North American Sheep

HORSEBACK OR BACKPACK FOR DALLS IN THE N.W.T.
Last fall 25 hunters took 24 rams with an average age of over 11 years including a 15-year old monarch taken by HCU customer Nick Grujich.  The unsuccessful hunter was up in years and saw a group of 17 rams, including 3 good shooters, but couldn’t make the climb.  He also had one bowhunter that scored on both a ram and caribou.

The outfitter rotates his sheep camps within his 7,000 square mile area to prevent over hunting pressure and this insures taking quality mature full curl rams.  There has never been any resident pressure of any kind in this area.  He also has an elaborate base camp including a hydroelectric plant that produces power for all the comforts of home along with email.  Most hunters tag out early and upon return to base camp enjoy some fantastic lake trout and grayling fishing just outside the cabin door.

All prices are listed in CANADIAN FUNDS so for example, if the exchange rate is $1.18 U.S. your price will be approximately 15% less than listed.  Hunts start July 15 and run to early September. 10-day backpack hunts guided 1x1 are $18,500 and 12-day horseback hunts are $20,000 CANADIAN plus tags, preservation fund of $100 and a 5% tax.  Mountain caribou can be taken for a $4,000 trophy fee and generally success runs 90% on bulls gross scoring over 370 points.

He also offers a 12-day combination hunt with a base price of $10,000 and trophy fees of $9,000 for sheep, $7,500 for moose and $4,000 for caribou on August 28 to September 8.

Hunters charter from Norman Wells for approximately $1,000 roundtrip.  HCU’s Cliff Graham and Bob Wodzisz have hunted out of this camp.  Hunt DS250.  Pictures from this Hunt.

$10,000 DALL SHEEP HUNT CONTINUES TO BE 100%
That’s right, 10-day dall sheep hunt guided 2x1 for only $10,000 and no charter fees.  Here is a great opportunity for a couple buddies or a father/son or daughter sheep hunt. 

This outfitter has exclusive rights for two bordering concessions in Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains.  No other outfitter or guide can hunt within these areas.  Last fall all 8 hunters took rams and over the past 10 years all HCU customers have scored on full-curled rams.  This is a small family operation with a very personal touch.

10-day 1x1 hunts are $13,000 starting August 10 and continuing into early September.  The outfitter is well known for his flying skills and manages to get his hunters and guides into easier striking distance of rams and sometimes this means landing them on top of the mountain.  His father ran this outfit before him and he grew up at base camp.  Now he raises his family there and does the flying himself.  Hunters fly into Anchorage and rent a car to Slana where they are met, no charter flights.  Hunt DS822.  Pictures from this Hunt.

N.W.T. DALLS NEAR 100% WITH SOME 40 INCHERS
This hunt continues to produce great rams and 2009 was no exception with his 27 hunters taking 26 rams including several breaking the magical 40-inch mark.  The unsuccessful hunter did get shooting, but failed to punch his tag.

Over the past 11 years this outfitter has produced 267 full curl rams for 280 hunters for a success rate of over 95 percent and that includes the odd bowhunter.  Rams have been averaging over 10 years in age and 37 inches.  12-day backpack hunts are priced at $19,900 and some guides use pack dogs.  Sheep hunts start July 15 and continue into early September.  World-class mountain caribou can be added for a $3,500 kill fee.  Roundtrip charter from Norman Wells is about $1,000.  Hunt DS119.  Pictures from this Hunt.

100% KILL ON OLD MATURE BROOKS RANGE RAMS
Last fall all 4 hunters took home a ram and the smallest went over 36 inches.  All rams were aged from 10 to 14 years old. With virtually no hunting pressure these rams get a ripe old age. This outfitter is one of only a handful permitted to operate in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Hunting in the ANWR is similar to the N.W.T. or Yukon, but at a cheaper price.  He only takes 4 hunters a year and openings are very limited.  10-day hunts guided 1x1 are $15,500 and caribou can be added for a $3,000 trophy fee.  Hunters fly to Deadhorse, Alaska and charter to Brooks Range for approximately $1,000.  At press time one opening each for dates August 8 to 20 and 20 to 30.  Hunt DS505.  Pictures from this Hunt.

BACKPACK ALASKAN RANGE RAMS $12,000
If you are in good shape this hunt is incredible for the price.  Last fall all 7 hunters took nice rams averaging 37 inches and two went 39 inches.  In 2008 his hunters went 8 for 8 and in the past 8 years his combined 52 hunters took 48 rams.

