was a legal full curl, I wanted to make a stalk on him. We made a perfect stalk and bumped the ram from his bed at 46 yards. One shot at 128 yards sealed the deal. This ram put me at the 3/4 slam status, needing the Rocky to complete the Grand Slam.

If your dream is truly a Dall hunt, don't give up hope. Cancellation hunts or late bookings can save you some serious cash. Fund a hunt with a 401k loan. What good is a large retirement fund if you don't have the knees or hips to do the hunt when you're 65?

Thanks, Kilowatt for posting the pics of my hunt!

YukonDall · Jan 4, 2006

DWALTON, VERY,VERY NICE. GREAT TRIP,& A ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME I'M SURE. YOU COULD NOT BE MORE RIGHT ABOUT DOING THAT HUNT NOW WHEN YOUR YOUNG, YOU WONT MISS THE $$$ LATER AT ALL. YD.

AKHUNTINFOOL · Jan 4, 2006

Great pictures of your first Dall. I recognize the truck as I also hunted from the same airstrip. Four of us went and were able to connect on 3 rams. Did you hunt the first week of the season (August 10th)? We did and we got stranded due to the fires. No airplanes were flying and we spent an four extra days trying to get back to McGrath.

dwalton · Jan 4, 2006

AKHUNT,

Yes, I hunted the same dates. My outfitter had a severe allergic reaction from the citrus oils in a mega-SPF sunscreen (hives, itching, and beagn to have swelling in his throat). We didn't think we could make it out to the hospital in Anchorage because of the smoke. I believe that airstrip is 3000 feet. Visibility was around 2000. The plane landed from out of nowhere, and we then took off. Kind of spooky to fly in a total white-out. Once we got to 6500 feet, the skies were perfectly clear all the way to town. I know John was smoked out of camp for five days after that.

Congrats on your party's success! That sure is beautiful country. Wish I had the money (or the Alaksa residency) to hunt there every year.

clyde · Jan 4, 2006

congrats to you and thanks for the story!! one of these days I will do a dall sheep hunt. One of these days!!!

bigbull1 · Jan 4, 2006

Congrats on an awesome ram!

Ed

Lien2 · Jan 5, 2006

Simply absolutely freeking amazing!
Congrats on a great ram and awesome experience!!!

Thank you for sharing this.

Lien2

kilowatt · Jan 5, 2006

Dave,

No problem on the posting other than getting the "copy and paste" in right order but I'm sure it is right. Great story and pictures too, what an experience to remember.
If you ever need any pictures posted just send to me or "you know who" and I will post them for you, never a problem always glad to help.

Brian

FALCON · Jan 5, 2006

DWalten:

Congrats on a nice ram and a great story. What GMU were you hunting in? I am booked with a outfitter who flys out of Healy in 07. This will be my first sheep hunt, so I am pretty pumped to say the least. That country looks awesome. I will be hunting in GMU 20A with a base camp on the Wood River. The country looks really similar.

Nice Job!

Bryan