This can be a physical 9-day backpack hunt guided 1x1 conducted just outside Denali Park.  Hunter and guide are flown into remote sheep country by supercub and dropped off.  Opportunity has run near 100% for the past 16 years.  The pilot/outfitter is very experienced and he also conducts animal counts for Fish and Game.  He runs two hunts from August 10 to 30 and we would recommend the first hunt.  14 days with grizzly added is $17,500.  Charter flight from Anchorage to McGrath to camp is about $1,400 and maybe split amongst hunters.  Hunt DS776.  Pictures from this Hunt.

B.C. STONE SHEEP 100% SUCCESS AGAIN
This outfitter just keeps putting up some of the best numbers in the business.  All 11 hunters tagged mature rams last fall with a 37 to 38-inch average on 10+ year old rams.  In the past 4 years he had 45 sheep hunters harvest 43 rams.  One hunter had his opportunity, but didn’t score and the other was totally weathered out.  He has also produced the best overall average of high scoring rams, with some years in the high 160’s.    

This longtime outfitter has an expansive area of over 5,000 square miles in one of the best stone sheep areas of northern B.C..  Additional animals can be taken on a $3,000 trophy fee and kids can come hunt just for the price of trophy fees on moose, mountain caribou or goat as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult.

14-day horseback hunt is $37,000.  Additional costs are license, tags and GST.  Roundtrip charter flight from Ft. Nelson to base camp has been $800.  Hunt SS728.  Pictures from this Hunt.

NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA STONE SHEEP
Last fall was a very tough year for stone sheep hunting.  Extremely hot weather coupled with many large forest fires from lightning strikes smoked in most of the mountains making it impossible for glassing rams.  This outfitter is normally 75% success but last year only went 6 for 13.

This 15-day horseback hunt in the Cassiar Mountains is known for dark rams. 

Sheep hunts are $30,000 with a $6,000 trophy fee.  On later hunts you can take a sheep, moose, mountain goat, caribou, black bear and wolf.  This is a sheep hunt that allows you to take more species at no charge.

The outfitter has 10 stone sheep tags and with more government regulation coming we expect it to drop by the year 2012 along with many other areas.  This will only continue to drive the prices up.

Hunters arrive in Whitehorse and overnight.  Currently for a package price of $1,475 you are driven to Watson Lake and then charter to and from camp, including license, tags and 7% GST.  HCU’s Cliff Graham has taken a ram with this outfitter.  Hunt SS491.  Pictures from this Hunt.

NORTHEASTERN B.C. STONE SHEEP
15-day horseback hunt is $23,000 plus a $10,000 trophy fee.  Last fall was tougher than normal, but they still ended up 5 for 7.  He also had one female archer and she scored on a ram opening day.  In 2008 they went 8 for 8 and 2007 was 7 for 8.  The average ram goes 37 inches and they usually tag one or two rams in the 40-inch class.  An average sheep hunt takes 7 days.  He offers 2 hunts in the month of August and additional animals can be taken on the second hunt for a $3,500 trophy fee.  A sheep hunt consists of spike camps, guide, wrangler and 6 horses.  Rams are typically quite dark in his area.

Hunters fly into Fort Nelson and take a charter flight to base camp at about $1,000 roundtrip.  7% GST plus license and tags.  Hunt SS483.  Pictures from this Hunt.

STONE SHEEP IN TELEGRAPH CREEK
This outfitter is well known for high success on this 4,000 square mile area located in the Cassiars and Coastal Range.  Last fall 4 hunters scored on 3 mature rams and the unsuccessful hunter was just way overweight to hike.  They get 8 sheep permits and typically only use 6 per year, but last year only took a total of 4.  Hunter and guide horseback into sheep country and hike up to the rams.  15-day horseback hunt is $33,000 and a mountain goat can be taken for $3,000 kill fee.  Charter flight from Dease Lake is about $700 plus 7% GST.  Hunt SS394.  Pictures from this Hunt.

HUNT BIGHORNS OFF HORSEBACK IN ALBERTA
This outfitter runs a very personal operation.  He has 2 non-resident tags and guides each hunter personally.  Last fall one hunter missed a couple times and the other hunter decided to pass on a shot over 300 yards.  Later the same hunter took a nice black wolf close to 400 yards and was disappointed he hadn’t taken his shot at the ram.  He also took one resident hunter and he scored on a good mature ram.  

His area is near the Bighorn Wildland Recreation area, about 80 miles north of Banff.  The 2 major problems that contribute to low success on Alberta bighorn hunts is the sheep tend to stay at timberline and can get into the trees once they get pressured.  This area has is somewhat open and very glassable.  The other deterring factor is resident pressure, since they get to start a week earlier.  There is virtually no resident pressure in this area mainly due to the fact there are no elk, which draw the residents. 

15-day hunts starting September 5 are priced at $26,000 with no trophy fee or $23,000 with a $6,000 trophy fee and extra days are available at $500 per day.  Airport pickup in Calgary.  Hunt BS403.  Pictures from this Hunt.

CALIFORNIA BIGHORNS IN B.C.
Last fall this outfitter hosted 6 sheep hunters and all but one old hunter had an opportunity.  3 rams were taken and 2 hunters missed.  Over the previous 3 seasons, 13 sheep hunters scored on 11 rams.  Of the 2 unsuccessful hunters one missed 2 rams and the other passed on a legal ram.  Rams normally score from 155 to 170, with some full curl rams in the 10 to 12 year old class.  7-day hunt is priced at $35,000.  Hunters are picked up in Penticton.  Hunt BS292.  Pictures from this Hunt.

WYOMING SHEEP/MOOSE/ELK OUTFITTER
HUNTS IN TROPHY DRAW UNITS
Here is a Wyoming bighorn hunt that all you guys with max points should be putting in for.  This outfitter offers hunts for bighorn sheep, shiras moose and elk in trophy units on a draw basis. Success typically runs at or near 100% on trophy quality animals. His sheep hunts typically require the maximum 14 points and the rams have averaged 175 Boone and Crockett gross score, with the top ones nearing the 190 mark. The area he hunts is not nearly as physical as most sheep units in Wyoming and he likes to have his hunters come in September 1 for a few days and if not successful to return for late October closer to the rut. Price is $8,500 and he likes you to stay until you kill, which is typically less than 10 days.
Shiras moose is in Unit 34 and also normally requires the maximum 14 points. He had a young girl last year and she harvested a 44-inch bull very quickly in the hunt. He himself drew a tag and only had 2 days to hunt between guiding commitments and he scored on a 47-inch bull. Price is $6,500.
He hunts both Units 7 and 11 for elk with great success on bulls from 300 to 380 points. Last fall he had 9 hunters in Unit 7 take 9 bulls and his hunters tagged 10 bulls in Unit 11. Elk hunts are October 1 to November 20 and are priced at only $5,750. Call for more details on Hunt BS307.  Pictures from this Hunt.

DESERT SHEEP HUNTS ON TIBURON ISLAND, SONORA OR BAJA
At press time this well respected outfitter had 2 permits for Tiburon Island for $79,000 each.  One remaining tag for the Baja and the mainland in Sonora is sold out.  Success has remained at 100 percent for past years.  This is the only Mexico sheep outfitter HCU uses and customers can expect a quality, safe and legal hunt. 

The family owns and has under lease about 250,000 acres 70 miles north of La Paz and 200,000 acres near Loretto where they conduct the Baja hunts.  They have had these properties for the past 10 years.  In Sonora, they operate 200,000 acres on the Seri Indian reservation and also privately owned ranches.  Hunting in Sonora is not as physical as Baja sheep hunting.  They send out several scouts 2 to 3 weeks before the hunt to locate rams.  Baja rams are typically smaller bodied and weigh about 180 pounds with longer horns in the 35” to 37” range and 13 to 15 1/2-inch bases. Sonora rams weigh about 220 pounds with 32 to 34-inch horns with heavier bases in the 15 1/2” to 17” range.  They have 2 head guides and both speak fluent English.  They also make the call as to when and which ram to shoot.

Accommodations can be mini camps with spike tents up to ranch houses.  10-day hunts guided 1x1 at press time are $60,000 plus $1,300 for permits, tags and paperwork.  Hunts are mostly conducted from December 1 to March 30.

They also offer high fence desert sheep hunts for only $40,000 conducted on several ranches with some fenced areas at 5,000 acres.  These rams typically score from 168 to 185 B&C.  Hunt DS662. 
Pictures from this Hunt.

TEXAS FREE-RANGE AOUDAD SHEEP HUNT $3500
The hunt takes place on 10,000 unfenced acres in steep canyon country, known as the Caprock area, about 45 miles southeast of Lubbock, Texas.  The ranch has about 400 resident sheep and he only takes 5 rams per year.  Typically you glass from the high plateau into the rugged canyons down below.  The ranch has good road access and this is not a physically demanding hunt.

3-day hunts conducted from January to early March guided 1x1 are $3,500 and an extra day can be added if necessary.  Cabin accommodations, meals and airport pickup at Midland airport included.  HCU consultants Bob Wodzisz and Cliff Graham were on this hunt with a couple buddies and had a fantastic time with everyone taking rams from 27 to 32 inches.  This hunt is booked for 2010, but he will honor the price for 2011.  Hunt AU685.  Pictures from this Hunt.